Autumn Fun in New England {Life Update}

Hi friends!

It’s been two months since I arrived in the northeast since relocating from the San Diego area, so I thought I’d share a bit of what I’ve been up to with you guys for a change.

When we first got to New York, to say that life was stressful is an understatement. I’m usually pretty good with some unpredictability, but it was as if too much chaos was happening at once: I was temporarily staying at a weird Airbnb place living out of a suitcase, trying to figure out my work situation and where to live next, dealing with house selling woes, and adjusting to the change of scenery and crazy weather in the northeast.

Thankfully, we’ve gotten some things settled since then! Almost a month ago, we moved to Connecticut, got all of our stuff unpacked, and took care of some new resident things like spending an afternoon at the DMV and purchasing some new furniture for our new place. We’re also just getting into escrow on our California house, so if all goes well, we’ll get that wrapped up this month.

With all of the adulting and serious business going on, I’ve wanted to make sure to take advantage of autumn and enjoy what our new area has to offer. I’m a fan of this time of the year in the northeast, and all of the colors have recently exploded in the area. So, I’ve been making sure to fit in fun activities amidst the busyness. Here are some snapshots of the autumn fun that I’ve been having during my first season living in New England!

Hiking. In usual fashion, I’ve been looking for nice trails to explore with my pup. On mild days when the sun is out, you better believe I’m getting outside! Harley seems to enjoy hiking at these cooler temperatures, plus we’re now trekking through green forests versus hiking through California deserts, so it’s a bit of a change of pace.

The hiking spot that has been my favorite thus far is Mount Higby along the Mattabesset Trail in Middlefield, CT. It’s a 9-mile out-and-back trail that I have yet to hike in its entirety, but I ventured over there last week when I was itching for killer views of the changing leaves, and the sights did not disappoint:

The trail is right off of the highway, but it’s interesting because within a few minutes the busyness kind of just fell away, leaving my pup and me to have the forest to ourselves – me marveling at all of the colors, while Harley ran around like the high-energy, happy pup that she is.

It was Halloween, so I brought Harley’s lioness costume to throw on her head to snap this photo:

Another park I’ve visited a few times now, closer to where I’m living, is called Mianus River State Park. It’s a 400-acre urban forest sandwiched between the towns of Greenwich and Stamford. I love the roaring little river that runs through the park:

Farmers’ market exploring. Last week I ventured over to the Westport, CT farmers’ market, where there were lots of local vendors selling produce, olive oil, dips and more. I went on a lovely autumn day when the sun was shining and temperatures were in the 60s. It felt good to be back at a local market for the first time in months!

The market moves indoors soon, and I’m definitely planning on visiting in the winter to pick up some goodies – I love being a locavore!

Beach relaxation. Thus far I’ve found two beaches around me in CT that are dog friendly in the off-season. There’s just something about having my toes in the sand and watching the water that brings me such a sense of peace, and I can tell that Harley feels free roaming on the beach too.

I have a feeling that even during the winter, when there’s a nice sunny day, we’ll be heading to the beach for a long walk – as long as it isn’t covered in snow!

Apple picking. I try to make fall apple picking an annual tradition, and this year I ventured over to a little town in CT called Bethel with my husband to roam an orchard, pick some apples and eat apple cider doughnuts.

NYC getaway. Last weekend my hubby and I took the train into NYC for a getaway that centered around seeing Chris Stapleton in concert at Madison Square Garden. It was such a fun night! The temperatures were mild, so walking around the city felt nice, and the NYC Marathon was about to take place the next day, so we passed lots of bib wearing runners getting ready for the race.

I love NYC and it’s just an hour away from where I’m living, so I’d like to visit there often. I already have our next city jaunt planned for next month!

Tell me… What autumn fun have you been having?