35 College Towns You Have to See in the Fall

Eager young freshmen aren't the only ones bound for college towns across the country at this time of year. Recent graduates as well as those whose college years are long behind (or well ahead) of them venture to these colorful cities to revel in their ambience and activity. Scroll through for a compilation of some of the most memorable college towns to visit this fall.

Watching the mascot Ralphie the Buffalo (yes, he's a real buffalo!) charge onto Folsom Field is an autumn pregame tradition not to be missed at the University of Colorado at Boulder. While you're in town, be sure to drive along Boulder's Peak-to-Peak Scenic Byway to catch the fall foliage.

Princeton University is renowned for its academics, and Princeton the town is famous for its charm. In autumn, visitors to this historic city enjoy the burnt-orange foliage and the array of Gothic, Dutch Revival, Victorian, and Georgian buildings that line bustling Nassau Street. 

While Burlington is bone-chilling in winter, the home of the University of Vermont is mild enough in autumn to take in a shopping trip at the open-air Church Street Marketplace or an invigorating sailing excursion on Lake Champlain. The Oktoberfest held annually at Waterfront Park is a can't-miss attraction for beer aficionados, foodies, and music lovers.

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While the Northwest is often overlooked by college applicants entranced by the lush landscapes of New England or the ocean breezes of the West Coast, one visit to the town of Corvallis could make them rethink their plans. A wealth of mountain trails and waterfalls, art galleries, and craft breweries make Corvallis a hub for thrill-seekers and culture vultures alike.

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Plenty of bike lanes, home-grown produce, colorful blooms, and historic buildings are to be found in the University of Wisconsin's hometown, and they're the perfect ingredients for an autumn cycling trip to Dane County Farmers' Market, the University of Wisconsin Arboretum, or the University Heights Historic District. And, if you crave a return to your college glory days, don your Badgers gear and take in a Big Ten game at Camp Randall Stadium.

The 51,000-capacity Kenan Memorial Stadium is the place to be on a fall Saturday night in Chapel Hill when the University of North Carolina football team is playing at home. When you're ready to venture off campus, dine at City Place, a local favorite, head to The Carolina Inn for free music and fun food at their Fridays on the Front Porch events, and take a walk around downtown Chapel Hill for a sighting of the Tar Heels' mascot, Rameses the Ram.

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If you're hoping for a little R&R this fall on the sun-soaked West Coast, you'll find few better places to do it than in the scenic home of the University of California at Santa Barbara. In autumn, the local wind and swell conditions make for some great surfing. Those who prefer to stay on dry land can go cycling, camping, or mountain climbing in the 2,969-square-mile Los Padres National Forest.

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Home of the University of California at Santa Cruz, this coastline community lies in close proximity to four state parks, which makes it the perfect haunt for fall wildlife spotting. Visitors can watch whales, dolphins, and sea otters making a splash in Monterey Bay, or simply admire the majestic beauty of the towering trees in nearby Big Basin Redwoods State Park.

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Autumn in the Big Apple is beautiful, but hectic; Manhattan, Kansas, on the other hand, known as the Little Apple, is also lovely, but much more relaxing. You can while away the hours gazing at 19th-century buildings, admiring artwork in the many eclectic local galleries, or cozying up to a cup of joe at a coffeehouse, all in a picturesque prairie setting.

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Ithaca's colleges constitute an embarrassment of riches. Cornell University is a hot spot for top scientists and engineers, while the School of Music at Ithaca College attracts music lovers of all stripes. Performances by the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra draw visitors with classical tastes, while local dives from Lot 10 to The Range showcase edgier beats.

Hoosier football games are undoubtedly a major draw for those visiting Indiana University's home turf, but there are other ways to enjoy the fall in Bloomington. Nothing beats a morning of leaf-peeping from the Hickory Ridge Fire Tower overlooking the Hoosier National Forest, an afternoon of apple picking at Musgrave Orchard, or a moonlit picnic in Bryan Park.

You can leave your jacket at home when you head to the University of Florida at Gainesville, where the mercury hovers comfortably in the 70s and 80s for much of the fall. Chockablock with verdant state parks, nature preserves, and historic houses—as well as plenty of enthusiastic Gators football fans—Gainesville has something for everyone in the family. 

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To experience a college town like a local, you have to venture to popular hangouts. That's easy to do in Ames, where you can stop at Reiman Gardens at Iowa State University to pay your respects to Elwood, the tallest concrete garden gnome in the world, or enjoy a concert at Stephens Auditorium. If you're planning an overnight stay, crash at Iowa House, a former frat house that was transformed into an elegant bed-and-breakfast. 

While the off-campus culinary scene in some college towns is not much more appealing than the campus dining hall, a trip to the home of Brandeis University will delight even the most discerning of foodies. Moody Street, dubbed Restaurant Row, spoils gourmands for choice with an appetizing array of Italian restaurants, modern American bistros, tapas joints, and Asian-inspired eateries.

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May through July may be festival season in cities around the country, but the fun continues into late summer and fall in Bowling Green. The home of Bowling Green State University annually hosts the National Tractor Pulling Championships, the Wood County Fair (featuring a famous catch-a-pig contest), and the Black Swamp Arts Festival.

Orem has been home to actress and singer Marie Osmond and NFL linebacker Paul Kruger, among other celebrities. But it's the city's landmarks, including the Christeele Acres Historic District, 18 nearby parks, and educational institutions like Utah Valley University, that give it star power in the eyes of tourists.

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Whether you're exploring the "haunted" Schwab Auditorium or marching with fellow revelers at the Halloween Costume Parade, you're guaranteed a good time if you visit State College in October. But even if you wind up at the home of Pennsylvania State University in late September, you can still get your fall fix, downing specialty drinks at Oktoberfest or catching the leaves of Rothrock State Forest as they take on their fiery autumn hues.

From the exhibitions at Roberson Museum & Science Center to the performances at Tri-Cities Opera, the home of Binghamton University has culture in spades. But if you prefer down-home dives to uptown pleasures, you'll find plenty to suit, including homemade apple cider and fruit wine at The Cider Mill and arcade games at Robot City Games (the largest arcade in New York).

The present and the past collide in Bozeman, where a modern downtown coexists with four museums, one displaying the largest Tyrannosaurus rex skull ever found. But no visit to Montana State University in Bozeman would be complete without a detour to the great outdoors. Get in touch with nature by fly fishing at the Gallatin River, hiking the Bozeman Gallagator Trail, or taking snapshots of native flowers at the Montana Arboretum and Gardens.

Fayetteville has always marched to the beat of its own drummer. The home of the University of Arkansas has its own mix of fall rituals worth experiencing up close, from football fans belting the “Woo Pig Sooie” cheer at home games at the Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium to pulling in for flicks at the 112 Drive-In Theater, one of the last drive-ins still standing in the United States.

Tempe has such a jam-packed social calendar in autumn that you can pretty much enjoy a local festival on any given weekend. The home of the largest campus of Arizona State University hosts a celebration for virtually every occasion and interest, from Four Peaks Oktoberfest at Tempe Beach Park to the Chilies & Chocolate Festival at the Desert Botanical Garden.