Apple Season in Oak Glen and Lavender Nights in Cherry Valley

Fall is almost here, and we're getting a little head start on the season with a visit to beautiful Oak Glen. It's warm outside but with a lot of dark clouds in the sky which are threatening the possibility of rain. We don't melt so we don't care. We met at Noble-Torian Manor and headed up the hill.

First stop, Parrish Pioneer Ranch. If you don't want to pick your own, you can buy bags of apples here with plenty of varieties to choose from. They also have, hands down, the very best apple butter! Apple-pumpkin butter too! Queen Carol N has done the research. Trust her! It's delish! The cute little store has lots of unique gift items, candy & fudge, books, soup & chili mixes, other food items, and many fun things to look at.

Parrish Pioneer Ranch

Next we headed a little further up the hill to Los Rios Rancho, which is owned by Riley's Farms. There is a lot of fun stuff to do here. Our first adventure was a tractor-pulled wagon ride around the ranch. We were a little disappointed that the driver didn't tell us anything about the ranch or share any stories along the way, but we enjoyed the ride and the scenery anyway.

Scenes from the tractor ride

There are many groves of various types of apple trees, corn fields, pumpkin vines,

and a few other crops we weren't able to identify.

On our tractor ride

Front: Debbie & Joy / Middle: Sharon K, Carol N & Kathy / Back: Nancy & Seema

For our next adventure, we headed into the apple orchard for a closer look at the trees and to pick some apples. And of course, to enjoy some yummy dessert. You know what they say, "Life's uncertain, eat dessert first." We did!

Beautiful apples, Sharon K, Nancy & Kathy harvesting, pretty wildflowers,

and a yummy Dutch Apple Pie.

The pie was so good! Lots of perfectly sliced apples mixed with cinnamon, sugar and spices and topped with that amazing buttery crunchy crumbly topping - the perfect final touch.

The day was so nice and pleasant, and we weren't in a hurry, so we took some time to relax and chat for awhile before heading off to dinner.

El Charro Authentic Mexican Food

The restaurant didn't look like much from the outside, but the inside was cute and the food was really good. Somehow, we didn't get a picture of us enjoying our dinner.

Our last stop of the day - Cherry Valley to enjoy the beautiful Lavender Nights event. So many gorgeous white lights all throughout the lavender fields, around the trees, everywhere.