Ah, fall in Southern Connecticut: blazing foliage, southbound birds on the wing, and—yup—pick-your-own pumpkin patches and other family fun. With prime Long Island Sound accommodations at The Blake, you are—despite having all of the urban delights of New Haven at your fingertips—within surprisingly easy reach of some beautiful farms and orchards serving up timeless autumn pleasures left and right.
Here are a few of the best fall day-tripping destinations to take the whole gang to during your stay at The Blake!
Bishop’s Orchards (1355 Boston Post Rd, Guilford, CT)
Begun back in 1871 by Walter Goodrich Bishop, Bishop’s Orchards is a much-loved destination come harvest time. This year, the Guilford location is open for business, with raspberries, apples, pumpkins, a hay maze, and more on tap. Give ‘em a ring at 203-458-PICK before heading out. (Don’t miss the Bishop’s Orchards corn maze over at 526 New England Road, meantime…)
Clover Nook Farm (50 Fairwood Rd, Bethany, CT)
How about picking on a family-run farm that broke ground in 1765? That’s right, 1765–in other words, before the Revolutionary War. That impressive vintage is only part of the appeal at Clover Nook Farm, now in its eight generation of ownership. You and the crew can select the perfect pumpkin, though you might also come away with a picture-perfect cornstalk bundle or a colorful non-pumpkin gourd. Come on a weekend and the youngsters can enjoy a hayride, just as the icing on the cake…
Shore Line Trolley Museum Pumpkin Patch (17 River St., East Haven, CT)
How about taking a ride on a historic trolley and THEN choosing a pumpkin to take back to The Blake? That’s the sweet combo experience available at the Shore Line Trolley Museum, run by the Branford Electric Railway Association and operating the longest continuously run suburban trolley line in the country.
Other Options
We haven’t exhausted the pumpkin-patch options within easy reach of your New Haven accommodations at The Blake, not by a long shot. You’ve also got Rose Orchards Farm (33 Branford Rd, North Branford, CT) and Drazen Orchards (215 Wallingford Rd, Cheshire, CT), to name a few others.