5 Affordable Ways to Celebrate Fall

The beginning of Fall is my favorite time of year. The weather is lovely and there are still plenty of outside activities to engage in. You can still do summery things, but you also get the benefit of holidays events starting. I only lament that you only get a good three to four weeks to do everything before the weather starts to get too cold to be comfortable. There's only so much I want to do when I have to bundle up in nine different pieces of outerwear. I'm starting to get out and so some of my favorite things for this season transition and these are great to do at home as well as when you travel.

Corn maze

I look forward to the corn mazes all year long. It's so fun to go out and spend an afternoon on local farms and get lost in a maze of maize! We pack up the car with a change of clothes and the dog and hope there's no mud where we will have to use our extra clothes. The mazes test our ability to read a map or our trivia knowledge. While other families split up and race each other through the maze, we view it as a fun family outing and the three of us go together. Sometimes we just let the dog go and pick our course and sometimes we use whatever clues they give us at the beginning. After we emerge from the corn, we make a trip to the gift shop, grab something warm to eat and drink and then head home. There are always great photo ops.

Pumpkin harvest

I don't really get excited by pumpkin carving. That might be a little weird for someone who loves Halloween as much as I do. I just don't find it fun and I don't make pies, but often the harvest festivals are full of pumpkin-picking and other activities like hayrides, squash-tossing, farm animals and more. If you find a corn maze, it's not unusual for there to be pumpkin harvest festivities going on nearby. Kids love to run and pick out the pumpkin they will use for their jack-o-lantern at home and also enjoy running and around and climbing on things. We have farms that feature hay bale pyramids and tours on a farm train. Usually these days out are fairly affordable and you can even sign up to receive coupons when the celebration starts.

Fruit picking

I love fresh fruits and vegetables. I also love to visit local farms. I'm always amazed by what people can grow. I have my own garden, but it's not big and awesome, so I like to get ideas on how to make it better. Many of these farms let you go pick your own fresh produce. You pay by the pound and often they have a store where they sell jams, sauces and other things they make on-site. These make great gifts and souvenirs as well.

Farmers' market

This is similar to you-pick farms, except you can just go with your list and have fun finding them at the different stalls. Another plus to the markets is that you are getting affordable local foods and you can usually pick up lunch from any number of food merchants there, too. Our market up the street is a great place to get everything from crepes to tamales. When you're traveling, it's a perfect way to stock your fridge with healthy options for snacks and side dishes.

Wine and beer festivals

Right after the grape and wheat harvests come the festivals! Food, wine, beer, you name it. Fall has tons of wine and beer celebrations everywhere they serve such things. Find new favorites when you can sample all the local (and some not-so-local) varietals and brews. Most of these fests require you to buy a glass for your samples, so you already have a built-in souvenir, too!

What are some of your favorite ways to celebrate fall? 

Travel to New England for a Spooktacular Halloween

Halloween is possibly my favorite day of the year. I love to decorate and dress up and it’s exciting when other people share my love of the day. This year, we’ll be spending Halloween at Disneyland Paris. Unlike the Disney parks in the U.S., Paris only has one celebratory night for the season. I’m happy to say I got tickets to that party on the 31st and will be trick-or-treating along with everyone else. I’m a little sad to be missing things happening here at home, but it also means I’ll be on vacation on my wedding anniversary (Oct 28th), which is always fun.

While I was thinking about the cool ways to spend Halloween in the future, I decided to check out what there was to do in New England, because when I think spooky, it conjures up witches and Stephen King, both of which hail from the Northeastern states. Did you know there are crazy amounts of things to do the whole month of October? It’s true! Whether you want to be scared witless or just learn the history behind this fun holiday.

This photo of Lake Compounce is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Connecticut

The Haunted Graveyard at Lake Compounce is Southern New England’s largest Halloween attraction. It has evolved from Ernie and Carol Romegialli’s creative yard decorations 22 years ago. The decorations grew more elaborate and eventually outgrew their yard and they have been occupying a larger area ever since. Donations go towards their upkeep and diabetes research, which is pretty awesome if you ask me. They are open Friday through Sunday, October 4-27.

Witch’s Dungeon Halloween Classic Movies Museum - For just a $2 donation per person, you can visit the longest-running Halloween attraction in the country. Opened in 1966, you can view memorabilia from your favorite classic horror and sci-fi films and also watch them on the silver screen. Open Friday through Sunday from October 4 - Nov 3.

photo credit

New Hampshire

Nightmare New England is 40 acres of non-stop scary-thrills, located in Litchfield, NH. Along the Merrimack River, the landscape plays its part in making the six themed areas even spookier. There’s so much to do in this “scream park” including zombie paintball, five haunted attractions, tarot card readings and even a restaurant. I wouldn’t expect normal fare, but this is a place that tries to scare you the moment you step out of your car. Nightmare New England wants to make Halloween a destination. Open selected days and weekends from September 28 - November 3.

Keene Pumpkin Festival - Keene townsfolk plan all year to break the record for the most jack-o-lanterns in their downtown square. They have done it, too! 8 times! Enjoy food, fun and music during this one-night family-friendly celebration on October 19. The food and craft court sounds like a place I would be happy to lose myself in. Candy apples and handmade Halloween decorations are pretty high on my list of things that make me go “Yes please!”.

photo credit

Massachusetts

Salem – Where better to celebrate Halloween than witch-central? All October long you’ll find themed festivities and attractions including a carnival, haunted house, spooky tours and more.  Every day of the month you’ll find something going on. This is my kind of town.  Where else can you hit the farmers’ market during the day and then see the Crucibal at night and get your palm read and shop witchcraft shop in between? There might be some places, but I doubt many. And there are even fewer places where you can visit the actual places where witch trials took place. This is definitely on my list of must-see places.

