Last year the only thing I wanted to do all autumn was go apple picking. Unfortunately, we missed the season, so nothing was getting in my way this year. While in Portland for our anniversary, we took a drive along the Columbia River, stopped at Multnomah Falls, and continued out to the Fruit Loop in search of an orchard. You bet I left room in my carry-on to bring three bags of apples home with us (I packed the lightest I ever have in my life).

The drive was beautiful, the weather perfect, and the apple picking the quintessential fall activity. We rolled our wagon around, picking and tasting apples, reveling in the chill air and hearing children playing. Since we couldn’t bring any of the jam for sale on the plane home, I made my own apple butter (and caramel apples and apple muffins) upon our return home. We stopped for some barbecue on the way home to round off the perfect afternoon.

Portland, you are perfect.

-wonderland sam