Aside from the usual football games, midterms and creatively-themed socials, the fall season has so many enjoyable and meaningful things to offer.
Here are seven of the most memorable fall traditions.
1. Attend or host a bonfire. There's nothing better than the feeling of sitting near a warm fire as the weather begins to cool. Attending or hosting a bonfire in the fall gives you the opportunity to spend time with the ones you love, and an excuse to bite into a sweet and savory s'more. Throw in some firewood, graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate and you're all set for some good company.
2. Go to a fall festival. Remember those fun and social fall festivals you would went to in high school? They exist in college, too! Festivals in the fall are full of games, rides and mouthwatering snacks. Funnel cakes are a must. Not only do you get to eat the most scrumptious foods, you also get to wear your cutest clothes. For all the ladies out there, get ready to pull out your adorable sweaters. Whether you go with friends or your crush, fall festivals are the perfect opportunity to have a good time. You're never too old to have a little festival fun.
3. Bake and decorate cookies. Baking and decorating cookies is something we girls do year round, but it seems a little more fitting during the fall season. This activity is a perfect way to spend a Sunday night with your roomies and the fact that it will fill your apartment up with the smell of a bakery is a delicious plus.
4. Visit a pumpkin patch. One of the most traditional fall activities is carving pumpkins, but in order to do that, you first have to find the best pumpkin. Going to a pumpkin patch is something that you'll find everyone doing this season. Big, little, short or tall, pumpkins of all sizes can be designed and even entered in a pumpkin carving contest. Don't forget to save the seeds that you pull out of your pumpkin. They are so yummy when baked with a little added salt.
5. Decorate your home. It's finally time to put out those caramel-scented candles, old homemade wreaths and fresh orange pumpkins that you just picked from a patch. These interior decorations are perfect for spicing up the season and setting the fall mood. Play some fall tunes on Pandora or iTunes Radio to add to the cozy feeling.
6. Drink hot coffee or hot chocolate. As summer starts to fade and the blazing hot weather disappears, the craving for warm beverages will begin again. Hot coffee or hot cocoa will be back in season and Starbucks will be slammed for the next four months. A tall pumpkin spice latte or a cup of white chocolate mocha sure hits the spot when the outdoor temperatures start to drop. Starbucks sometimes offers a "buy one get one" deal during this season, so take advantage of that and grab a warm drink for someone who warms your heart.
7. Give thanks. At this time of the year, we should all be thankful for our loved ones, friends, health, home and so many other things. We should be thankful for being together and for the happiness that fills these moments. We should be thankful for the weather cooling down and for the love that surrounds us. A simple thank you to someone who makes your fall season special goes a long way, and there isn't a better time to say it than today.