October To-Do List: Embracing All Things Fall in DC and Beyond

We’re starting a new tradition here with this October To-Do List. This feels like old school Pinterest blogging at its best, but it’s an attempt to slow down and recognize each season and month as it passes. This summer sped by and I felt like I didn’t get to do so many of my favorite warm weather activities (I didn’t make it to a single Nats game!).  I know so much of that was due to buying a house and traveling for much of August, but I do think that approaching the months more intentionally will help ensure that I don’t get to October 31 thinking, “Where on earth did this month go?”

Why monthly instead of seasonally? With a three-month span to mark things off a to-do list, it can get easy to push things until the final weeks of the season. Often, that entire first month of the season is spent transitioning from the previous season in a blur. I mean, what even happened in September?! By splitting it out by month, I can hone in on those hyper-specific seasonal to-dos that sometimes pass me by. Plus, isn’t October practically a different season than November?

And, an important note. I was listening to Forever 35 yesterday and they were discussing those fall activities that everyone sees on Instagram, feels like they have to do, and then they’re like, “Why am I here, in 90 degrees, wearing fall clothes, picking pumpkins?” You won’t find that on my list, ha. I get it’s probably different for a kids’ photo op…but is it, really?

What’s On My October To-Do List

I have all the classic fall activities you’d expect on here. We’re knocking out our New England trip this weekend (our third annual after Portland, ME and the Hamptons over the past two years), and I plan on making a trip to Eastern Market for their Tuesday market today to stock up on some fall fruits and veggies for seasonal culinary exploits. Then, we have the next two weekends free-ish, so you can guarantee I’ll start planning trips to the country to make headway on this list.

But, in the meantime, I’d love to hear what you have planned! What fall adventures should be on my radar?