Top Annual Autumn Affairs in Opal Destinations

There’s nothing quite like the flurry of fall. Here are some of the best ways to immerse yourself in the season in Opal destinations.

Autumn is officially upon us. But, sometimes, it feels as though it departs as quickly as it arrives. So before the all the leaves hit the ground, make sure you knock some items off your “things to do in the fall” bucket list. From an award-winning Adirondack corn maze to trick-or-treating in a tropical gardens in Florida, we highlight a range of ways you can enjoy the season across Opal destinations.

Apples and the Arts [Hope, ME]

It’s not just called a Variety Weekend because of its variety of shows – including a themed storytelling contest and musical performances by bluegrass band, Doughty Hill – but because this festival, put on by Hope Orchards some 10 miles from Rockport, is all about celebrating its variety of apples. During the October 20th through 22nd event, 23 different kinds of apples are available for tasting, pairing, and purchasing, as well as other local treats, like warm apple pie and an assortment of cheeses from Appleton Creamery and State of Maine Cheese.

Where to Stay Samoset Resort

Fun on the Farm [Ballston Spa, NY]

Located 30 miles south of Lake George, Ellms Family Farm is no ordinary farm – it’s loaded with activities that kids will love, including a ropes course, the MooMooChooChoo (a cow-themed barrel train), a jump park, pedal carts, gemstone mining, mazes, and more. Of course, for traditionalists, there’s also a good ol’ pumpkin patch there, too, for all your jack-o-lantern and pumpkin seed needs.

Where to Stay  The Sagamore Resort

Get Lost in a Massive Maze [Gabriels, NY]

Open until the last weekend in October, the Great Adirondack Corn Maze at Tucker Farms, just 18 miles from Lake Placid, is always an impressive six-acre work of art. This year, the labyrinth – when viewed from an aerial perspective – forms an elaborate outline of four “Peanuts” characters, as well as beloved Snoopy. While the maze is open Thursday through Sunday from noon until dusk, special Friday and Saturday “flashlight nights” allow people to tackle the maze until 10 p.m. for an extra challenge. Your reward for making your way through under the cover of night? S’mores around a bonfire, provided by the farm.

Where to Stay Lake Placid Lodge

A Month-Long Farm Festival [Boynton Beach, FL]

Expect more than just a pumpkin patch at Bedner’s Farms in Boynton Beach, just 10 miles northwest of Delray Beach. Every weekend during the month of October, the farm hosts an ongoing festival that hits all the major fall highlights across its 80-acre grounds: a corn maze, hay rides, Halloween-themed face painting, bounce houses, pony rides, and a petting zoo. But perhaps what the fest is best known for is its array of food truck and tents, serving everything from apple cider donuts and kettle corn to roasted corn of the cob and homemade ice cream.

Where to Stay Opal Grand Resort | Delray Sands Resort

Tropical Trick-or-Treating [Sarasota, FL]

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens turns your typical trick-or-treating experience on its head with its annual Spooktacular event (scheduled for October 29, 2017). Instead of wandering down residential neighborhood streets, costumed families come to collect candy while strolling through the property’s 15 acres of rare tropical plants, including a rainforest garden, bamboo garden, koi pond, and more. Other festivities, like pumpkin decorating and seed planting, round out the experience once the kids trick-or-treat bags are full.

Where to Stay The Resort at Longboat Key Club | Lido Beach Resort | Zota Beach Resort