I’ll admit that my picks for storytime are sometimes just as much for me as for my little ones. If the fall flavor discourse on my social media is any indication, the board book Apple Vs Pumpkin: The Battle for the Best Fall Treat Is On! by Jeffrey Burton, is a timely addition to our Autumn-themed storytimes.
As a member of the apple flavor contingent, I don’t bear ill will to the pumpkin patch fans or the Starbucks fanatics cheering the arrival of pumpkin spice. In fact, after reading this book, I’m inspired to do all things apple and pumpkin this fall. Using this adorable board book as a guide, here are some book-inspired fall activities.
1. Apple Orchards vs. Pumpkin Patches
Columbia’s location makes it where neither Team Apple nor Team Pumpkin lose out on access to their favorite fall food. Apple lovers have their pick of several apple orchards just a day trip away, where they can enjoy picking apples. Pumpkin fans don’t have to travel as far as there are quite a few pumpkin patches to choose from right here in the Midlands.
In addition to picking apples and pumpkins, both nearby orchards and pumpkin patches offer other activities like corn mazes, hayrides, farm-themed games, and hayrides, to name a few. Some of the nearby apple orchards offer mountain views and hiking trails. While my household is full of apple munchers, we aren’t passing up hayrides at a pumpkin patch.
2. Apple Treats vs. Pumpkin Eats
In the book, the red apple boasts warm apple cider, cinnamon apple donuts, and apple pie with a scoop of ice cream. Pumpkin counters with pumpkin spice drinks, pumpkin cake donuts, and pumpkin pie topped with whipped cream. My bias runs strong here as I have no interest in pumpkin or pumpkin spice-flavored food and drinks, but I did make brownies using canned pumpkin last year for Halloween and didn’t hate them, so maybe I can be a little more open-minded.
This year for Halloween, I am planning on going with the classic American Halloween tradition of making donuts and serving them with fresh apple cider from one of the nearby apple orchards (or Trader Joe’s because it’s closer). My kids love hot chocolate so maybe I’ll try this pumpkin spice hot chocolate recipe as well and incorporate some pumpkin flavor donuts dipped in cinnamon sugar or a homemade icing. That actually sounds pretty yummy now that I think about it.
3. Apple Red and Gold Leaves vs. Pumpkin Orange Leaves
Smokymountains.com has a fun interactive map that predicts the best time to see the fall foliage where you live. For our area, it is usually late October through early November. The leaves of trees like the sassafras and pin oak range from red to orange to yellow in the fall and make up some of the most beautiful fall foliage in South Carolina.
Living in Northeast Columbia, my family loves walking the trails of Sesquicentennial Park for the fall colors. If you live in the area, try driving down tree-lined Summit Parkway to experience the fall foliage during your daily commutes. We also plan on adding Saluda Shoals Park and Riverfront Park and Historic Columbia Canal to our autumn strolls. For the really adventurous up for a long drive, here’s a fall foliage road trip through South Carolina.
There’s a lot to do when it comes to enjoying the fall season, but if you find yourself divided between being on Team Apple or Team Pumpkin this fall, I’d like to leave you with this quote from the book:
“Whether you’re leaf-peeping, picking apples, or at the pumpkin patch, spending time with family and friends makes for the perfect match.”
Which team are you? Share your favorite fall food in the comments!
