With less than a week away, it’s time to get prepared for the best time of the year. FALL! While the weather outside isn’t exactly helping us get into the spirit, I promise that these five ideas will get you all giddy for the upcoming season!
The most essential part of fall is getting your pumpkin. Because what is fall without pumpkins, gourds, apples, and spices? Living in the town of Blacksburg gives us so many options on where to go for pumpkin picking, but I’ve narrowed it down to the best two.
1. Sinkland Farms
Sinkland farm is one of the best places you could go to get your pumpkins. They have corn mazes, amazing views, horseback riding, and even a brewery! They are also hosting the 28th Annual Pumpkin Festival on Saturday, September 28 and Sunday, September 29. The festival will have live music, pumpkin picking, games, and wine tastings!
2. Alpha Gamma Rho Pumpkin Patch
While Alpha Gamma Rho isn’t as fancy as Sinkland Farms, they do have a pretty great pumpkin patch. The fraternity usually opens their patch at the beginning of October! They actually grow them in their backyard! The best part about this pumpkin patch is that they donate all the proceeds from the patch to their philanthropy.
With the crisp weather approaching and the stress of school, I highly recommend going for a hike on one of Blacksburg’s fascinating trails. You get to watch the leaves fall and witness the change of color from above. Hiking is a great way to connect back to yourself when looking for relief from school. No textbooks, exams, homework assignments, nothing but you and the great outdoors.
3. McAfee Knob
You’ve probably been told a thousand times to go hiking here, but this time I want you to listen. You have to go hiking on this trail once fall hits. I am a massive fan of the Blue Ridge Mountain area and the Appalachian Trail, and McAfee Knob has both. The hike can be challenging, but once you get to the top, you’ll realize why everyone goes.
4. Huckleberry Trail
If you don’t have the time to commit to a whole day worth of hiking and traveling, then I suggest to go take a walk on the Huckleberry Trail. You’ll get to experience the outdoors, feel the crisp cold weather on your skin, and see the leaves fall from the trees. It’s not as intense as hiking McAfee Knob, but it is surely just as beautiful.
5. Gallows
Last, but not least, you have to take a drive up to Christiansburg and visit the haunted house known as Gallows. The Gallows is the home of the Woodson Massacre that took place in 1979. I won’t spoil the story of the family, but just know that if you go, there is a good chance you won’t come back.
The fall season is just around the corner, and while there are so many places to go and embrace the season, there are also ways you can embrace it at home. Making cookies, decorating your dorm, drinking and eating anything pumpkin-flavored, drinking cider (spiked or not), and so much more. Fall is a time of scares and haunts, but it is also a time of being thankful and relearning how to care for ourselves and others. So go get a pumpkin and embrace all the things fall has to offer!
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