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If, like us, fall is your favorite season, it’s time to get excited! The chilly air, the changing falling leaves, and the spooky decorations in every store getting ready for Halloween, mean that fall is officially here. Between sips of pumpkin spice lattes and days spent looking for the best costume for trick-or-treating, be sure to tick off a few classic fall activities. We’re here to help with our ultimate fall bucket list.
1. Apple Cider in New England
‘Tis the season for all things apple cider. Head to New England where apple orchard after apple orchard brings you the best ciders and apple-flavored products you can get your hands on. Check out Bantam Cider in Somerville, Massachusetts for the best hot cider, perfect to warm you up on a cool autumn day. Cider isn’t just for drinking in New England. Make sure you savor some of the great apple cider donuts all across the region to satisfy your sweet tooth. The flavors of fall come alive in these delicious treats — perfect for the cozy climate. Don’t miss cider mills like Cold Hollow Cider Mill in Waterbury, Vermont where you can even watch the donuts being made.
2. Apple Picking in Virginia
New England isn’t the only place for apple orchards. Check out the Northern Virginia/DC area for great apple picking spots. Spend your days enjoying the chilly fall air while passing time with friends and family. Plus, most orchards also have tons of apple and fall snacks to get you in the mood for apple picking adventures. Marker-Miller Orchards, in Winchester, Virginia is a popular area for picking apples, red and green, of all types. What could be a better fall activity than hanging out in an old estate while hunting for the best, crisp apples for your next apple pie?
3. Pumpkin Picking
With pumpkin patches all across the country, this is one fall activity that you can (and should!) do in your own backyard. You may not find Charlie Brown’s Great Pumpkin, but with rows and rows of pristine orange gourds, you’ll find more than one to take home. If you’re looking for the best pumpkin patches, The Great Pumpkin Farm, in Clarence, New York has been ranked the best pumpkin patch in the United States by the Travel Channel, and The Great Pumpkin Patch in Arthur, Illinois was ranked number one by Trips to Discover. Bring your prized pumpkin home for a great pumpkin pie, pumpkin soup, or of course a good jack-o-lantern.
4. Carving Pumpkins
What do you do with the pumpkin you just picked? Carve it, of course! Fall is the season for jack o’ lantern’s galore. Check out the best carving techniques, get your chisels ready, and get started on the spooky faces and creepy creatures you can carve right in to adorn your front door. If you’d rather admire someone else’s carving works and not your own, check out some of the best pumpkin carving displays across the US. The Great Jack O’ Lantern Blaze in the Hudson Valley of New York is the biggest pumpkin display in the Tri-State region, from September to November. Bring your camera and marvel at the record-high number of carved and lit-up pumpkins in Illinois at the Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival.
5. Corn Mazes in the Midwest
This is a no-brainer. Gather your friends and head out in the crisp air to get lost in one of the top corn mazes in the United States. Head straight to the heart of America — the Midwest — for the best corn mazes. Deemed the “Midwest’s Original Cornmaze”, you can’t miss out on a trip to Sever’s Corn Maze in Shakopee, Minnesota. The maze is massive and has a new theme every year, as well as maze challenges to find different items and images during your stay. After you find your way out of the corn, enjoy some hot cider, a petting zoo, or pony rides.
6. Haunted Hayrides in Pennsylvania
If you’re looking for a fright, visit the farms in your area for everything haunted. The best fall activities to get you in the mood for Halloween are the ones that involve fun and fear. Check out hayrides like Bates Motel Hayrides in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania. With over 75 acres of hayride trails and over 25 different scenes, this ride will take you into the darkness of PA’s farmland for some ultimate scares. After the hayride, head into the haunted house, or brave a corn maze after dark — but remember, you may not be in the cornfields alone! Afterward, enjoy a nice bonfire, music, and hot chocolate to calm down to help you drift off to seep in the calm fall weather.