You’ve pushed through a long week of midterms and now you’ve made it! Ah, Fall Break: that four-day weekend when the campus empties out and you seem to have double the work that you’d have on any two-day weekend. For those of us staying on campus this Fall Break, it’s easy to feel worried that there won’t be anything to do. Campus is quiet, dining halls are closed, it’s hard to know what to do with yourself while everyone else is gallivanting across Europe, or whatever the kids do nowadays. Luckily, the Feats Team has your back. Here are some ideas we came up with, so at least if you have nothing better to do, you can read this.
Apple Picking at Lyman Orchards:
In “The Wizard of Oz,” Dorothy is delighted upon discovering an orchard with apples bright as her ruby slippers, fresh and ready to be eaten after a long journey on the Yellow Brick Road. But as soon as Dorothy plucks an apple, the tree develops a face, snatches the apple with a branch arm, and throws the apple back in Dorothy’s face. Hopefully you will have better luck with the trees if you visit Lyman Orchards over Fall Break. Less than a 15-minute drive from campus, Lyman Orchards has acres of apples, just waiting to be picked by you and your pals during your staycation. Lyman Orchards is recognized as the 12th oldest family-owned business in the United States, having been in business for over 275 years. Growing 20 varieties of the fall fruit, the orchard offers the wholesome and quintessential New England activity daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For up-to-the-minute crop conditions and weather notices, as well as prices, call the 24-hour hotline at 860-349-6015. While you’re picking for that nice homemade crumble you can pair with your dinner parties, remember to pick in the marked, designated areas and to be nice to the trees—otherwise they may confront you!
Location: 105 South Street, Middlefield, Conn. 06455.
–Sara McCrea
Rolling Down Foss Hill:
Literally five minutes away from everywhere on campus, Foss Hill—specifically, rolling down it—should be a staple in any Wesleyan staycation. You can push your body to new limits and view Wesleyan’s beautiful campus from multiple new perspectives as you roll. You can confuse groups of random stoners as they see you roll by at late hours of the night. You can shout cryptic, yet intriguing things right before you launch yourself down the hill, such as “We can’t keep doing this, Steve” or “Geronimo,” making you seem quirky and fun in the eyes of your peers. While you may acquire grass stains, think of them as mere tokens of the glittering new memories you now possess.
Cost: $0
Hours of Operation: All day, every day, recommended after 12 a.m.
–Katarina Grealish
Empower Leadership Sports & Adventure Center:
Looking for a bit of an adventure this Fall Break? Middletown has got you covered. Empower Leadership Sports & Adventure Center is just a 10-minute drive from campus and has over 10 options for zip lining and tree climbing (including a moonlight zip lining option, right in time for spooky season). Not to mention, if you’re looking to truly bond with your friends over this short break, the Center holds team-building activities for groups!
Cost: Depends on “adventure” chosen.
Location: 2011 S Main St, Middletown, Conn. 06457
Phone: 860-638-4754
Hours of Operation: Empower Adventures are available for reservations Monday through Saturday. Typically the first Zip Line Canopy Tour begins at 9:30 a.m. or 10 a.m. and the last begins at 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday bookings can be made online or by phone.
–Hannah Docter-Loeb
Movie Marathon:
This activity can be enjoyed in the comfort of your dorm and can be super fun! Just grab a couple of friends who may also be staying for Fall Break, grab the snacks of your choosing, and binge on all the movies that your heart desires. It is also perfect timing for spooky season where you can watch Halloween classics like “Hocus Pocus” as well as the occasional horror film, such as “The Conjuring.” Or you could have a theme (not Halloween inspired if that’s not your vibe) like a Marvel marathon.
Cost: This can be completely free if you have a Netflix or any streaming service account. But if you want to get snacks or rent a movie from iTunes/Youtube/AmazonPrime/Google Play (cost of renting a film would be $2.99 to $5.99), that will require you to use money.
–Ashley Ogwang
Write that Essay:
C’mon, you know you should. It’s due like two days after Fall Break, and it’s worth a quarter of your grade. Not the most fun or exciting, but it would feel so good to get it done, especially because your friends who are away most definitely will not be productive. Think of how smug you can be when they return, and you have all your shit done. Also, Olin’s probably pretty empty, which is miraculous in its own right. You could unzip your backpack without getting any death stares, or even clear your throat. And it’s free.
–Sophie Griffin
Be in a Film!:
If you’ve had any presence on the various WesAdmits pages, there are several films that are being shot over Fall Break which are looking for people. They have a variety of ways in which you can get involved, including doing tech or actually being a veritable movie star. This is free, and fun (if you are a film-interested person at the least). There is a possibility you can make some good friends too!
–Annika Shiffer-Delegard