Fall is rife with crisp and cool air, colorful leaves, hot drinks and some of the best holidays of the year. According to some people's arguments, possibly mine included, fall is the best time of year. My personal favorite fall month, and my favorite month of the whole year, is far and away November. It starts while we're all still riding out the Halloween sugar high and ends with Thanksgiving festivities and Christmas decorating. Really, what more could you ask from a month? Here are some of the reasons why November is arguably the best month of the year.

1. Changing Leaves

For most of the country this begins in October, and possibly as soon as September. However, I live in South Carolina, where summer doesn't really end until mid-October. November always brings gorgeous orange and red landscapes.

2. Crunchy Leaves

So the leaves have changed. The next logical step is that they fall to the ground, where they dry out in the cool air and patiently wait to be joyously stepped on. Real talk, I will go out of my way to step on a crunchy leaf. That's how much I love fall.

3. Cider

Hot apple cider is the best thing that has ever happened to beverages. That is all.

4. Football

Now, I know that regular-season football also happens in 2 other months of the year. However, November football is special for many fans because of the intense rivalry games that happen the last Saturday of November. For instance, the Carolina vs. Clemson game, or Texas vs. OU weekend. These games can determine bragging rights for an entire year, so you could say there are some pretty high stakes.

5. Apple Picking In The Mountains

See number one regarding the gorgeous orange and red landscape. There is perhaps no better place to view the changing leaves than the mountains, where, serendipitously, there are many apple orchards where you can pick your own bushel of red delicious, gala or pink lady apples. You could honestly hit three of the reasons on this list with one trip to the mountains, because at these apple orchards you can drink hot apple cider out of a cup shaped like an apple. Just a PSA. I'm an advocate for hot apple cider.

6. Sweaters

As aforementioned, South Carolina basically has two settings, hot and freezing -- the latter of which only lasts for around three months. With any luck, this change occurs in November, when one can wear a sweater all day and not be uncomfortably hot by lunch. And, really, who doesn't love sweaters? It's like the socially acceptable version of wearing a blanket. Sweaters are the perfect cozy complement to cool weather, and also excellent real estate to remind everyone about whatever holiday is coming up.