Autumn in New England is, let’s be honest, the best. So even though it’s still summer, it’s okay to start getting a little excited. New England autumn attracts adoration the world over, and it’s all thanks to the trees. As the temperatures drop, the leaves of New England’s native maples, oaks, and beeches blanket the landscape with crisp bursts of color. It’s enough to drag even the most work-addicted city dwellers out of their offices and into nature.

New Englanders themselves have special traditions that make the season even more of a delight. Let’s take a moment to celebrate what it means to be a New Englander in the fall, and get some tips on how to fully enjoy the season. Just so we’re sure to be ready when it’s finally here.

 

Leaf Peeping

One of the first autumn activities of any New England family worth its salt is called leaf peeping. Leaf peeping is a fun name for a day drive; it means packing the whole family into the car and taking a nice drive to admire the fall foliage. It’s such a common activity that you can even get fall foliage maps which show drivers exactly where to go for the best colors.

Leaf peeping with the whole family requires a small amount of preparation, just like any road trip. When you’re traveling with infants, be sure to have a car seat that meets all the proper safety regulations, and don’t forget to bring along your favorite nursing pillow for stops along the way. There’s nothing quite as wonderful as nursing your baby while gazing out over a sea of fall colors.

 

Apple Picking

U-Pick apples are a New England staple. Apple orchards across the region open up to the public and charge a small fee for families to pick their own apples right off the branch. It’s a way to kick-off the season and stock up on apples for a yummy pie or apfelpfannkuchen. Of course, apples on their own make a great, healthy snack for kids and grownups alike.

The best part about U-Pick is seeing the kids’ faces light up as they run through the orchards and eat apples right from the tree. It’s a great way to counter the effects of screen time on kids today.

 

Vacay All the Way

One of many New Englanders’ best kept secrets for withstanding the long, rough winters is to take a vacation before the weather gets really cold. So why not take a page from their book and go somewhere tropical and recharge your batteries?

Since New England beaches leave something to be desired in the sunbathing department, cruise ships and beach resorts are among the most popular destinations for late fall vacationers. While all the fashionable New England moms are on their beaches and cruise ships, they’re going to make dang sure their hair looks great. After all, once autumn is over it’s all trapper hats and parkas for the foreseeable future. Take it from the experts and don’t get caught in the cold — late summer is the time to start booking your tropical vacation plans!

 

Back to School Fashion

Back at home, one of the most exciting parts of autumn is the excuse to go shopping and update your fall wardrobe. This year, it’s all about layers and boho fashion. Boots, fringe, vests, and more. Find this season’s hottest trends at T.J.Maxx.

The most thriving fashion hubs around the country are often in college towns. New England alone boasts over 200 colleges and universities. So it should come as no surprise that the trends in education run parallel to those in fashion retail. The savviest shoppers will tell you it’s always smart to do a little research online and pick out your favorite styles first, that way you can coordinate them all in your mind’s eye before hitting up the store. Education is no different.

More and more back to school shopping is done online every year. Similarly, more and more students are opting to attend online college programs in lieu of traditional universities. In fact, the number of online students has grown to 5.8 million in recent years. With this huge shift toward online education, it’s no wonder that students are feeling savvier online and are better equipped to use the internet as a tool for their back-to-school fashion decisions.  As usual, New Englanders are deeply involved in this movement, and they’re changing the look of fall fashion and back-to-school one person at a time.

 

There’s still plenty of time to dream up adventures, outfits, and family activities for this fall. But don’t put it off too long, autumn will be here before we know it!