We have reached the pinnacle of fall! Everyone has broken out their vests and dusted off their duck boots in anticipation of all things autumn! So how are our employees taking advantage of this sensational season? We ask them to share their favorite fall activities near some of our locations and we’ve round those responses up for you in this week’s edition of Friday Favorites!
Atlanta
Less than two hours north of downtown Atlanta is the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. While the ride is wonderful all year round, the fall colors really make the trip truly magical! Along the 26-mile route, you’ll see the Toccoa River and Chattahoochee National Forest. One of our favorites stops of the BRSR is to the Copper Basin and the sister towns of McCaysville, Georgia, and Copperhill, Tennessee. During your 2-hour stop there grab some ice cream, visit the antique stores or even take a snap of you standing in two states at once!
Austin
Enjoy Austin hill country in a truly Texas way via horseback! Texas Trail Rides has two locations right outside downtown Austin for those looking for an adventure this fall. While horseback rides are their main offering, they do also offer guided ATV and fishing tours. From the rolling hills to shady trees to fields of wildflowers and running creeks you’ll see it all plus plenty of wildlife.
Chicago
35 miles from Chicago lies Goebbert’s Pumpkin Farm & Garden Center. You’re like thinking, well Halloween’s a week away, we’re good on pumpkins, well then boy you’d be missing out! There are all sorts of fall fun to be had at this South Barrington spot. While the wagon rides are wonderful, the exotic petting zoo is really what it’s all about (I mean, they have a giraffe). If that doesn’t do the trick, see if you can figure out your way out of the corn maze or check out the pumpkin-eating dinosaur.
Columbus
Want to see the fall foliage as the birds too? Then head to ZipZone Outdoor Adventures to zip from tree to tree in all the glory of the crisp fall air. Perhaps you’re more of a night owl? If so check out their nigh flight tours and enjoy the zipping along underneath the moonlight. Best of yet, this is a great option for fun for the whole family.
Dallas
If you are in the Dallas area, Autumn at the Arboretum is a must-see, though we completely acknowledge you’ve only got the next week to see it. “The Art of the Pumpkin” showcases the nationally-acclaimed Pumpkin Village. Pumpkin Villages pumpkin architecture to a whole new level in its 15th year with four 20-foot-tall pumpkin houses and other creative displays made from 90,000 pumpkins, gourds, and squash.
Denver
While Colorado is known for its hikes and scenic views, we wanted to throw out a more unusual fall activity. Head over to Littleton Museum to step into a time machine and experience fall as Colorado’s pioneers did. The museum is made up of two living history farms (one 1860s and one from the 1890s) on 39 acres. The working farms also highlight a blacksmith shop and tens of thousands of Colorado artifacts.
Houston
Farm Funland at Blessington Farms is full of fall fun as its name suggests! This fall festival runs through November 21st, so it’s a great late season option for autumn activities for the family. The activities are sure to tire out all the kiddos with the trolley swing, rope maze, jump pad. But outside of some of these basic activities are the fossil dig and gem mining which are unique fun outdoor activities all can take part in.
Los Angles
Through Grand Park and the Music Center for 12 days of virtual celebrating the Día de los Muertos starting tomorrow, October 24th. During that time they are offering art workshops, online storytelling, even IRL art installations throughout the downtown area. These are curated 11 curated large-scale altars for socially distant viewing complete with audio tours!
Minneapolis
Head down to the Mississippi Riverfront for the perfect place to float along and enjoy the view of the changing trees. Many riverboat cruise companies have fall sightseeing trips or even meal cruises that will let you enjoy this unique vantage point. Perhaps the riverboat life isn’t your speed, if so head over to the St. Croix River to rent a canoe or kayak and enjoy paddling amongst the colors.
New York
The famous Chelsea Flea market has been resurrected and is an incredible spot to enjoy the crisp autumn air in the Big Apple. Brought back by the same folks behind Brooklyn Flea or Smorgasburg, every Saturday and Sunday offers you the opportunity to hunt for treasures, find some furniture, and browse the record bins. Great to help cozy up your apartment before the winter months hit and the city goes into hibernation. The market now also includes food vendors making a truly all-inclusive shopping experience.
Phoenix
If you’ve been wondering what the best spot for a fall Instagram post would be, look no further than the Inner Basin Trail. Lined with birch trees with leaves turning bright yellow right now, taking a hike up this Flagstaff trail offers quite the picture-perfect moment. Described as “other-worldly” with “tunnels of vibrant yellow leaves”, this moderately difficult trail is the hike to take if you only take one this fall.
San Francisco
One of the best perks about living in San Francisco is undoubtedly it’s close proximity to Napa and Sonoma wine country (aka the best in the US). Harvest parties are quite the common experience this time of year for the wineries because a fall harvest isn’t just for the pumpkins and corn. So take a weekend trip down there and crush some grapes!
Seattle
Awww the pacific northwest, perhaps it’s only fault this time of year is that it’s notoriously green all year round. So to find the best color or to truly enjoy the fall air, one must take it to the trees, literally. In this case, we mean the treehouses. In an area known for its forests, it’s unsurprising that that would be the best place to experience the season. Airbnb has plenty of treehouses for overnight stays or head up to the famous (by way of Animal Planet) TreeHouse Point for a weekend escape to the tops of the trees. This will give you a birds-eye view (literally) of the changing leaves as you fall asleep to the rustle of them in the wind.
St. Louis
The Missouri Botanical Garden has long been a KM favorite, but their latest *socially distanced* endeavor has set the bar even higher. This fall they are offering the ‘Fest-of-Ale Beer Trail’, a tasting event created in conjunction with many of the local breweries! 12 to be exact, favorite include 4 Hands, Alpha Brewing, Schlafly, and Urban Chestnut. Each attendee will receive a koozie and brewery pass, which entitles you to a special offer at each partner brewery (rumor has it it’s often a free pint) through November 30. So hey, cheers to that!
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