As a Swattie who hails from the distant, faraway land of California, there are many times where I yearn for the comforts of the motherland. At night, as I huddle underneath my carefully constructed cocoon of blankets, I long for the California sunshine. And indeed, as much as I have come to love Hobbs, there are still times where I crave an iced rosé latte from Philz, a (sadly) West Coast-exclusive coffee chain. However, as amazing as California may be, the East Coast has it beat in one area specifically: seasons. In California — at least where I’m from — we experience summer, spring, and winter, but never fall. As such, coming to Swarthmore was my first time experiencing a proper fall. And as corny as it may sound, there’s something quite magical about watching the leaves change colors to brilliant hues of crimson, yellow, and gold, especially on a campus as beautiful as ours. With that, here are my favorite spots on campus to fully soak up the fall in all its brilliance. (Disclaimer: This idea is 100% stolen from the Swarthmore Instagram page, so full credit to them, but all of these picks are my own!)
- Cornell Library
Starting off strong with Cornell, which is a beloved study spot on campus. Whenever I pass by I am sure to see my fellow Swatties hard at work, or attempting to be hard at work but getting distracted and yapping with their friends instead. But perhaps the best part of Cornell is its large windows, complete with an incredible view of the trees and the changing fall colors.
2. Pollinator Garden
Second on my list is also located near the Science Center: the Pollinator Garden in the Sci Courtyard. I’m sure many of us (myself included) perhaps pass this garden as we rush to the Sci Center Cafe to spend dining dollars we do not have on a silly little treat of our choosing. However, it is a gorgeous spot, complete with scenic shrubbery and the overlooking skyline of the trees. I first noticed it during Garnet Weekend, when my mom stopped excitedly to take a picture (or ten). My advice? Visit during sunset. It’s especially beautiful to see the brilliant hues of red and yellow of the trees with the sunlight poking through the branches.
3. Trotter Lawn
Third on my list is Trotter! Is this a somewhat “touristy,” well-known pick? Yes! Do I care? No! I stand by my assertion that Trotter Lawn is one of the most beautiful places on campus, second only to my cozy blanket cocoon at the end of a long day. Trotter is gorgeous all year round, but the gorgeous, vibrant shades of green, ochre, and red are especially picturesque, complete with the perfect piles of leaves on the ground. While some students come here to get work done, I prefer to simply slump into one of the many lawn chairs and admire the scenery around me. To each their own!
4. Magill Walk
Ahh, Magill Walk. Not only one of the most picturesque places on campus, the path is also one of the most frequented paths within Swarthmore, as most students have to walk it to get to various classes. On days where the cold weather makes me want to stay inside, the scenery of Magill singlehandedly motivates me to haul my weary bones out into the cold. My only gripe is that true to its name, the only option at Magill Walk is to walk. There are no chairs or benches in sight, so it becomes a bit difficult to actually take in the scenery before you. Still, it’s a beautiful view indeed!
5. The Fragrance Garden
One of the lesser known spots on campus, the Fragrance Garden is tucked away between Clothier Hall and the Bell Tower in a courtyard. Not only is the view beautiful, but as an added bonus, the Garden is flanked by the intercultural center and the Organization for Redefining Asian Activism office. Both of these spaces are lovely and vibrant centers for students to gather and share in cultural exchange. As such, whether you are inside or outside the garden, you can’t go wrong.
Honorable mentions: Nason Garden, Crum Woods
In the interest of not making my list overly “garden”-heavy (and admittedly, also in the interest of gatekeeping), I chose to omit the Nason Garden, located behind Trotter Hall, from the top five. However, it is indeed a beautiful and serene place — whether you’re looking to get work done or otherwise. Personally, I’ve found that when the weight of the world, finals, and/or all your responsibilities starts to feel heavy, the Nason Garden is a wonderful place to ground yourself and reconnect with nature.
And of course, I would be remiss if I did not mention the Crum Woods. Similarly, the Crum Woods is also a wonderful spot to unplug from the world for a bit and reflect, all while admiring the natural beauty of the fall colors around you. I highly recommend both these spots in addition to the ones mentioned above!
Overall, there are a ton of beautiful places on campus to admire the beauty around you. This point of the semester tends to be a busy, stressful time for us all, so I encourage all my fellow Swatties to pause and notice the sights around you. There’s a deep sense of tranquility to be found among the leaves and their changing colors, and an even greater sense of joy that comes with finding the perfect pile of leaves to jump in. Let all of Swarthmore’s flora and fauna remind you that life is inherently transient, and while things may be stressful now, it’ll only be a matter of time before they aren’t. Like the leaves and the seasons, we too will change and adapt, regardless of what life throws at us.
