As of the time of writing this article, we are well into fall, and plenty of trees have switched colors accordingly. Despite being a somewhat short season in the Upper Peninsula, fall highlights some of the best sites the area has to offer. The North Wind Editorial Board discussed the best (and even a few worst) parts of the season.

Being in Michigan, some of the most common positives voiced among the Editorial Board about fall include having a chance to finally wear your favorite jacket or sweater. While there are plenty of Yoopers who will brave the summer heat to show off their favorite flannel, being able to feel both stylish and properly heated in an extra layer is a great feeling.

For others, the promise of Halloween on the horizon is enough to make the entire season. I know plenty of people who love to rewatch their favorite horror movies during October as a Halloween tradition, and then gain just as much fun from showing their friends and loved ones the scary movies they have never seen. In fact, my roommate and I are currently revisiting our favorite “Friday the 13th” movies over the course of the month.

However, you cannot ignore some of the negative sides of fall. Decreasing sunlight hours are the fastest way to get your seasonal affective disorder in gear, which will ruin your enjoyment of orange leaves, carving pumpkins and everything else fun about the season. On top of that, the cold weather might encourage you to stay inside, which will also put you on a fast track to some depressive moods.

Make it a priority to get yourself outside, even if it is cold and gray out. Spend about 30 minutes outside each day, and it will make a difference. Maybe pull a sweatshirt on and go for a jog. If heavy cardio is not your thing, layer up and go for a scenic hike. There are still plenty of things to do outside, so take advantage of them. It is helpful to get used to being outside when the temperatures drop even more once winter arrives.

Besides, getting time outside is one of the best parts of fall. Working out in cooler temperatures is actually pretty good for your health. As for raking leaves, some people hate it, but I deeply enjoy spending a Sunday listening to chill lo-fi beats and raking leaves.

There are plenty more ways to relieve stress throughout fall. Meeting up with a friend to carve pumpkins is fun at any age, and baking pumpkin seeds afterwards can make a fun snack. 

With Halloween in October and Thanksgiving in November there are a few excuses to stop and fill yourself up with food and your favorite sugary snacks. Is there a better time of year to drink hot apple cider and feast yourself on pumpkin pie? I don’t think so.

It is no surprise that fall is so many people’s favorite season, especially with holidays such as Halloween. Even if cold temperatures come with it, and the looming threat of an Upper Peninsula winter is coming close, there is still time to grab a friend and hold a horror movie marathon.