Autumn, the season of cozy sweaters, pumpkin spice lattes, and fallen leaves.
However, for college students, it can be difficult to enjoy the wonderful season without breaking the bank. So, here are some fun budget-friendly activities to get into that mood!
Coffee Break
As always, the autumn season brings a range of seasonal drinks, from pumpkin spice lattes to apple cider. While not every cafe has released their seasonal menu yet, many offer similar drinks annually. On 338 Bloomfield St. lies Empire Coffee + Tea Co. with their pumpkin spice lattes with cinnamon cold foam. They also have flavored pumpkin spice beans for purchase. Further down at 111 River St., Gregorys Coffee kickstarted September with pumpkin spice lattes, smashing pumpkin cold brew, and pumpkin spice muffins. Finally, Mojo’s Coffee at 230 Willow Ave. and 801 Bloomfield St. prepared for fall through their spiced brown sugar matcha and pumpkin cold foam.
Fall Foliage
With the cooling weather, now’s the perfect time to step outside and enjoy the changing leaves. Branch Brook Park in Newark is a great spot for picnics and has historical and horticultural tours, running paths, and a dog park. The 360-acre park is chock full of history as the first county park for public use by the United States. To get there from Stevens, take NJ Transit or PATH Trains to Newark Penn Station, then board the Light Rail to either Branch Brook Park or Grove Street.
Next, the South Mountain Reservation, located in Essex County, has several historic trails. The Lenape Trail traverses through 36 miles of both suburban and urban areas in Essex County and connects 18 parks and 11 municipalities. Meanwhile, the Fairy Trail is a great starting point to access the park. The reservation is accessible by train on the Gladstone line to Millstone. It’s also accessible by taking the Newark-Penn Station PATH and then boarding the 70 bus to Essex Street at Holmes Street.
For those who prefer a more urban view, New York City, NY contains vibrant areas from Central Park to the High Line to visit during the autumn season. Its fall foliage period stretches from early October through early November. Some of the best places to view the changing leaves in Central Park are The Mall & Literary Walk, Hallett Nature Sanctuary, The Ramble, and the Reservoir.
Fall Festivals
Both Hoboken and Jersey City are filled with festivals this coming month. The latest festivals are the Cultural Diversity Festival and the Harvest Festival. Both are happening tomorrow, October 4, in Hamilton Park, Jersey City, NJ from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The former features pumpkin painting, arts & crafts, musical acts, and dancers. The latter has pumpkin decorating, arts and crafts & music.
On Halloween itself, the annual Hoboken Ragamuffin Halloween Parade will be hosted at 3 p.m. Held on Washington Street, this parade features local live music, floats, and tons of costumes. It originated in New York City, NY, where it was a part of the Thanksgiving celebrations in the late 1870s. It has since expanded to other boroughs and cities, with Hoboken having the most well-known version.
Enjoy Autumn!
These are only a small sample of fun activities happening during the fall. There’s still plenty to discover both on and off campus. So go there and enjoy everything that autumn has to offer. After all, it only comes once a year.
