A Bucket List for the Ultimate Autumn

September is upon us and as the seasons begin to shift, summer melting into autumn, there is a crispness entering the air. This time of year brings with it an excitement for many, especially this year after the stifling heat of the past few months. There is a beauty about the coming season, a beauty so many authors and poets have sought to capture in their words. For a few brief months the trees will light up like sunbursts upon earth and this magic ought to be enjoyed to its fullest. Whether you are a die hard lover of autumn or new to the party, there are a million things to do to enjoy autumn. For those in America, there are a different array of activities (many reflected in the videos of Youtubers such as Darling Desi). And for those of you in Britain I have compiled a short list of suggestions to get you started. This is by no means a complete list and you may find that places like the National Trust will have their own collection of ideas that you can add to these. But, for now, whether you love the new season for its natural beauty or its spooky connotations, or are still learning to love autumn, I hope that you will find some fun things to do this year listed below.

Have a Picnic in a Graveyard

This first one is probably, on first sight, a more spooky suggestion and certainly will sound fairly morbid to some. However, graveyards are more than just the setting for scary stories. Graveyards are sites of concentrated history – places where generation upon generation are memorialised. If you have grown up in the area that your family came from, it is likely that your local graveyard is crowded with ancestors. If not, walking through graves can be an interesting way to meet the community; the locals before your time. In cities and towns, green spaces can sometimes be few and far between and sitting between the graves may be a good option. Lay down a blanket, or simply sit upon the grass and while away an hour or so with family or friends. Soak in the history, observe the unusual graves, meet the ‘locals’ or simply breath in the quiet and peaceful atmosphere.

Go Pumpkin Picking

A signature part of October is pumpkins – we eat pumpkins, carve pumpkins decorate with pumpkins… Therefore, closer to Halloween you may like to pick your own this year. I feel like this is an activity that is easier to do in the US than the UK; however things are changing. You may already know of a pumpkin farm near you or, if not, you can get online and look for somewhere local. You may be surprised to find a location close to you! The feeling of walking through a pumpkin patch in your wellies is one of the most autumnal that I know. I am, however, aware that there is growing concern over the sustainable viability of pumpkin farms. If you feel that it is a wasteful enterprise to collect pumpkins to decorate, you could always collect pumpkins to cook with.

Collect and Press Autumn Leaves

As the seasons shift, it might be nice to document the beauty of the season. Keep your eyes peeled for beautiful and unusual leaves to collect. You could press them in a press or old book to dry them, which leaves them for exciting rediscovery when you open your favourite book. Alternatively, you could use the dried leaves in some form of craft. Have you ever tried collaging with leaves? Or, ever decorated a box or other wooden object with them? They would be a wonderful and unique way to decorate a piece of furniture!

Go on a Woodland Walk

It seems like the simplest recommendation in the world, but when was the last time that you took a few hours to simply walk? Take a moment to breath in the scent of the changing seasons and walk through a woodland to witness the subtle changes that slowly take place all around you. At this time of year, I try to go for a walk every day or every few days so as not to miss a second. A walk is such an easy way to immerse yourself in the season. If you live in the countryside, simply step out of your door and connect with your surroundings. Or, if you don’t live close to a woodland, there will be somewhere with trees that you can visit. An excellent option is always a National Trust property.

Go for an autumnal breakfast

One of my favourite things to do in the autumn is get up early and drive to our local town for a breakfast of chai lattes and cinnamon swirls. what is your favourite autumnal breakfast? Perhaps it is time for a treat yourself moment in which you travel to somewhere special to you and indulge in an autumnal themed breakfast. This could be pumpkin spice or cinnamon flavoured something… be that pancakes, waffles, cinnamon swirls, even porridge. If the journey is a long one, perhaps make a day of it and do other autumn themed activities while you are there. Personally, I love adding a bookshop visit and a trip to my favourite autumn décor shop.

Read an autumnal book

Again, a lovely simple one, but one that in so many of our lives would be overlooked. When was the last time that you snuggled up for a whole morning (or even a whole day) to read a cosy book? As the seasons begin to change, the animals around us look towards winter, many considering their hibernation plans. Are we really any different? The days get darker and we are drawn towards days snuggled up by the fire and warming foods like pie and stews. Therefore, instead of fighting this urge in favour of productivity, allow it to overtake everything else. Spend some time picking out an extra special book, whether that be something cosy and autumnal, or a murder mystery perhaps, light a candle and the fire (if it is not too warm still) and snuggle up to read.

Snuggle up with popcorn and a seasonal movie

Continuing on the theme of snuggling, you may also consider an evening curled up in your cosiest blanket with some popcorn and a seasonal movie. This movie could be Practical Magic, The Hobbit or any other that reminds you of autumn. Or, if you feel like prolonging the evening, perhaps you could watch a few episodes of you favourite autumnal series (my go to is always Gilmore Girls or Anne with an E – both of which can be found on Netflix). Perhaps you have a go to autumn favourite, but if not, then perhaps browse some of your favourite streaming services or ask a friend for a recommendation. I tend to go to Darling Desi for inspiration, but if you would like me to do a post on good autumn movies, do leave me a comment!

These were all very simple and sustainable suggestions for autumn, but as I said at the beginning, this is merely a snapshot of the multitude of ways that you can make your autumn feel extra special this year. I think that the trick is to slow down and enjoy the moment. Autumn is a time of year when it is important to be outside and experiencing nature. It should go without saying, but spend more time outside this autumn… and see what you notice.