Whether your child is about to go off to college soon or you’re simply feeling nostalgic for your own school days, embarking on a road trip to a university town makes for a fun-filled autumn holiday. Take this armchair tour of five charming collegiate locales across the country to get a glimpse of what’s out there to explore.
It’s no secret to “Groovy UV” students at the University of Vermont that this Lake Champlain city has it all—a cosmopolitan yet laid-back feel, stunning views of the Adirondack Mountains, and plenty of nearby countryside for outdoor recreation. Enjoy a picturesque stroll along the lake’s edge at Waterfront Park, then meander Church Street Marketplace’s more than one hundred shops and restaurants or grab a glass of authentic Vermont hard cider from Citizen Cider. Just outside town, you can also enjoy fresh apples, doughnuts, and apple cider at Shelburne Orchards, watch ice cream being made at the Ben & Jerry’s factory, or make your own custom teddy bear at the Vermont Teddy Bear factory.
Of course, make sure you don’t overlook visiting the university itself, which has more than a dozen buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Take the official ninety-minute tour that brings you to them all, stopping by sites such as the Billings Library, designed by famous architect Henry Hobson Richardson, and the Old Mill building, the oldest one on campus. And before you go, venture over to the Fleming Museum of Art to peruse a diverse collection of more than 24,000 pieces of artwork and cultural heritage objects.
You can’t go wrong with a trip to this southern locale, known equally for its great food, music, and University of Georgia football team, the Georgia Bulldogs. Treat yourself at any of its award-winning restaurants, the best of which may just be Five & Ten, a contemporary southern cooking hotspot featuring dishes like confit chicken leg and beef short rib. On Wednesday evenings through November and Saturday mornings year-round, you can also shop locally produced veggies, cheeses, meats, and handcrafted goods at the Athens Farmers Market. Once your appetite is satisfied, check out the music scene, which has launched famous bands like R.E.M. and the B-52’s. Live music is in the air most days of the week at venues including the 40 Watt Club and Hendershot’s.
On game day, tailgate with students on the university campus at Myers Quad; afterward, catch the game if you can at Sanford Stadium or dine at an in-town sports bar like Paloma Park, where you can watch the Dawgs on the restaurant’s large outdoor projector screen. Upon victory, listen for the ringing of the Chapel Bell at North Campus, a student tradition to celebrate every win.
Like Athens, this midwestern town buzzes with excitement for its hometown football team on game days. To get the full experience, cheer for the University of Michigan Wolverines with the mass of students, alumni, and visitors at the “Big House,” the largest-capacity stadium in the United States. If tickets are scarce, you can instead pop by the Brown Jug sports bar and restaurant to delight in the game with locals. Either way, make sure to stroll the campus to take in its sights, including the leafy lawns of the “Diag” green, named for its diagonally crossing paths, and the Law Quadrangle with its classic Gothic architecture.
If celebrating nature’s beauty is more your speed, visit the university’s Matthaei Botanical Garden and Nichols Arboretum, where you can explore dunes and prairies in the Great Lakes Gardens and contemplative circles of sustainable plants in the Labyrinth. Or go farther out from campus to pick pumpkins at a local farm or enjoy fresh apples and cider at any of the many nearby farmers markets.
Sitting in the heart of Boulder, the University of Colorado offers some of the best views of the golden aspens and fiery sumac that make the area’s foothills a breathtaking sight to behold. The architecture on campus is equally gorgeous with its sandstone walls, red-tile roofs, and limestone trim, providing the perfect backdrop for a relaxing stroll on an autumn afternoon. If you’re interested in something a little more active, you could also head south of campus to hike or bike along the many nearby trails or explore the numerous offerings at Eldorado Canyon State Park.
Though perhaps not as nationally known, CU Boulder’s football team still delivers a thrilling experience, so make sure to plan for a game in your itinerary. The night before, take in the festivities at the Pearl Street Stampede, a pep rally and parade complete with music from the Golden Buffalo Marching Band and performances by the Colorado Spirit Squad. Then on game day, tailgate with fans at Ralphie’s Corral and root for the Buffaloes at Folsom Field or from a local eatery like the West End Tavern.
Soak up the sun in this coastal city, where you’ll find a satellite campus of the University of California. A global research institution, it offers various educational opportunities, such as at its Seymour Marine Discovery Center. Learn more about aquatic life by exploring indoor and outdoor exhibits that feature sculptures, authentic skeletons, and informative displays about the local wildlife. If music is more your speed, check out Quarry Plaza’s historic Quarry Amphitheater, which is an outdoor venue carved from limestone that hosts various concerts and other entertainment throughout the year.
