Our Favorite Things about Fall

Cozy nights in, favorite fall recipes and more!

It’s the first day of fall, and we couldn’t be more excited! Fall is one of our favorite seasons—and with the changing colors, falling leaves and cooler evenings, what’s not to like?

We admit that fall might not be everyone’s favorite season, but we’re sharing a few things we love about the autumn season, from books and recipes to movies, music and activities.

Pumpkin Everything

“I’ll admit I’m not the biggest pumpkin spice latte fan,” says our founder, Mandy Crow, “but pumpkin everything else? I’m in!” One of her favorite fall treats are pumpkin cream cheese muffins using her friend Brandy’s recipe. While they take a little time to make, the process isn’t difficult, and the result is well worth the work! Get the recipe here.

Interested in some pumpkin desserts? Try this one we shared last year and take a little time to meander through the Smitten Kitchen pumpkin recipes.

Cozy Evening Reading

Fall can be the perfect time to grab a blanket, curl up on the couch, in your favorite chair or on the back porch and dive into a good book. Sometimes, it’s also a great time to reread an old favorite. If you’re looking for an autumnal read, we suggest:

• Peace Like a River by Leif Enger

• Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

• The Dutch House by Anne Patchett

• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

• Persuasion by Jane Austen

• Still Life with Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen

(As an Amazon Associate, The Bookery earns from qualified purchases.)

Fun Fall Activities

Fall is full of fun activities you can enjoy with friends and family! Does your town have a fall festival or a special way to celebrate the season? Spend a Saturday afternoon strolling through the festivities. Pumpkin patches and fields of sunflowers can be fun for families (and photos), and fall is the perfect season for a hike. You’ll get a chance to see nature at its finest without the heat and humidity of summer! Look for hiking trails or greenways close to your area—or, if you’d like to make a day or weekend of it, find a few destination hikes within a day’s drive.

A Time to Slow Down

Ecclesiastes says there’s a time for everything, and unlike other seasons, fall is an invitation to slow down, watch, listen and let your mind, body and soul slowly transition from a busy summer season. Maybe more than anything, you just need a moment to sit and take a deep breath. Whether you make that a nightly practice on your patio or take a short weekend trip away, take the time to do it now before the holiday season starts to fill up your calendar. Autumn is a transitional season, so let this be a time to reflect on the year so far and reset your heart, mind and intentions to finish the year with purpose.

S’mores

A marshmallow toasted over a campfire combined with melty chocolate and a graham cracker? What’s not to love? Fall is definitely s’more season with bonfires and camping trips, but you don’t have to be outside to enjoy the classic treat. This Taste of Home article offers 24 twists on s’mores from creme brulee to an oatmeal s’mores cookie. Our favorite The Pioneer Woman even has a few recipes to add to the mix. Or maybe you want to get creative and come up with a few of your own. We applaud that!

Speaking of Desserts …

Pumpkin and s’mores may be getting all the attention, but you can’t forget all things apple in autumn! From apple pies (try some of our favorites here) to caramel apple cheesecake bars and everything in between, apples are a sweet addition to the season!

There’s plenty more to add to the list, from Friday Night Lights to crunchy leaves, but we want to hear from you! What’s your favorite thing about fall? Tell us in the comments!