Sky Top Orchard in Flat Rock, NC has been a tradition for my little family since 2008. Spend a day at this gorgeous orchard and you’ll get to pick apples, go on tractor rides, feed goats, sheep, and ducks, drink hot (or cold) apple cider, meander through a bamboo nature trail, and eat HOT apple doughnuts.
You might even get to visit with a peacock or two and some sweet little bunnies and chicks. You can also pick up some local honey, fresh apple pies, lots of local jams/jellies/condiments, and pick up a few pumpkins for your fall decorating. It’s a 6-7 hour drive from Jacksonville which makes it a perfect trip for a long weekend.
A Few Tips:
- Stay in downtown Greenville, SC. It’s probably a 30-45 minute drive up to the orchard from here and it’s such an incredibly beautiful, vibrant, and family friendly town. Our favorite place to stay is the Westin Poinsett. It’s right in downtown and walking distance to the gorgeous Reedy River Park. The Children’s Museum is around the corner from here too. You can also walk to Tupelo Honey our favorite place for breakfast. Biscuits and mimosas after a morning run through Reedy River Park is a great way to start a Saturday.
- The best time to go is September and October, but they’re open every day from August to December. Apple picking is prime in September, but the foliage is at its peak in October.
- If possible go on a weekday and try to get there as soon as they open in the morning (especially if you go on a weekend). The crowds can get pretty big and the line for the apple doughnuts can get really long. We went on a Friday morning this year and there were very few people there.
Some helpful links and places to visit:
SCIWAY – Campbell’s Covered Bridge
The Children’s Museum of the Upstate
Our Sky Top Orchard History
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
About the Author
Mary Huszcza
A native of WV, Mary has been a FL resident for the past 12 years. She moved to FL after receiving her Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy at the Medical University of South Carolina in 2001. She has spent the last 12 years working with children with special needs and is the owner of pOTential Pediatric Occupational Therapy Services. Mary is also the owner of 8.08 Photography and splits her time between the 2 businesses. When not behind the camera or working with children, Mary spends her time with her husband Peter and their 2 children Zofi and Canon.
