Enjoying fall while it lasts!

Ah, yes. I don't have to pick up those leaves. Perfect.

It is the middle of October and somehow no one is wearing coats every single day. It can only mean one thing: Global warming has made fall weirdly warm! Hooray!

While it is true that this will not last for long, after all, winter has to come eventually, it does mean that we should take this opportunity to enjoy the heat!

“But Pedro,” you might ask, wide-eyed and naïve, “How can I enjoy fall as a Saint Michael’s student? Surely it involves a lot of money!” 

Or does it? Here are some things you can do to have fun which should leave your wallet relatively unscathed!

•      You can walk around campus and enjoy the scenery.

Here's an adorable tree.

Saint Michael’s College has a beautiful main campus, which is where you are probably spending most of your time anyway. However, when was the last time you took a good hike around the area?

The weather is perfect for running. Before we must lock ourselves in our rooms, take the time of the day to appreciate the warmth and take a walk around the 300s, or even visit parts of campus you do not usually go to. Why not go the extra mile and walk through Ethan Allen Park, eventually reaching North Campus as it is described in legends? That is a beautiful 30 minutes walk, and it will definitely be worth your time.

The foliage is turning yellow and falling on the ground, and everything is just nice enough to make your experience pleasant. And hey, if you’re not a student yet, you can take a tour with our friend Chris, who has also written a post on his own blog about how nice the season is right now.

•  Visit Burlington without needing 5 layers of clothing!

Fun challenge: try to get around without Google Maps. We're college students,
we can adapt, right?

But maybe you are tired of campus. Maybe you need a breath of fresh city air in your life. Never fear, because you get free bus rides, now even on Sundays! Burlington is beautiful during fall, and you should absolutely make time in your schedule to visit it at least once. 

It is worth getting a bunch of friends to go to a restaurant and split the bill, or even enjoy your student discount at Flynn theater. There's always something new to check out, and you can just go out and explore the city. Who knows, maybe you'll find a new frozen yogurt place! (Pro tip: Yogurt City, Maple Tree Place. Trust me.)

• Visit Mount Mansfield while there is no snow!
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  No, that's not Lord of the Rings. I checked.

We all get tired of the busy city and college life, though. Sometimes all you need is to take a hike in the tallest mountain of the state. So find some friends who have a car and travel to Mount Mansfield! 

The weather is perfect for those of you who don’t like snow, and it’s just chilly enough that you can wear your coat and not feel like it was a bad idea to go out ready for low 60s. Plus, the gondola ride is breathtaking, and if you're feeling athletic you can just hike your way down the mountain.

When you’re getting back, make sure to visit Cold Hollow Cider Mill. Here is an incentive: Not only do they have amazing apple cider donuts, there is a free cold apple cider dispenser there. I’ll give you time to think it over while we move on.

• Halloween!

Easily the best part of being a young adult is being young enough to do kid stuff.

Now, I unfortunately cannot promise that the warmth will stay here long enough for Halloween to come by. However, you dear reader and any like-minded individuals are probably already planning the festivities for the Day of All Saints, so why not get in the mood right away? All around campus, you can see people decorating their dorms and public places for Halloween. Get in the mood!

There you go, here are a bunch of things you can try to do while fall is merciful enough to not drown us in rain or snow. So get some pumpkin anything and go have fun while we can go outside without taking damage over time!

Have a lovely day. Here’s a picture of a skeleton.

You love it. You know you do.