Kalika Valentine-Erikson/Winonan
Pumpkins, apples and leaves, oh my!
Not too hot and not too cold, fall is the perfect time to enjoy the beautiful outdoor scenery Winona has to offer.
Winona, as well as its surrounding areas, offers many activities to motivate students to get outside and enjoy the crisp autumn air, sip some hot apple cider and maybe relive one’s childhood by jumping into a leaf pile or two.
A favorite fall activity for many is visiting an apple orchard. Luckily, Winona has several apple orchards within close proximity that offer various activities and events.
Ecker’s Apple Farm is located over the bridge in Trempealeau, Wis.
Jess Ecker, a member of the owning family has the job of public relations and marketing for the farm. She described some of the activities the orchard offers.
“The orchard is open 10 to 6 every day. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, we have our beer garden open from 12 to 6 with craft beers from all over the country,” Ecker said.
Senior Gretchen Haga recently visited Ecker’s Apple Farm.
“Ecker’s is great,” Haga said. “My favorite part is their beer garden, full of different craft beers and cider. You can also roam acres of their apple orchard, either by foot or hop on a tractor train that brings you through the orchard. Their caramel apples are delicious with many different kinds, and they even make their own caramel. Music, beer, caramel, and apples alongside the beautiful bluffs — it’s the perfect day trip.”
On Oct. 17, Ecker’s Apple Farm will host “Honeycrisp Hootenanny,” an event featuring live music and an artisan fair.
Another nearby apple orchard is Ferguson’s Morningside Orchard, located in Galesville, Wis. This apple orchard has a country store with the expected apples and pumpkins, but also syrups, fresh baked pies and pastries, and jams and jellies. It also offers a pumpkin patch, hayrides to pick your own apples and farm animals.
Senior Liz Charlton works at Ferguson’s Morningside Orchard.
“Ferguson’s is really fun because it has a ton of stuff for people to do, especially if you have kids,” Charlton said. “Sometimes they have live music and there is a haunted house for kids around Halloween.”
If apples are not your thing, another fun fall activity is Tews Corn Maze.
The corn maze is located just outside of Lewiston, Minn. and offers a corn maze, pig races, a petting zoo, pumpkins, hayrides and food. On Friday, Oct. 16, visitors can navigate through the maze in the dark during their special event, “Flashlight Maze.”
Whitewater State Park boasts many hiking trail to enjoy the fall colors, and it is known for their noticeably mosquito-free trails.
Another way to enjoy the outdoor scenery is to go horseback riding. Big Valley Ranch in Winona offers guided trail rides with knowledgeable and friendly staff members.
If getting scared sounds more tempting, try Saint Mary’s University’s Walk of Terror during Halloween weekend, or Horror on Colonial Lane in Rochester, Minn. Jaycee’s Haunted House in Onalaska, Wisc. has a freak show theme this year, if personally experiencing American Horror Story sounds appealing.
From apples and hiking to simply walking around campus and seeing all of the colors, there is bound to be a fun fall activity close by to enjoy.