There’s much to explore off campus as well. On a clear day, walk or bike along the Pacific Ocean via West Cliff Drive to spot dolphins and whales, ending at Natural Bridges State Beach to marvel at its majestic natural stone arch and gaze at shore birds, otters, and seals. You can also sojourn at a local vineyard like Beauregard Vineyards or Soquel Vineyards to savor exquisite chardonnays or pinot noirs. In the evening, delight in fine cuisine such as mushroom risotto from Iveta Downtown or fresh seafood from the Crow’s Nest, where you can capture photos of harbor and lighthouse vistas. If you manage to have room for dessert, don’t miss the homemade ice cream at the Penny Ice Creamery.
Follow the college crowd to any of these amazing university towns this back-to-school season for new sights and experiences. You may even pick up an educational tidbit or two—without having to hit the books.
Alycia Mason, owner of the family-run store Candycopia in Oak Park, Illinois, discusses her shop’s unique approach to helping people around the nation discover exciting new candies.
What inspired you to start your business?
Candycopia was born out of our belief that no community is complete without a candy store. My family enjoys visiting local ones while we’re on vacation, and it’s always a highlight to watch our kids’ faces light up while they’re strolling the aisles and discovering new candies. My husband Patrick and I love Oak Park and felt like a candy store here would make a great addition to the area since there are so many young families, tourists, and other small, independent businesses. We’re first-time business owners, and we simply wanted to pour our energy into a venture that would have a positive impact on our community and make people happy. Now we’re getting to do just that; even our daughters, Campbell and Addison, have a chance to work in the store and help customers explore new candies.
What makes your shop unique?
Our commitment to diversity and discovery. We offer an unmatched selection of old-fashioned candies as well as international classics and novelty items, and we strive to highlight diverse-owned businesses and small-batch producers. About 40 percent of our inventory is small-batch candies from candymakers most people would have never experienced before. We tell the stories of each one we feature, helping people learn more about them and what they make.
Further, our storefront is designed to be interactive and allow customers to have more of an experience versus just buying candy. It’s a space for exploration, discovery, and indulgence. Take our candy bar: guests can sit and enjoy a candy or chocolate flight, make their own ice cream float, or indulge in a candy-inspired ice cream sundae. We’ve also created different candy challenges—including sour, spicy, and fear factor (which features candy with bugs!)—as well as a candy quest that is a mix of blind-bag tastings and a scavenger hunt around the store. They’re each a fun way of finding new treats and making memories with your loved ones.
Beyond that, we ship to all fifty states, and we take great care when shipping our candies, especially delicate items like chocolates. So if you order a curated chocolate flight in a warm-weather month, for instance, we’ll use cold packs to maintain the right temperature during transit, ensuring that the candies arrive in perfect condition despite the climate.
What do you enjoy most about being in the candy industry?
The best part is the constant opportunity to bring smiles and sweet moments to our customers’ lives, whether it’s helping someone find a treat for themselves or a loved one, making an event a little bit tastier, or creating a special in-store experience for families. Candy incites joy in people, and it’s great to be a part of that.
How do you stay current with trends?
It involves constant research and engagement with the wider candy community. We listen to our customers’ feedback, attend expos to learn what’s happening within the industry, and even explore social media sites to get an idea of what consumers are interested in. We’ve continually seen that TikTok has a particularly big influence on the kinds of treats teenagers and young adults want to buy. For instance, sour candies (especially gummies), freeze-dried candies, and Swedish gummies are all growing in popularity because of social media trends. So we’ve worked these items into our in-store and online selections to attract consumers and help them discover more options they might not find in other places.
Which candies have proven to be the most popular?
In the store, our bestsellers are the 170 varieties of bulk bars and candies, any of the Chocs ‘N Boxes items, the Dallas Caramel Company caramels, and our different international candy options. Online, our top sellers are our numerous varieties of freeze-dried candies, cotton candy, Chamoy Pickle Kits [a mix of various Mexican candies], and Barnett Mega Sours [the world’s sourest candy].
With Halloween coming up, what treats would you recommend people try?
You can’t go wrong with caramel apples, anything pumpkin or apple cider flavored, or even our gummy body parts!
For more info, visit candycopia.com or follow @candycopia on social media
In these months of crisp leaves, cool winds, and much anticipated gatherings, there’s perhaps no better way to embrace the season than to savor ripe fall foods. These two appetizing recipes feature plump pumpkins and other sweet, rich ingredients that will have you wishing for an endless autumn.
Delectable and adorable, these bread bites make the ideal accompaniment to any seasonal meal.
Mix up this simple creamy concoction for a dessert that’s sure to be a party favorite.
No fall feast is complete without pumpkin, and these delicious rolls are an unexpected way to add a touch of this flavorful food to your next Halloween gathering or seasonal soiree!
Serves 8
Pie is one of the most quintessential fall treats, but it isn’t the only way to get indulgent with pumpkin. This dip recipe is a great addition to any dessert table, and it’s the perfect pairing for your favorite cookie or chip.
