17 Effortless Ways To Enjoy Fall In California – A Quick Guide

Mutant gourds. Freshly baked pumpkin or apple pie. Sweater weather. Piles of brightly colored leaves. Fall has arrived and I’m here for it! While California isn’t known for autumn like Boise or other cities, this state offers some cozy and exciting ways to experience the season. Below you’ll find my secret list of the best ways to enjoy fall in California.

Here are some simple ways you can experience fall in California from any city. Whether you’re living in Northern California, along the central coast, or deep in the desert terrain these ideas can be used anywhere.  

The best things to do in California for fall

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While September marks the start of fall, true autumn weather usually doesn’t happen until late October in most Southern California cities. Instead, sweater weather is temporary replaced with tank tops, shorts, and jeans if the days are a little cooler.

Besides the semi-hot weather, fall is still one of my favorite seasons in California. Only after Christmas of course! (If you love Christmas like me, be sure to check out my European Christmas market guide.) It’s great for hiking, exploring national parks, having a beach day, and much more.

1. Bake a fall treat

As a foodie, this is hands down one of the best ways to experience the fall spirit. Fall is the season of: gourds, apples, brussel sprouts, pears, figs, persimmons, sweet potatoes . . . It’s basically the season of indulging in the best comfort foods that exist, in moderation of course.

The intoxicating aromas of cinnamon wafting from the freshly baked goodies are one of the easiest ways to experience fall in California. You can easily head over to Trader Joes, where they’re heavily stocked in baking and cooking essentials for fall.

There you’ll find sweet baking ideas like:

• Pumpkin pancake mix
• Gluten-free pumpkin bread mix
• Pumpkin butter
• Apple cider
• Pumpkin ice cream (It’s not vegan. But maybe we can convince Trader Joes to make a vegan version too).

In addition, there’s items for the savory eater too such as pumpkin curry, Pumpkin-Os, even a salty-sweet fall flavored batch of popcorn.

Related post: The Best Wellness Tips for the Holidays

2. Take a California road trip

While summer road trips are popular vacations in California, fall road trips are an excellent choice to ring in the new season.  On top of having a change of pace or scenery, road trips bring fewer crowds at your destinations and slightly cooler weather.

As a matter of fact, Northern California tends to get cooler earlier in fall, whereas the Southern California fall ambiance starts later. Here’s a guide to some hidden Southern California destinations.

Some ideas for road trips in California include:

• Visiting the beautiful vast Yosemite National Park
• A trip to the artsy, charming city of Santa Barbara
• Having a yoga meditation retreat in the wellness oasis of Ojai
• A weekend getaway in Big Bear
• Exploring the effervescent city of San Francisco

Don’t forget to pack some healthy snacks for your trips to boost your health and wellness on the road!

3. Go on a weekend getaway

California is a big state and a weekend getaway might be just what you need to explore a new city. Los Angeles International Airport, Ontario Airport, and Burbank Airport offer several direct, short flights around the state. For instance, you can arrive in a San Francisco from LA in just 1 hour – an excellent destination for a weekend trip.

Similarly, these airports also offer quick, direct flights to neighboring states like Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. I recently flew from Burbank to Boise in less than two hours and was impressed by its convenience. Boise is a stunning city if you’re craving fall-themed adventures, outdoor fun, and a thriving culinary scene.

4. Use essential oils to set a cozy vibe

Cinnamon. Peppermint. Sage – all the smells of fall transported into a tiny bottle. Essentials oils are a powerhouse tool that can transform any space into the ideal cozy homey ambiance.

Just imagine walking into a spa or massage shop. Immediately, you can feel the shift of energy, because of the uplifting scents and tranquil sounds. With this in mind, you can easily replicate those relaxing and peaceful vibes by purchasing some of your own essential oils. Say hello to self-care with essential oils.

Simply grab a diffuser and select your favorite fall smell, then sit back while the enticing aromatic scents uplift your spirit.

Insider Tip: Likewise, this is just one benefit of essential oils as they have a multitude of functions. I personally love them for headache relief, sleep, digestion support, and for traveling with. 

5. Go leaf peeping and look for fall foliage

Despite California being known as the golden sunshine state, it does have a plethora of places for leaf peeping. Fall in California expands across a variety of geographical terrains.

These terrains range from the beautiful beaches in Southern California, arid deserts, the green heartland of the San Joaquin Valley posited in the states center, and numerous woodsy mountains with giant tall trees.

Discovering vibrant fall colors in California can be possible in every city if you look closely. Whether it’s a random colorful street lined with dogwood trees located in a tiny neighborhood, visiting a familiar city or situated in Napa Valley. Not to mention the big oak trees found within the valley in Yosemite National Park – just look for the brightly hued leaves whenever you step outside. 

6. Go hiking

Another way to go leaf peeping, or enjoy the beautiful fall foliage, is to go on a hike. California is notorious for its gorgeous hiking trails found all over the state. You can hike locally in your backyard, using alltrails.com as a tool to find hikes nearby.

7. Explore a national park

Additionally, you can visit one of the nine famed national parks in California, namely, Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Park, Kings Canyon, Joshua Tree, and more. It’s actually the state with the most national parks, so you’re in excellent hands if you’re a planning a visit to one.

If you’re planning to visit Yosemite, here are 8 beautiful hiking trails to explore and a detailed Yosemite travel guide.

Tip: If you’re planning a trip to the national parks, consider purchasing the annual pass, “America the Beautiful Pass”. The pass is $80 for the year, while a seven day pass sits at $30. Evan and I used the annual pass when we took a national park tour visiting Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, our favorite Yosemite and a boy’s trip to Yellowstone. The annual pass is an incredible choice if you plan on visiting multiple parks and various times throughout the year.

