Hillview Farms — Attraction in Long Hill Township

My family has been to Hillview Farms many times. What is thoroughly enjoyable is a getting-back-to-nature type experience where we can pick fruit right off the vine or tree. The views are marvelous, particularly in October when leaves change. Expect to pay roughly the same price per pound as at the supermarket, so the real benefit is getting fresh-off-the-tree fruit; overall, Hillview Farms is not for value shoppers. For families with young kids, the best time to visit is blueberry season, generally the first few weeks of July, since kids can reach the vines themselves, pick for an hour, carry it back without mechanized transport or non-mechanized parental arms, and the total bill for the fruit picked will still be reasonable. In contrast, picking apples (October) or peaches with young kids means that a heavy and expensive basket can quickly fill up within the first five minutes, so parents are advised to limit their kids picking to something they can lug back down the hill. It is well-advised to call them ahead of time to find out what is in season, because the time when specific fruits ripen can vary considerably from season to season, and also to find out if they're open. Bring loose-fitting clothing, and in summer remember the suntan lotion. Apple picking in October is best during weekdays; avoid the weekends because the management has a rather short-sighted policy of requiring all weekend apple-picking visitors to take a rather bumpy, noisy, smoggy and short five-minute tractor ride up the hill, when it is much more enjoyable to walk. Further, on a crowded weekend, there is often a long line for the tractor, sometimes requiring everybody to wait an hour, while having to pay $3 per person for this nuisance ride. That said, if one is picking lots of apples, or a heavy pumpkin or two, it is convenient having the tractor ride for an easier trip down the hill. What's the solution for long tractor lines? Visit on a weekday, since there is no tractor requirement then; you can walk up, and don't pick so much you can't carry it back. Make sure to ask the counter clerk how exactly to find the right row of trees or bushes. After picking, there is a rustic-type shop with fruits and weird-looking Halloween-type vegetables for sale. There are peacocks and peahens sometimes milling about, as well as ducks, chickens too, just like on a real farm, for photo-ops. Usually there is plenty of room for parking on a grassy stretch, or when it is not crowded, right up near the fruit store. Overall, Hillview Farms is one of the nice holdouts in New Jersey since the owners could very easily sell their highly-valuable land and pocket tens of millions of dollars to carve the hillside into subdivisions with tract houses, and they don't, so if in previous posts, they can be sometimes grumpy, it is good to remind ourselves that the management does not have to make this nice back-to-nature experience, so close to suburban communities, available to the public. My sense is: enjoy it...

So, hear me out before you get discouraged by the other reviews. If I could give this place 4.5 stars, I probably would. We were going to head over to Chester, but decided to stay closer to home since I'm currently toting an infant around. My sister came with her family and I had my 2 sons with me, all under 6. We arrived at 9:40 on a Sunday morning. Parking lot was about half full, not too crowded but as we walked up to the entrance, there was already a decent line to be admitted. Not sure if this was due to a technical issue or what, but it really wasn't the end of the world. People were antsy, I suspect because they read the reviews on Google ahead of time and were expecting the worst. This part was bearable.

The more frustrating part was once we were admitted, we waited even longer to be picked up by the tractor to the apple orchard. You could argue that the orchards are close enough to walk to, and you wouldn't be wrong, but it's a big no-no here. I see why it doesn't necessarily make sense, especially because it's essentially a one way loop that you end up walking yourself out of at the end, anyway. Don't fret, if you can't make the walk down, you can always wait for the tractor to do a lap. This waiting part was frustrating because we, as well as 99% of everyone else there, had small children in tow. Time is your enemy in these situations, and the waiting with nothing to distract the kids can be daunting. Don't get me wrong, I don't need constant simulation but you're literally waiting on the side of work area with random things laying around. Liability wise, I'm surprised it's even a thing. For instance, my 18 month old nephew walked right up to a gas can. Luckily we were right there so he didn't pick it up, but yeah, I could see how this would bother some more than others.

However, I MUST say, this is clearly an actual, working farm. I love farms and I appreciate it for being exactly what it's supposed to be. I think this place is great for a little bit older kids, maybe 7+. Not saying it can't be done younger, we all had a great time, but it's a bit of a process here. You gotta wait. And it's really not a big deal, if you're in no hurry. The land is rustic. Some great hills and very long rows of trees on uneven land. I personally love that, but again, easier with bigger kids. I also appreciated the owner giving us a little bit of information about his operations, and was sad to learn Hillview had a hard year due to multiple frosts.

Lastly, I would advise on bringing a backpack or something to help you tow around your goodies. They give you a basket upon admission, but if you're getting pumpkins AND apples, or any of their other produce, the basket fills up quickly. Admission to orchard is 10/person, children under 2 are free. Apples were about 2.50/lb. I personally look forward to returning to Hillview in the "off-season", AKA when the Halloween...

We have been coming here for years, mostly for the eggs and apples. Here are some hints. Honestly, the prices at the farmstand are pretty much the same as picking them yourself, so unless you're looking for quantity or the picking experience, you can get the same items at the stand and save yourself some effort (we do this with blueberries because I honestly don't like picking in the sun.) In fall, come on a weekday to avoid the tractor (EXCEPTION: If there is any religious holiday going on such as Jewish holidays, they will enforce the tractor rule!) I believe the tractor rule is in place because they want to give you the rules and make sure people aren't running amok. Let's be honest, you KNOW that probably happened before and caused the tractor rule in the first place. However, during weekdays, it's quiet and you can get in and out rather quickly. Get the eggs, they're wonderful! In my opinion, Empire apples are the best here and CANNOT compare to store-bought! Crisp and sweet-tart, they're perfect! Fuji and Suncrisp are also good, but I call every week in September to find out when the Empires are coming out. Great for fresh eating and baking. They will also last months in the fridge. That's right, MONTHS! Peaches are also amazing here. I do pick these usually because I get a whole basket full, bring them home to fully ripen, then slice and freeze. While the texture doesn't remain, the flavor is still wonderful and makes its own juice when defrosted! If you're close to the area, they're open until 5 or 6 most weekdays so you can stop in and pick up a few things (rather than do the whole long picking experience, we just like to stop in and grab what we need for the week.) They often have their own mix of veggies and fruits at the farmstand that they grow at the farm but isn't necessarily on the PYO list. They also have local items such as Mozzarella cheese, basil, cider (GET THE CIDER! It's better than the supermarket variety!) honey, tomatoes, corn, eggplant, and other items. If you're looking for the huge PYO experience all fancy-like, this place probably may not be what you're looking for. But if you want fresh local farm produce, come when it's...