The transition between the end of summer and the start of a new school year is difficult to face. Since we often associate the beginning of the autumnal season with the stressful first quarter, we lose sight as to how great fall can be. There are so many reasons to appreciate the season and so many ways to make it an enjoyable time of year.
Those who enjoy jump scares are in luck. Not too far from Arlington are some scary, interactive experiences. One of the better known ones is Markoff’s Haunted Forest. This is a walkthrough in the woods, so make sure to bring comfortable shoes so that you can run away from all the clowns, killers and monsters! Also, make sure to wear warm clothes because it gets chilly at night. Tickets for the Haunted Forest range from $25-35. Visit the website (http://markoffshauntedforest.com/) for more information about times and dates.
If you are not a fan of walking through a wooded trail in the cold, then you might want to consider going to the “Scream City Washington DC” haunted house. The two different attractions are the “Exorcism Estate Haunted House” and the “Slaughter Factory.” These attractions are available every Friday and Saturday night until November 5. For dates, times, tickets, directions and other information, visit the website (http://www.screamcity.com/home.html). Just remember, enter at your own risk!
What is fall without a trip to Cox Farms? Many of us recall memories slipping down the slides and getting lost in the corn maze from when were were younger. The Cox Farms Fall Festival is fun for all ages. Some of the attractions include a pumpkin patch, hayrides, a petting zoo, a corn maze, slides and nature trails. If you go to Cox Farms this fall, you cannot forget to get a big bag of kettle corn and some hot apple cider.
Fall is football season. If you are a fan of the Washington Redskins then maybe you get could get tickets to a game so you can watch all of the action from the sidelines, rather than just watching them play on TV. Just being in the stadium, surrounded by the lively, spirited crowd, makes watching the game so much more exciting. Tailgating before the big game is always fun. Playing cornhole with friends and eating some good food will prepare you for game day.
A fall without apples and pumpkins is like a Christmas without Santa Claus. It is officially the time of year to pick out the perfect pumpkin from the patch and pluck the crispiest, juiciest apples from the trees. You can do all of this at Butler’s Orchard, a family farm in Maryland. Apples are priced at $1.99 per pound and pumpkins are $0.65 per pound. After picking some Golden Delicious and Stayman apples, you can make a fresh apple pie. Make sure to pick your pumpkins early this year and carve them while the weather is still nice. Visit the website (http://www.butlersorchard.com/) for more information about dates, times, prices and directions.
There is no better way to spend a cold weekend at home than having a fall movie marathon with your friends and family. Try to mix up your selection. Maybe watch some Halloween themed Disney movies, such as Halloweentown, Twitches and Hocus Pocus. The people who are into the horror genre might enjoy watching movies like Poltergeist, Friday the 13th and Halloween.
A relaxing weekend activity idea is a baking day filled with lots of fall treats. Gather your ingredients and get ready to make some pumpkin bread, caramel apples, apple pie, hot chocolate and apple cider. For recipes and more baking inspiration, look on Pinterest before you get started.
During fall, plenty of fresh produce is sold at local farm markets. These are a great opportunity to connect with your community and buy seasonal foods. It is important to support farmers in the area and know where your food is coming from. Making a trip to your local market this fall is definitely worth it. The Arlington Farmers Market and the Westover Farmers Market are both open on Sundays from eight in the morning to noon up until November.
Long weekends here in the fall are perfect opportunities to checkout some colleges while classes are in session. This way you can experience what college is really like and get a feel for the atmosphere. Make sure to take advantage of this opportunity and get a head start on considering your future.
The best season is upon us. Make the best of your fall season.
