Places to Incite a Fall Romance at Mount Holyoke

When you first enter through the gates of Mount Holyoke, you are bound to be struck by the beauty of this campus, especially during the fall. The leaves are orange with a tinge of yellow, hanging from the end of branches or dragging beneath your boots. When the breeze comes in, the leaves glide through the air as if they’re part of a slow motion, Parisian movie scene. Here are three of my favorite romantic places in Mount Holyoke, where you can take your partner and enjoy this unique scenery our beautiful campus has to offer.

Talcott Greenhouse: Especially since this is indoors, the greenhouse is one of the most underrated facilities on campus. When my boyfriend first visited Mount Holyoke, we were walking past the greenhouse when he asked, “What’s that?” I had been inside once during orientation but then forgot it existed. When we stepped in, the staff were immensely excited and offered to help us with anything we were curious about. Inside, there were a variety of plants from orchids to poinsettias depending on which “house” you were in.

Courtesy of Nirav Devnani
Picture of me in the greenhouse

The Lower Lake Walk: This, on the other hand, is probably one of the most known romantic things to do on campus. There is a pathway along lower lake, which falls under the shade of magnificently tall trees. There will be runners and walkers that you will pass by, but depending on the time of day, it can be rather quiet. Along this path, there is also an opportunity to observe Mount Holyoke’s natural wildlife: Jorge the goose and his duck followers, the gazillion squirrels that creep up behind trees, the great blue heron, and a recently discovered beaver who likes to nibble on branches.

Image via Flickr: Courtesy of one more dreamer

Skinner Green: One may wonder:  how in the world can this open clearing in the middle of campus be romantic? Due to the lack of lighting in this area, it is the perfect place to place a blanket on the grass, lie on your back and stare at the stars at night. To facilitate discussion, download an app called Sky View that shows you the various constellations when you aim the camera at the sky. This can be a fun yet romantic way to spend time with your partner and learn a bit about the universe!