The turn of the season means fun fall activities. Graphic from pixy.org.
Fall is upon us, which means pumpkin spice lattes, flannels, apple pies and bonfires are back. As the leaves begin to fall and the air gets cooler, new autumn activities are popping up all across the state.
Apple picking is one of the most popular fall activities in this area, and that holds true even during a pandemic. Sweet Berry Farm in Middletown, Rhode Island is just 30 minutes away from campus and has more than enough fall activities to keep you and your friends occupied on a crisp fall day. Apple season is from late August to early October and features 16 different kinds of apples, including McIntosh, Gala, Fuji, Golden Delicious and Honeycrisp. Sweet Berry has way more than just apples though. Pumpkins are available to finish out the fall season, and Christmas trees are available the day after Thanksgiving. They also have a large barn that is used for weddings and other parties.
New England is known for its beautiful autumn landscape, and if you are lucky enough to be here during the fall season, you must go exploring. Rhode Island is full of beautiful hiking trails that are the most picturesque destinations for a brisk fall hike; Carrs Pond in West Greenwich, Rhode Island is just that. This four-mile trail definitely checks off your workout for the day while also getting in some beautiful scenery as the park features a lake with a great view. Dogs are permitted on this trail, so your furry friends can experience all the fun with you. Nature lovers would definitely love this hidden gem.
For scare-chasers and adrenaline lovers, these Halloween activities might be something more your style. Scary Acres is a haunted hayride in Hope, Rhode Island that is still offering their spooky activities in 2020. Their website teases that they are “bigger and better” this year and are sure to give you a scare. This adventure is about 40 minutes from campus and makes the perfect weekend trip. Ticket prices are roughly $20 and you must purchase them ahead of time as tickets are not available at the door.
The Roger Williams Park Zoo offers their famous Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular every year, and it’s definitely a must-see before spooky season ends. The trail is drive-thru this year in order to maintain social distancing procedures. The 25-minute show features 5,000 carved pumpkins that light up the quarter-mile long trail. The jack-o-lanterns vary from scary to silly, and even feature some familiar faces such as Olaf from Disney’s “Frozen.” Viewers are advised to stay in their cars for the event, but are allowed to take photos through their windows. Ticket pricing is $50 per car, so grab your friends and carpool over to the show!
Freshman Tori Frank said that her and her family enjoyed the Jack-O-Lantern spectacular several years ago when they attended. She even shared some of her favorite parts of the show.
“There was a whole pumpkin that was carved to look like Cinderella’s carriage,” said Frank. “It was really cool, I couldn’t believe they made a pumpkin look like that. The people that carve them are really talented.”
The trail had sections which featured animals, sports, movies as well as spooky things, such as skeletons and monsters, according to Frank.
Don’t let the fall go to waste! Grab your flannels and your friends and embrace this beautiful New England season with some of these fun activities.