Fall is the best.  I don’t just think that because my birthday is in the fall or I got married in the fall or one of my favorite holidays, Thanksgiving, is in the fall.  Sure, all those things further my love of fall but they aren’t the main reasons.  There is a change in the air and the scenery and it inspires change in daily life too, at least for me.  While many people think of spring as the time of renewal and things coming to life, I feel like fall is the same way.  The leaves turn to beautiful shades of gold, orange, and red, there is a certain crispness to the air, and the seasonal offerings at the market are warm and hearty.  It’s just a great time of year and I think we should all take some time to enjoy it!  These are some of my favorite things to do come fall time.

Apple Picking

My family has always gone apple picking during the fall.  Whether it was on a school field trip or a day off on our own, I have many memories of picking apples.  This Monday, I got the chance to go apple picking with my parents and my sister and her fiance.  I haven’t been apple picking with my family in a few years and it was great to relive some fond memories of my childhood.  There is nothing better than walking up and down row after row of apple trees, sampling as many apples as your stomach can hold, and loading up bags with your favorites.  Anyone who has been apple picking can tell you, fresh picked apples are just better.  And tons of apples can only lead to good things like apple pie, apple crisp, apple sauce, and apple butter.  Plus, what would apple picking be without a stop at the country store for fresh apple donuts and homemade fudge?  Go find an orchard near you and enjoy this fall favorite activity.

Pumpkins

You know I love pumpkins and it’s no secret that the rest of the population goes pumpkin crazy this time of year.  I like eating them, baking with them, decorating with them, picking them, and just being around them.  Pumpkins are great and when I see the first few pumpkins hit the stands, I know fall is pretty much here.

Squash in General

I like zucchini and summer squash just as much as the next person, but there is something so satisfying about winter squashes.  They’re creamy, filling, versatile, and so tasty.  There are so many varieties out there, butternut, kabocha, delicata, acorn, kuri…. The list goes on and on.  You can eat them in pretty much every dish during the fall.  Add them to soups, salads, stuff them full of delicious things, bake with them, or my personal favorite, roast them.  You can make them sweet, savory, or spicy.  They might look intimidating, but once you know how to handle them you’ll be eating them all the time.  Go get some from your local farmer’s market and enjoy immediately!

The Scenery

I can’t begin to tell you how beautiful I think fall is.  I feel like the leaves change from day to day providing new and even more gorgeous scenery than the day before.  And the smell of fallen leaves, raked leaves, and burning leaves are some of the best scents I can think of.  I also love fall weather.  It’s usually fairly mild, chilly in the mornings and evenings but with that golden sunshine the afternoons are pleasantly warm.  This is the best time of the year to get outside with your workouts before the harsh weather of winter comes.  I love running in the brisk weather in the morning and then taking a long stroll in the afternoon, crunching leaves underfoot along the way.  Fall is when I soak up that last bit of sunshine before I’m stuck indoors during the winter.  Find a way to get outside during this time of year.  Whether it’s for a workout, a walk a football game, or just sitting out in your backyard, enjoy that fall air.

I could keep writing on and on about all the things I love during the fall.  Watching football games, band competitions, being around family and food at Thanksgiving, celebrating my anniversary with my husband, sipping warm tea and reading while it’s raining outside, smelling my mom’s hot apple cider simmering on the stove are all things that I love about this season.  While you might not be as passionate about fall as I am, you can definitely find something to enjoy about this time of year.  Get out there and make the most of fall!