As another season slowly settles in, we feel a sigh of relief as the fall weather opens upon us, bringing cool air and plentiful Virginia fall activities. The summer rains filled our fields with greenery and brought the cicadas into the forests. Now that vacation is over and our skin is bronzed by the sun, so we’re ready to embrace the fall.

Fall in Virginia is a truly delightful time. The air cools down to the mid-40’s at night, so you can finally turn off your air conditioning and pull out your favorite sweaters and vests. The grass is still green and growing in abundance, but the trees have suddenly blossomed into a rainbow of colors, enhanced by the sunset so the hills look as if they are on fire. Many Virginia fall activities remind you that four distinct seasons are one of the many advantages of living in this wonderful state.

My Favorite Virginia Fall Activities

The farmer’s markets are going strong, with sweet corn, fresh honey, tomatoes, and delicious sweet potatoes that you can’t match from the grocery store. Charlottesville in particular shows a lot of support for local farmers, with the Charlottesville City Market running every Saturday from 7am to noon, April through December. They offer fresh produce, herbs, plants, grass fed meats, crafts from local artisans, and baked goods, so you can grab an apple cider donut straight out of the fryer, and pick up a delectable cut of meat that you know has been responsibly raised.

Let’s not forget about apple and peach picking, which is great fun for friends and family alike. Carter’s Mountain Orchard is just five minutes outside the city limits of Charlottesville, with opportunities to pick your own apples, ride on a hay wagon with the kids, eat more apple cider donuts, or just drink a little Bold Rock Hard Cider and enjoy the incredible view. Travel just fifteen minutes outside of town to the unbelievably scenic area of Crozet and you can visit Chiles Peach Orchard to pick your own peaches for a pie tonight. Don’t forget to try their peach frozen yogurt, it’s a must-have.

Don’t Miss the Beautiful Fall Foliage

With the leaves changing, you can’t miss the chance to drive on Skyline Drive, and park the car for some scenery or some adjoining hiking trails. The Blue Ridge Mountains are spectacular, and making the short drive to see the views during this time of year is an absolute necessity. Pack a lunch, grab the dog, and put on your sneakers to climb some mountain paths and even traverse part of the Appalachian Trail.

The Virginia fall activities are boundless, but sometimes you want to kick back with some friends and a view of the Blue Ridge, and enjoy some drinks. Thomas Jefferson himself imagined this area with a robust wine industry, but he probably didn’t imagine that in the 21st century we would be regarded as the possible next Napa Valley. You can take a self tour, or hire one of the many highly regarded wine touring companies to help you on your way from Jefferson Vineyards, to Blenheim Vineyards, Pippin Hill, Veritas Vineyard and Winery, all the way to King Family Vineyard (which also offers professional Polo on Sundays). There’s no shortages of views with a nice glass of local wine.

Autumn in Virginia is a magical time, and there aren’t enough words to explain how wonderfully delightful it is to live here. The only way to understand it truly is to come visit Charlottesville, and take a tour yourself!