Fall Weekend Pleasures

Bird-watching can be at its most exciting in fall, when birds migrate. If there are farms in your area, check those, since birds look for spilled seed and overripe fruit on the trees. One of the many resources to help you find birds, is the American Birding Association’s Birding and Nature Festivals Directory, which lets you search for field trips, presentations and workshops in your area.

Some of the most scenic runs of the year are the half-marathons that take place in October and November. Fun ones include: the North Carolina Gateway Bank Outer Banks Marathon and Half Marathon, on Veterans Day. In California, there’s the City to the Sea, the San Luis Obispo to Pismo Beach Half Marathon, 5K and special kids’ fun run, where you’ll run through scenic downtowns, back roads and coastal towns; and the Healdsburg Wine Country Half Marathon–you’ll run past 27 wineries.

If you love to camp with your family, the end of summer is also a bittersweet end to the family camping season. But fall can be one of the best times to camp with the family on the weekends: many camping spots cut their fees, the leaves can be amazing, and you may get to see animals preparing for winter. Search for detailed campground listings in your area at Reserve America or find federally managed campgrounds with the U.S. Forest Service.

If you’re new to camping, find gear and learn about the best camping spots at your local outdoor specialty store.

It’s no secret that some of the most colorful autumn leaf changes happen in New England, with organized tours and even foliage-themed cruises up the coast. Check out the constantly updated maps on Yankee Foliage, which will indicate just when to see peak foliage.

There are color changes to be seen in every state in the nation; you just need to know when to look. Each year in September, the Farmers’ Almanac releases its projected times for that year’s peak fall foliage dates across the U.S. You can also search “leef peeping” on the National Park Service website to find which national parks to visit for the most dramatic fall foliage.