Fall, as we all know, is the superior season. Here in Pennsylvania, we experience every season as it’s advertised, so summers are far too hot, and winters are far too cold. Spring is nice, yes, and as the flora bloom and fauna emerge, the air teems with excitement and the inherent hope of rebirth. But then the trees and the flowers, so pretty before, produce pollen- and suddenly, I am miserable and spring sinks down in the rankings. By process of elimination, then, fall is superior. Sorry, but this is an indisputable fact not up for negotiation.
That’s not all that’s fantastic about fall, though. Fall is the beginning of everyone’s favorite weather: sweater weather. The leggings and the oversized, off-the-shoulder sweaters come out as the summer bod slowly reverts to its natural form. Pumpkin spice attacks from all angles; from lattes and candles to muffins and tee shirts, it’s everywhere at once. Even better, the beginning of October marks the beginning of Spooky Season. It’s time to decorate with cobwebs and skeletons and get to work on planning that perfect group costume.
Even amidst all these cool things, some people still doubt that fall is the superior season. Why? Because there’s nothing to do, these nay-sayers spit back. Well, I’m here to prove them wrong with a list of activities that you can do in the fall.
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Go Hiking- Before the temperature drops from brisk to bone-chilling, gather up some friends and go for a hike. Ask around or use the internet to find a hiking trail near you and take a little adventure to appreciate nature before it’s suffocated by three feet of snow. Just make sure you bring a lot of water, consult the weather before you go, and tell someone that’s not going with where you’re headed. Casual hiking isn’t really dangerous, but when you’re not in summer weather, you may not feel as dehydrated as you truly are. Likewise, it’s best to make sure someone knows where your group is headed, just in case. Some physical exercise can help alleviate the stress of looming midterms and project deadlines. Bonus: My seasonal allergy buddies aren’t violently accosted as soon as they step outside.
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Carve Some Cucurbitaceae- The Cucurbitaceae family, if you didn’t know, includes pumpkins, squash, and gourds, so unleash your inner beast and stab a pumpkin or two. Look up unique designs on Pinterest or, if you’re feeling creative, make up your own design. Faces on pumpkins are cool, sure, but make your gourds turn heads with some innovative, crazy designs. Make it into a contest and have other people vote on the coolest pumpkin. Loser gets the pumpkin guts dumped on them. (Alternately, you can roast the pumpkin seeds for a healthy snack!)
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Hit up a Corn Maze- As farmers finish harvesting their corn crop, the stalks stand tall and becoming increasingly eerie as they brown and die. All it takes is a little bit of careful planning and some manual labor on the farmers’ part to create a corn maze. Channel your inner lab rat and try out a corn maze. If you’re anything like me, though, you eventually get too frustrated and cut your way through the corn to the entrance. While not the recommended method, it does work, doesn’t it?
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TV Sampler- Fall premieres for new tv shows have started, so put on your comfiest sweatpants and watch the first episode of some of these shows to see what piques your interest. If you and your friends get hooked on the same show, you’ll have something new to gush over every week. Even if you use Netflix, Hulu, or another streaming service where shows aren’t serially released, you can still try this out.
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Go Window Shopping- Hit up some thrift stores or the local mall to try on some of the latest styles. Or, if you’re trying to be a little frugal, snag what’s left of the summer clothes at a serious discount. Even if you’re not looking to spend any money, getting an idea of what’s in style this fall can give you the inspiration to modify or upcycle your current wardrobe to give it a nice, fresh start. Have a fashion show with your friends. Who can come up with the most eye-searingly awful outfit combination?
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to autumnal activities. Every season is only as fun as you make it, so instead of packing all the fun into summer, carry the festivities into fall. Snap some Insta-worthy pics to commemorate the moments and make this your hot girl fall…or maybe just your fun girl fall.