Whether you love it or hate it, autumn has arrived. For the Life section, that means stepping outside and eating yummy treats, as well as delving into some other activities. Keep reading to see what we say you can’t miss out on this fall.
Jaylyn Davis, Staff Writer, she/her/hers, iue25001@uconn.edu
There are many different fall activities to take advantage of when you don’t have homework or exams. One of my favorites is walking around campus. Not only do I get to feel the fall breeze, but I get to see all the unique colors the trees provide.
Another fall activity I really enjoy is apple picking. If you go home during the weekends, you can visit orchards near your hometown and collect some apples there. There are also orchards near the University of Connecticut, like Crookes Orchard and Dondero Orchards.
One final fall activity I suggest is crafts. As someone who loves crafts, I’m a fan of making art pieces from leaves, pinecones and other fall plants. I also love drawing autumn landscapes and trees that are shedding their leaves. If you’re someone who prefers indoor activities, doing similar crafts is highly recommended.
Sean Aitken, Campus Correspondent, he/him/his, sean.aitken@uconn.edu
Fall brings cooler weather, fair season and Halloween. One of my favorite things to do is to visit Six Flags or Lake Compounce’s Halloween events — Fright Fest, as it’s called at Six Flags New England, and Phantom Fall Fest at Lake Compounce.
These events are great fun with friends; the heat isn’t going to kill you during the day riding rides, then at night it gets spooky! Just wandering around with the scare actors is a blast, and checking out the haunted houses with friends is such a good time. The parks also tend to have some unique food options themed for fall or Halloween.
Then, of course with the sun setting much earlier in autumn, you get, what is in my opinion, the best part: night rides. Catching a night ride on “Boulder Dash” at Lake Compounce is an absolute blast, flying through the woods at over 60 miles per hour in pitch darkness —you cannot see anything, it’s great.; Iit’s the only place you can do that in New England. Night rides on “Superman: The Ride” and “Wicked Cyclone” are great as well.
Get a group of friends together or tackle both parks solo this fall!
Eva Nyquist, Campus Correspondent, she/her/hers, eva.nyquist@uconn.edu
Fall isn’t my favorite season, but I must give it credit for allowing me to do something that the hot, sticky weather of summer and cold, bitter winds of winter don’t: sit outside. No matter what I want to do, I do it outdoors.
Despite my aversion to going for runs, jogs and walks, I actually find myself walking around campus in the fall semester, enjoying the breeze and sitting in the sun without later enduring a major sunburn. I’ve found so many spots to plop down and read a book — benches by The William Benton Museum of Art, stone slabs by the Student Union, Adirondack chairs in the park, the steps of an academic building or just on the grass in a random quad.
Naturally, that brings me to my highest recommendation for a fall activity: reading! The weather permits you to sit outside and enjoy the scenery, and instead of simply gazing at the clouds, you can bury your nose in a book and be transported to another world. Fall is also the season of school stress, so ideally, your activities should help you decompress and reflect.
Zayda Shevlin, Contributor , she/her/hers, fhy24005@uconn.edu
As a college student, it’s important to get off campus to take a break from schoolwork or just get a change of scenery.
During fall, a perfect activity to do that will get you outside and get you some exercise is going hiking. Luckily, Connecticut is home to beautiful forests, state parks, mountains and waterfalls. The fall season is the best time of year to go hiking because of the cool and comfortable weather and the visuals of changing leaves.
Some great spots for walking, hiking and exploring near Storrs are the great variety of state parks in the area. Some spots include Mansfield Hollow State Park, Hop River State Park Trail and Pomeroy State Park.
Connecticut is a beautiful state but even better during the fall, so it’s essential to get out and explore to see the fall foliage while you can.
Manya Trivedi, Campus Correspondent, she/her/hers, manya.trivedi@uconn.edu
In the fall, the best activities are ones where you can see nature, smell the crisp air and then end your day eating apple cider donuts or pumpkin-themed treats.
Around Storrs, there are plenty of places nearby that can provide that experience.
Whether it be a hike at Mansfield Hollow State Park or Nipmuck Trail, get some steps and bring a book to read while you enjoy the colors and smells of fall. If you can’t travel off campus, bring yourself to Horsebarn Hill and look at the trees that sit behind it.
After your time in nature, head to Stearn’s Farm Stand to get some apple cider donuts or head to the Dairy Bar to get some pumpkin ice cream to bask in those fall flavors.