Move over, summer. Fall is coming in hot; it’s out with humidity and mosquitos and in with pumpkins and foliage. Autumn is my favorite time of the year, so I like to do the most I can in those three-ish months. Not sure how to spend your fall? Here are some frightfully fun experiences to add to your bucket list:
It’s not fall without a Halloween party! Challenge yourself to host your own instead of just attending; add this to the top of your bucket list. Transform your space into a certified scare zone by adding pumpkins everywhere, hanging faux leaves on the walls, and propping up a gravestone or two. Serve snacks in a witch’s cauldron for added Halloween fun. Pumpkin anything is a safe bet for food, like Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls and their Pumpkin Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookie Mix. To remedy the pain of being too old for trick-or-treating, serve some candy, too. And of course, every ghost needs their boo-ze!
I’m grateful to live in New England, where the autumn leaves are gorgeous. Every September, I get excited when I see the first orange leaf poke out from the greens. If you’re a fan of holiday light drives, you’ll want to add foliage drives to your bucket list. Before you hit the road, prepare a playlist that matches the fall vibe. Grab some friends to keep you company as you take to the streets. Not to sound like a stalker, but I love driving around residential areas. It’s fun to see how everyone decorates their houses for Halloween! The ride is even more pleasant when you have a mug of apple cider with you.
Starbucks is home to some of the most amazing fall drinks. I don’t care if people will judge me—I love pumpkin spice lattes. Seriously, they’re so good—and they always make it on my fall bucket list. Those that hate on PSLs have clearly never tasted one before. Though pumpkin spice lattes are great, they’re not my favorite seasonal Starbucks drink. Next time you go to Starbucks in the fall, order an iced chai with pumpkin cold foam and pumpkin spice. It’s a match made in heaven. I also found the iced apple crisp macchiato to be pretty tasty. I’m not sure if they’ll bring it back this year, but let’s hope they do!
There’s no better place to spend October than at a farm. Farms have no shortage of things to do, from apple picking to searching for the perfect pumpkin. Hayrides are another popular attraction, and one I recommend. Who doesn’t want to ride around a picturesque farm and ogle the leaves? The best part about any farm, I think, is the food they sell. Every time I visit a farm in the fall, apple cider donuts are a MUST. Sugary, warm, and oozing with cidery goodness…I can’t stop at just one.
Map out a spooky spot nearby to be your road trip destination. The obvious choice of where to visit is Salem, MA. Stroll down the leaf-decked streets, pop in some shops, and even meet a witch or two. Salem takes Halloween and elevates it to the max. As to be expected, Salem does get very busy during this time of the year. If crowds aren’t your thing, try another festive town. I’m close to Providence, RI, where they host an annual pumpkin festival at the Roger Williams Zoo. They don’t skimp on the pumpkins; they’re EVERYWHERE, each one carved with a smile.
Everyone has their favorite Halloween movie. Some people are horror junkies, and will use Halloween as an excuse to binge the Scream franchise. Others (like myself) prefer the Disney Channel Halloween movies, like Halloweentown and Twitches. Whatever you plan to watch, make a night out of it. Cozy up in some festive PJs and a blanket (preferably one you can hide under, if you’re watching something scary). Make sure you have your movie watching snacks; hot cider and coco are my recommendations for drinks, though you can always get something stronger. I know I’ll be watching Hocus Pocus and Over the Garden Wall on repeat. Coraline is another great Halloween movie, though I have to admit, it’s terrifying.
As a massive Bath and Bodyworks fan, I’ll always recommend their products. They never miss with the fall fragrances. There are so many to choose from, like Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin, Sweater Weather, and Leaves. I tend to gravitate towards the candles—candles will make your space even cozier for the fall. Their lotions are great, too. Even in August, I would smother myself in the Marshmallow Pumpkin Latte body lotion.
Group costumes make going to Halloween parties ten times more fun. That said, you need to add this to your bucket list. This year, I predict Strangers Things will be the most popular group costume. That’s a super fun theme, but if you want to wear something unique, I have some recommendations. Strawberry Shortcake would make for a cute and easy group costume. Everyone in your group just has to wear a dress that matches the colors their character wears. Throw on a bow or hat and some fruit motifs (strawberries for Strawberry Shortcake, lemons for Lemon Meringue…pretty self explanatory). The fairies from the Tinkerbell movies would also be adorable. The picture above proves it! All you need is a pair of wings and a mini dress (bonus points if you wear pom pom shoes).
If you’re a big reader, now is the perfect time to buy some scary stories. In addition to a fall bucket list, create a fall reading list. Not all of them have to be textbook definition “horror.” Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a not-so-scary classic, as is Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Suspense and mystery books work well, too. Donna Tartt’s The Secret History will forever remain on my book recommendations list, especially for books to read in the fall. Shirley Jackson’s gothic thriller, We Have Always Lived in the Castle, and Nick Cutter’s coming-of-age novel, Saturday Night Ghost Club, are two other spooky books I loved.
It’s not bad to rush the seasons. If you’re excited for fall, then celebrate early! Who cares if you drink pumpkin spice lattes in the dead of summer? Halloween is a state of mind, after all.
Feature image source: https://pin.it/5xEVoEW
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