Cooler temps, football and pumpkin spice-flavored everything can only mean one thing: Fall has arrived in Minnesota. But what are some of the best things about it? Let me tell you!

I can honestly tell you there’s no place I’d rather be than right here in southeast Minnesota when it comes to experiencing all four seasons. We seriously get the best (and worst) of them all. But if there’s one season I love the most, it’s Fall.

There’s so many great things that comes with the fall season, and I’m excited for my daughters to experience them all with me as she keeps growing older.

Here are just a few of my personal favorites:

  • 1

    Football Season

    Nothing signifies the beginning of fall like the start of football season. My family has always been big fans of the sport, so I plan on raising my kids the same way. Saturdays = Gophers, Sundays = Vikings. When the game is on, nothing else matters for another 3+ hours. Thank goodness I married a woman who understands my obsession and feeds into it herself.

  • 2

    The Beautiful Foliage

    Ever since I was a little kid, I've always remembered loving how all the leaves in our neighborhood would change color to bright oranges and reds that would just pop in the fall sunlight. Now that I live in the southeast corner of the state, I’ve come to appreciate all the bluffs and countrysides we have to offer to showcase all the beautiful foliage. Be sure and take advantage of these with a weekend drive through the area, and you’ll see the beauty for yourself.

  • 3

    Layering Up

    Can we talk about the weather? The great thing about fall is that it’s not too hot, not too cold, but somewhere in the middle. And in Minnesota, the middle means somewhere between 40-60 degrees. But hey, that’s all the more reason to pull the sweaters, denim and flannel out from the back of your closet (as if you ever stopped wearing it). Or just pile on 5 blankets like my wife does whenever you’re relaxing on the couch because that’s OK too.

  • 4

    Oktoberfest

    Polish up your steins and iron out your lederhosen for the multitude of Oktoberfest events around the area! Oktoberfest in downtown Rochester is always a great time, plus there's SurlyFest in Minneapolis and Oktoberfest-USA in La Crosse, Wisconsin also! No matter where you’re at, you’d be hard-pressed to find a local brewery that isn’t planning some kind of excuse to grill up brats and wash them down with some brewskies. Prost!

  • 5

    Daylight Savings = Extra Sleep

    Hey, sometimes small things make all the difference… and who doesn’t enjoy gaining an extra hour of sleep? With temperatures getting cold, it’s a comfortable hour, as well. Consider this one of fall’s little pleasures.

  • 6

    Watching Scary Movies

    This one might be higher on your list with Halloween just around the corner, but since my wife scares easily, it’s lower on mine because we can’t always watch them in our house. Full disclosure: Ghost movies freak me out so I won’t watch a single “Paranormal Activity” flick even if you paid me. However, I love anything el… wait, did you hear something?

  • 7

    Minnesota Renaissance Festival

    RenFest may be coming to a close in the next week, but that still leaves plenty of time to meet knights and fairies, buy some themed gifts, or catch a medieval show. Not to mention the food, which features favorites like giant turkey legs, pork chops on a stick and caramel apples. It’s the perfect pick-me-up between the State Fair and Thanksgiving.

  • 8

    Bonfires

    Who doesn't love sitting around a warm fire on a cool Minnesota evening? My wife won't do one unless there's s'mores involved! Plus that smell... ugh, I love it!

  • 9

    Chili and Crock-pot/Instant Pot Recipes

    You didn't think I'd leave out any food on this list did you? One of my wife's favorite things to do on the weekend is whip up a batch of chili, or soup in the ol' crock-pot and let it simmer all afternoon and then have it for supper. The only downside is having the will power to put up with the delicious smells all day until you can scoop up!

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