It has come to my attention recently (ahem, Mom) that not everyone loves fall as much as I do. Apparently, many people prefer summer to fall. Having lived all of my life in New England, which I consider to be the Queen of All Things Fall, this perplexes me. Summer on a Connecticut beach is a wonderful thing, but in general, fall wins every time. Why? Here are a few things to look forward to in the glorious time of autumn in New England:

• Local apples. Nothing is tastier than a fresh, locally grown apple. My whole family loves apples, and it’s so nice to have a reprieve from the somewhat mushy, sort of flavorless ones shipped in to us during the rest of the year.

  

• Connecticut Farms. Farms shine in the fall. Nothing is better than harvest season! There are so many corn mazes, pumpkin patches, orchards, hayrides, etc to visit that it would be impossible to see them all. Our favorites are the events at the cooperative of farms in The Farmer’s Cow dairy co-op. Check out their fall farm events!

  

• Cooler, drier air. My kids love nothing more than being outdoors. I remember loving summer as a kid, but these days, I just can’t handle the heat and humidity. I love the cooler temperatures and lower humidity of late September through early November. I don’t mind being outside for hours when it’s comfortable out!

  

• Beautiful foliage. You can’t think about fall in New England without thinking about the leaves! My kids love making leaf crafts: leaf prints, sun catchers with leaves and crayon shavings ironed between sheets of wax paper, leaf rubbings, etc. Here are more fun leaf crafts!

  

• Delicious treats. This is mind-boggling to me, but not everyone loves pumpkin flavored things (I do, however). However, fall is when we all break out the caramel apples, cider, cocoa, and pies. Yum!

  

• Thanksgiving. More than Christmas, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love food, and I love the idea of stopping to be thankful for what we have, and I look forward to cooking up some family favorites each November.

  

• No gear! This is a new benefit I’ve discovered as a mom! All winter, it’s a struggle to get out the door with the gloves, hats, coats, boots, etc. All summer, it’s a marathon of slathering sunscreen on unwilling kids, packing swimsuits, towels, bug spray, sunglasses, etc. Fall is easy! Just walk outside, with maybe a sweatshirt. Done.

  

• Fair season. Maybe, just maybe, this has to do with growing up with the Durham Fair, but I love fair season! My kids love visiting the animals, eating fresh cider donuts, and riding the rides. I love entering crafts and food in the judged contests, meeting up with old friends, and people watching.  You’re never too old to have fun at the fair!

  

Any other fall fans out there? There’s nothing like it! Bring on the hot cider!