In upstate New York, the fall season doesn’t last forever. Because it’s already the middle of October, here’s a list of fun fall activities to do around in Hamilton and some nearby towns! Winter is coming, so take advantage of this beautiful season while it lasts.
1. The Clinton Cider Mill. Located in Clinton, NY, just 30 minutes away from Colgate, the Cider Mill has every fall treat you might want. From homemade apple cider doughnuts and pies, to hot apple cider and freshly picked apples, you won’t be disappointed. If you want to know how apple cider is made, you can watch the mill live in action while pressing apples. The Cider Mill is open every day at 10 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m. (5 p.m. on Sundays) until the day after Thanksgiving, so make sure to stop by!
2. Critz Farms. Also about 30 minutes away in Cazenovia, NY, Critz Farms is where you want to go for some good, old fashioned apple picking. Parking costs roughly $25 per car, but you’ll get a season pass if you go once. You can take a short tractor ride up to the orchard to pick from a wide variety of apples. Costing only $1 for every pound of apples, you can come back to school with deliciously crisp fruit for your room. If you’re looking for more, Critz Farms also has a corn maze, pumpkins, homemade fudge, and a cider mill with freshly pressed cider and sugary apple cider doughnuts. If you’re 21 or over, ask for a token for a free tasting of their hard cider!
3. Hamilton Farmers’ Market. Hopefully you’ve all made it to a farmers’ market this year. If not, hurry up before the season ends! You can buy jams, cheese, honey, flowers, fresh fruits and veggies and more. There are handmade crafts and clothes too. If you’re ever bored on a Saturday morning, head over to the market to walk around and browse. Colgate alum, Britty Buonocore, has her own local bakery called Flour and Salt. She sells her baked goods at the market every week, but they sell out quickly, so make sure to get there early if you want to show her some Colgate love!
4. Fall Foliage. If you’ve looked around Colgate lately, you’ve noticed how the leaves have begun to turn. The wonderful thing about fall foliage is that you can admire it from anywhere! Check out the vibrant leaves from Persson steps, around the Seven Oaks Golf Club, Willow Path, and so many more. If you’re feeling adventurous, drive out to Hamilton Hill, about five miles outside campus. For a spectacular view, go during sunset.
5. Carving Pumpkins. To get into the Halloween spirit, go to Price Chopper, the famers’ market, or drive toward Earlville and buy a pumpkin! Get together with some friends and have a pumpkin carving competition. Nothing brings out the kid in us all like pulling the guts out of your pumpkin. If you have kitchen access, roast the pumpkin seeds with some kosher salt for a tasty snack.
6. Pumpkin Spice. Since we don’t have a Starbucks, head over to Saxby’s to get one of their Pumpkin Spice specialty drinks. Dunkin Donuts sells pumpkin flavored doughnuts if you’re too lazy to drive to Critz Farms or the Cider Mill for a more homemade treat. For the culinary experts out there, I encourage you all to bake pumpkin bread, whether it’s from a box or from scratch.
7. Leaves. As the leaves start falling from the trees, find a big pile of them and start jumping and kicking around. Wear rain boots or L.L. Bean boots so you don’t get too wet or dirty. If you’re trying to roll around, wear some clothes you don’t care about. While this activity may seem less fun after the age of ten, you can probably get a great Instagram out of it!