Fall is a short, popular season. In Olean, we know Fall as the week between the 90 degree heat and freezing temperatures. To embrace the short window of time St. Bonaventure students have for changing leaves and pumpkin lattes, here's a list of activities in the area. Before we know it, we'll be breaking out our over-worn parkas.
1. Pumpkinville
This should be the first stop on any St. Bonaventure students’ fall bucket list. Where else can you shoot corn out of a cannon and jump on a giant pumpkin-shaped bounce house for only $10? Not to mention the endless amounts of maple and pumpkin flavored food.
2. The Ellicottville Oktoberfest celebration
If drinking a craft beer while riding on a ski lift surrounded by colorful foliage sounds like a perfect day for you, then you definitely need to head to Ellicottville.
3. Spragues
Two words: Maple syrup.
4. Café La Verna for pumpkin spice and everything nice
Even Café La Verna gets into the fall spirit with its pumpkin spice drink specials. If you can brave the mass of people calling you "basic" as you walk to class with it in hand, it’s definitely worth a few precious flex dollars.
5. Dunkin' Donuts for even more pumpkin spice
If La Verna can’t satisfy your craving, Dunkin' Donuts will. They even created a cute geotag on Snapchat saying “Dunkin' patch” so you can take selfies while sipping on a pumpkin spice latté before putting on your Ugg boots and heading to class.
6. The Portville Drive-In
It’s not only way cheaper than Carmike in Olean, but its got a vintage flair to it that makes it even more enticing. Bring some candy and some blankets and head out with your best friends. It’s closed during the winter, so make sure you get your fill of it in October!
7. Cummins Cider Mill
A little known stop in Portville, the cider mill has the best apple cider you’ll ever taste. They also have a ton of baked goods there that will keep you coming back every weekend.
8. The Allegheny river trail
The river trail behind St. Bonaventure’s campus gets even more beautiful in the fall. Instagram-worthy photos can definitely be taken on a brisk afternoon walk or run with friends.
9. The Halloween 5K/half marathon
Last year Ellicottville hosted a Halloween half marathon and 5K event on Nov. 1. The events have since been moved to Oct. 24, probably when they realized Halloween and alcohol go hand-in-hand for college students, and hangovers and 5K’s do not (speaking from experience). Sign up online while you still can. Bonaventure students get a discount, a free t-shirt, and they hand out candy and plastic fangs during the race.
10. The gym
Why, you ask? It’s one of the only places left on campus with cable. Unless you can find someone to “ABC family and chill” with, you’ll have to work off all that candy corn while you watch Hocus Pocus on the treadmill.
