For the rest of the country, the autumn season means changing leaves, cozy scarves, and a glut of pumpkin spice flavor in pretty much every confection. However, here in Venice, we’re fortunate enough to have warm temperatures all year ‘round. Even though we’re lucky to have such incredible weather, it can definitely make it harder to get into the fall spirit. Nevertheless, if you’re wanting to make the most of this season, there are a few ways to do that in our beautiful city.
While you’re not going to find crisp weather or knitted sweaters here as the season changes, that doesn’t mean that you’re going to have to miss out on the myriad of fun fall festivities just because you’re in L.A. Whether you’re looking for a chance to spot real-deal brightly colored leaves, or you’re hankering to do a little bit of apple picking, there’s no shortage of exciting autumnal activities that you can find right here in our corner of the world.
Scope Out the Foliage
If you thought that living in the Los Angeles area meant that you had to miss out on the gorgeous spectrum of colors that can be found on leaves, think again. Even though we live in an incredible climate, that doesn’t mean that the only trees you can find here are of the palm variety. In fact, a few of our local botanical gardens are the perfect go-to locale to witness them firsthand.
For instance, if you head on over to the Los Angeles Arboretum, you’ll be able to sneak a glimpse of the changing leaves firsthand. They have a wide assortment of trees in their 230-acre Meadowbrook Garden, like the eucalyptus, black tupelo, and oleander. Or if you rather head on over to Descanso Gardens, be sure to take a gander at the Sasanqua camellias, ginkgo, and toyon berries. With such a dazzling display of color, you might even start to forget that we live next to the beach!
Take a Haunted Hayride
Los Angeles is home to the world-famous Haunted Hayride, and it’s finally back this year, offering thrills between September 24 all the way through Halloween. Running most evenings from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., this spooktacular event will be offering eerie rides rain or shine. Once you’re done with the ride, though, you’ll want to be sure to check out the other must-sees while there, such as the Scare Zone and the Midnight Mortuary.
Go Pick Some Apples
Here in the state of California, our U-pick season is already in full swing, and should be going strong all the way to Thanksgiving. That said, you’ll want to be prepared to take a short drive out of town, as the best orchards are about an hour away. Still, Riley’s Farm in Yucaipa boasts heirloom apples (and has homemade pies for sale!), while Willowbrook Apple Farm has cider and s’mores alongside their apples.
Sip On Local Imbibements
Fall is the time for seasonal brews, and L.A. has no shortage of delicious drinks to partake in. Of course, if you’re wanting to cling to summer just a little bit longer, delicious margarita ice pops are an excellent grab-and-go option that can help you beat the heat. If you’re looking for a more savory fare, though, the Oktoberfest at Wurstküche restaurant will give you the perfect excuse to slip into your lederhosen and lace up your dirndl.
Catch a Home Game
Fall is pretty much ubiquitous with football, and now that Los Angeles has a grand total of two teams to root for, there’s no shortage of fast-paced and exciting sports to take in. Plus, with the new SoFi Stadium, there’s no reason not to snag a few tickets to a local game. That said, if football isn’t your idea of a good time, we also have the Dodgers and our very own Los Angeles Football Club (and our local athlete, Alessandro Canale) for some soccer, too.
Class It Up at an Art Festival
Maybe you’re not the type of person who enjoys hayrides, apple picking, and beer. No worries — that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing here in Los Angeles for you. In fact, our city is also known for its film festivals, and the AFI Fest will give you an insider’s peek at next year’s Oscar hopefuls. Of course, the drive-in Screamfest Horror Film Festival is just the ticket to get yourself into the Halloween state of mind, and it’s absolutely an experience you don’t want to miss.
Just because Venice — and the greater Los Angeles area — is blessed with some of the most amazing weather in the nation, that doesn’t mean that we got the short end of the stick when it comes to fall activities. Indeed, with so much to do here, we’d even say we’ve got even more to do here than other cities. From our haunted hayrides, to the U-pick apple orchards, and even our film festivals, the autumn season is just begging for you to go out and make the most of it. And even better, you don’t even have to bundle up to enjoy it!
