This upcoming weekend, the campus population will disperse across the country to visit family and friends. All classes will be cancelled on Monday and Tuesday, leaving room to have a little bit of extra fun over the long weekend. Here are 10 things to do if you don’t already have plans:
10. Go to an orchard.
New Jersey is called the Garden State for a reason- an overabundance of farming and passionate home growers in the area allows for a scenic (and tasty) outing. At Sun High Orchards in Randolph, NJ, you can pick some fresh apples, pet some farm animals, and go on a hayride all in one trip. Plus, who doesn’t love a good apple cider donut?
9. Explore New York.
A train ride or short car ride can lead you to a multitude of possibilities- some you probably didn’t even know exist. There’s something to do for everyone in the city that never sleeps- go see a Broadway play (I recently went to see Waitress and loved it I highly recommend), find a new restaurant, go shopping on 5th Avenue, or climb a rock for a picnic with a view in Central Park.
8. Enjoy a concert.
With such close proximity to the Prudential Center and New York, the possibilities are endless. Just because concert season is winding down doesn’t mean that there isn’t anything left. For example, on Friday, Bruno Mars’s 24K Magic tour will be stopping in Brooklyn, NY at 7PM at the Barclays center, and Bruce Springsteen’s tour will be stopping at the Walter Kerr Theater in New York City on Friday at 7PM.
7. Camp out.
New Jersey also has some beautiful scenery to enjoy in its purest form. Spending the night in the great outdoors is a fantastic way to understand its beauty. Plus, the weather is the perfect temperature to do so- not too hot so you’re sweating all night without air conditioning like in festival season, and not too cold that you need to pack more weight in blankets that you can carry.
6. Go on a hike.
If you’re not as outdoorsy or if you don’t have the heart to brave the bugs and uncertainty, a hike is another way to enjoy the beauty of the Garden State. South Mountain Reservation is a great place to get those extra miles, especially if you’d like to see some local wildlife (deer are extremely common and birds are a given-try to spot the different species or listen to the calls!)
5. Tailgate at a sports game.
Baseball season is underway, and the Jets are playing the Broncos in East Rutherford at the MetLife Stadium. Buy premium tailgate tickets here and bring the whole squad!
4. Bake some fall goodies.
Warmth is a must in the beginning of the cold season, and what better way to warm up is to enjoy some yummy treats. For extra points, add some pumpkin or cinnamon to truly embrace the fall spirit. If you want a Starbucks knock-off recipe, follow this pumpkin spice bread recipe.
3. See a movie.
Horror movie season is beginning to pick up so tell a group to meet you there for some movie theater candy and a good scare. The Nun (dir. Corin Hardy) has been scaring audiences for just under a month now and in my opinion truly lives up to the hype. For reference of its scare factor, its ads were pulled from YouTube for being too scary. For a less terrifying option, go see the latest Marvel installment Venom with Tom Hardy playing the sort of protagonist’s role.
2. Explore Six Flags.
With the beginnings of Fright Fest already underway, even going to the park for the rides is a spooky feat. Make sure to take loads of pictures with the fun props that the park has set up to promote the event!
1. Stage a photo shoot.
South Orange has no shortage of scenic views in its surrounding areas- whether those areas are in New York, South Mountain Reservation, or even just around campus. Be sure to capture the beauty of the lush landscaping before winter takes its toll on the groundskeepers’ hard work.