It’s that time of year again; not quite summer and not quite fall. Yes, the weather is cooling off, but we’re still in the 70-80 degrees every day, at least in St. Louis. It’s also not quite summer anymore, as evidenced by the changes in the leaves and the cool, crisp nights we’ve been enjoying. I have noticed that especially this year, the debacle on whether it is summer or fall has been very controversial. Many people are ready to start traditional fall activities like apple picking, Halloween shopping and pumpkin-spice latte drinking. Many others are saying that it is too early to be getting into fall and that we should at least be waiting until September 23, the official end of summer. I propose to you that this is the perfect time to enjoy in-between activities that can make the most of both summer and fall. Now, I am by no means saying that these activities are exclusive to the summer and fall, but I would argue that these activities can be elevated by the transitional weather and atmosphere.
Hiking
Hiking can be a great activity to enjoy in the summer or the fall, but I think it can especially be enjoyed between both seasons. The cooler weather that comes with fall rolling in will help you be much more comfortable during your hike, especially if you don’t have a lot of hiking experience. Since the leaves haven’t turned all the way yet, there are also not a lot of fall allergies circulating yet, which might make your hike more pleasant. You don’t have to worry about the weather being too cold, but you know that the weather is cool enough to keep a lot of the bugs away. All these things make hiking a perfect transitional activity.
Outdoor or Drive-in Movie
We usually think of outdoor movies as a summer activity, but it is hard to get cozy when you’re outside in 70 or 80 degree weather. In the transitional season, when nights are routinely cooling to around 60 degrees, you have a great temperature to enjoy your movie with a nice comfy blanket or sweatshirt while also not being too cold. On top of this, a lot of traditionally fall-aesthetic movies have a lot to do with nature and can be elevated by being watched outside, before it gets too cold at night in the fall.
Go to an Amusement Park
Of course, an amusement park is elevated by the weather, but there are many other reasons an amusement park trip is elevated by the transitional experience. For one, if you can make a day trip happen, there will be fewer kids around because they’re back in school. Parks are also frequently open later in September and October. On top of that, many amusement parks are doing fun fall or Halloween-themed activities, so you can get your fix for fall while enjoying more summer weather and summer energy.
Go to a Farmers’ Market
Transition seasons in general are perfect for farmers markets! Unlike stores, farmers’ markets are reliant on seasonal items, or are at least willing to give you a better price for seasonal items. During the time between summer and fall, you can frequently get good deals on both summer and fall produce. Plus, the energy and mood is best for a farmers market in late September and early October.
I hope these activities can help you embrace the transitional season between summer and fall and learn to live a little more in the in-between!