Autumn in New England: My Favorite Ways to Embrace the Season

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It’s that time of year again: the leaves are changing color, the breeze gets a little crisper, and you’re reaching for that comforting sweater in your wardrobe. Having lived in New England all my life, I've found fall to be hands-down my favorite season because it is so gorgeous. You just understand why so many people have been creatively inspired just by visiting or living here (shoutout to our local celebrity poet Emily Dickinson). Without further ado, here are some of my favorite things to do (big and small!) around these parts during the fall.

Coffee with Cinnamon Creamer and Milk

Sometimes all you need is a cup of deliciousness to get through the day, and one of my go-tos in the morning has been coffee with cinnamon creamer and milk. It’s so simple, yet mixing in the different components and taking the first sip makes me feel like I’m living in a fall fantasy. The cinnamon comes through with a soft punch and the vanilla coffee goes down really smoothly. While I’m not typically the biggest coffee drinker, this beverage has been my regular caffeinated drink this fall. If I’m feeling extra fancy, I like to add some vanilla cold foam from Trader Joe’s or whipped cream on top. Yum!

Therapeutic Tea Time

Making a cup of tea is like a ritual for me. I know that sounds like a very cliché thing to say, but it’s truly an act of self-care for me. In the fall, I love a good spiced drink, especially anything with apples and cinnamon in it, and waiting for the water to boil before pouring it in one of my favorite mugs is amazing. You can smell the aroma of the tea as the water hits it, and waiting for the flavors to steep while fixing up a snack and maybe browsing some movies is a perfect evening waiting to happen.

Watching a Movie with a Cozy Cup of Tea

Of course, once you’ve brewed that lovely cup of tea, you’re going to want to settle down and watch a show or a movie with it. Some suggestions I have for media to consume during the fall are Over the Garden Wall and Pride and Prejudice. 

If you’re into animated shows, Over the Garden Wall is a classic. Filled with loveable yet flawed characters, adventure and catchy music, the show set during Halloween will get you in your feels and is a great show to watch with friends. On the other hand, if you want to watch a romantic period movie, Pride and Prejudice is awesome and you can catch it on Netflix.

Annual Fall Hike

I remember the first time I went on a hike during college. It was at Mount Sugarloaf with one of my good friends and the view was amazing, even though the leaves hadn’t all changed color yet. It’s a relatively short hike and the view is great! There’s even a tower at the top of the mountain where you can get an even better bird’s eye view. You can walk up the mountain or you can drive up during the day, though I recommend the hike because you can see all the foliage and also look out for little animals on your way up. 

Another great hiking spot to check out is the Quabbin Reservoir! The reservoir is one of the largest public water supplies in the U.S. Developed in the 1930s, the creation of the reservoir helped provide water for the Greater Boston area—which it still does today. You can also spot wildlife there, such as deer, moose and sometimes bald eagles. There are several trails you can take based on length and difficulty and the views are gorgeous.

Montague Bookmill

The bookmill, located in scenic Montague, is a delight to visit at any time of year, but it’s particularly gorgeous in the fall, especially in late October or early November, when the leaves are falling. There’s a beautiful waterfall, and if you just stop for a minute to appreciate the sound of cascading water and birds chirping, you’ll feel like you’ve just stepped into a fall movie. There’s also a record shop, local arts store and a cafe nearby—so you can make the most of your trip. And the books and surroundings are sublime; you could easily spend an afternoon browsing or curled up in an armchair reading.

Baking! Air Fryer Apple Hand Pies, Inspired by Amy Flanigan’s Recipe

I must confess that I’m not the world’s best baker: I probably wouldn’t make it very far on the Great British Bake Off or MasterChef. However, these air fryer apple pies are really easy to make if you’re a college student on a budget but you still want to enjoy a slice of fall comfort. All you have to do is buy some pie crust, some apple filling if you don’t want to make it from scratch, and some sugar and egg if you want it to have that lovely golden color. I followed this recipe and the pies turned out great and were especially tasty with some vanilla ice cream. 

Curating and Listening to my Fall Playlist

Let’s be real, what’s a seasonal fall favorites list without a curated playlist? I have some songs that I always listen to during the fall because their music just screams cozy sweater weather and people watching on a bench while the leaves drift gently to the ground nearby. While I listen to my music, I like to pretend that I’m a character in a fall coming-of-age movie while staring out of the bus window moodily. 

Going to the Black Sheep 

The Black Sheep has some of my favorite things: a rural New England charm with its wooden floors, handwritten signs and random memorabilia on the walls, delicious cafe food and warm vibes. While it’s a fun spot to visit any time of year, I particularly like going during the fall, especially on Sundays when they have live jazz, to enjoy a cinnamon roll and their signature apple cider. It’s so comforting and makes me feel like the main character in a film.

People Watching in a Red Chair on the Lawn on Campus

I love people watching, preferably with my fall playlist playing, but sometimes I like to just take in the sounds of leaves crunching underfoot, the sound of conversation, abd the laughter in the air. It makes you put things in perspective and appreciate the small things, which I think is so important.

I hope you’re inspired to have some autumnal fun and take some time for yourself amidst all the crazy midterm season stuff that’s coming up; you deserve it!