Pools are closed, classes have started, and days are getting shorter, telling us that summer has officially ended and fall has taken over. Usually around the month of October, we are mourning the passing of summer and dreading the colder seasons to come. However, this year I am beyond excited for fall! Maybe it’s the fact that I have a new turtleneck sweater I’m dying to wear, or maybe it’s because I’m sick of having to dress for ninety degree weather in Boston when I only brought clothes for the cold! Anyway, I want to spread my enthusiasm for fall by sharing 15 fun and relaxing ways to get the full fall experience in Boston! Whether you’re from the south and it’s your first northeastern fall, or you’re from the north and you’ve had plenty of exposure to our favorite colorful season, these are great ways to prevent yourself from getting into that cold-weather slump you may be slowly drifting into! Â
1. Boston Fashion Week (October 1-7)
Enjoy 7 days of Boston fashion.  Go with a friend and watch runway shows, events, exhibitions and parties as Boston’s fashion professionals, students, and stores show off their newest designs and creations to kick off the season!
2. The 53rd Head of the Charles Regatta (October 21-22)
The Head of the Charles Regatta is a must-attend event this fall. With more than 11,000 athletes competing and over 300,000 spectators cheering them on, it is a guaranteed good time. Â Spend time watching the races or just hanging out with some friends! For more information head over to their website, hocr.org.
3. The Boston Book Festival (October 28)
Fall is the best time for snuggling up under a warm blanket with some tea and reading a good book. Â Pick up your new fall read at the Boston Book Festival on October 28th. Â The Festival is one of the largest book festivals in the U.S., and offers an array of 150+ local authors, NPR hosts, publishers, and award winners who join together in forums and presentations to celebrate local culture and literature! For the schedule and locations go to: https://bostonbookfest.org/.
4. Go apple picking at a local farm
Apple picking is a fun fall activity to knock off of your bucket list this year.  Not only do you leave with delicious, locally grown, apples, an orchard is a great place to enjoy the fall foliage, take some artsy instagram pictures, and sip on apple cider. It’s a great place to go with a date or with a friend.  There are numerous orchards around Boston that offer Apple Picking and other activities, two being the Belkin Family Lookout Farm ( www.lookoutfarm.com ) and Brooksby Farm ( http://www.brooksbyfarm.org/ ).
5. Take a scenic walk
If you’ve never experienced the changing of the leaves in the fall and taken in the beautiful foliage, or if you have and you love it as much as I do, taking a scenic walk to enjoy the view of Boston in the fall is an excellent way to stay active while appreciating the beauty of the season.  If you want to see a view of the city in the fall, take a walk on the Blue Hills Reservation and Noanet Woodlands in Dover, MA.
6. Make your room smell like fall
Make your room smell like fall by putting out scented candles with smells like pumpkin, pine, cinnamon, or crisp morning air. A way to make your home smell like fall without using candles is to fill a pot with water, add cinnamon sticks, apple halves, orange peels, and pinecones, and let simmer on the stove for a few minutes until the scent permeates your home with the cozy scent of fall.
7. Prep your closet
One way to embrace the coming of fall is to bring out all of the warm sweaters and coats from your wardrobe, and pack away your summer clothing.  Start thinking of outfits you can put together and get excited because it’s about time you got to wear your favorite pair of boots again!
8. Take advantage of the end of daylight savings
Fall means the end of daylight savings on November 5, 2017.  Take advantage of the extra hour we get that day and snuggle up in bed, sleep in an extra hour, or if you’re motivated enough, go to the gym! Regardless, take some time to relax and rejuvenate.
9. Eat a lot of soup
Eating soup in the fall is like sipping on lemonade in the summer.  There’s something about drinking a warm bowl of soup on a fall evening that warms the soul.  Go out to a restaurant and order their soup of the season, or stay in and cook a yummy pumpkin or butternut squash soup in a Crock-Pot to get you in the mood for fall cuisine.
10. Drink a Pumpkin Spice Latte
Most of the world has already begun having their daily dose of PSL, but now is the time to try it if you haven’t already.  Pumpkin Spice Lattes have become the symbol of autumn, and just one sip is enough to make you fall in love with fall.
11. Go to a football game (or to any sports event)
Spending time at a football game bundled up with friends is an American fall tradition …especially in Boston.  Whether it be cheering on your college team, or going to a Patriot’s game, sports are everywhere.  Enjoy the beautiful weather while it lasts, outside and in a stadium cheering on one of the biggest sports towns in the US!
12. Eat outside
Cherish the fleeting days of warmth at the beginning of fall by taking your meal outside and enjoying the sunshine.  Go to a yummy place downtown with an outside patio like Stephanie’s on Newbury or MET Back Bay. Or take your food to go and find a comfy place on the grass or on a park bench and have a little picnic in the sun.
13. Get Organized!
Fall is a great time to de-clutter your life and get organized. Â Start writing in a planner to keep track of your schedule, or clean out your room. Â By organizing your surroundings, you can make room to relax and make time for yourself.
14. Get some rest
Take advantage of the chilly weather by getting cozy and warm under a fuzzy blanket with some coffee, netflix, or a good book. Â If you have a fireplace, get warm by a crackling fire and maybe roast some marshmallows for a yummy fall treat! Use fall to rejuvenate yourself and prepare for the cold days of winter.
15. Go to a Haunted House
With Halloween just around the corner, get in the mood by going to a haunted house near your area or taking a haunted tour.  Some spooky places to go near Boston are Barrett’s Haunted Mansion (details at http://www.bhmansion.com/ ), Witch’s Woods (details at https://witchswoods.com/ ), the Factory of Terror (details at http://www.factoryofterror.com ) , and any tour or haunted guide in Salem, MA. Â
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Enjoy this fall season, everyone!
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Sources:
http://451heat.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Autumn-Skyline-Boston-Back…
http://www.bostonmagazine.com/best-apple-picking-near-boston-massachusetts/
http://www.boston-discovery-guide.com/things-to-do-in-boston-in-october.html
http://www.boston-discovery-guide.com/boston-events-october.html
https://www.boston.com/culture/lifestyle/2016/09/21/10-breathtaking-places-to-hike-this-fall