Fall is my favorite season. It’s the time of year when I actually love to live in the DC metro area. In fact, if I had my way, it would always be fall. I love the cool (to sometimes cold) mornings. I love the perfect running temps at mid-day. I love opening every window in the house and clearing out the summer humidity. I love long sleeves and hot soups. And the beer. OMG. The good beer comes back…
Sorry, got a little distracted thinking about the beer.
Anyways, when Courtney, Cynthia, and Mar suggested the topic “Fall preview” for the Friday Five, the first thing that came to mind was sharing with you five fun ways to be active this fall in the DC area.
1. Run a race – Fall has some of the best races in the DC area. There are, of course, the big name races: Army Ten Miler, Marine Corps Marathon (and 10K), Navy Army Half Marathon, etc. But there are also tons of smaller races and family friendly races. My favorite 5K, the Clarendon Days 5k, is coming up soon. (And if you want more of a challenge, you can run the 10k or run both.) There’s also a smaller, but still enjoyable fall half marathon, the Heritage Half, out in Gainesville, VA in October as well. Seriously, races abound, both for you and for your family. (I’m only running Ragnar and a non-local half at this point, but it’s likely I’ll end up doing a last minute sign up for a race or two…)
2. Pumpkin patches and apple picking – There are so many options for this in the greater DC area. We go to Cox Farms nearly every year for their huge festival (and by huge, I mean you can walk a miles over the course of the day). We also have a few orchards we like to hit to get apples to last us most of the fall. It’s a great family activity and I can guarantee you that everyone will be worn out when you are done.
3. Hiking – I love hiking in this area in the fall. The leaves around here are just gorgeous. My personal favorite is Great Falls. The trails are well marked and easily traversed, even with young children. It’s an awesome place to do a morning hike and then finish with a picnic lunch. I’d also recommend Rock Creek Park, Huntley Meadows, and the National Arboretum.
4. Sight seeing – Fall weekends are a great time for a walk around the National Mall to see all of the monuments. You could seriously spend the entire day walking and viewing a huge variety of monuments. A walk from the Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol Building is about 2 miles, and that’s without wandering off to the sides to see any of the other monuments or wandering into any of the museums. And, unlike many things in the area, all the monuments and museums are free to visit.
5. Biking – I’m not gonna lie. I don’t really enjoy biking much. However, there so many awesome bike trails in the area, so I put on my big girl panties a couple of times each fall and go for a ride with my family. One of our favorite options is to park at Gravelly Point and bike to Roosevelt Island. Once there, we park our bikes and go for a walk around the island and have a picnic lunch, before biking back to our cars. Totally worth the sore parts that result from only riding a bike a handful of times a year…
Yeah, I’m ready for fall! It’s going to be so much fun. And if you want to read more about how I’m getting ready for fall, check out my post over on Carla Birnberg’s blog about getting back on schedule.
What’s your favorite thing about the fall season? If you are from the DC area, what other things should I add to my list for the fall?
I am excited for all things pumpkin (minus PSL – I do not drink those). Hmmmm things for Erika… ooh doesn’t DC have alot of fall festivals? Those are always fun. Thanks for reminding me about the National Arboretum, def on my list to visit.
Jennifer recently posted…Friday Five – Fall Preview
Pumpkin beer is much better than PSL. Just sayin’
I’m sooooooo not ready for fall even though I love it! It doesn’t even seem like we’ve had a summer yet. BUT I do love all the pumpkins, hiking, crisp blue sky days…it really is pretty!
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama recently posted…High Five Friday
I could live without summer, but I know I’m weird…
Add walking through Old Town Alexandria near Halloween – the fancy townhouses decorate!
M @readeatwriterun recently posted…Friday Five – Fall Preview
Ooh, I’ve never done that. Might have to check it out this year…
i love the cooler temps and the beautiful leaves of fall. i love buying pumpkins and decorating my front porch.
Glenneth recently posted…Do #1ThingDaily Sept Challenge
Yes. All of those are awesome.
Vermont rocks in the fall. I have races coming up, LOTS of bike riding, just enjoying the cool weather.
Andrea recently posted…Zoe’s Race
I loved the one year we got to Vermont in the fall. I wouldn’t mind living there in the summer and fall.
I think you covered the main things – may hiking in the Shenandoah Valley when the leaves are turning? I’m looking forward to my fall races and a few trips.
Coco recently posted…Blog Homework
We drove Skyline Drive one year at Thansgiving. So beautiful!
