Written By: Sadie Kolodner

 As the leaves begin to change and the air cools, people start to cherish the last days of summer—but the colder weather brings new excitement. With winter jackets making their appearance back on the coat rack and Halloween costumes appearing around the house, the fall festivities begin. If you haven’t participated in any of the fall traditions or embraced the autumn spirit, it is never too late to start.

Before the weather becomes freezing, people enjoy spending time outside through activities such as pumpkin and apple picking or going on hikes to see the colorful fall foliage. Whether you live nearby in Rye, in the city, or upstate, there are always places for you to go to enjoy the season 

If you’re looking to go apple picking, Anna O’Mary ‘28 shared her favorite spot to go, saying, “Every year my family and I go to either Harvest Moon Farm or Outhouse Orchards.” These orchards in North Salem are right across the street from each other, and are only about 30 minutes from the center of Rye. They also have a pumpkin patch, hayrides, and lots of homemade fall desserts. O’Mary also recommends going to the North Castle Historical Society, a haunted house in Armonk, NY. If you are looking for a day trip upstate, Maya Chachra ‘28 recommends going to Cedar Heights Orchard, which is about an hour and a half from Rye. However, if you just want a local place just to enjoy the fall scenery, Upper School Humanities Teacher Mrs. Coffey said she enjoys going to the Rye Town Park to see all the leaves. 

Come fall time, the addition of hot apple cider and other fall foods makes its way into various cafes and coffee shops. Every Sunday from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm, you can visit the Rye farmers market behind Purchase Street stores to get small fall treats and try a variety of goods. When the weather gets bad, there are always places to get a fun fall drink and read a book or complete some homework. This includes local restaurants like Le Pain Quotidien, or the Granola Bar, both with seasonal food and drink items. However, collectively when asked where to get fall drinks and food, Starbucks was the go-to place for many RCDS students. Released on August 26th, Starbucks’ fall menu officially marks the end of summer and the start of fall. This year they have pumpkin, apple crisp, and pecan flavored drinks with a baked apple croissant and a raccoon cake pop. With locations in most towns, Starbucks is definitely a place to go if you want an easy but quick fall drink.

If you are more of a homebody or want a day to relax at home, there are still many activities you can do. A popular one is watching a movie or TV -show, especially Halloween-themed. Both Izzy Bernie ‘28 and Teddy Kroin ‘28 recommended Halloween, a popular horror movie, while Willow Lane ‘28 recommended Hotel Transylvania as a fun, lighthearted movie to watch with your whole family. Additionally, if you enjoy crafting or baking, popular fall recipes include apple dishes, like apple crisps or apple pie, pumpkin-flavored baked goods, and desserts with cinnamon and nuts. 

Whether you want to go for a hike to admire the fall colors, get festive drinks, or watch a movie with your family, there are so many ways you can enjoy fall this season, either at your house or a short drive away.