One of the best times to be in New England (in my opinion the best), is autumn. Spending most of my childhood growing up in Connecticut, I was privy to the beauty that is fall. My freshman year of high school, however, I had moved to South Carolina and didn't realize how much I had taken advantage of the season.

However, this fall I returned back to my old stomping grounds of Connecticut and quickly remembered what I missed most about fall in New England.

The Foliage!

Taken outside of Bousfield, the back side of the Homer Babbidge Library at UConn Storrs, CT

Elizabeth Dunn / Personal Picture

No where else in the world are you going to find foliage quite like in New England. There were three years that I did come up for various reasons during the fall. However, prime foliage time can be unpredictable and quite the guessing game and in addition to that, experiencing the leaves turning and watching the change occur from your bedroom (dorm room) window is a completely different experience to 𝒿𝓊𝓈𝓉 visiting.

The Cool Weather

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I will never stop complaining about the year that it was a whole 80 DEGREES on Christmas. That was also the year I got a pretty dope Christmas sweater from Target that said "I'm only here for the eggnog". But, a fall day should never be more than 60º, 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐃𝐎𝐍'𝐓 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐈𝐓 𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐖𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆!!

Speaking of Eggnog, Fall Beverages

This is me when I see Eggnog (just ask my mom, she'll corroborate).

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Drinking a cold (or warm) glass of apple cider on a brisk fall day reminds me of some pretty happy times when I was growing up. Since technically fall doesn't end until December 21st, which is right dab in the middle of prime time Eggnog season, that falls *lol* here, too. I receive quite a large amount of hate for my 'nog addition, but nevertheless, I love her.

Apple Orchards

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The closest Apple Orchard to me where I lived down South are legit the next state over up in the Appalachian Mountains. They could be anywhere from a 3-4 hour drive minimum. It's hard for my northern friends to imagine a place without an apple orchard every Dunkin' Donuts and it's hard for my southern friends to imagine a place with an apple orchard every peach field

Dunkin' Donuts (they're just better up here)

I mean who doesn't want to take a sip from a cup like that??

https://www.instagram.com/p/BoHquYEnjuQ/?taken-by=dunkin

I love returning to the land of when you order a bagel with cream cheese, you get a solid schmear. A Dunkin' coffee with sugar and cream and bagel will always be the way to my heart.

I'm so happy to be home. (That is until I have to trek through the snow to get to my classes, but that's another article).