Here are 10 Ways to Enjoy Fall in New England (or where ever you live). Did you know there are 90 days of fall? Fall officially begins on September 22, and ends on December 21 – so you have exactly 90 days to embrace all things autumn before winter comes!
10 Ways to Enjoy Fall in New England
1. Go Apple Picking
Apple pie, apple crisp, apples with peanut butter… there are so many ways to enjoy freshly picked apples. Plan a fun afternoon at a “pick your own” farm to stock up on your favorite kinds of apples! We already went apple picking last weekend at an orchard down the street. Read my Tips for Apple Picking before you go!
Bonus: Try one of these 5 Apple Recipes to Make this Fall.
2. Visit a Fall Festival
Our town has been hosting an annual fall festival called Celebrate Wallingford every first weekend of October since 1986! In years past I helped to organize the two-day event – it is one you don’t want to miss! There are plenty of fall festivals all over New England – just hit search on something in your area!
3. Find the Perfect Pumpkin
Growing up we always went to the pumpkin patch to pick out the perfect pumpkin. Nowadays, most farms do all the hard pumpkin picking for you and put the best pumpkins out on display. What ever way you pick your pumpkin, it’s still a fun fall family activity!
4. Take a Hike
The fall is the perfect time to go hiking in New England! The bugs are slowly disappearing and the weather is ideal for an adventure in the woods. The best part about hiking in Connecticut is getting to the top of a trail and seeing a colorful view! Don’t know where to begin when hiking? Here is a Beginners Guide to Hiking.
Looking for a place to go hiking? Visit the Trust for Public Land website to find a place near you to connect to the outdoors during fall.
5. Do Something Spooky
Wallingford is home to one of Southern New England’s premiere haunted happenings: The Trail of Terror. It’s so spooky that I have not walked through it since high school because I don’t like being scared. However, if you would enjoy a 45 minute walk through a legendary twisty, winding outdoor haunted trail in the woods – the Trail of Terror is for you. Check out The Guide to Halloween in New England for more things scary and spooky.
6. Try to Not Get Lost in a Corn Maze
Another popular thing to do during the fall in New England is walk a corn maze. I can’t recall the last time I got lost in one, but this year I hope to take my girls on an adventure! Here are 10 corn mazes to visit in Connecticut and 10 Haunted Flashlight Corn Mazes in Connecticut.
Can’t find a corn maze? There are still some sunflower field mazes standing during the fall too.
7. Leaf Peeping in New England
Have you read the 2024 New England Fall Foliage Update? Autumn colors are set to arrive early! There are so many incredible places to look at leaves around New England – some may be right in your own backyard. I love to drive around with my daughters and call out the colors we see on the trees throughout the season. It’s really amazing when we see the same tree display leaves of multiple colors.
These are the top leaf peeping places in Connecticut: 7 Fabulous Places for Fall Foliage in Connecticut: Norfolk · Kent · Mohawk State Forest · Simsbury · Pachaug State Forest · Mystic · Sleeping Giant.
Want to venture outside of Connecticut? Here are the 15 Best Places to See Fall Foliage in New England and The Most Scenic New England Fall Foliage Destinations.
8. Explore Where You Live
There is nothing more fun than learning more about where you live! Take a drive to see the leaves or visit animals at a local farm. Put on some rain boots and walk along a local river while admiring the geese flying south or peep the fall foliage. Fun fact: There are lots of covered bridges in New England that make looking for into a fun road trip!
9. Cook Fun Fall Recipes
One doesn’t have to live in New England to cook up a fun fall recipe. Sweet Potato Turkey Chili, Pumpkin Macaroni and Cheese, countless soups and stoups – the fall recipe options are endless! Here are some of my favorite fall recipes that we make every season.
10. Start a New Fall Tradition
There’s no better time than now to start a new fall tradition with your loved ones. Whether it’s making homemade pizzas while carving pumpkins, a chili cook-off with friends, or taking a drive to find spooky decorations around town – there is so much to do and see during the fall in New England. As the temps cool down and daylight gets shorter, take advantage of the most beautifully transformative season of the year.
Here are more ideas for activities to do in fall: October Bucket List
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