It’s the time of year where we start seeing so many fall memes on Facebook that loving fall almost becomes cliché. Let me tell you though, fall is totally worth all the clichés because it’s awesome. Christmas will forever be my favorite holiday, but as a whole, the autumn season is where it’s at. My love affair with autumn didn’t truly start until I was out of high school, but having children of my own really kicked it into high gear. There are so many wonderful things you can do with your children and family during fall that it’s hard to pack it all in.
Let’s take a look at some of the things that make fall so fabulous:
The holidays.
I love Halloween so much. I was pretty indifferent to it as a child, but since I’ve become a mom, it falls into place right behind Christmas. School festivals, church trunk or treating events, and the main event on Halloween keep us busy, but I love it. There’s nothing cuter to me than a child in a Halloween costume. Let’s not forget the candy, too. It’s pretty awesome to raid your child’s bucket once they’ve gone to bed. We can’t forget Thanksgiving either. I know it doesn’t get adequate love since it’s sandwiched in between Halloween and Christmas, but it’s pretty amazing as well. Who doesn’t love to gorge themselves while spending time with family members they don’t often see? In my opinion, the Macy’s Day Parade is one of the highlights of fall.
The festivities.
There are so many fun outdoor options during the fall that you could spend every weekend knocking something off your bucket list. Apple festivals, arts and craft shows, pumpkin patches, hayrides, corn mazes, haunted houses, bonfires with friends, and football games are just a few of the things that keep us busy during the autumn months. I’m not typically a football fan, but it’s always fun to catch a high school or UTC game when the weather cools off. We typically only make it until halftime, but that’s ok. My kids have fun regardless. Chattanooga and the surrounding areas have TONS of festivals that are worth hitting up. You can bounce from mountain town to mountain town every weekend to partake in the fun.
The weather.
I know Chattanooga is known for its warm temperatures, but once it finally cools off, the weather is pretty awesome. There is nothing better than snuggling up in a comfy sweater and booties on a crisp autumn morning. My children can play outside for hours once the temperatures hit that sweet spot. We love to have backyard bonfires before it gets too cold, and that is just the epitome of fall to me. Chattanooga has hundreds of miles of hiking trails that everyone should take advantage of when fall weather graces us with its presence. Cooler weather lends itself to some awesome food as well…who doesn’t love hot chocolate and soup?
The traditions.
We have a list of yearly fall traditions that’s a mile long in my little family. It may keep us busy, but it sure does make for good memories. Every year we hit up the Rock City Corn Maze. We’ve done this since my oldest son was a baby, and it just wouldn’t be fall if we skipped it. We attend the same local church’s trunk or treat every year. It’s fun to see the same friendly faces every October and catch up. We go hiking with our church family every September at Cloudland Canyon State Park. This activity is ingrained in my boys’ memory…it’s as much of a yearly tradition to them as trick or treating is. Some of our best family rituals happen during the autumn months.
The decor.
Once again, I love my house most when it’s decorated for Christmas, but it’s pretty spectacular when it’s decorated for fall, too. I’ve got more decorative pumpkins than I know what to do with. Put a fall wreath in front of me and I’ll buy it. Cute, subtle Halloween decorations…give them all to me. I love driving by houses to see how everyone has dressed up their porches. Pumpkins, hay bales, and scarecrows just make me giddy. Even if you’re not great at fixing up your house, it’s so easy to make it festive during the fall. The possibilities are endless! If you do it the right way, you can stretch it through September, October, and November!
The beauty.
And last, but not least, you can’t ignore the beauty that autumn brings with it every year. I know springtime is pretty, but in my opinion, it doesn’t hold a candle to the beauty of fall. The changing leaves are my favorite landscape every year. The mountains that surround our city are just breathtaking when the colors start turning. Every year we take a drive to checkout all the local beauty.
