Fall is officially here, although it may not seem like it with 80-degree weather and palm trees instead of falling leaves.
Growing up in the mountains of Virginia, the arrival of fall was always seen and felt. It didn't take much to really get into the fall spirit. However, when I moved to the beach, I found that embracing the fall season required more effort on my end.
Since there isn't a major transition in the environment around me to help get me excited about fall, I've relied on the following things to get me in the spirit.
As cliché as it may be, nothing screams fall like a pumpkin spice latte, and I order them as early as possible. However, I typically drink them iced during those hot August and September days, so I don't break out in a sweat.
If you're not a fan of the pumpkin taste, try apple cider. It's delicious, both hot and cold, and for a fun twist, try using a caramel apple lollipop to stir it up.
My summer décor came down, and my fall décor went up the day after labor day Adding pumpkins, candles, flowers, blankets, and pillows in neutral fall colors always excites me for the fall season.
Check out your local Walmart or Dollar Tree if you're looking for fall décor that won't break the bank. Incorporating a few cheap accent items here and there in your home is a perfect way to get yourself in the spirit.
Head to a local pumpkin patch and pick the perfect pumpkin to paint or carve. I've found that painting pumpkins instead of carving them help them to last a bit longer in the South Carolina heat. You can also paint one side for Halloween and turn it around afterward for traditional Thanksgiving/ Fall décor.
Fall is officially festival season! So many local festivals with different themes geared towards all age groups will definitely get you in the fall spirit. Not only that, but many of them have craft and food vendors selling fall décor, clothes, and tasty treats. Moms of Myrtle has a fantastic blog post on her page will all of the different fall festivals in and around the Grand Strand.
Celebrating Halloween is one of the best parts of the Fall season. Even if you're too old to dress up and go trick-or-treating, you can still enjoy the classic Halloween movies. Several places in the area also have drive-in showings of some of the most popular Halloween movies, so be on the lookout for those.
Learning that each season looks different at the beach than in other areas has been one of the most significant adjustments since moving here, but finding different ways to make each of them special adds to the excitement.