September is New England’s dress rehearsal before the big show. The trees try on their costumes, the apples ripen and pumpkin spice is sprinkled here and there. Now, it’s October. And behind the curtain, Connecticut dazzles in the mid-afternoon light. Autumn is New England’s true time to shine.
Not to say UConn is anything less than brilliant; the foliage views are truly spectacular from Horsebarn Hill. However, if you are eager to get a taste of the season off campus, you do not have to go far. Here are a few stunning spots in Connecticut to check out this fall.
Foster Farm, located in South Windsor, Connecticut, has everything for a full day of fall fun. The corn maze is the main feature, each year featuring a new design. This year you can get lost in an African Safari themed maze, filled with twists and turns. On Fridays and Saturdays you can brave the dark and attempt to escape by flashlight. However, be warned — the instructions read, “All guests must be out of the Maze by Nov. 1 or be lost in the maze forever!” After the maze, satisfy your inner child and check out the farm play yard. Perhaps nothing is more fun than crawling through a giant tube tunnel that moves. Remember, fall is all about playing in the leaves.
If you are looking for a unique and gorgeous setting for a fall afternoon to please your creative spirit, check out the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, Connecticut. Once the center of the Old Lyme Art Colony, it is now an art museum on beautiful land with lovely views. There is also currently a fairy garden exhibit on display. Follow the outdoor path and discover nature-inspired houses crafted by local artists. Each year there is a theme, with this year’s being “super hero fairies.” Painted wooden wings make for a great spot to become a fairy or butterfly and take some fun Halloween pictures with friends.
Jones Family Farms in Shelton, Connecticut is the perfect spot to end the weekend. Spending time with friends or family atop this picturesque hill is perhaps the true essence of fall. Enjoy a hayride overlooking the New England views and share a smile with a small toddler trying to pick up a rather large pumpkin. Of course, you must choose from the large variety of pumpkins of all shapes and sizes to bring some fall spirit back to your home (or dorm room).
Kate Luongo is a campus correspondent for The Daily Campus. She can be reached via email at kate.luongo@uconn.edu.
