Fall activities are a lot of fun, they are especially fun when you are enjoying them with a group of friends or your significant other. The season of sweater weather and pumpkin spice lattes has a great combination of indoor and outdoor activities making it easy to balance between different interests. Halloween and Thanksgiving are wonderful holidays to get together with your loved ones and go out or stay in enjoying each others company. Here are some things you can do this season in Raleigh and the surrounding area.
NC State Fair
Cameryn Sharkey
The North Carolina State Fair comes around every fall for 10 days. There's the classic fair food and some interesting combinations of food that may or may not make your mouth water. Fun rides, games, free stuff, and lots of lights at night, it is a great place for a date or to hang out with a group of friends.
NC State Farmers Market
This is typically not one of the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of a fun fall activity. But if you enjoy local produce and plants, then this is a highly recommended place to stop by this fall. Grab a pumpkin and take it home to carve, get some apples or another pumpkin and have a go at making a homemade pie, or get some local honeys and jams.
NCSU Football Games
PackFootball Instagram
Fall is also football season. As a student, I may be pretty biased, but the NC State football tailgating scene is quite popular before the games. If you are a sports fan this is a great experience. Wolfpack fans are unlike any other.
Carolina Hurricanes Hockey Game
Cameryn Sharkey
If you have never been to a hockey game, I highly recommended. Hockey is one of the fastest moving and intense sports that it is so much fun to watch. The Carolina Hurricanes are great NHL team currently dominating their season with a record setting start. So head on over to PNC arena and get ready for some noise because hockey games are hyper than any other sports.
Page Farms
Pick your own pumpkin, maneuver through a corn maze, go on a hayride or train ride, see some cute farm animals, etc. This sweet farm is a great place to find some pumpkins for carving, a fun day with younger siblings or kids you may be babysitting, a date that will bring you back to your childhood, or a fun day with friends.
Haunted Farms
If you are someone who loves Halloween, are not afraid of things that go bump in the night, and/or just love getting scared. Then one make your way to one (or all) of these popular haunted farms in the surrounding areas of Raleigh - Panic Point in Youngsville, NC; Clayton Fear Farm in Clayton, NC; Woods of Terror in Greensboro, NC; and Kersey Valley Spooky Woods in Archdale, NC.
Hiking
Cameryn Sharkey
Enjoy some time out in nature and see the leaves change in peak season. Take a nice hike around the trails local to Raleigh. There are many wonderful parks with easy, moderate, and some more difficult hikes. Some of my personal favorites include Eno River State Park, Falls Lake, and William B. Umstead.
Camping
Cameryn Sharkey
Camping is one of my personal fall favorites. There are many great sites at Rollingview Campground, Hollypoint Campground, William B. Umstead State Park, Shinleaf Campground, Eno River State Park, and many more. Going with a group of friends, hiking throughout the day, and sitting around a campfire at night is very relaxing and a lot of fun. It is a great way to unwind from a long week.
