Fall is quite literally my favorite season of the whole year. I love everything about the crisp mornings, the smell of changing leaves in the air, hot cider, and more. While fall is going to look a little different this year amid a global pandemic, I’m sharing with you today some of my favorite (socially distanced) activities you can do this year and still enjoy one of the greatest seasons there is!

There is so much that I love about the fall season. Usually this time of year I am wrapping up a summer fair season and heading into the fall fair season which concludes with the Fryeburg Fair. The approach of Fryeburg Fair means that fall is officially here, and although all in-person fairs for this season have been canceled or postponed due to the COVID-19 crisis, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other amazing agricultural or outdoor activities that you can do this season (including taking part in your local fair’s virtual event!).

Although I missed four years of fall fairs while I was in college, having gone to school in Central New York one of my favorite things to do was to go out on a hike with my friends or apple picking. There were a ton of apple orchards in the Central New York area for us to go to and plenty of hiking trails as well. One of the nice things this time of year is that there is plenty you can do outside without being around a lot of others (key importance during these times), and you can do these activities at various times throughout the day, making them perfect for the early bird or the late riser. Fall is also great for baking and sitting around in the evening with a sweet treat you made and a cup of cocoa or hot cider watching your favorite movies, a true form of relaxation. Below are a few of my favorite fall activities that i like to try and do each year.

My Favorite Fall Activities:

• Apple picking - if you live in new england (central new york/upstate new york specifically) there are plenty of apple orchards around that you can visit. many orchards have a wide variety of apples you can pick from, and throughout the months certain apples are going to be more in season than others. many orchards also have stores where you can buy other fall favorite goodies such as cider donuts, pies, apple butter, and more.

• pumpkin picking - a lot of farms have pumpkin patches where you can go and pick your choice of pumpkin to buy. this is a favorite activity among families, high school students, college kids, and beyond. many young people living on their own like to decorate for the seasons, so going to pick their own pumpkins or gourds to decorate with is a fun activity. for families, it’s great because kids can pick out their own pumpkin to paint or carve for the season. there are usually plenty of other outdoor activities to do at pumpkin patches including corn mazes, hay rides, and more.

• leaf peeping - If you are from new england you have probably heard the term “leaf peepers”. This is a special subgroup of tourists who come up this way during the late september and early october months to “peep” the bright colors of the changing leaves as we leave summer and head deep into fall and early into winter. the bright leaves makes for great photo opportunities, and provide many tourists from mid-atlantic and southern states the opportunity to see something that doesn’t happen in their region. i personally love driving through the white mountains just a short 45 minute drive from my house to take in the changing leaves, and try to catch a glimpse of mount washington on a crisp, clear, cloudless day.

• hiking - I like hiking in the fall because while you’ll still break a sweat, you won’t feel awful like in the summer time. the crisp air makes it easier to breathe and more enjoyable when doing more intense or longer hikes. you also don’t have the humidity that comes with summer, and of course, if it’s during the fall foliage peek times, hiking the mountains during the fall months comes with some great photo opportunities once you summit.

• baking - this sounds so simple, but it’s really true. i thoroughly enjoy going apple picking with the intention of coming home to make a delicious apple crisp or apple pie. i also like browsing the millions of recipes on pinterest and finding something to try during my weekends. for me putting on my favorite playlist and whipping up some baked goods on the weekend is a form of therapy and is very relaxing. with everything going on in the world today, i think it’s important to be sure we are taking the time to do the things we love and enjoy them (even if it might add a few pounds to the hips!).

• agricultural fairs - in any other normal year, there would still be a handful of ag fairs happening through early october. while these fairs may not be taking place this year, many are actually hosting virtual fairs to help support their exhibitors, vendors, and 4-h participants. if your local fair has been postponed, be sure to check out their social media pages and website to stay informed on what they are doing, and to find out more if they are hosting a virtual fair or their plans for 2021.

Again, these are just a few of my favorite things that i like to do each year, but there are so many other things that you can do throughout the fall season. do you have a favorite fall activity not listed above? are any of my favorites on your list as well? comment with your favorite fall activities below!