Have fun this fall by partaking in autumnal activities like apple picking, pumpkin picking, corn mazes and more. Photo by Timothy Eberly on Unsplash. Thumbnail photo by Brigitte Tohm on Unsplash.
Fall has finally arrived, and with it comes the chance for some fun. The days may be getting shorter, but that doesn’t mean there’s not a ton of activities that allow you to get outdoors and have a good time. Don’t let autumn pass you by. Fall into some fun activities this season.
Apple Picking
Get out in the sunshine and pick some fresh fall apples. This activity works well with big groups, just a few friends or a significant other. You can roam the orchard in the crisp breeze and then go into the store for some apple cider, donuts or whatever other goodies they sell!
Some nearby orchards include Wright’s Orchard and Kollas Orchard in Tolland and Horse Listener’s Orchard in Ashford.
Pumpkin Picking
Another fall staple, pumpkins are prime for the picking across Connecticut. Some orchards also have pumpkin patches so that you can kill two birds with one stone when you visit, but you can also take the lazy route and buy a pumpkin from the grocery store.
Once you purchase your pumpkin, you can use it as a classic autumn decoration or carve it for Halloween.
Taste the Fall Flavor
Bake up some seasonal goodies this autumn. Put your apples to good use and make some caramel apples, apple crisp or apple pie. There’s so many things you can do with just apples (apple muffins, apple chips and baked cinnamon-oat–stuffed apples to name a few more), but don’t forget other fall flavors like pumpkin, maple and caramel.
Buy a warm fall drink to go with your sweet treat. Hot apple cider, hot chocolate and chai tea are all reminiscent of the season.
Corn Mazes
Get lost in a corn maze this fall. Spend an afternoon outside weaving your way through stalks of corn taller than you and then relax with a picnic or a hayride afterwards.
The corn mazes nearest to the University of Connecticut are located at Brown’s Harvest in Windsor (their maze’s design is weather-themed) and at Foster Family Farm in South Windsor (their corn maze is in the shape of a lion and cub this year).
Hiking and Camping
Taking a hike allows you to get some exercise while looking at the beautiful fall foliage. The great thing about hiking is that you can fit it to your schedule. If you’re busy, stay close and go on a short hike in the UConn forest. If you want to take a longer day trip, there’s plenty of places in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire to hike.
If you want to take your hike a step further, consider setting up camp for the weekend. It might take some planning, but it’s a great escape from campus. Plus, the UConn Adventure Center rents camping gear for cheap so you can easily arrange a spur-of-the-moment trip.
Haunted Houses
Now that it’s October, Halloween is right around the corner. Get scared at a haunted house or on another type of terrifying tour this fall.
Wallingford hosts the Trail of Terror, an outdoor trail full of frights. This year’s theme is “Fear takes Time.” Nightmare Acres in South Windsor is another haunted trail.
If you’d rather take a scary tour, Ghosts of New Haven offers tours that take a look at some of the city’s ghosts; they even offer a haunted pub crawl. The Connecticut Trolley Museum in East Windsor also hosts “Rails to the Darkside,” a trolley trip that tells the story of a disturbed cemetery.
Decorate Your Dorm
Let fall into your room with some seasonal decor. You can keep it general with some fall foliage, seasonal flowers or pumpkins.
On the other hand, you can decorate for Halloween. Put up some Halloween-themed string lights that feature ghosts or jack-o-lanterns. Buy some cheap gel window clings that say “Trick or Treat” or “Happy Halloween.” And don’t forget about the candy bowl (filled with your favorite candy, of course).
Looking ahead to the next holiday, you can even get some paper hand turkeys ready.
Stephanie Santillo is a senior staff writer for The Daily Campus. She can be reached via email at stephanie.santillo@uconn.edu.
