Hello there, dear readers! It’s been a while, I know. Things have been busy and I have been battling writer’s block. But I recently went on a particularly revitalizing trip and thought I’d share. October has flown by, but not without adventure.

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October holds an interesting place in my heart. A prelude to November, my birth month, October is usually a month of change, reflection, and discomfort.

As much as I enjoy fall, when the seasons change here in California it can get a little…claustrophobic. The seasons are nonexistent, so it’s easy to feel stuck. And to be honest I’d look a little ridiculous sporting a knit beanie anytime, anywhere in this state.

Luckily, this year I was offered an escape. A good friend of mine asked me a couple of months ago if I’d be interested in seeing fall foliage with her. We’re both California natives who love and seek adventure. So she probably wasn’t surprised at all to hear me respond with a, “Fuck yeah!”

Exploring the east coast was an amazing treat. I could finally see the houses and landscapes that I’d only daydreamed about, having only seen it in the movies I love. The small, quaint towns were especially fun to explore. On foot, we could savor the trees and brisk air, eyes full of sight and wonder.

So I’ve compiled some highlights from the trip, experiences and all. A big shout out to any east coast readers, fall is awesome! Though I’ve been told an east coast winter is definitely not something to look forward to. Who knows, maybe that’ll be a future experience in the books.

Cider Hill Farm

I’m a BIG cider fan. In any shape, in any form, I will eat it, drink it, breathe it…you get the drill. So I was more than thrilled to visit this cider farm, where I was braced with the most delectable apple cider donut, in addition to the best warm, freshly pressed cider I’ve ever had! The apples really do make a difference. The farm we’d visited was the Cider Hill Farm in Amesbury, MA.

Portland Lobster Company

This was truly an experience to savor! We got two small lobsters with corn and a baked potato. Neither of us knew how to properly crack open a lobster, it was both of our first times, but we managed! Now I know what it means when people say, “It is about the journey, not the destination.” Because while the lobster was delicious in every way possible, it was the act of cracking them open with a good friend that made the dinner spectacular that night.

Salem, MA

As readers may know, I adore The Scarlet Letter. When I read it for the first time in high school, my English teacher had told the class to visit Salem. Intrigued by the concept of witches and spookiness, my good friend and I made a stop there. There were a lot of people, and we fought for parking for perhaps longer than we would’ve liked to, but it was definitely a fun visit. We stopped by a witchy store, ate at the Hawthorne Hotel, and visited a cemetery. Sounds a bit morbid but the leaves just look so beautiful against the stones, don’t they?