Places That Will Make You Fall for Fall

by Kaylie Mullen

There’s nothing quite like the aroma of freshly fallen leaves from a calm, crisp breeze. Autumn is here, accompanied by football games, comfy sweatshirts, and pumpkin-flavored everything.

The first half of the semester is already finished and winter is creeping closer each week. This list of five locations is for the Cedarville students and faculty who wish to take a break from their busy schedules with some much needed fall fun.

Don’t let the season pass you by! Get a group of friends together and try out these places that will give you the complete fall experience.

Young’s Jersey Dairy

If you’re looking for a Southwestern Ohio classic, head on over to Young’s. It is located in Yellow Springs, a short 10-minute drive from campus. They offer several fall-specific activities. They have 30 acres of pumpkin fields for you to find your perfect pumpkin. It costs $8.50 for each individual and they provide a wagon ride to and from the field. You can also purchase a pumpkin that’s already picked, starting at less than $3. If getting lost in a cornfield is more up your alley, try out the Cowvin’s Corny Maze, which offers over a mile of paths to wander. The maze is open until October 29th and costs $6.50 per person. Young’s also offers Haunted Wagon Rides on Friday and Saturday nights for anyone who dares. You start off at the Storytelling Theatre where actors narrate spooky stories and then head to the wagon that will lead you to their “haunted” cornfield. They are only offered in October from 7:30pm until 10pm and cost charge $11 per person. In addition to the variety of fall things to do, Young’s has a year round animal barn, an Ice Cream and food shop, and a putt-putt course.

Peifer Orchards

If you’re craving more diversity in your fruit, Peifer Orchards is the place to go. The Farmer’s Market sells home-grown produce, fresh-pressed apple cider, baked goods and local honey and maple syrup. The family-owned orchard is down the street from Young’s in Yellow Springs. Peifer Orchards was established in 1994 and now has over 3,000 trees and a variety of other homegrown produce. You can even pick your own apples when they are ripe. They update their website weekly with a crop report of what’s available, but items go fast so they recommend calling ahead if you need something specific. Their most recent report showed a variety of tomatoes, potatoes, squash, nine varieties of apples and more. Peifer Orchards is a beautiful place to visit and you won’t be able to leave without fresh pickings.

John Bryan State Park

Watching the leaves change color is one of the most beautiful parts of autumn. OnlyinYourState.com listed John Bryan State Park as one of Ohio’s best places to check out the fall foliage. And fortunately, it’s less than 10 minutes from Cedarville. The state park is 752 acres and includes 9 trails ranging from .1-1.3 miles. It also has 2 bike trails that are around a mile and a half long. The Little Miami River runs through the park and you can check out the limestone gorge it cut through. John Bryan State Park is a great way to spend a fall afternoon without getting out your wallet.

Decoy Art Studio

If you’d rather paint a pumpkin than carve one, check out the Decoy Art Studio in Beavercreek. The walk-in art projects they offer are fun and easy to do. You can paint pottery, canvas, glass, slate or a t-shirt, and many of them are fall-themed for the season. If you don’t know what you would like to paint, they provide templates to follow. Prices range depending on what medium you choose and how large the piece is but you can expect to pay around $10-$40. Plan on staying at least an hour and a half to work on your piece, but don’t worry if you need longer. They even allow you to go back another day if you don’t finish. Their open hours are Tuesday-Thursday from 12pm to 7pm, Friday from 12pm to 9pm, Saturday from 10am-9pm and Sunday from 12p to 6pm. While they do accept walk-ins, call ahead if you have 6 people or more so you can get the party room. At Decoy Art Studio, you can get in touch with your creative side and leave with some new fall decor for your dorm.

Circle S Farms

If you’re looking for a place to embrace your inner child, leave your responsibilities behind and set off for Circle S Farms. At the farm you can enjoy a hayride, play in the fun barn (yes, that’s what it’s actually called), meander through corn and sunflower mazes, pet the farm animals and explore the bale cave. They are open daily from 9am till 7pm and admission is $10 plus an additional $4 if you want to pick a pumpkin to take home with you. You can also check out their market where you’ll find apple cider, fresh baked donuts and more. However, if you can get together a group of 10 or more people, admission is only $7 and that includes the pumpkin, donuts and apple cider. They are located in Grove City. Circle S Farms will give you a full day’s worth of fun for a fair price.

While cozy sweaters, hot chocolate, and movie nights are all important fall to-do’s, there’s so much more that you don’t want to miss. Pick your own pumpkins or apples, paint the autumn woods or hike them, or catch a hayride, haunted or not. With the places listed, you are well prepared to conquer fall and check off your fall bucket list.

Kaylie Mullen is a sophomore Communications major and a writer for Cedars. Mountains, tacos, and the color yellow are just a few of her favorite things.