After a long, hot summer, the first day of fall has finally arrived, so it is the perfect time to usher in cooler weather and the start of a new season.
Try one or more of the following nine activities to truly embody the essence of fall in Atlanta:
Visit a pumpkin patch
Visit one of the following patches to pick out the perfect pumpkin for carving or several for decorating:
Burt's Farm, 5 Burts Pumpkin Farm Road, Dawsonville. burtsfarm.com.
The pumpkin patch is already open from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and continues into November, when it stays open until 5 p.m. until Nov. 10.
Southern Belle Farm, 1658 Turner Church Road, McDonough. 770-288-2582. southernbellefarm.com.
Two acres of pumpkins are available for picking on weekends from Sept. 17 to Nov. 6.
Pick your own apples
Apples are another sign of fall, and they're never more fresh than when you pick your own. Try one of the following locations:
Hillcrest Orchards, 9696 Hwy. 52 East, Ellijay. 706-273-3838. hillcrestorchards.net.
Pick your own apples on Saturdays and Sundays through October, as well as on Columbus Day (Monday, Oct. 10). You can also watch swimming pig races, milk a cow and more while you're there.
Mercier Orchards, 8660 Blue Ridge Drive, Blue Ridge. 800-361-7731. mercier-orchards.com.
Mercier Orchards is open for apple picking Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (weather and availability permitting), and you can also pick up some hard cider while you're there.
>>>RELATED: Best orchards to pick apples in north Georgia this fall
Make an apple dish
After you bring home fresh apples and dig into some of their delicious crunch, why not use some of them in an apple dish? You'll fill the kitchen with the warm aromas of fall if you prepare apple fritters or easy apple pastries.
Pick up a pumpkin spice latte
The explosion of pumpkin-flavored everything is a sure sign of fall, so kick off the season with a pumpkin spice latte. Starbucks has already unveiled its popular version, and you can get it served over ice or as a Frappuccino-blended drink. For other variations, try McDonalds, Panera Bread and Dunkin' Donuts.
Get lost in a corn maze
Buford Corn Maze is open 5-10 p.m. Fridays and on noon-10 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays from.
Kernel Kob's Corn Maze in Jasper is open on weekends through Nov. 10. The maze covers three miles, and you can pick up a map with checkpoints that will help you find your way through.
View the changing leaves at Piedmont Park
With at least 115 varieties of trees, Piedmont Park offers an explosion of color as the leaves start to change. You may have to wait a few weeks to experience the full effect, but some leaves may already be starting to show their new colors.
Add a touch of fall décor
Add some fall to your home with natural items like gourds or Indian corn. And after the season is over, they can yield useful seeds or new springtime crafts.
Book a destination for leaf peeping
Plan now for a weekend away when the leaves hit their peak color. Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee have a variety of popular overnight destinations for leaf peeping that you'll want to book now before they've filled up.
Attend a fair or festival
The start of cooler weather makes fall the perfect time to attend a fair or festival like one of the following:
North Georgia State Fair, Jim R. Miller Park, 2245 Callaway Road, Marietta. northgeorgiastatefair.com.
The event gets underway on Sept. 22 and runs through Oct. 2 and features all the usual fair favorites – rides, flower shows, a petting zoo, concerts and more.
Smyrna Fall Jonquil Festival, Saturday to Sunday, Oct. 22-23. Free. Village Green, 200 Village Green Circle, Smyrna. smyrnacity.com.
Enjoy a children's area equipped with inflatables and receive a jonquil bulb from Keep Smyrna Beautiful before purchasing traditional fair food such as cotton candy, candy apples, polish sausage and barbecue from vendors at this year's festival.
MORE:
Here are nine other fall festivals to catch all season long
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