Top five fall activities to do around campus
Logan Pinalto, Contributing Writer
Photo by Logan Pinalto
The air outside is beginning to feel crisp, the smells of leaves and pumpkin spice swirl outside of coffee shops and shows like Gilmore Girls and Ghostbusters begin to make their way to the television screen again. As fall approaches, many find themselves either huddled up in a blanket making the most of a cozy day in or seeking an adventure. But what kind of adventure? What is there to do? Students of North Greenville University have your back and are ready to share their favorite fall activities.
McGregor Orchard – 6 minutes from campus
Do you like to support local businesses while getting high quality food? McGregor Orchard is the place for you. They are a family-owned orchard and they grow 11 different fruits, including 111 different varieties. They make their own fresh applesauce and press their own apple cider, which you can enjoy if you take a visit.
Alumni Tessa Haack said, “Stephens, the owner, towers at 6 feet 6 inches tall and greets you with a huge hand and the warmest, softest, most gentle smile and handshake.”
They are open Tuesday-Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Haack spoke highly of the orchard saying, “It’s not just a college must-experience—it’s a life experience.”
She explained that the owners of the orchard are faithful workers who labor in love for people to enjoy the fruits of the harvest.
She drew a connection to Scripture as she continued, “It speaks of God’s faithfulness to promise a harvest and to call faithful laborers to lovingly tend His fields. It is a beautiful illustration that no matter how much effort the farmers pour in, it is ultimately God who gives the growth.”
As you visit the orchard, you may appreciate the labor that this local family has done to provide fresh, quality fruit.
Sky Top Orchard – 28 minutes from campus
Are you craving an apple donut? Sky Top Orchard just might be the place.
NGU student Ashlyn Miller said, “Their apple donuts were so good. We got them freshly made and they melted in our mouths.”
This is not the only thing the orchard has to offer, though. It offers hayrides to enjoy the sights of its mountaintop farm, a game of shooting apples out of cannons at targets, a playground, photo backdrops, an animal barn where you can interact with the orchard animals and pumpkins to take home to carve.
Miller notes that it is a phenomenal spot for a photoshoot and recommends that friends or couples take up the opportunity for a photoshoot as she and her boyfriend did.
Blue Ridge Parkway – 3 hours from campus
Are you wanting to go on a long drive and sightsee? Alanna Burroughs, senior, recommended the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is a long stretch near Asheville that spans about 180 miles.
She said, “Fall is the best time of year to go because the leaves are so pretty in Asheville. You’re driving up the mountainous roads so you can see the whole town as you look out.”
Burroughs went with some friends to take in the view and take some pictures together to capture the memory. She looks back on those photos and remembers how the drive was worth it.
Poinsett Bridge – 11 minutes from campus
Pulling back closer to campus, Poinsett Bridge is well-known for its old charm. The bridge was completed in 1820 making it the oldest bridge in South Carolina.
Mia Hefner, senior, said, “Poinsett Bridge is special to me because it was one of the first places I went when I started doing dual enrollment at North Greenville my junior year of high school. Me and my childhood best friend would go there together to just sit and clear our heads.”
Hefner noted that it is a spot that is special to her, and she likes to go there to reset her mind, especially after a busy week like midterms.
Whether you are up for a long drive or want to stay close to campus, there are ways for you to make the most of the fall experience. So, grab some friends to go with you and make some more friends along the way.
