The weather in New England has been hot lately, and I am not sure about anyone else, but I am counting down the days until fall. However, I am not waiting for the pumpkin spice lattes, the Ugg weather, or any other aspect of the season that is displayed on a generalized Facebook post. I am waiting for the leaves to change, the morning air to be misty and life to be revitalized with the changing of the seasons. F. Scott Fitzgerald famously wrote that "life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall." Here are five reasons why this quote pertains to autumn in New England and why it is the absolute best time of the year.

1.The Roadtrips

Driving on the windy backroads in quaint New England towns are the ultimate pastime during the season. If you are in the mountain regions, you will get the chance to see the leaves changing before the rest of New England. If you are elsewhere, the drives cannot be beat. You come across cider mills, apple orchards, and the most picturesque scenery you will ever find. Chilling in the car with you family or your best friends is a great way to get into the spirit of the season, especially when you glance out the window looking at nature with your hands wrapped around a tumbler of cider or hazelnut coffee.

2. The Food

Barbecues are great, but you can only grill so much. Autumn is a fabulous time for great food. Of course, everyone waits for the pumpkin spice flavored...everything? But we seem to forget the old fashioned donuts drenched in cider, warm (or cold!) apple cider itself, and the beginning phases of hot chocolate. Fall is the time to stock up on that extra weight for the upcoming chilly season and what better way to do so than guzzle down some comfort food?

3. The (Many) Activities

Fall is certainly a busy time of year, but it is probably the most fun. Here in New England, there is plenty to do in regards to keeping yourself occupied throughout the season. Laying on the beach is so two months ago, let's be honest. It is time to bundle up and watch a football game or head to a haunted house at your local fairgrounds. With school starting back up, organizations are keen on ensuring that there are activities for everyone. And if you aren't so sure about spending time with everyone and their brother in your community, go for a hike in the changing woods, a canoe ride on a lake in the brisk air, or refer back to my first reason why fall in New England is the best and take a road trip.

4. The Apple Orchards

This deserves a paragraph of it's own, for sure. Apple orchards are so much more than just a place to pick apples. They boast pumpkins, local foods made in your town, hayrides, homemade fudge...must I continue? Apple orchards are so common that they are all over New England. They are a great way to catch up with people in your community and stock up on local goods, like Candy Apples and beautiful autumnal flowers.

5. Halloween

I do not care what anyone else thinks. Halloween is the best holiday of them all. Honestly, what other holiday can you begin celebrating two months before the actual day? Beginning September 1st, my friends can always count on my breaking out The Nightmare Before Christmas and my cutesy Halloween decor. Between the spirit of the season and such a lively holiday, Halloween combines a great time of year with an exciting period of candy, many, many films, and parties.

Autumn in New England is treasured by many for many reasons, and yes, they include the fact that it is sweater weather, pumpkin flavored whatever you want, and full of bonfires. Yet, it is a season for lots of other things as well, including the five I listed that make it such a unique and exciting time of year. If Fitzgerald were to see New England in the season today, I would hope that he would not only see that the life not only starts all over again in the fall, but becomes a lively, exciting, and warm time in the year.