Fall In Love With Fall

This morning when I awoke, before the sun had even begun it’s assent, I pulled myself out from under my warm blankets and reveled in the chilled air coming in my window. It was a perfect 58°. I have been waiting months for a morning like this one and, frankly, was a little surprised that I didn’t have to wait longer. Fall comes a bit late in Texas but no matter where you live, the autumn season is one of the best. It reminds me of a line in a movie - “Don’t you love New York in the fall? It makes me want to go buy school supplies. If I knew where you lived I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils.”

Yes, fall is a favorite; Colorful foliage, scarves and boots, apple cider and pie and donuts, pumpkin picking and pumpkin spice - I don't even like pumpkin but the idea of it brings me joy! I wonder what kind of interesting fall adventures Greyson and Sophia will be going on in the next few Adventure Letters… I'm sure wherever they go, they will find something unique in the way people of that state celebrate the season! Let’s explore a few special customs from around the country;

 In Hudson, New York, during the months of September and October you can take a half-mile evening walk through an arrangement of over seven thousand hand-carved pumpkins as part of The Great Jack-O-Lantern Blaze. The pumpkins are set up in themed displays, some even reproducing well known city locations! 

 In Ketchum, Idaho, this fall you can celebrate the season with The Trailing of the Sheep - a festival honoring the history of the Idaho shepherding trade, that was once the largest in the world. There are sheep-themed meals, wool crafts and workshops, sheepdog trials, and a parade down main street that is made up of fifteen hundred sheep being driven to their winter pastures. 

 Albuquerque, New Mexico, holds it’s annual Hot Air Balloon Festival in the fall - the largest of its kind in the world! The festival lasts for several days and offers many fun activities outside of balloon rides (which even by themselves sound fantastic!). There is, of course, food, music, and shopping, but you can also enjoy fireworks or participate in chainsaw carving contests!

 One of my personal favorites in this list of unique fall celebrations is the West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta in Tualatin, Oregon. This is one of the most entertaining things I have ever heard of! According to the travel section of U.S. News, “The centerpiece of this weekend-long event is a series of rowing races – but replace the boats with enormous, partially hollowed-out pumpkins supplied by a local organization of farmers who specialize in gigantic vegetables. Oh, and many of the rowers are wearing costumes.” There are other things to do, such as Pumpkin bowling and crafts for all ages, but boy would I love to see a guy in a silly costume rowing a pumpkin boat for all he is worth! 

Nothing says “Fall” like family fun in the beautiful outdoors! Wherever you live, find something fun to do as a family this season and simply enjoy the beauty and bounty we have available to us.