Fall always marks an exciting time of the year for me because I get to do all the outdoor things I love! Besides my birthday, there are so many other things worth celebrating, like the beautiful changing leaves and mildly cool weather. I love being able to get outside comfortably to spend quality time with Phil, Luna and Leo. Even though we visit many of the same places every year, I find them so joyful and special. So, I wanted to share our favorite fall traditions. Whether you’re planning a last-minute getaway or want to stay close to home, they’re a great excuse to spend more time with your family and friends.
Go Apple Picking at the Orchard
I love visiting my local orchard with Phil to pick apples, but we mostly go to indulge in fresh cider and apple donuts and local wines too. It’s also an excuse to take the dogs out since there aren’t too many opportunities to visit a pet-friendly place. The dogs love it, but they want to say hi to everyone. Our local orchard has a petting zoo and even hot air balloon rides so it can definitely get busy. We tend to go later in the day and usually on Sundays when it’s less busy. We often take a few trips to the orchard throughout the season because we enjoy it so much. There’s something special about being surrounded by the apple trees and sweeter weather that puts everyone in a great mood.
Get a Scenic View of the Changing Leaves
Fall is a great time to go on new adventures. One of the things I love most is taking scenic drives through local neighborhoods or nearby country roads where I can admire the brightly colored leaves. In Minnesota, we have plenty of options for scenic routes close to where we live, but we’ll often make a day trip out of it and go explore smaller towns outside of the city. We went up north this week to experience some of the most scenic drives that Minnesota has to offer and it was well worth it. We are already dying to take another overnight trip to really take in the fall colors.
Visit the Pumpkin Patch
Another great pet-friendly experience is a pumpkin patch. We always take the dogs at least once because they love being out in the country and seeing new friends, but we always go on our own too because carrying around pumpkins with two big dogs can get tricky. We always switch out our home decor with the changing seasons, and pumpkins are a fall essential. Most patches also have other harvest decor like gourds, hay bales and of course mums – which we love to add to our outdoor decor.
Redecorate the Home
As I alluded to above, I love making my home a happy and festive place. One of the things I look forward to most is redecorating my house for fall. Phil and I always make sure to change up our front stoop with pumpkins, lanterns, mums, a fall wreath for the door and we add fall pillows and a plaid throw to our bench swing for a cozy feel. Inside, I also mix in fall pillows in our living room, hang a fall garland over our mantel and add faux pumpkins to our kitchen. It doesn’t take much effort to make our space look more like fall, but I always love how much cozier it feels.
Hangout at A Local Vineyard or Brewery
There are days where we just want to be casual, so we’ll head to a nearby vineyard or local brewery. If you are lucky enough to live within driving distance of a vineyard, this is a great time to pack a picnic basket and enjoy some wine with a charming view. Local breweries are a great alternative if you enjoy craft and seasonal beers.
Gather Around a Fire Pit
There is something so comforting about being by the fireplace during fall. It’s one of my favorite times to unwind in the evening. Luna is obsessed with the fire so I usually hang out with her and relax while Phil plays piano. We also enjoy gathering around an outside fire pit where we make s’mores. It’s always so cozy and romantic.
xo, Maria
Outfit Details
Burberry Trench (wearing a US 0)
Burberry Scarf (also here)
Gucci Bag (also here)
Free People Red Sweater Dress (exact color sold out, wearing an XS)
Stuart Weitzman Over-The-Knee Boots
Similar Burberry Scarf (also here, on him)
Ferragamo Belt (on him)
Dog Leashes
Comments
