It is hard to really get hype about the Autumn season when you live in Florida. The leaves aren't changing color and you can still spend your afternoon tanning at the beach. Here are some ways to embrace the Fall season, even though it is still like 70 degrees outside.
1. Bonfire
Though it is still pretty hot during the day, once the sun goes down, temperatures plummet. If you have lived in Florida for a while, you become extremely sensitive to that 10 degree difference. So much so that you feel the need to put on a sweater and light a ~controlled~ fire in your backyard (we hope being home for the weekend is not horrific enough to light your neighborhood ablaze). Hanging out with all your hometown friends around a fire, drinking beer, is a staple in any fall break. You'll probably still be freezing because is is a desolate 59 degrees outside, but you will be in the company of old friends, so that makes it a little better.
2. Fall Festival
Occasionally, your town may throw a Fall Festival. If you are lucky enough to have one nearby, go. It may seem lame at first but it will really get you in the Thanksgiving mood. Similar to Winter Festivals, they will try and replicate all of the regular season's occurrences, like snow. It will not be the real thing, but about as close as you are going to get in the constantly Summer state. You may find a pile of colorful leaves to jump in. There is a 99% chance the leaves are fake, but whatever, just go with it.
3. Farmer's Market
Farmer's Market's usually occur year-round and not just in the state of Florida, but Autumn is a great time to go check out all the products they have to offer. You can support the local entrepreneurs and get some fresh ingredients for your contribution to Friendsgiving. An easy way to mix it up from the usual crowded supermarkets.
4. Spend an entier day in the kitchen
Whether you want to or not, your family will probably rope you into helping them cook for an entire day. Embrace it. If nothing else you will learn how to cook something. Fantastic, since you probably live off of pasta, eggs and pre-cooked chicken; basically any one-step meals. Now, When you are feeling fancy, you can make something from scratch. Perhaps you can impress a future date with your mashed potatoes that aren't from a box.
5. Four Wheeling
When the weather drops those couple of degrees, it can be particularly enjoyable to take out an ATV in the crisp air. The scenery will not look much different from any other day of the year, but you probably will not sweat to death and want to go inside 5 minutes out.
6. Read by the fire
If you are ~blessed~ enough to have a fireplace in Florida, light it up and crack open a book. Maybe add some hot cocoa or something. It does not matter if it is a textbook and you are studying for a final the next week. Just, please, do it for me. I really wish I had a fireplace to read by.
7. Christmas shopping
It is the most wonderful time of the year.. to wake up at 2 a.m. and go to the mall. If you have never been Black Friday shopping, let me tell you, it is an experience. Yeah, I guess there are deals, but there is nothing more invigorating than going to the mall in the middle of the night. It is like watching a dog walk on it's hind legs. It is so strange, but for a shopping addict like myself, it causes a giddiness I simply cannot explain. You spy an item you really want and there is only one left? Throw some elbows. Seriously, it is only socially acceptable one day of the year, might as well.
It is difficult to embrace Fall in the Sunshine State. But please, for the turkey's sake, do not skip over Autumn.
