Celebrate the Change of Seasons in the West
Summer is coming to an end and that means it’s time to celebrate fall and everything that comes with it. September is the perfect time to plan a vacation around the changing of the seasons, and you can celebrate in a variety of places around the west.
Log cabin at Cedar Mountain Farm
What comes to mind when you think about Idaho? Potatoes, right? The fact is that Idahoans grow and raise much more than just potatoes. Situated between Sandpoint and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, is Cedar Mountain Farm, a bed and breakfast with a tree farm twist.
Misty morning at Cedar Mountain Farm
Cedar Mountain Farm is located on a 440-acre working family tree farm. Guests may tour the farm, visit with farm animals, hike and mountain bike nearby trails, and much more. This place combines agricultural delights with outdoor recreation in a beautifully remote area of Idaho.
Just 35 minutes away, in Post Falls, travelers can visit Cable Creek Farm. They specialize in raw cow’s milk, farmstead cheeses, and whey-fed pork.
For more on agritourism in Idaho, visit LeisureGroupTravel.com.
Photo: El Dorado Wine Association
El Dorado County hugs the south end of Lake Tahoe and straddles the California/Nevada border. The area is rich in agriculture, and during the fall, it’s all about apples. AppleHill.com provides a comprehensive list, including maps of El Dorado’s apple country. Visitors can check out cider mills and indulge in still-warm apple pies. There are also plenty of kid-oriented activities available, such as pony rides.
Autumn is also a good time for wine in this area of California, and EldoradoWines.org can help you plan the perfect trip. Wine-lovers can stay at a local winery such as Saluti Cellars, which is centrally located for exploring the entire area and offers three elegant suites.
Taos Goji Eco Lodge & Farm
Santa Fe, New Mexico is well-known as a Mecca for artists and art-lovers, but for those seeking an authentic autumn experience, Northern New Mexico is the place to be. Whether you want a customized walking adventure or you want to eat amazing, homegrown food, this region has you covered.
Taos Goji Eco Lodge & Farm is located 11 miles outside of Taos, New Mexico. Visitors to Taos Goji stay in historic log cabins surrounded by views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The farm raises goji berries, chickens and goats, and the property features creeks, ponds, aspens, flowering gardens, and orchards. Birders will enjoy the vast array of unique birds that flock to the region.
Fall is also Hatch green chile season in New Mexico, and visitors to the area should plan to bring home bags of freshly roasted chiles. Berridge Farms retails from mid-August to late September each year, and on any given weekend, you’ll find two or even three generations of the Berridge family roasting and selling Hatch green chiles at the intersection of Cerrillos and Baca in downtown Santa Fe.
