If you grew up in North East quadrant of the USA, fall doesn’t always feel like a season in sunny Southern California. Unless of course, you are willing to drive for an hour and a half. It’s good to know that you can experience cooler, crisper air and seasonal foliage color changes in nearby Oak Glen. Whether you are in LA, Orange County or Palm Springs, you can reach Oak Glen in approximately 90 minutes.
Thanks to Visit San Bernadino for showing me around Oak Glen
Oak Glen offers a perfect day trip opportunity to get away to the countryside and go apple and pear picking, experience the gorgeous seasonal foliage changes and make some memories. The “mile high” atmosphere means that temperatures are always 10 to 15 degrees cooler. It’s an ideal climate for apples and pears and you will notice all the orchards dotting the hillsides as you drive through the area. It’s almost like being in New England in the fall.
Either before or after your orchard visits, stop by the Oak Tree Village and shop for hand crafted goods for holiday gifts, and make sure to leave some time to eat at Apple Annie’s.
This iconic restaurant and bakery is famous for their mile high Apple Pie. Get in line if you want to eat here – they don’t take names! I promise it is worth the wait. If you don’t have time to wait, however, you can pick up a pie in the bakery.
You might need a trailer to haul it home. These really are the tallest apple pies I have ever seen. I’m dying to know how they do it!
You can pick up all sorts of culinary treats in the Oak Glen Village shops during your visit, from fruit butters to homemade jams and jellies to sauces, fudge and insane handmade chocolates and candy apples.
During the weekends, there’s plenty of activities for the kiddos on site too. Visit a petting zoo, go for a pony ride, try your hand at some crafting and just enjoy the crisp mountain air.
Keep an eye out for woodpeckers too if you like wildlife. We spied quite a few red headed beauties high up in the trees when we stopped by.
After Oak Glen, continue on up the hill. You definitely don’t want to miss Snow Line Orchards, known for their apple cider doughnuts and extensive apple and cider tasting opportunities. This is a great place to stock up on produce for all your holiday baking activities.
On weekends there are great eating options here too. We’ll have to come back to sample the ribs.
If you are a history buff, however, you might want to make reservations at Hawk’s Head on Riley’s Stone Soup Farm down the hill. Here you’ll find historic fare and the perfect meal for that “back east” kind of day.
Visit Oakglen.net for an event calendar and information about picking opportunities at assorted orchards.
More Things to See and Do in San Bernadino County:
- Experiencing Fall at Oak Glen Village
- A Taste of Colonial Life at Riley’s Stone Soup Farm
- Spending The Night at an Oasis in Joshua Tree
- Where to Express Your Artistic Self in Joshua Tree
- Taking a Walk in the National Park at Joshua Tree NSP
- Where to Eat Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner in Joshua Tree
- Where to Watch the Sun Set & Moonrise in Joshua Tree
- Horseback Riding Along the Pacific Crest Trail
- The Alpine Zoo of San Bernadino
- Shopping at Lake Arrowhead Village
- A Visit to Santa’s Village at Skypark
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