It’s fall! What does that mean? (besides Pumpkin Spice Lattes)…
Well it depends on if you are the outdoorsy or indoorsy type. The great thing is we have a little bit for everyone so sit back, relax, and get ready because it’s all coming your way!
If you want to be with nature:
Lost Maples State Natural Area
Fall is the BEST time to visit this area just northwest of San Antonio as it boasts a special collection of Uvalde Bigtooth Maple trees. Marvel at the changing leaves while you hike, fish in the Sabinal River, or bird-watch for endangered species. Take good shoes because the trails are not for the faint of heart, and watch out for snakes! Entrance to the area will cost adults $6 for the day, but kids 12 years and under get in for free.
If you would rather avoid the snakes, you can take a quick gander at the leaves from behind a nice glass of Rouge Reserve at the Lost Maples Winery that lives a little way down the road.
Eisenhauer Park and Friedrich Wilderness Park
Anxious to put your new hiking gear to use but don’t wanna go too far? We have two great parks right in our backyard! Eisenhower Park, located off of loop 1604 and NW Military provides great trails for a morning hike, complete with a tower with 360 degree view at the top. The park also has facilities available such as pavilions, BBQs, picnic tables, and gathering areas if you want to make a day out of it.
Friedrich Wilderness Park, located off I-10 East and Stonewall Parkway, is another option for hiking and outdoor fun. There are approximately 10 miles of trails inside the park for all levels of hikers . Both parks are open to the public, but Friedrich does not allow pets, so leave the pups at home for this one.
Blanco State Park
If camping is your jam, get ready to fire up some s’mores because this park will get your little mini-propane heater pumping! If you drive north on 281 and you blink, you will miss this beautiful gem, and that would be a shame. This state park boasts beautiful riverside campsites, tree-buffered hideaways, and serenity that you never knew you could get so close to the highway. You can make reservations on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department website, and don’t forget to pack your sleeping bag!
Or, If you’re more into Netflix than Mosquito Nets…
The Best Books You Will Read All Year
If you are like me, a healthy dose of the outdoors is great, but you are more likely to find me in my pajamas 
with a great book. Because I like to read across genre, I have two amazing book recommendations for you to fill the cool cloudy days with. If you are a non-fiction fan, then virtual high-five because I just became one myself. I highly suggest Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink, in which he talks about the split second that we have “gut reactions” or make “split decisions” and how those seemingly illogical grasps at intuition are actually based on what he calls our adaptive unconscious. In this book, he explores with the reader what this reason-based system in our brains actually can do and how we can use it. It is at once fascinating and entertaining!
For my fiction fans, I would go no further than The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware. Fans will recognize Ware’s name from other books such as The Woman in Cabin 10 and In a Dark, Dark Wood. This story about a girl who inherits the wrong person’s money and must live the lie in order to survive is the perfect thriller for a cold rainy day!
The Cutest Movie Ever
If you haven’t already, stop what you are doing, grab a blanket and some hot chocolate, and cue up Netflix original To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before. Based on a young adult novel, this high school drama about a girl whose crushes get blabbed all over school is not just for teens. Everyone will find a connection to this hilarious, sweet, relatable movie. Well done, Netflix.
The Best Binger
Looking for something to binge watch instead of just a one-time movie? If you are into fantasy/gore, stream 13 seasons of Supernatural on Netflix and watch two brothers as they hunt monsters and save the world, all while driving a pretty cool car and making friends with angels and demons. If you are more into a quick, funny jaunt, The Mindy Project, a sitcom about a mid-30s doctor looking for love in all the wrong places will keep you cracking up and coming back for all 6 seasons on Hulu.
So whether you are headed out or staying in, enjoy this fall and everything it brings you!