Fall is a wonderful time to explore all that Burlington County has to offer! BCLS is here to support you in all your local travel needs.
Hiking and Outdoor Exploration
You can start with a fall foliage tour, and explore one of the many New Jersey hiking trails available. For Burlington County hikes, head over to our Health & Wellness resources page to find hiking guides for places like Historic Smithville Park and Pennington Park! You'll find bingo boards, packing guides, and other activities and information within each packet.
If you're looking for a quick hike to complete in a day or less, then check out AMC's Best Day Hikes in New Jersey, 2024 by Priscilla Estes and Michael McCormick.
If you're looking for something for a variety of skill levels, read Hiking New Jersey by Johnny Molloy for 50 hikes for beginner and experienced hikers.
New Jersey Off the Beaten Path by Kay Scheller and Bill Scheller.
If you're looking to take a drive and see something new, 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Philadelphia by Lori Litchman is a great resource to Philly, New Jersey, and Delaware.
Fall Events
BCLS also offers many opportunities to entertain folks of all ages!
For Preschoolers ages 3 - 5, join Evesham Library for Start With Art for some fall-themed art stations. Be sure to dress to mess for a fun time on Tuesday, October 7 at 10:30 am. Registration opens on September, 23 at 10 am!
On Saturday, October 4 from 10 am to 3 pm, we’re featuring an autumn-themed craft crawl at three of our branches — Evesham, Pinelands and Maple Shade. Children ages 6 - 12 can come to each location throughout the day and create a unique fall-themed craft.
At Cinnaminson Library, Teens and Young Adults ages 13 - 18 can participate in Teen Craft Hour: Fall Vibes for some seasonal painting and crafting. Hang out and craft with some new friends on Saturday, October 4 from 2 to 3 pm. Registration opens on September, 20 at 10 am!
Adults can make their fall a little brighter by making a Fall Lantern Centerpiece at Pemberton Library. On Wednesday, October 8 from 2 - 3 pm library staff will guide you through the process of making this delightful lantern for your holiday table. Registration opens on September, 24 at 10 am!
Check out our events calendar for many more fun and educational events taking place this fall.
Fall Films & Travel Memoirs
Perhaps this fall you’re in the mood to stay in and enjoy cozy family time. If so, we’ve also got you covered! Pop some popcorn and plan a family movie night with Kanopy or Kanopy Kids! These free resources available with your library card allow you to stream hundreds of films and TV shows.
Fall means the start of fall sports and the ending of spring sports. Check out the collection of Sports Cinema in September with favorites like Fever Pitch or Coach Carter.
And check out some movies and shows about far-away places too. Travel with the World Cinema collection!
There are also some interesting travel memoirs you might want to check out, right from the comfort of your own home, including:
Mother, Nature: a 5,000-mile Journey to Discover If a Mother and Son Can Survive Their Differences by Jedidiah Jenkin is a poignant memoir about family and healing. Jedidiah Jenkin, a forty-year-old gay man, and his eccentric conservative mother travel the country together and find surprising answers to our generational and cultural rifts.
South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of A Nation by Imani Perry is a reflection on the American South. An essential, surprising journey through the history, rituals, and landscapes of the American South - and a revelatory argument for why you must understand the South in order to understand America.
Living the Vanlife: On the Road Toward Sustainability, Community & Joy by Noami Grevemberg is a candid look at living a life of travel on the road in America. In 2016, Noami Grevemberg knew she had to make a big change. Dissatisfied with her office job and her "stationary home," she decided to quit her job, sell her belongings, and set out in her 1985 Volkswagen Vanagon to pursue a life of simplicity and travel with her husband and German Shepherd by her side.
The Last Ride of the Pony Express: My 2,000-mile Horseback Journey Into the Old West by Will Grant is the tale of an authentic horseback journey across the American West. Inspired by the likes of Mark Twain, Sir Richard Burton, and Horace Greeley, a cowboy and journalist takes an epic trip as he rides the Pony Express trail from Missouri to California.
Learn Something New
And finally, why not learn that language you’ve always wanted to explore with the help of our language-learning app, Pronunciator? It could come in handy for future travels – you never know! Pronunciator offers thousands of self-paced online lessons for all ages and skill levels in more than 160 languages, free with your library card.
Whatever you choose, we hope to see you this fall at one of our branches, looking for your next adventure!
