5 Things to Do Before Fall Starts

What would you like to do before fall starts? August just ended, and depending on where you live, the temperatures may have already started to dip in the evenings. While some of us mourn the loss of scorching summer days, others are getting excited for the leaves to turn red, yellow, and orange. Children are returning to school in some places, while elsewhere, families have decided to teach their children from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The official first day of fall is September 22, but before that, there’s still plenty of time left to enjoy everything summer has to offer. We’ve prepared a list of 5 things to do before fall starts, and whether you’re Team Summer or Team Fall (or even Team Winter or Spring!), we hope you can find something you’ll enjoy! Wherever your adventures take you, make sure to follow the COVID-19 health guidelines in place.

Pug swimming with gogglesvia Giphy

1. PICK YOUR FAVOURITE TREAT AND SEE WHICH LOCAL RESTAURANT HAS THE BEST VERSION

Summer treats: popsicles, ice cream, and fresh fruit

Whether you’re a fan of iced tea or lemonade, ice cream or popsicles, fruit salad or avocado toast, chances are, you have a summer go-to snack food item. Why not make a day out of finding the best version where you live (while supporting local restaurants in the process)? Pick a few places that serve your favourite summer treat and visit them over a couple of weeks. If you want, you could build your own small questionnaire to evaluate which place serves the best version (can you tell we’re researchers at heart? ????).

If you don’t feel safe leaving your home, there are always food delivery options, like Uber Eats (remember: you can redeem your LEO points for Uber Eats credits!).

Whether you’re going out or dining in, you could even rate each restaurant using Love, Hate, Rate.

Bon appétit, and may the best restaurant win!.

2. VISIT A PRODUCE STAND OR FARMER’S MARKET BEFORE SUMMER FRUIT GOES OUT OF SEASON

Blueberries, cherries, apricots and pears at a fruit stand

As summer ends and fall begins, the fruit and vegetables in season change as well.

Why not visit a produce stand or farmer’s market near where you live to take advantage of being able to get fresh summer produce while you still can? Depending on your region, you may have quite a few options to choose from. According to Food Network Canada, apples, pears, plums, green beans, tomatoes, nectarines, and more are all in season during September (for Food Network Canada’s full list, click here, or do your own quick Google search).

It might be fun to challenge whoever you live with (whether it’s your spouse, roommate, etc.) to prepare a recipe using the items you’ve picked up, using only ingredients you already have in your pantry. Pro tip: Fresh fruit can also be great in cocktails or mocktails: for a list of four different types of each to make this summer, read our article.

3. REFLECT ON YOUR GOALS FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR

Blank journal with a pen beside a cup of coffee

When you made your New Year’s resolutions this year, did you think that the world would be gripped by a global pandemic that would drastically affect our day to day lives? We didn’t either. So far, 2020 has been very difficult for many Canadians and Americans. When we ran a survey in early August, we found that 50% of Canadians and 58% of Americans think that 2020 is the worst year they’ve ever lived.

The good news is that September is gaining a reputation as the new January. Before summer ends, if you’re a fan of setting goals, it may be a great time to refocus on what you want to achieve before the year ends (and perhaps giving yourself a bit of a break given the year’s challenges so far). Take some time for yourself with your favourite journal (or your cellphone or computer, if you’re not a fan of handwriting things) and decide what is most important to you. This might also be a fun exercise to do with your family or a group of friends.

4. TAKE YOUR LAST SUMMER ROAD TRIP CLOSE TO HOME

Mother, daughter, and dad on a road trip

COVID-19 has impacted many families’ summer travel plans. Although you may have had to cancel your summer vacation due to the restrictions in place, there’s a big opportunity to discover places close to home (or within your province, depending on how far you’d like to go) that you wouldn’t usually visit. In other words, this is a great opportunity to turn some lemons into lemonade.

Many regions have websites devoted to local tourism, with lots of options to choose from. Whether you prefer birdwatching, kayaking, mountain biking, art galleries and museums, or exploring new cities (or all of the above!), we’re sure you (and your travel companions, if you’re bringing them along) can find something fun.

Interested in our suggestions for some great spots in Canada to visit? Check out our article.

Before you travel, always check the restrictions and regulations in place so that you are well-prepared.

5. ENTER OUR SEPTEMBER MONTHLY CONTEST

As you may know, every month, LEO runs at least one special contest!

This month, you’ll have a chance to win a $1,000 IKEA gift card!

Whether you’d like to start stocking up on blankets and cozy furniture for the cold days ahead or grabbing patio furniture and outdoor decorations when they start going on sale, we’re confident you can find something you’ll enjoy.

Don’t forget to click here to learn how to participate. We’re also running other September contests, which you can find here.

WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND DOING BEFORE FALL STARTS? SHARE YOUR SUGGESTION WITH OTHER LEO MEMBERS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.

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