I’ve always considered myself to be a “Summer Girl” (thanks, LFO) but every October, without fail, I fall in love with all things fall. Ask me how I feel about cooler weather come January and I will be quite over it, but right now, pumpkins, cider, red wine, riding boots – I adore it all.
This past weekend, a group of my girl friends and I kicked off our heels, threw on our fall gear and headed out to the country. Sometimes a day away from “big city” (DC) life is just what you need and we’re lucky that it all lies only an hour away in Virginia.
Our day consisted of 3 stops: homemade brunch (by yours truly), pumpkin pickin’ (trip to a pumpkin patch) & wine sippin’ (wine tasting at a vineyard).
1. {Homemade Brunch} Just like every other big city, in DC, “brunching” is considered a staple, so I decided to switch it up a bit and host my own. Bottomless mimosas were not optional, Starbucks coffee was brewed and I planned a menu that spread across every food group – fruit salad, pumpkin muffins (obviously), french toast & egg and sausage casserole. Everyone headed out for the day full and happy.
2. {Pumpkin Pickin’} Our next stop was about an hour away at Great Country Farms in Bluemont, VA, where we thoroughly enjoyed a hayride to the “u-pick pumpkin patch” with monogrammed market bags in hand. All of us gals came back to the city with 2 carloads of pumpkins in every shape and size and at such a great deal. We stomped around in our boots on acres of fields, used market totes to not only gather pumpkins, but protect our hair from the rain, and laughed at ourselves every step of the way.
3. {Wine Sippin’} Overlooking the farm is Bluemont Vineyard, a local vineyard with breathtaking views that boasts being the highest elevation winery in the Commonwealth of Virginia. We reserved a private wine tasting, stuffed ourselves with platters of cheese, baguettes and tapenade, and snapped more Instagram photos than necessary. Everyone went home with a bottle to share, mud on their jeans and a smile on their face. It was a relaxing way to wrap up the day’s trip.
Now maybe you don’t live near a pumpkin patch or vineyard, but no matter where you live, be inspired to get outside and plan a fun fall activity with your friends, beau or both! I could not have asked for a more perfect way to kickoff the season!
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