How The Echo Crew Kept Busy Over Fall Break
The Echo Editors | Oct. 20, 2026
What’s a news staff to do when there’s no release? The answer, it turns out, involves lots of good food and at least one jacuzzi.
Solie-
During this break, Solie made friends with the neighborhood cats, ate bomb food and “was a boss.” After moving houses, they were able to decorate their new room. They undid an entire bedframe because they are so strong. As Fall Break came to a close, Solie drove their new awesome car (with a sunroof) back to Warren Wilson College (WWC) campus.
Vivian-
Vivian’s break consisted of going home to Yellow Springs, Ohio. She spent most of her days enjoying her mom’s farm and all of its creatures, relaxing, or working in her favorite coffee shop.
Sophia-
Sophia gave herself a challenge this fall break: find the best key lime pie within Florida. After a week of searching, she declared the key lime pie from Blond Giraffe Key Lime Pie Factory the overall winner. She has a few words of wisdom for those interested in visiting: “I would definitely recommend the key lime meringue pie in Blond Giraffe Key Lime Pie Factory. If you do end up going there, I’d recommend trying the chocolate dipped one first!”
Slice of Famous Meringue Key Lime Pie rests on a table in the backyard of Blond Giraffe Key Lime Pie Factory, Saturday, October 17th, 2026, in Key Largo, Florida (Echo/Sophia Strominger)
Mariella:
Mariella went to Little Switzerland, N.C. with her family! Together, they ate food, shopped and even mined for gems. “It was a great experience!” she said.
Echo Crew member Mariella Weathers posing at Little Switzerland Inn on Oct.16 2026 in Little Switzerland N.C. (Echo/Mariella Weathers)
Emma-
What did Emma do over break? She went home to Vermont and got to see all of the beautiful fall foliage! She also attended an art opening (serving hot soup, apple cider, pie and charcuterie!) outside, reporting everyone “was bundled up in true Vermonter fashion.” Emma spent her break contra dancing, spending time with family and friends and, most importantly, ate “SO much lumache with butternut squash sauce and mascarpone from my favorite restaurant in Stowe. “10/10.”
Ryleigh-
Ryleigh looked at some leaves, learned how to dismantle a Volkswagen emissions system, and hung out with her dog. And she ate some classically mediocre New Hampshire Thai food too.
Elliott-
Elliott started off the break by making a Sichuan-style hot pot at his home with friends and family. He spent 7 hours making a bone broth with lemongrass, five spice and peppercorns. During the break, he noted that his dog was perpetually enraptured by the presence of Mexican lager. On the Sunday before coming back to school, he went with his friends to go see “You Can See Everything,” a recently released film directed by Nathan Fielder on the former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes. Despite his position as a writer on The Echo, the only two words he can use to describe the film are crazy and unreal.
Clara-
Clara drank champagne in a jacuzzi (not pictured).
Angel-
This break, Angel enjoyed spending time with their family and even visiting their brother, sister in law and little nephew who is “growing by the second!” They spent the majority of their break attempting to keep their mind off of school and failing – but it's the effort that counts.
Jaylei-
While on break, Jaylei spent a majority of her time in Atlanta, Ga.. While there, she visited Little Five points and the Variety Playhouse, where she saw comedian Waylon Wyatt perform. Later in the week, she went to Ponce City Market – a market made inside of a renovated business building!
Wyatt-
Wyatt went to Amherst, Mass. to see friends, witness as many moments as he could from Hampshire College’s final semester and play an obscene amount of pool.
