One aspect of a cider drinker’s adventure is savoring ciders from where they were created. Not only is sipping ciders with scenic views and entertainment a great way to spend the afternoon, it enhances the cider experience. Pack a picnic with friends and gas up the car: these cideries are worth the extra drive.
The Gorge White House | Hood River, OR | Though nestled in the adventurous Columbia River Gorge, Hood River is not limited to outdoor recreation. Visitors can set aside their kayaks and embark on Hood River’s vast array of craft beverages. Make sure one of your stops is The Gorge White House. You can find this 1908 Dutch Colonial dwelling resting along the Mount Hood Scenic Byway in Oregon. Snack on berries and pears that are grown on premise, while sipping on a flight of ciders like the Tart Cherry. Don’t forget your growler, The Gorge White House isn’t bottling ciders quite yet.
Virtue Cider | Fennville, MI | Virtue Cider’s barrel-aged ciders have a home in Western Michigan, and you can visit them. The Fennville cidery has acres of scenic farmland and orchard for cider lovers to wander among. Set up a guided tour in the farm and production facility, and enjoy Virtue’s concert series for the upcoming summer. Build your own picnic with snacks from the bottle shop; be sure to snag a bottle of Lapinette on your way out.
Castle Hill Cider | Keswick, VA | Imagine a cidery so picturesque, you want to get married there. Well, you can at Castle Hill Cider. Originally built in 1764 as a home for Thomas Jefferson’s mentor, Castle Hill now celebrates its deep history by crafting cider from Virginia varietals. Travel in bliss with your sweetheart to enjoy the pastoral landscape with a stunning view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Sip from a bottle of Celestial and lounge on the octagonal porch of Castle Hill’s pristine white barn.
Uncle John’s Hard Cider and Cider Mill | St. John’s, MI | “Eat, drink, play” is the motto for Uncle John’s Cider Mill, and nothing could be truer. Uncle John’s has events and activities for families and cider enthusiasts of any age, crowning itself one of Michigan’s most beloved cider destinations. Wagon rides, pumpkin patches, live music, corn mazes and believe it or not — a 5K trail. Sip from Uncle John’s select ciders and fruit wines in the tasting room, open on the weekends. New memories with the family are ripe for the picking at Uncle John’s — don’t forget the donuts!
Finnriver Farm & Cidery | Chimacum, WA | The new Cider Garden orchard and tasting room opened last year to offer locals and tourists a true orchard experience in the heart of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. Converted from a historic former dairy farm, the organic orchard and working farm collaborative also hosts a tasting room, walk-up bar, farm-based community gathering barn, bocce ball court, kids’ play area, rotating and regular food vendors and more alongside the cidery’s full lineup of ciders like the Meadow Honey.
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