September 22nd marked the official day of autumn, and you know what that means! The leaves start changing colors, the temperature drops into the comfortable 60s and 70s, and flannels and cute booties come back into season. I found some fun indoor and outdoor activities that you can do with your friends to make the most out of fall!
1. Pumpkin Patch with your Friends
I’ve heard amazing things about this experience, and I cannot wait to try it this month. You can pick out a pumpkin or two and decorate it, bake the pumpkin seeds and/or carve it! There’s a place called Soergel Orchards that has everything from pumpkin patches to corn mazes. It’s only a half hour ride by car, so pick a few friends and spend a beautiful Saturday in October doing fall things!
2. Indoor Camping Night
My friends and I did this last year and had so much fun! We built a fort indoors with the couch cushions and blankets, bought things to make s’mores (in the microwave) and watched summer camp-like movies. It was great after a long week of exams to relax and laugh with my friends while also enjoying the idea of camping – without the bugs and freezing our butts off part!
3. Take a Nice Stroll
Pittsburgh has amazing trails that many people don’t really know about. It’s so beautiful here in the fall with the leaves changing colors and the sun hitting the vegetation at certain angles. I go to the Panther Hollow trail across the street from Phipps, which blocks out the sounds of the city. It’s a great way to relax your mind for an hour or two and get in some exercise outdoors before it gets too cold!
4. Decorate your Apartment for the Season
I love Pinterest so much! I also love Target, Michaels and decorating for holidays. Last year, my roommates made little leaves with construction paper and wrote down what we were thankful for. We also bought a cute, tiny pumpkin for outside our door. It was a great way to bond, and you can do it from the comfort of your own place!
5. Baking/Cooking
This can be a little hard when you don’t have a kitchen, like in the freshmen dorms. However, there are tons of recipes for college students, like pasta and overnight oatmeal, that you can make in the microwave. I love baking, and I’m really excited to try and make my first warm, gooey-yet-crunchy apple crisp this autumn!
6. Thrift Shop!
With the change of the season comes the switch of your wardrobe. If you’re like me and switch your style once a year, then you might feel the compulsion to buy new clothes when your closet is looking a little empty. Clothes are expensive, but I’ve discovered the activity of thrifting and I love it! It’s extremely cheap to do and is great way to find pieces and make them your own.
Fall is my favorite season of the entire year. It’s not too hot, but it’s not too cold. There’s football, hockey and baseball going on at the same time. It’s also the season of Halloween and Thanksgiving. However, there’s clearly a lot more to do than picking the right costume or stuffing your face full of homemade deliciousness. Hopefully I gave you some ideas on how to spend your downtime with pals!