When picking apples and pumpkins the Day Tripper standard applies: the less you do the more you get -- especially with kids.

Breakfast On The Road . . . . .
For me, morning is the best part of the day. The sun comes streaming over the horizon. A family of wild turkeys waddle hen-and-chicks across a freshly cut hayfield. My favorite song comes on the radio. Happens every day, rain or shine.

If you like an early start, too -- and you are heading from the eastern part of the state -- stop for a classic New Jersey diner breakfast. From Route 80W, 46W, or 287S, try the Morristown Diner (73 Morris Street -- 201-538-0228). It's a mile or so off 287S at Exit 36. From Route 78W, take the Round Valley exit (Exit 20) in Hunterdon County and backtrack a mile or so on Route 22E to get to the Spinning Wheel Diner (on the right) in Lebanon. In Morris County, the Chester Diner is in the center of town on Route 206. None of these diners are Michelin Star restaurants, for sure. But each serves pretty terrific homemade muffins, buns and pastries and -- as long as you remind them to sauté the peppers and onions before mixing in the eggs -- each puts out a perfectly acceptable Western omelet (make them melt some Swiss into it). I like the home fries at the Chester Diner best. Max suggests chicken fingers any time of day at The Spinning Wheel! All three either open at 6 am every day or are open 24-hours-a-day.

By the way, if you are traveling west on Route 78 from east of Route 287, be sure to take a few moments and stop at the "scenic view" exit a half mile or so east of Route 287. It may not be the rim of the Grand Canyon, but the panorama is wonderful and the sight of early sunlit foliage spreading in every direction will take the last rough edge off your day-tripper morning. Besides, it is important to have a good feeling for where you live -- and this vista is the antidote for the rush-hour-traffic-jam-Turnpike image of New Jersey too many of us still carry around. This "scenic view" exit is closed during the winter, so take advantage now.

No matter where you eat breakfast, once you cross into Somerset, Morris, or Hunterdon Counties, you are in pumpkin-and-apple territory.

TO THE PUMPKIN PATCH . . . . .
Ort Farm -- 25 Bartley Road, Long Valley (908-876-3351) Harvey Ort says he's the fourth generation on their 300 acre family farm. But Orts have been farming in Long Valley for at least six generations. Harvey, his sister, Janey, and their folks grow tomatoes, sweet corn, snap peas, and other produce throughout the summer. (Brother John takes care of the animals. "He's got a real job," says Harvey.) This time of the year they're harvesting hardy mums, Indian corn, corn stalks, and gourds . . . and, of course, pumpkins.

The Ort farm is open 7 days a week from 9 am to 7 pm. Great green John Deere tractors pull haywagons of pumpkin pickers out to the U-Pik pumpkin patch all day long. Groups are accomodated in the morning and individuals after 2 pm during the week. Weekends the Ort Farm stays open until 9 pm. The kids love hanging out with John’s animals -- pigs, goats, lambs, a calf, chicks, ducks, and a donkey. The Orts sell all types of apples grown by local farmers, but do not grow orchard fruit themselves. They sell refreshments, though, including locally made cider. Pumpkins are 39 cents a pound.

The Ort Farm is just outside Chester on Bartley Road. Look for the giant pumpkin sign. (By the way, Bartley Road is not Bartley-Chester Road, so pay attention.)

The Schaefer Family Farm -- 1051 Route 523, Flemington (908-782-2766) Catherine and Christopher Schaefer have been working their 230 acre farm in Flemington since 1949. With their sons, Christopher, Jr., and Bill, they raise the corn, tomatoes, peppers, and cabbage that they sell at their farmstand throughout the summer. Late in spring they offer U-Pik strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and snow peas. They grow and sell gourds, Indian corn, and bundled rye and wheat and corn stalks. And now it's pumpkin pickin' time.

