IT’S FALL YALL!!
If you’re anything like me, you love the most recent change in season – from summer to fall. This is by far my favorite time of the year (for many reasons), and I enjoy everything from the leaves changing colors to crisp early morning sipping pumpkin spiced lattes.
The last few months of the year (October, November and December) are filled with so many holidays, amazing weather, fun with family and friends and so much more! We jam so many activities into the last quarter of the year that we start hibernating during the winter
Do you love fall or autumn (depending on where you live)? If so, keep reading to learn more about all of the things to swoon over during the fall season.
1. Pumpkin Patches
Do you enjoy picking you own pumpkins? If so, taking the kids out to the pumpkin patch is a great fall activity. You can pick the largest pumpkin at the patch or the mini white pumpkins that look great with your fall décor. Whether you plan to place the pumpkins on your front porch as part of your fall inspired porch décor or you want to make pumpkin pies, you can’t go wrong with a fall outing to a pumpkin patch. So, I encourage you to discover a pumpkin patch in your area. Don’t forget the pumpkin carving kit so you can be creative with some of your best finds.
2. Apple Picking
If you love apples, this is the best time of the year to explore the different apple varieties. From gala to honey crisp, there’s something for everyone. My kids absolutely love apples, so they look forward to apple picking every year. If you enjoy baking, there are so many interesting recipes to try out with the freshly picked apples. Something as simple as candied apples to apple turnovers, there’s a treat for everyone. My favorite fall apple recipe is good ole’ apple pie with vanilla bean ice cream.
3. Sweater Weather
This is one of the main reasons I love fall….SWEATER WEATHER! I love a nice cozy sweater, t-shirt and jeans. This is my casual fall uniform. If you want a casual look size up for of the oversized, cozy look or tuck it in for a more polished, office look. I’m loving all of the fall sweaters in mustard, wine and orange! That sounds more like food than clothing, right! Don’t forget about a cardigan sweater if you like to layer your outfit.
4. Fall Candles
Scented candles are a great fall vibe! I stock up on candles in preparation for fall as soon as the new scents hit the store shelves. Whether you like mahogany teakwood or pumpkin pecan waffles, a nice scented candle will make you home more welcoming and inviting for guests. I enjoy many candle scents for the fall, I typically gravitate towards more woodsy and crisp fragrances. I leave the food scents such as vanilla, brown sugar and apple pie to those who can handle the food temptations every time you enter the room.
5. State (and Local) Fairs
Fall is the time of the year when most states host their annual state fair. What a wonderful activity for families, especially with young kids. The attractions at a state or local fair include everything from carnival rides, live music and livestock competition. If you enjoy trying unusual foods, you can easily find fried Oreos, chocolate covered bacon, and funnel cakes to delight your palette. The cooler fall weather is the perfect opportunity to enjoy an evening of fun and activities
6. Hayrides
Cooler weather means hayrides! Kids and adults alike love hayrides to either explore the farm or to a haunted house. I’m partial to the former; however I do understand why people love haunted hayrides. I have small children so we’re not participating in the scary activities. They do love a bumpy hayride around a farm, pumpkin patch or apple orchard in the fall. Do you love kicking up your feet on bales of hay while taking in the fall and Halloween festivities? If so, check out some of the farms that offer hayrides in your local area. Make sure you dress for the weather!
7. Football
We all know that baseball is America’s favorite pastime; however football in the fall is as American as apple pie! Whether it’s high school, college or professional; football brings families and friends together during the fall season. Some of my fondest memories are participating in high school marching band and dance team on a crisp Friday night during a football game. Whether it’s the sound of the marching band playing the school’s fight song or the roar of the bleachers after a touchdown, football is a quintessential fall activity.
8. Halloween
To a lot people, fall is synonymous with Halloween. It’s only one day; however we spend over a month preparing our homes for this holiday. From ghost and goblins to jack-o-lanterns, Halloween décor is a staple on our lawns and porches. We all hope for sunshine on Halloween day and an unseasonably warm night so the kids can trick or treat in their favorite superhero and princess costumes without jackets and coats. If you live in the Midwest (or the northern states), then you’re likely running from house to house in full winter gear on Halloween night. After a night of trick-or-treating, don’t you enjoy picking out the best candy to overindulge? Halloween is not just a kids’ holiday, there are tons of adult costume parties, bar crawls and neighborhood bonfires! Whatever you decide to do on Halloween, be safe and have fun!
9. Cozy Scarves
Even though it doesn’t get extremely cold in the fall months on the east coast, we still love a great infinity or blanket scarf. Fall is all about layers, so adding a scarf gives your outfit such a boost. My favorite scarf is a cheetah print scarf within fringe. You can pair this print with almost any fall color. It is especially fire with a monochromatic look such as all black or white. I typically purchase many scarves on sale at the end of the winter season to save money and get a good deal, so consider that at the end of the upcoming winter season. I look forward to scrolling through Pinterest or Instagram to get cozy scarves and outfit inspiration.
