What better way to celebrate the season than with a Road Trip Close To Home to one of the Hudson Valley's hidden gems? Fishkill Farms, a century-old orchard in Dutchess County, blends tradition with sustainability and offers a full fall experience.

Owner Josh Morgenthau says the third-generation family farm specializes in apples, with 60 acres of trees and a focus on pick-your-own produce. The farm also grows vegetables, berries, and summer fruit, and sells most of it on-site.

Visitors can explore the flower garden, pick pears before they're fully ripe, and enjoy cinnamon sugar donuts paired with cider. Katie Ross, a farm employee, says guests are given scissors and a cup to fill with flowers that "speak to them."

The farm also features live music, hayrides and a corn maze. Morgenthau says sharing the land with the community and seeing families make memories is the most gratifying part.