I would love to come to DC in the fall and do some of these things — we were there doing all the sightseeing, museum and monumnet stuff this summer with kids
Jennifer Fisher recently posted…8 Healthier Herbed Snacks + Instantly Fresh Herb #Giveaway
It’s much better in the fall: it’s more comfortable and the crowds are smaller.
I’ll sign up for the it’s always fall fan club. It’s always been my favorite time of year too! Halloween, cool weather, mid-day running without passing out from the heat, crisp air, crunching leaves underfoot… Sigh… No apple picking in Florida, but it’s one of those things I really want to do one day. Guess I need to plan a road trip to the Northeast!
You should come north. It’s beautiful up here. At least until winter arrives…
Sight seeing is so much better in the fall due to all the colors!
Meranda@fairytalesandfitness recently posted…5 Fall Races You Can Still Get Into
Yes! It’s beautiful around here then.
If you ever want to go biking let me know! I like how you are “only” doing Ragnar. I’m getting nervous
Deborah Brooks recently posted…Friday Five-Fall Running Preview
It’s only in that it’s one of few activities this fall. Not that it’s a minor thing, especially with 20+ miles.
I need to get my bike adjusted before I can ride anywhere. My gears were slipping the last time I biked.
yay, hiking!!! I love doing that in the area 🙂
Mar @ Mar on the Run recently posted…Friday Five: Fall Preview
I love hiking and the boys are finally big enough to go on decent length hikes…
I’m so excited for apple picking! This is the year I am doing it. I’ve never done it before!
It’s fun and apples fresh from the tree taste so much better! It’s the only time I like yellow delicious apples. They are so much crisper when super fresh.
I want to do some apple picking with the kids – that sounds so fun! Fall is my favorite, I need to make sure we do some awesome activities with the kids now that they are getting a little bigger.
Cynthia @ You Signed Up For WHAT?! recently posted…Friday Five: Fall Fitness Fun
There are a ton of orchards an hour or so from DC. Totally worth the drive.
Yeah there is one right down the road from us! One great thing about living a ways out of DC and suffering the commute!
Everyone has got me thinking about pumpkin and I forgot about the apples – yum! Thanks for the reminder! Apples do not taste great during the summer, to me; those crisp, fresh, fall apples are the best and they are usually cheaper, too! I hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend and thanks for a great list!
Tara @ Running ‘N’ Reading recently posted…Fall Preview
Yes, fresh crisp apples are the best and they last well when you pick them yourselves. It’s harder now that both kids are in school (we used to go on a weekday). I might just have to go by myself LOL.
I love the changing of the leaves… we dont get it as significant as the East Coast, but it’s a nice time of year here.
Pavement Runner recently posted…Sale on RUN ALL DAY tanks and shirts
Love the leaf changes. I don’t think I’ve ever been on the West Coast in the fall…
oops, that last comment had an error. Let’s try again: I love fall! And I love the east coast! The summers and humidity…not so much but so nice to get the change up now. First off, your beer picture looks delicious! Almost makes me want to have a beer now and it’s only noon west coast time. Living in Bend, OR now, I imagine my fall activities will be very similar to my spring and summer activities: trail running, hiking, biking, walks, etc. Oh, and LOTS and LOTS of good beer around here
Amanda@Runninghood recently posted…Running and Racing With Our Kids: Lasting Benefits and Things to Consider
So, you guys are back in Bend now? I’d move there in a heartbeat. Never gonna happen, but a girl can dream…
you should SO run clarendon day. i’m doing the double — would love to see you there 🙂 i mean, you mentioned it… lol 🙂
Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC recently posted…Friday Five: Fall Preview!
Two soccer games and a beer festival at Mad Fox are already on the schedule… It’s so hard to juggle everything now that the kids are older.
After the busy spring you had, I don’t blame you for sticking to only a couple of races this fall. Its hard to say no sometimes, but at the same time, its sometimes what our body and mind (and wallet) need!
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running recently posted…Friday Five – August 29th – Fall Race Preview
These suggestions are great. I am not from the DC area or the U.S. for that matter, but our fall weather is about the same as that in the DC area I believe. I love hiking and apple picking and am looking forward to a nice festival in my parents’ province. #SITSblogging
Astrid recently posted…Life After High School
All great ideas. And you totally just inspired me to get my family out for a hike at Great Falls! We need to do that!!
Agree, fall is beautiful in the DC area, but I have to say summer this year wasn’t too bad.
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