10. Boot Season
Did someone say BOOTS! Who doesn’t love a good pair of boots for fall? Be it tall or ankle boots, we live for warm, cozy boots. If you live in parts of the country (or outside of the US) where it snows in October, boots are a necessity; however a lot of us wear them as an accessory until winter arrives. Of course, my favorite pair of boots are Uggs! They are the coziest boots that I own (I actually own three pairs), and I can’t live without them. If you want the stay warm throughout fall and into winter, don’t forget to add boot socks or toe warmers if you’re participating in lots of outdoor activities!
11. Warm Pajamas
The next thing I love about fall are flannel pajamas! They make an excellent gift for birthdays or Christmas (or just because it’s fall). They pair well with a comfortable chair, blanket and a good book. I know you’ve seen the matching family pajamas all over social media. I’m guilty….I love to purchase matching pajamas for cute photos!
12. Cozy Throws
If you’re a home décor enthusiast like me, then a cozy throw is a staple in a basket next to the sofa, on the sofa or on the arm of your favorite comfortable chair. Keep plenty of throw blankets on hand for movie night or game night or to curl up with a nice cup of tea or coffee. You can never have enough throw blankets, so stock up during the white sales or as Christmas presents.
13. Hats
What’s your favorite fall hat? Are you a fedora hat person or a slouchy wool beanie person? I’m versatile, so I love both! Hats can really take your casual fall day outfit to a stylish happy hour look. Are you into streetwear, if so then incorporating a hat into your outfit is a must! It gives an edgy look that says, I didn’t come to play!
14. Fall Festivals
If you Google fall festivals in your local area, you can find dozens of events that run from October through late November. You have your pick of festivals that range from food related (apple harvest, wine and pumpkin) to music festivals (folk and bluegrass). My favorite type of fall festivals with the kids are pumpkin patch related outfitted with a corn or bamboo maize. Throw in a petting zoo for the kids, and everyone is satisfied. What is your favorite type of fall festival?
15. Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving (or Harvest Festival) is a US holiday celebrated the fourth Thursday in November (or in October for the Canadians). It was first celebrated in 1621 by the Pilgrims and Native Americans. Thanksgiving means a lot of my family. We gather to give thanks for our blessings and to eat fried turkey, dressing (or stuffing depending on your origin) and sweet potato pie (or pumpkin pie depending on your locale). People travel across the country to visit family and friends for Friendsgiving (a fairly new celebration of friendships) and Thanksgiving via car, train or plane making it the most traveled holiday of the year. We all have our traditions during this celebration. What are your some of your family’s Thanksgiving traditions?
16. Apple Cider
One of my favorite fall drinks is hot apple cider! I have special glass mugs that I use to serve my hot apple cider with cinnamon stick. I love going to the farmer’s market to pick up my apple cider. Give me a cozy throw, a great movie and hot apple cider, and I’m in for the night. For those that don’t prefer hot apple cider, it can be served cold or at room temperature as well.
17. Hiking
I love hiking! If there’s a waterfall along the path, count me in! Since I’m a native Virginian, hiking is a great fall activity to see some of the more scenic areas in our great state. My favorite hiking areas are Shenandoah and the Blue Ridge Mountains. The crisp fall air and nice pair of comfortable boots are enough to get me up and walking. If you prefer a quick an easy hike, you can always check out your local parks and recreation areas.
18. Winery Tours
If you’re looking for a date night (or day) activity, check out your local wineries for the perfect fall activity for couples. This fall activity can also be a girl’s night out event or a family (and dog) outing. We have a large number of wineries in Virginia and Maryland, and they are a great way to support local, small businesses. I especially like the wineries that server charcuterie trays and platters with their wine. If you really want to be romantic, you could pack a picnic basket with your favorite cheeses, crackers and fruit for the perfect late afternoon outing.
19. Fall Decorating
Whether you like to decorate the interior or exterior of your home for fall, the stores are breaming with decor as early as August. I personally like to begin shopping for my fall decor in early September. If you’re really smart, you can wait until the end of the fall season and stock up a year in advance. I love decorating with real and faux pumpkins, fall foliage, amber jars, fall pillows, cozy throws, fall candles and a door wreath. I know a lot of people like to blend fall and Halloween decor, so have fun with whatever you choose use in your fall decor. There’s so much inspiration on Pinterest, so check out my Pinterest board for some fall inspiration.
Farmer’s Market
Saturday morning at the farmer’s market is one of our favorite fall pastimes! We love picking out seasonal fruit and vegetables from the local farmers. We also love to indulge in kettle popcorn, waffles on a stick, and barbecue. We recently discovered flavored fudge at our farmer’s market, and we tried a variety of the flavors. What is your favorite thing to pick up at the farmer’s market?
There you have it….20 things I absolutely love about fall! I could easily expand this list to 100+ things that signify fall; however I wanted to provide a authentic, reasonable list of products and activities that I personally look forward to every fall.
Enjoy the fall season and Happy Halloween!