8. Visit an apple orchid and go U-picking

Another activity to do for fall in California is to go apple picking. Fall is the season of apples, and there’s an abundance of orchards that have u-picking options. Below is a list of my favorite u-pick orchard in California.

Southern California

• Riley’s Apple Farm
• Willowbrook Apple Farm
• Live Oak Canyon Christmas Tree Farm and Pumpkin Patch

Northern California

• Chileno Valley Ranch
• Mountain Brook Ranch (u-picking pomegranates)

For even more of the best places to go apple picking in California, click here. Find one closest to you and enjoy!  

9. Roam around a pumpkin patch

Mutant pumpkin, giant pumpkins, plump pumpkins, itty-bitty bright orange pumpkins – they’re everywhere during this time of year. Without a doubt, both big and small cities alike have respective pumpkin patches for the community to enjoy. Below are a some pumpkin highly-rated pumpkin patches throughout the state.

Southern California

• Shawn’s Pumpkin Patch
• Underwood Family Farms
• The Pumpkin Factory

Northern California

• Hawes Farm
• Grandma’s Pumpkin Patch 
• Arata’s Pumpkin Farm

Don’t forget to buy one! For more pumpkin patches located in California, click here.

9. Now, carve your pumpkin

Once you’ve selected a lucky winner from the pumpkin patch, farmer’s market, or local grocery store, slug home that phenomenal pudgy pumpkin. Then, get your creative juices flowing and begin carving your masterpiece!

Pro Tip: Instead of throwing the pumpkin seeds away, try roasting them in the oven for a tasty fall snack. Throw your favorite seasonings on such as salt, pepper or add a dash of cinnamon for a powerful flavor punch.  Check out this pumpkin seed recipe for some fall inspiration.

10. Visit Disneyland to experience a unique fall in California

Disneyland is a magical wonderland during fall! This enchanting kingdom turns into a fall frenzy filled with fun spooky decorations. The main street becomes ghostly with giant pumpkins carved with Mickey Mouse, villains roam the streets, and various other family-friendly costume characters.

Not to mention the attraction rides such as Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion becomes the Haunted Mansion Holiday with a special Halloween twist on the ride. There’s also Guardians of the Galaxy- Monsters After Dark, Luigi’s Honkin Haul-O-Ween, and Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree which are all located in California Adventure.

11. Explore a local farmers market

Another fall activity to enjoy is a visit to the local farmers market. There are farmers markets located all over California and they are open year round. Whenever we take a trip to the local farmers market, it usually entails a welcoming experience filled with friendly people, fresh foods, appetizing homemade goodies, and artisanal crafts.  

During the autumn season, all the interesting fall foods make their way onto the tables. You’ll find more pumpkins, squash, persimmons, and more. Plus, they also have delicious fall treats such as pumpkin pie, apple pie, and depending on the market they may have activities too.

Not only do you get to learn more about the different types of seasonal fall foods, you can also get ideas for future Christmas presents! 

Take a look at this list of all the excellent local farmers markets in California by county.

Christmas Inspiration Tip: Yes, I know it’s early, but I’m the type of person who begins celebrating Christmas the day after Halloween. If you’re a Christmas fanatic you may want to venture over to my post all about the fairytale Christmas markets in Europe.

12. Sip some festive drinks

Wooh, PSL is officially out at Starbucks! But did you know that’s not the only autumn beverage you could be indulging in?

Visit your local coffee shop to check out any heavenly fall beverage choices they may have. Or if you’re feeling spicy, create your own! There’s apple cider, non-alcoholic ginger beer, pumpkin hot coco, and a plethora of other soothing and yummy autumn drinks.

Here’s a list of vegan fall drinks to try, and here’s another list of more fall drinks to partake in.

13. Get lost in a corn maze

Wander through spellbinding corn stalks and try to find your way out! If you’re looking for corn mazes, hay rides, and more you’ll find several located throughout California. Some are classic corn mazes with mighty high stalks, while others have an eerie twist brimming with spooky surprises and creatures.

Learn more about the corn mazes in California.

14. Visit a haunted house

Shrieking screams, thrilling decorations, and ghastly monsters are another part of fall festivities, especially haunted houses. If you enjoy a good scare, California has some excellent haunted houses to crawl your way through.

There are haunted houses at theme parks like the famed Hollywood’s Universal Studios, while there’s other smaller independent haunted house.

Here’s a list of them.

More of the best things to do in California for fall

Grape stomping. Did you know fall in California is also associated with the wine season? While wine can be imbibed any time of year, autumn is when those precious grapes are highly harvested.

Throughout California there are grape stomping festivals were you can join in on the fun – view the list here.

Decorate your home.  Home decorations are one of my favorite ways to bask in the fall glow. There are miniature gourds, cinnamon candles, and giant hued leaves that are shades of crimson red, mellow orange and golden yellows.

Grab you favorite fall decorations and dazzle your home in autumn colors for a cozy cinnamon-y vibe.  

Visit a theme park. During Halloween theme parks turn into a scary adventure. Besides Disneyland there’s Knott’s Scary Farms, Six Flags, and Universal Studios all equipped to scare the *you fill in the blank* out of you.

Haunted corn maze. Watch out for the ghouls, goblins, vampires and any other terrifying creature as you wander through the maze. These corn mazes can be found through California, so find the scariest one closest to you and enjoy.

Do you have a favorite fall activity in California you like to do?