Six Flags New England Fright Fest is fun for the whole family, with daytime and nighttime activities to please everyone. During the day, families will be able to fill their bags on the trick or treat trail and then get up close and personal with creepy crawlies like snakes and lizards. Once the sun goes down, the scares come out with a haunted house and scare zones. All rides stay open during Fright Fest, but beware, you might find yourself sitting next to a ghoul. Fright fest runs on weekends from September 21-November 3.

photo credit: Corbis Images

Vermont

The Haunted Forest - A more family-friendly Halloween activity, the Haunted Forest takes visitors down a jack-o-lantern-lighted path to view a dozen different scenes presented by community theater performers. It’s just spooky enough for older ones and tame enough for little ones. The “performance” runs on various times October 24 - 26.

Looking for deals to get to and stay in the area? Check out these travel merchants:

• Airbnb - For a great deal on an apartment/condo/house, browse what's available from private renters through Airbnb. I've used them to book my lodgings in London and Paris this fall and I feel like I'm going to be really happy, and not just because I save a bunch of money.
• HomeAway - Not quite brave enough to deal directly with a homeowner? Then go bigger with HomeAway. They also have competitive pricing on private rentals and a really big selection anywhere you want to go.
• Hotels.com - If you want someone to clean up after you and overall feel a bit pampered, then you might be interested in the rebate deal going on at Hotels.com. Earn up to $100 cash back on stays from 3 to 12 nights.
• Expedia - Save big with a package deal where you bundle your airfare and lodging together. Using Expedia, you can save up to $525 when you book this way.
• CheapOair - Save more over their lowest rates with promo code FALL15, which will knock an extra $15 off on hotel and airfare rates.

If New England doesn’t sound in the (tarot) cards for you this year, FareCompare has some ideas for trips to scare you. You can also look back at my post from last year on trips to theme parks that have special celebrations as well as other places around the world you might want to visit (including the Paris catacombs, which I will be venturing into in November). What are your favorite fall/Halloween activities?

Review: Pacsafe Metrosafe 200 Anti-Theft Shoulder Bag

With so many cautionary tales about vacationers getting ripped off on their travels, it's hard not to think about how to protect yourself in large metropolitan areas. I've been looking at a lot of bags for my trip to Paris, as it's notorious for having gangs of thieves who target tourists at major attractions. I don't want to be another statistic, but I also need a bag that will carry everything I need and be comfortable to carry all day. A cross-body bag seems the obvious choice, especially since last time I went I made the mistake of bringing a regular shoulder bag and it was a pain in more ways than one. So, this week I'm testing out the Metrosafe 200 shoulder bag from Pacsafe.

This bag is large, but not overly large. It's pretty much the perfect size for going sightseeing most of the day when you will need to carry a variety of things. From snacks to sunscreen, you will have room for it all and still find a place to stash souvenirs you might pick up along the way. Let's have a look at the features, shall we?

You're going to use this front zippered compartment a lot. I guarantee it. It has an RFID-blocking pocket for your passport or your wallet (if it isn't too large), another pocket for your phone, camera or money, a clip to keep your keys handy, a slot for a pen and a big pocket for your electronics, which even has a headphone port, allowing you to listen to your music, even when the compartment is zipped up and secured.

While the flap hides this zippered pocket, you have a second safety net. The zippers have holes that can slip through the attached clip, making it even harder for thieves to get at your stuff - at least not without you noticing them trying to rob you. It can be a bit tricky at first to do it yourself, but once you do it, you'll see how hard it would be for someone who was just seeing it for the first time.

Like to have a drink on-hand? That's good, because this bag has two, count 'em, two snap-open expandable pockets to keep a water bottle in. You can also keep a small umbrella in one.

The back pocket, which fits right against your body, can be used for things you want quick access to. When I travel, I like to keep something to do with me, whether that's a card game or a puzzle book. This is a great place to stash that. If you choose to put something more valuable in there, it can be locked as well. 

To lock the back zippered pocket and the main compartment, use the turn-and-lock clip that attaches the adjustable shoulder strap to the bag. This jumble of zippers and clips is sure to confuse and confound a would-be robber. They aren't going to waste their time on you. If they think they can still steal your goods, know that the bag is lined in exomesh, a slash-proof mesh that makes it impossible for thieves to knife the bottom of your Metrosafe and make off with all the contents that fall out. The shoulder strap has the same technology. This turn-and-lock clip also allows you to attach your bag to a stationary object, like a chair, making it a miniature safe. 

The main compartment of this bag is nice and roomy. The large open pocket is big enough to hold a full-size iPad or other tablet. I was also able to get my makeup bag and a cardigan into it.

This is a pretty good haul for a day bag. Overall, I think the Metrosafe is a fantastic option for someone looking to keep their items secure on a trip. It's unisex, so everyone could carry it, too. There are a few things that could be improved: RFID-blocking card slots, so you don't have to bring a whole wallet or keep all your cards in the one pocket. Wider expandable side pockets would also be good. You can basically only carry one regular size water bottle in them, which would make it necessary for us to carry two bottles, since my husband is big water drinker when we're out and about.

More information

Where you can buy it: Pacsafe online

How much it costs: $80.00

Colors it comes in: Black | cool steel | jungle green | midnight blue (shown) | tweed grey

Other specs: High density nylon, 11" x 10" x 3.5"

Disclosure: I was provided with the Metrosafe 200 Anti-theft Shoulder Bag for the purposes of this review, but all opinions are 100% my own.