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by Kayla Murphy
Fall, that wonderful time of year when you can get cozy in scarves and plaid, enjoy pumpkin spiced flavored everything and watch the leaves change color. Savor the season spending time with your special someone, friends or family, while enjoying these budget-friendly fall activities.
- Cookies and chill
Stop’n’Shop has our childhood favorite Pillsbury Halloween pre-cut cookies on sale, 2 for $5. Each packet comes with 24 cookies and take about 12 minutes to bake. After reaching golden perfection, relax with a scary movie. Horror movies including Hush, The Sixth Sense and Stephen King’s Children of the Corn will raise goosebumps! Bring back a feeling of nostalgia by watching Nightmare Before Christmas, The Addams Family or Hocus Pocus.
- Apple Picking
Less than a 15-minute drive from Central Connecticut State University is Rogers Orchards. Take in the scenery of Shuttle Meadow Reservoir and the fall foliage New England is famous for. Enjoy the rich history of the farm dating back to 1809. Visitors can pick a variety of apples on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Looking for a quick, budget-friendly snack? Try their apple cider, apple doughnuts, or delicious homemade fudge; all priced at $1.
- New Britain Museum of American Art
Local to the CCSU campus is the Museum of American Art. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday the museum is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is free when CCSU students show their Blue Chip card. I recommend seeing the Harry Everett Townsend: Illustrations of a World War I Artist exhibit. The upcoming exhibit, “Ghana Paints Hollywood” is a vibrant collection of over 50 hand-painted movie posters created by Ghanaian artists in the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. This exhibit will premiere Nov. 9 and continue through Feb. 19, 2018. Walnut Hill Park is nearby the museum and is perfect for walks. The park features a rose garden and many statues.
- Hiking
About a 25-minute drive from CCSU is Wadsworth Falls in Middletown. Enjoy hiking or biking the varied trails of the park, or spend some time enjoying the beautiful falls. Fall is a great time to explore outside, enjoy nature and watch the leaves change colors and fall to the ground. Pack a picnic and enjoy a day out in the autumn sun.
A 30-minute drive from campus is Sleeping Giant mountain in Hamden. Lace up your shoes and pack a nice picnic as you explore the legendary Sleeping Giant. The view at the top of the tower is like no other. If you’re a nature lover, you’ll be entranced by the fall beauty and wildlife of this area.
- Movie Theatres
If you’re looking for a classic movie date, try heading to AMC or Cinemark movie theatres. Both offers discounted tickets on Tuesdays. Adult admission is $5. They also offer student discounts on full priced tickets. Not sure what to watch? Top horror movies for the season are Stephen King’s It, Happy Death Day and the Snowman. Not in the mood to be scared? That’s ok! Check out action-packed movies including Blade Runner 2049 or Kingsman: The Golden Circle.
- Haunted Graveyards
There are two very popular haunted events near CCSU. Trail of Terror is located in Wallingford. The Haunted Graveyard at Lake Compounce is in Bristol. Admission to the Trail of Terror is $15 and all proceeds go to charity. The actors at Trail of Terror are hvolunteer and love performing as different creepy characters. Lake Compounce’s Haunted Graveyard is $35, but it includes access to 17 different rides. COUPON TIP: The Dunkin Doughnuts on Stanley Street has $3 off coupons for the Lake Compounce Haunted Graveyard.