Serves 8
Look up at the autumn moon hanging in the starry sky, and the signs will be clear: Halloween is on its way. And that means it’s time to convert your home from its typical appearance as a welcoming retreat to a hair-raising place for celebrating the spooky season.
There are endless ways to deck the halls in darkness, but if you want your home to be as impressive as a prize-winning pumpkin, be intentional with your design. The same rule applies as when selecting any other home decor: to craft a cohesive look, you must understand your point of view and personal style before you shop. If you’re seeking inspiration, try one of the four following spellbinding styles—each of which is certain to delight trick-or-treaters and party guests alike.
This scheme’s storied spookiness is practically synonymous with the season. Victorian design historically swathed its residents in opulence and plenty, and the dramatic iconography of All Hallows’ Eve lends itself perfectly to this indulgent style.
So consider this your blessing to gild as many rooms as you can with decor like gold candelabras, heavy silk fabrics, and vases of red roses. (Remember to incorporate seasonal colors like black, orange, and scarlet wherever possible.) Such a style can suit just about any home, even if it is not a genuine late-eighteenth-century manor. Simply do a touch of rearranging to conjure a sense of traditional character, such as by placing antique furniture at right angles, and dress your dining table as if it’s always ready to host a grand feast.
For another hint of the historic and haunted, drape realistic-looking cobwebs in corners, over your wall art, and across your tabletop decor. The resulting effect will enchant your visitors with a sinister style reminiscent of quintessential haunted houses.
If the Victorian approach seems far too cluttered for your tastes, go boldly in the complete opposite direction by opting for the clean and sparse look of minimalist design. This scheme is staunchly antimaterialist, preferring function over form, so leave the kitschy seasonal goods at your local party shop and instead select just a few choice items in neutral colors and textures.
As a start, consider this perfectly minimalist Halloween coffee table setup: replace your year-round decor with a fresh white pumpkin, two black candleholders, and matching candlesticks. This approach is simple and straightforward, and best of all, the results will get the point across without the word “Halloween” knocking you across the head.
Then spread the subtle seasonal love throughout the rest of your home. Swap existing wall art for mildly unnerving options like prints of eerie landscapes, exchange colorful accents like throw blankets and pillows for black-and-white versions, and feature spooky-themed books on your tabletops. To suit minimalism’s preference for understated quality, serve festive candy and treats in rattan baskets rather than flimsy plastic bowls. And don’t overlook the lighting scheme: you can craft a suitably strange one by outfitting your lamps with flame-hued bulbs and hanging thin string lights above your entryways and windows. Turn down the overhead lights, and let the dark and stormy vibes fill your home with Halloween chills—without any unnecessary clutter to give you the creeps.
Nature has its own fun way of celebrating Halloween, converting lush summer trees into flaming works of art, exposing twisted branches, and dropping a bevy of earthy elements across the ground. Should you prefer such an eco-forward atmosphere, you might appreciate a naturalist take on seasonal decorating.
To let Mother Nature be your Halloween spirit guide, you need not head to a home goods shop—just take a hike! Forage for colorful leaves, acorns, and loose twigs to find excellent vase dressings and tabletop accents. You can also source ripe autumn produce from your local grocery store to incorporate some vibrancy; pomegranates, pumpkins, and fall blooms like dahlias are perfect choices for Halloween. But because these pieces do have an expiration date, finalize your decorations as close to the thirty-first as you can, especially if you’re hosting a gathering.
This aesthetic’s primary effect is to imbue your home with rustic charm, giving you a sense of ease as you relax into its peak fall vibes. That said, if you would like a more overt Halloween atmosphere, simply carve or paint your pumpkins and go with decorations made largely of natural materials—think black porcelain vases, burlap banners, and plaid cotton throw pillows. You can also crank up the fear factor with some of nature’s biggest frights: realistic-looking ravens sitting atop shelves, reliably scary spiderwebs draping decor, and creepy-crawly decals dotting your doors and windows.
Do cemetery scenes and supernatural sights give you goosebumps? Fear not: you can still style your home for Halloween without hanging decorations that will spook you after dark. Enter the world of the “spoopy,” or a cute and innocuous take on the classically frightful season. Popular elements of this design scheme include colorful banners, cartoonish black cat or ghost decals, and friendly faced jack-o’-lanterns, but just about any charming decor you pick up will work for this design approach. For the perfect festive touch, opt for products in energetic pastel and neon Halloween shades (i.e., bright orange, purple, and green).
To be the sweetest party host on the block, accent your home with colorful, autumn-scented candles like pumpkin-spice and candied-apple varieties, then stock up on themed platters, bowls, and cups for serving indulgent treats. And nothing beats a punny Halloween sign by your front entryway. With these decorative touches, your home is sure to look absolutely “aww”-inspiring.
