Temperatures are dropping at night, leaves are changing colors, and everything is pumpkin flavored. As the fall season begins, the corn mazes, pumpkin patches, hay rides, and more begin to open up.

There are many outdoor fall activities that students at RCHS enjoy partaking in. A poll was created for the students to participate in voting for their favorite fall activity, food, and drinks. There were 210 total responses for this fall poll. 

Overall, 77 students voted that the best fall activity is going to pumpkin patches. In order to go to a pumpkin patch, students and their families could travel to Fairfield area for the Swisher’s Farm. Check this website for more pumpkin patch locations in these areas: Lynchburg, Roanoke, and Harrisonburg.

The second most popular fall activity voted by students was corn mazes with 60 votes. One place that families visit close by for corn mazes is Skeeter’s Maze Adventure in Waynesboro. For a more challenging corn maze, the Yoder’s Farm Corn Maze is in Rustburg, with a new theme and design handcrafted every year. 

Apple picking and hayrides were voted third and fourth by the students at RCHS. Apple picking received 30 votes and hayrides with 23 votes. 

An orchard a little south from Rockbridge to visit would be Ikenberry Orchards in Daleville. An alternative option would be to travel north to the Showalter’s Orchard in Timberville. One more popular apple picking location is The Carter Mountain Orchard  in Charlottesville. 

The rest of the votes were activities that students at RCHS would rather participate in than these four. Haunted houses and football games were the next most popular activities for the fall season. 

After a day of fall activities, people enjoy foods and beverages. The fall season has some great food and drink options, many including pumpkin flavorings.

The two most popular fall foods between the students are pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread. Pumpkin pie was voted with 76 votes and pumpkin bread got second most popular with 59 votes. Pumpkin frosted cookies got third most liked by the students, receiving 39 votes. Many popular places for fall drinks are coffee shops, including Starbucks  and Dunkin’ Donuts. Altogether, the most popular drink students voted was apple cider, totaling to 114 votes. This drink can be found in stores sold cold or warm, and occasionally stores will sell homemade apple cider. 

Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino was the second most popular fall drink and then followed a pumpkin spice latte. The Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino received 47 votes and a little behind it, with 24 votes, the pumpkin spice latte was third favorite fall drink. Cinnamon dolce latte received 10 votes, and lastly the ginger apple spritzer with 4 votes. 

These fall drinks and foods can be found at many different coffee and drink shops. Downtown Lexington  has multiple coffee and drink shops to explore if someone is looking for a beverage.

Click any of the links above for additional information on fall activities, food, and drinks.