I think I’ve made it known that I’m not a huge fan of any season besides summer, which is unfortunate for me because I live in New England. However, despite that fact, I can appreciate the beauty of fall. I’ll admit that when the leaves change colors it is pretty, and that doing fall activities with my boyfriend is fun as well. Since it’s now October—which seriously, how has this year gone by so fast despite everything that’s happened?—I figured it’d be a good time to really try and get into the fall spirit. Now, though, thanks to COVID restrictions, I’ve found that some activities I normally look forward to in the fall won’t be happening, and I’m sure I’m not alone. All of this got me thinking about ways to make this unsettling time more festive and cheerful.
Below I’ve broken down all of the date ideas to do this fall. I’ve picked out an array of both things to do outside or in the house, so you and that special someone can stay safe. Cheer yourself up and get into the fall spirit with these.
Date ideas to do this fall:
- Go Pumpkin Picking and Carve/Paint Pumpkins. IMO, nothing screams fall more than visiting a pumpkin patch. Pick a day for the two of you to go pumpkin picking together, then carve and/or paint the pumpkins when you get home! It’s fun and festive, and you can usually get some treats at the pumpkin patch like apple cider, or you can go on a hay ride!
- Create Your Own Beer/Wine Tasting. With some COVID-19 restrictions still in place, it may make visiting a winery or attending an event like Oktoberfest more difficult and stressful than usual. Instead of stressing, bring the beer or wine tasting to you! Sort out an array of craft beers or wines for the season and do a blind taste taste; try to guess the name of what you’re drinking! It’s a fun way to test your palette and knowledge. Also, you could do mini flights of beer or wine, and enjoy them with a good charcuterie board. If you’re worried about creating a cinnamon sugar rim for your beer, don’t worry: simply put some caramel sauce and cinnamon sugar on a plate (separately) then dip the rim of the glass into the caramel sauce, followed by the cinnamon sugar!
- Go For a Hike or a Scenic Walk Together. Fall is a great time to get outside and appreciate the beauty of nature, especially for those of us who live in places where it gets cold in the winter, as it can be some of the last moments to get outside before the weather turns. Go on a hike or simply a scenic walk together. Admire the foliage and the changing nature around you. Nature is great for bringing two people closer together; it makes you think about how crazy and big the world really is.
- Navigate a Corn Maze Together. If you want to put your relationship to the test, try navigating a corn maze together. This will inadvertently force the two of you to work together as a team to find your way out, and what bonds people more than trying to escape something?
- Go on a Haunted Hayride. Cozy up next to each other on a haunted hayride.
- Have a Picnic. Head to a local park or get comfortable in your backyard, and have a picnic together! Getting some fresh air is good for everyone, and with beautiful scenery around you, it’ll make it that much more romantic. Pack cheese and crackers, some sandwiches, maybe some dessert, water; and if you want to really set the mood, a bottle of champagne.
- Make Your Own Candy Apples. One thing I always look forward to in the fall is getting a candy apple. However, with certain COVID restrictions in place in my state, I’m not sure I’ll be able to get one this year. Since it’s 2020, try making your own candy apples together! Not only will you be able to customize it however you want, baking together is always fun! The fact that the treat is festive and delicious is an added bonus.
- Make New Recipes Together. When the weather gets colder, I find that I get more adventurous with cooking since I’m inside the house more. Take the opportunity this fall to make new recipes together. Try tackling a tough recipe for dinner, or make a fall-themed dessert! Either way, trying something new together will be fun, and you’ll get to make something that you’ll (hopefully) enjoy in the end.
- Read Together. Light a fire, grab a good book, and get comfortable and cozy under the blanket. Reading together is so relaxing. I love doing this with my boyfriend with a good glass of wine; we sometimes even do this as a precursor to our date night. If you need some ideas on what to read this fall, check out my favorites here.
- Make Halloween Costumes Together. I’m personally not a huge fan of Halloween, but last year was one of my favorite ones ever because I finally managed to get my boyfriend to agree to doing a couples costume. (Cinderella and Prince Charming, naturally.) Pick out a good couples costume, or get crafty and make them together! Nothing screams relationship more than wearing costumes that go together.
