Just because October is ending does not mean that fall activities have to end either! With November right around the corner, the leaves will still be changing color and falling for the month, so let’s not forget to keep the fall spirit! Below, I will list five creative and cost-friendly ways to still have fun while the weather starts to get cold!
1. Painting Pumpkins: Whether it is a full-sized pumpkin or a cute little white or orange pumpkin, it is so fun to get a ton of different paint colors out and make cute designs or images on your pumpkins. Some ideas you could paint on your pumpkin include hearts, stars, ghosts, cats, etc.
2. Going to a Pumpkin Patch: Get a group of your friends together and dress up in the fall essentials such as a flannel and some light wash jeans with uggs, pick some pumpkins, and take photos. Some of the closest pumpkin patches to UNH are DeMirrit Hill Farm, Coppal House Farm, and Zach’s Corn Maze. All three of these places allow free entry into the farm, but there might be some things where money is needed such as if you wanted to do the corn maze at Zach’s Corn Maze!
3. Make caramel or candy apples: The best fall treats are either pumpkin or apple anything in my opinion, so what’s better than making some warm caramel or candy apples? My personal favorite is caramel apples so I thought I would share with you guys a recipe I have followed in the past. The ingredients you will need are eight large apples (I chose a nice juicy red delicious apple), eight wooden chopsticks for handles, two cups of packed brown sugar, one can of sweetened condensed milk, one cup light corn syrup, one cup butter, and two teaspoons of vanilla extract.
Directions: In a large saucepan bring water to a boil and dip the apples for only a couple seconds and then set them aside for 30 minutes. Once you wait 30 minutes stick your sticks into the top of the apples. In a sauce pan stir together sugar, sweetened condensed milk, corn syrup, and butter on medium heat. Now, once the caramel is brought to a boil, stir constantly and remove it from the heat and it is go time! Working as quickly as you can, dip every apple into the caramel about half an inch of the wood handle. This last step is optional but I think is the best part, which is the toppings! You can either add sprinkles, nuts, or whatever floats your boat. Let them cool for an hour, and dig in!
4. Go on a hike: No matter the season you can go on walks and hikes, but at UNH around the fall time is especially pretty. With how closely we are located to the mountains, there are so many hikes only minutes away; from just going into College Woods and doing a trail there or going all the way to Moutain Franconia. My friend who loves to hike said that this trail is just breathtaking; it is an hour and 42-minute drive, so you definitely have to love hiking, but it is on my bucket list!
5. Go to a farmers market: Farmers markets are especially perfect for the fall season, with the fruits and vegetables being perfectly ripe, there is no other place to stop by this upcoming month. Did you know that located in Durham not even a seven minute drive from the UNH campus there is a cute farm stand-alone building called Emery Farm. If you have not been to Emery Farm, what are you waiting for? This season they have a special new slushie apple cider, and let me say from someone who has tried it, you need to find a way to get one!
These are just five fall activities out of so many out there! If you are still in the fall mood after reading this article and have down all of the fall activities maybe take a look at Pinterest at what other fun things you can do to get yourself in the fall vibe.