I love fall! I know it doesn’t officially start for another couple of weeks, but Labor Day is behind us and I’m ready to start talking about fall favorites. So get planning because there’s only a couple months to squeeze everything into.

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1. Halloween costumes, pumpkin carvings, and candy are some of the great things that will fill October. Then food, pie, parades, and football fill up the Thanksgiving weekend in November. Two of my favorite holidays take place in the fall.

2. Thank God, football is back! Hopefully you’ve got your team swag ready, because you can’t possibly watch a game without your favorite colors.

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3. With the leaves changing colors it’s the perfect time to take a drive in the country. There are plenty of roads in with great tree coverage in Clifton, VA or further out in the countryside along the Shenandoah Mountains that will provide a gorgeous way to spend a day.

4. Every year another Virginia winery seems to open, so this fall make plans to visit a couple. There are plenty of options, even some that are only a 45 minutes drive from DC. Paradise Springs Winery, The Winery at Bull Run, Early Mountain Vineyards, and Barboursville Vineyards are all options depending on how far you want to drive.

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5. When you don’t want to go for a drive to see the changing colors consider walking around Rock Creek Park and the Tidal Basin. The Cherry Blossoms take the cake in the spring, but that doesn’t mean the fall colors aren’t a noteworthy alternative.

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6. There is always a festival going on in the DC area and fall brings out some of the best. The Virginia Wine Festival is held in the Plains the second weekend of September and the Mount Vernon Wine Festival is in October. As for food you shouldn’t miss Taste of DC, which runs from October 10-11th.

7. There is plenty to do away from home, but fall also marks the perfect time for cooking our favorite warm dishes. We started making more soup last year, and we’ll be trying out some new stews and chili recipes over the next couple months.

Tell us, what are you most looking forward to this autumn season?

-Scott