“Fun stuff to do this fall New England.” My Pinterest pops up with the same ten or so ideas it does every time. Make a fall craft! Carve a pumpkin! Bake ghost cookies and drink it with a glass of warm apple cider! Honestly, fall would be so boring if this is all people did for three months straight. People need a good New England inspired fall. Pinterest just doesn’t get that specific, but I can!
The crisp months of fall bring a sense of joy to me like no other season can. Warm days, cool nights, a light breeze, jeans and a sweater. I try to indulge myself in as many seasonal activities as possible while apple picking is in season and cinnamon chai is in abundance. This fall, however, I have had a lingering sadness that the summer was over. I felt the need to kick this feeling to the curb by coming up with some close-to-home inspiration to optimize the feeling of the upcoming autumn. There are some of the obvious things: seasonal decorating, leaf peeping, trying all the fall drinks at Starbucks, but I wanted to dive deeper into some underrated locations and activities that are personally always at the top of my list on the first day of fall. One New England autumn inspo list coming up!
Number 1. A night out at a fall fair or amusement park really is as fun as the movies make it seem. I suggest Canobie Lake Park, start your day there at 3pm, ride the rides, eat too much fried dough, then get tickets to experience Canobie’s haunted walk. It’s not too scary, but perfect to get ready for Halloween.
The Granite State Fair and Deerfield Fair are unmissable if you want to say you experienced New England fall in its fullest. I personally make two trips to the Deerfield Fair a year, once with my family and once with my friends. A fair in the fall just doesn’t get old, unless of course you eat one too many fried Oreos. The Granite State Fair, commonly known as the Rochester Fair, is a bit bigger, and has special events such as bus derby’s, demolition derby’s, car soccer, and an ATV drag race. Honestly, there’s no better way to start off your fall than with an old-fashioned car race at the Rochester Fair.
Number 2. If you’re in the mood for a refreshing challenge, go on a hike in New England. Hiking is free, good for your physical and mental health, and it’s extremely picturesque at the top of your chosen mountain. There are so many different hikes in the area for all levels of hiking. A few recommendations include Blue Job, Mount Major, and Mount Washington. Blue Job Mountain is located in Farmington, NH. Depending on the trail you take, Blue Job may not feel like much of a hike, but more of a steep walk. I visit this mountain in all seasons of the year, but my favorite is when there are red and yellow leaves falling from the trees.
Head to the lake’s region in Alton, NH if you’re looking for a slightly more challenging hike with an extremely rewarding view of the well-known lakes’ region. I most recently hiked Mount Major in the wintertime, and although I soon realized I am not a fan of hiking in the winter, it was still a beautiful view that I hope to see this fall.
The final challenge if you really want to experience the beauty of fall is hiking Mount Washington, the highest peak in New England. Climbing the 6,000-foot mountain is a tradition in my family every fall, and I feel like I never appreciate nature more than when I’m surrounded by all different types of it on the day long hike. Experiencing a New England Mountain in the fall is a memorable experience, one you won’t want to miss.
Number 3. In New Hampshire, it’s hard to get very far without passing some sort of public farm, and there are at least five farms that offer a variety of activities in the surrounding towns of Durham, NH. My personal favorite is DeMeritt Hill Farm in Lee. I recently went peach picking there in late August and hope to visit again soon for apple picking and DeMeritt’s Haunted Overload. Haunted Overload is the award-winning nighttime walk, twice being voted one of the top 13 haunted attractions in the country. With the mix of a spooky walk through the highly decorated woods and the soft, cinnamon covered apple cider donuts, you’ll be in the fall spirit in no time.
There are so many different things that can make your three months of autumn special, and hopefully these three fall favorites give you more specific inspiration than your Pinterest board does. Say yes to experiencing your coziest, fun filled season with new endeavors. Well, what are you waiting for? The leaves won’t be orange forever!
-Bel Ejarque
Mouth of the River 
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