Outdoor Activities To Spice Up The Fall: New England Style

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Conn chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

Picture this: It’s autumn and the leaves on all the trees surrounding you are dancing; a blend of orange, red and brown with hints of green still left from the summer. The air is crisp with a cool breeze, and as you walk around, the leaves crunch beneath your feet. You got ready for the day in the cutest fall outfit you could find and have your favorite drink in hand.

Can you picture it? My goal is to help you get that perfect fall memory with your favorite people during the best time of year, because admit it, everyone knows what awaits after autumn. Cold and dry winters are to be expected, but the enjoyable weather and ambiance are still in sight! Savor the outdoors before it’s too late, and find a cool spot or activity to immerse yourself in New England’s most romanticized season.

The fall foliage is not something that should be taken for granted; you might miss it in all its beauty! Ignore your urge to rush into Halloween, Christmas and the winter. Autumn can be therapeutic if you let it be, and taking a step back to admire the beauty is the most grounding feeling before winter sneaks up on you. Be more like Lorelai.

Warner Bros. Television

“It’s just my favorite time of the year. The whole world changes color.”

Here are my top fall activities you can get involved in to soak up every last bit of the weather:

Apple and pumpkin picking, corn mazes, pre-Halloween scares and relaxing, low-stress activities.

If any of those seem interesting -and you’re willing to spend a little money (for your happiness, of course)-here’s a deep dive of specific places and things to try out!

Apple and Pumpkin Picking

Instagram-worthy pictures await! A chill vibe and aesthetic are always to be expected at any orchard or patch. Grab a pumpkin or an apple and pose -bonus points if you use a digital camera! Hay rides are my all-time favorite activity, along with choosing the most beautiful -and the ugliest- pumpkin in sight. The fun doesn’t stop; display a pumpkin -carved or as is- as decoration, and get ready to eat! Baking fresh goodies like pumpkin seeds, apple pie, or anything you desire is *the* after-party that can be done solo, with friends, or with family for equal fun.

Crisp air … or crispy apple? Visit one of these orchards to have both!

• Jonny Appleseed Farm (Orchard) – Ellington, Connecticut

• Crookes Orchard – Ashford, Connecticut

Gourd pumpkin patches to check out (Get it? … gourd?):

• Castle Hill Farm Inc – Newtown, Connecticut

• Randall Farm & Forest – Canterbury, Connecticut

The best aesthetic Instagram posts are in store at any of these patches and orchards, but don’t limit yourself to only having cute flics -although it’s a nice addition to your page-! Be present in the moment, but capture the memories.

Aaron Burden/Unsplash

Corn Mazes

Get ready for an exhilarating adventure! Being lost in a maze is always a great bonding experience for you and your friends, family or significant other to partake in. Haunted corn mazes were always my favorite as a kid because when I got lost, I knew I wasn’t actually stuck. Although you aren’t supposed to go outside of the designated paths, it always made me feel more at ease with the idea of being “lost”. Enjoy a regular or haunted corn maze at one of these amazing events!

• Preston Farms Corn Maze – Preston, Connecticut

• Six Flags Fright Fest (Sept. 20 – Nov. 9) – Agawam, Massachusetts

• Castle Hill Farm Inc – Newtown, Connecticut

Although it seems like a non-Instagramable adventure, anything can be cute if you try hard enough. Please go with friends, your partner or family so you don’t get lost, can get cute Instagram pics and so you can create fun competitions and games while finding your way through the corn! Tag, hide and seek, or any other games you may come up with, can spice up the mystery of the maze. It’s only embarrassing if you make it…

Halloween Pregame

Scary is the new hot -at least in the fall-. Haunted events with lots of screams and terror are not the same without you! They told me so. Halloween isn’t just one night, it’s a *must-have* mindset for the fall. Not to scare you any more than these events will, but Halloween is soon; SO GET YOUR COSTUMES NOW! Maybe you can wear it to a haunted event to get the full experience.

• Trail of Terror – Wallingford, Connecticut

• Six Flags Fright Fest (Sept. 20 – Nov. 9) – Agawam, Massachusetts

• Nightmare on Main (Oct. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18) – Willimantic, Connecticut *Non-profit organization*

Say goodbye to your dreams of being nonchalant. I don’t recommend doing this as a first date, but… it would show your or your date’s true colors. Going with a close friend might be a better idea because I hope -I really do hope- they would not leave you for dead. Fight, flight, freeze or fright? You decide.

Relax

If none of the previous activities interests you, don’t worry; you can always choose a more relaxed option! Go to a local cafe, go on a walk outdoors, bake some pumpkin-themed food or sit outside and read your favorite fall book. Here are some of the more laid-back options/ideas in more detail for University of Connecticut students specifically:

• Dog Lane Cafe (or Starbucks/Dunkin) – A pumpkin chai is my go-to for the fall, but a good vanilla chai will always hit the spot.

• Horsebarn Hill – Have a picnic, read a book or just enjoy the view!

• Fall-themed food – Enjoy making (or just eating ) pumpkin chocolate chip muffins, apple pie, apple cider and pumpkin donuts!

Notice how all of these are food-related… Food is a necessity, and so are these laid-back activities! Here’s my go-to recipe for the fall to really set the mood and pumpkin-ness you are required to enjoy. It’s fall after all!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins recipe (serves 24):

• 4 eggs

• 2 cups of sugar

• 1 (15oz) can of pumpkin

• 1 1/2 cups of apple sauce

• 3 cups of flour

• 2 teaspoons of baking soda

• 2 teaspoons of baking powder

• 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon of salt

• 2 cups of chocolate chips (or more if you’re a chocolate lover!)

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees, cook for 20 minutes, and enjoy once they’re cooled down! Please don’t forget to spray the pan with nonstick oil. It’s not very fun to clean up.

do fall your way!

All in all, there are so many things you can do in order to take full advantage of the autumn weather! Appreciate the opportunities as they come, but don’t worry if you don’t get to any of these activities. Winter can be just as exciting, and if you have the right mindset, anything can be as enjoyable as the fall! My dad always used to say fall was depressing because everything was dying, but he couldn’t be more wrong. Leaves falling don’t mean they’re dying. Trees lose their leaves in preparation for the winter in order to come back better than ever in the summer, and they look stunning in doing so. It’s all about perspective!

If you took anything away from this article, let it be this: no matter how busy you are, always take time to enjoy what’s around you. The little things, the big things, good food, fun activities, your favorite people or just being happy should never be taken for granted; they should be cherished!