Take the haywagon out to the pumpkin patch to find the perfect pumpkin. Like the Orts, the Schaefers encourage kids to wander among the farm animals (sheep, goats, pigs, peacocks, ducks, chickens, and a calf.) Like the Orts, too, the Schaefers don't grow orchard fruit themselves. But they do sell a variety of locally grown apples and the cider is fresh and delicious. They sell refreshments, including their own candy apples -- a real treat. Pumpkins are 39 cents per pound.

The Schaefer Farm is open 7 days a week, from 10 am until 5 pm for the U-Pik pumpkins. They also have a haunted barn, a hay bale maze, and pony rides on weekends. For children 10 years old and older (and for younger kids accompanied by their folks), they offer tractor-drawn haunted hay rides from 7 pm to 10 pm Thursday through Sunday until the end of October. Many of these activities are free, but the Schaefers have a can out for donations.

The Schaefer Farm is just outside Flemington. Take Route 31S from Route 78 about six miles, then left onto Route 523. The farm is about four miles on the left. One particularly nice thing about the Schaefer Farm is that you can call them and ask about field conditions before you drive out (908-782-2766). The Schaefers also have a second farm stand with a pumpkin patch close enough nearby to walk to from your car. That field and stand is on Payne Road in Lebanon, just off Route 31. You can call that stand, too, to find out field conditions (908-713-1217).

By the way. If you go to Schaefer’s and get done early in the day, someone is bound to say, "You know, we’re so close to the Flemington Outlet Stores . . . let’s just go take a look." Don’t roll your eyes. Here’s the plan: Let them go shopping. You take a ride on the Black River and Western Railroad. The narrow gauge picks up passengers at the edge of the FOS parking lot and takes you out of Flemington and south to Ringoes and beyond. Lovely. They stage train robberies from horseback a few times during the year, but I never remember when. Max loves to set pennies on the rails and wait for the train to flatten them beyond recognition. You will, too.

APPLE ORCHARDS . . . . .
Melick Family Town Farm -- Box 73, Oldwick (908-439-2318) Like the Orts, the Melicks have been farming in New Jersey for a long time. Peter Melick, who is 29 years old, told me that he's the 9th generation in this farming family. Peter's ancestors (!!! -- who among us have New Jersey ancestors?) began farming in the mid 1700's! Now he and his folks work their 150 and 80 acre farms full time and his sister and brother help out during the season. The Melicks are chiefly orchard farmers and theirs is a big operation. Besides the U-Pik at the farms, the Melicks operate farmstands, work two New Jersey tailgate markets (in Madison and Somerville), and have a wholesale trade as well.

The Melick family raises peaches and tomatoes for U-Pik during the summer. Also available now, though not U-Pik, are squash and gourds, sweet corn, and tomatoes. Among the apples available right now, the Macintosh and Macouns are almost through, but Empires, Jonathans, and Golden Delicious are at their peak. In mid-October, the Stayman-Winesaps and Granny Smiths will come into their own. Apples are 60 cents per pound. The Melicks have a U-Pik pumpkin patch. They sell regular jack-o-lantern pumpkins and "mini" pumpkins. Pumpkins are 40 cents per pound.

Right now the Melicks do not have hay rides, but Peter says they're thinking about it. In any event, if the near field is picked out, guests are tractor/wagon-driven out to a more distant field. The views to the north from the pumpkin fields and orchards roll out toward the hills of Hunterdon, Warren, and Somerset Counties.

Some of the Melick apples go into their own apple cider and apple pies. One interesting twist is their apple cider donuts -- the cider is mixed right into the batter. Mmmm!

The Melick Family Town Farm is just a blink outside of the historic village of Oldwick. Take Exit 24 off Route 78E onto Route 523 about 1.5 miles into Oldwick. Left onto King Street then 100 yards up on the left. You can't miss it. Really.

These are places I like, so keep an eye out for me. I'm the bearded guy with an eight-year-old blond kid (with buzz cut hair) at his side. Say "hello," Max.

Have a great day trip! -- Warren

You can reach me at warren@celebritydeli.com

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