Sharing Favorites: Fall Activities
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Alright y'all, if you're new to this you really only need to know one thing: autumn is my absolute favorite time of the year. If there was a place where the leaves were colorful, the air was crisp and pumpkins were bountiful year-round, I would live there. That being said, I've explored a fair amount of fall activities across New England. If you're looking for a definitive guide to autumnal activities, look no further.
1. Apple Picking
Sorry to start off on a basic note, but it's a necessity. A classic spot is Honey Pot Hill, located in Stow, MA. Honey Pot Hill is a huge orchard that's super commercialized to feed your need for fall. Not only does it have rows of every kind of apple, but they also have a farm stand that sells apple cider, pumpkins, apple cider donuts and an assortment of fresh jams. If you're looking for something more low key, check out Mack's Apples in Londonderry, NH. My family visits this spot every year; it's quiet and beautiful, located in the middle of a scenic valley.
Best Time: Early Fall (before things get too hectic or Halloweeny!)
Price: $
Scary Scale: 0
2. Corn Mazes & Hayrides
This is another fall favorite of mine. For some reason, I feel like these two aren't done as frequently, but they are a whole lot of fun. Often you can find them together, and a lot of the times your trip will end with a hot cup of cider! I prefer to do them at night, especially the corn maze, which can be a little spooky and fun around Halloween! Some places to check out are Hanson's Farm (Framingham, MA), Salisbury Farm (Johnston, RI) and Oakdale Farm (Rehoboth, MA).
Best Time: Mid to Late October
Price: $
Scary Scale: 3 (if you do it at night!)
3. Pumpkin Patches & Festivals
This is something so quintessential to fall spirit, and yet I feel as if everyone thinks finding an actual pumpkin patch is difficult. In fact, I rarely even go to an actual PYO patch. However, If you're interested, there are a ton of pumpkin patches right in Massachusetts! In fact, the previously mentioned Hanson's Farm (Framingham, MA) and Mack's Apples (Londonderry, NH) also offer PYO pumpkins! In addition check out these farms:
Shelburne Farm (Stow, MA) • Carver Hill Orchard (Stow, MA) •
Boston Hill Farm (North Andover, MA) • Lookout Farm (South Natick, MA) •
Nihtila Farm (Holbrook, MA) • Applecrest Farm (Hampton Falls, NH)
Often, pumpkin patches or even entire towns will celebrate the season by hosting pumpkin festivals. These will include jack o' lantern carvings, nighttime lightings, goodies and family fun. Applecrest Farm offers a Harvest festival every Saturday & Sunday 11am-5pm.
If you're looking for more of a spectacle, check out:
• Great Jack-O'-Lantern Blaze (Croton-on-Hudson, New York). This festival features over 7,000 hand carved pumpkins intricately designed into spectacles such as a fully functioning carousel!
• Chatham, MA offers a similar, smaller scale festival called Pumpkin People in the Park. Find the creations of the town on display up until Halloween.
• If you love pumpkin carvings, don't miss the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at Roger-Williams Park Zoo (Providence, RI). One of my personal favorites, this event will take you through the zoo after hours, completely surrounded by professionally carved pumpkins as you travel from one themed realm into the next.
• Lastly, head up to Laconia, NH to witness a 34 foot tall wall of carved pumpkins during their annual Pumpkin Festival!
Best Time: PYO is fun all season! You can find festival dates on each site.
Price: $$-$$$
Scary Scale: 2
4. Take a Trip to Salem
This might be my absolute favorite Halloween activity. As a child, I grew up reading books about the Salem With Trials and have been interested ever since. My family and I make the trek to the haunted little town every year and visit museums, graveyards, shops and haunted houses. Salem is bountiful in all things Halloween, so be sure to do your research before you go. Some of my favorites are the Salem Witch Museum, the Witch House and visiting the houses used in the filming of Hocus Pocus. Speaking of houses, be sure to check out the beautiful homes that line Chestnut Street and the adjacent roads.
Best Time: Mid to Late October. Be warned: Halloween Week is crazy here!
Price: $$-$$$
Scary Scale: 7
5. Haunted Happenings
Last but not least, get yourself to a haunted house! Or better yet, head over to a some places that offer more than one spook for the price of a single ticket! One of the most famous in the area is Spooky World (Litchfield, NH). This location offers 5 haunted attractions, carnival games, zombie paintball AND and beer garden. You can also check out Scary Acres (Millbury, MA), a destination featuring a haunted trail and hayride combination. Finally, and my personal favorite, is Field of Screams (West Greenwich, RI). Here you can venture through a haunted dungeon, escape the zombie apocalypse via hayride and wander through a clown-infested fun house. They've also recently added zombie paintball! Have fun and prepare to be spooked!
Best Time: Late October or on Halloween!
Price: $$
Scary Scale: 10
That's it for now y'all! Enjoy your fall festivities and let me know if you have any favorites I should try!
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