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All Things Fall: My Top 5 Favorite Fall Activities Near Amherst

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The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Mass Amherst chapter.

After a hot summer, it feels nice to have crisp, cool air while putting on your favorite pair of sweats. With the foliage coming in hot… it’s only right to be in the festive spirit and participate in some fall activities. Amherst is the perfect place to do these activities, everything is located within a fifteen-minute drive radius. Here are my top five favorite fall activities to do in or near Amherst!

go to a corn maze!

Corn mazes are perfect during the fall season. Whether it be on a date, with friends and family, or even by yourself, mazes are extremely fun and interactive. Mike’s Maze in Sunderland, MA is the perfect place to do this activity. This maze has special themes, is an immersive experience, and is not just an ordinary maze. There is trivia and special codes that you have to find the clues throughout the maze. When I went this past month, the theme was “thinking” and there was an AI trivia. After you are done completing the maze, you can go enjoy some warm apple cider or donuts at the food stand or go play some games. Don’t forget to take a picture next to their truck!

visit a pumpkin patch

Going along with the farm theme, visiting a pumpkin patch is a must during the fall season. Sunset Farm in Amherst, MA is the perfect place to find that perfect pumpkin. Did I say perfect too many times? After you are done picking the perfect pumpkin, go grab your carving utensils or painting materials and get to work! Pinterest is my favorite spot to look at inspiration pictures. After you are done carving your pumpkin, roast the pumpkin seeds and enjoy!

go on a hike!

Hiking when it is not too hot or too cold is the best feeling. An amazing hiking place is Mt. Sugarloaf in South Deerfield, MA. It is a great and easy hike for those who are not elite hikers (like myself). It is a great workout and so fun to do with your friends, partner, or yourself. Another great trail is Mt. Pollux in Amherst, MA. This is less of a hike and more of an inclined, two-minute walk to a lookout point. This spot is the best place to see the peak foliage through western Massachusetts and the UMass library.

make fall-themed food

One of my favorite things to do when the weather starts to get chilly is to stay indoors and cook a fun meal. An easy bake that doesn’t really involve cooking it at all besides just putting it in the oven is a pack of the Pillsbury fall-themed cookies. Yes, I’m talking about the ghosts, pumpkins, and now turkey cookies. They are so tasty and extremely easy to make. Another fun meal to cook, either with your friends or by yourself, is pizza in the shape of ghosts, pumpkins, turkeys, or anything else fall-themed you can think of! Add some apple cider to the meal to make it even more fall-themed. Apple pie is also something very fun to make, and you can even get creative with it and add different toppings to it as well!

watch a favorite fall TV show

Following along with the trend of staying indoors, a great addition to making fall-themed food is putting on a fall-themed TV show! Nothing sounds better than curling up with a cozy blanket, lighting a fall candle, and putting on one of the many fall-themed TV shows out there! Some of my personal favorites are Gilmore Girls, the fall episodes of Friends or Suite Life of Zach and Cody, Wednesday, or Gossip Girls. These shows will have you hooked for hours, making you not want to leave your house!

Gilmore Girls walking through Fall Festival
Warner Bros. Television

From going on a hike to curling up in your house, this list has a variety of activities to do both indoors and outdoors. With fall in peak season right now, look no further to find a fall-themed activity to spice up your day!

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Sofia Giannakopoulos

U Mass Amherst '24

I'm a senior, legal studies major and political science minor at UMass Amherst. In my free time I enjoy writing, hanging out with friends, and reading a good book.