Team Favorite Fall Activity
The transition of seasons flies by all too quickly, but for many (myself included) this phenomenon is one of the many things that gives New England its charm. Southern transplants always say that the one thing they miss about living up north is the change in the seasons (aside from family, friends and their doctors, of course), and I totally understand why. It’s the greens, blues and purples of the spring bloom break the winter monotony of whites and grays. But what really what captivates me is that special time at the end of October when the trees turn vibrant shades of red, orange and yellow. Notwithstanding the perpetual frustration of trying to find my ball that easily becomes hidden under leaves on the golf course (usually in the rough which is where I often find myself), fall has always been my favorite season. We all look forward to fall for our own special reasons, but as a team we are all in agreement that there is no better time of year.
By Paul Morrone, CFP ®, CPA, MSA
As an October birthday, I have always had a special connection with the fall. Summertime on the CT shoreline brings heavy traffic, busy weekends and the potential for sweltering hot temperatures. After Labor Day, however, the traffic dies down, summer obligations fall by the wayside and the heat finally breaks for good. There’s nothing I enjoy more in the fall than waking up early on a cool weekend morning, grabbing a cup of coffee and going out for a drive with all the windows down, sunroof open (if only I had a convertible…) and with no specific destination in mind. Most people probably think I’m crazy, but to me this is almost therapeutic. Cruising down Route 146 though Branford, Guilford, Madison and onto Clinton and into Westbrook forces me to slow down, take a deep breath and simply relax as I take in the scenery. Of course there’s always time to stop for breakfast, maybe do some shopping (if Jill decides to join me) and if I’m really lucky my trip will end at New Haven Country Club for a round of golf just as it becomes warm enough to slip into shorts and a T shirt for a quick 18 holes.
By Tom Morrone, CFP ®, CPA, Principal
Besides the leaves changing color and the cooler, crisper weather, my first sign of fall is wearing jeans and sweaters again. I prefer shorts and golf shirts but it is what it is. Dressed for the cooler weather, I always look forward to apple picking. When the kids were young this was always a favorite activity as a family with a hike to one of the local orchards. I still enjoy doing it now, eating about 4 apples while picking the perfect size and color apples to bring home. In addition to the color and shape there is also the type of apples to choose from. There are so many choices that sometimes walking up and down the rows of trees and doing some sampling is the best way to narrow down the selection. I personally am a Macintosh and Macoun kind of a guy but there are so many options. One bad thing about apple picking is there are usually rotten apples at the base of the trees with yellow jackets looking for a treat. I guess swatting away a few bees is a small price to pay for some fun. The best part about a long day in the orchard is that apple picking usually leads into baking a good old fashioned apple cobbler at the end of the day. It is mandatory to eat it warm with vanilla ice cream. Yum!
By Barbara Gode, Office Manager
I would say my favorite fall activity is getting together with friends and family to enjoy the outdoors. For example, hiking is one of my all-time favorite fall activities because I can enjoy the scenic outdoors while catching up with others and getting some exercise in too. One of my favorite hiking spots is Sleeping Giant State Park located across the street from the Quinnipiac University entrance in Hamden. Over the years, I have enjoyed many hiking trails at the Giant, but now I prefer to just stick to the Tower Trail. The Tower Trail is one of the most popular trails at the Giant. Most any day of the week, you will find someone either hiking up or down the trail. Many of them will even bring their dogs with them. Of all the trails available this is probably the easiest. I would suggest if you haven’t hiked in a while, you might want to consider this one first. At the top, you’ll be able to see the Castle Tower. The Castle Tower is a great spot to take in the surrounding views. Why not take a picture or two? Happy Trails!
