It’s fall in Charlottesville and officially sweater weather at the Teachstone offices. As a native New Yorker, I should be accustomed to the cold, but I can’t help but practice a few weeks of denial each year, wearing sandals and sundresses several weeks into October. All begrudging aside, one of the best things to do this time of year is to go hiking, and here in Charlottesville, we’re fortunate to call the Blue Ridge Mountains our neighbors!

Very recently, I hiked a local county park at the height of “peak foliage.” Accompanied by my husband, doggy, and a dear friend, I climbed nearly 1,000 ft. over the course of a little over a mile (whew!). As you can see from the pictures, the huffing and puffing was worth it! The views were so spectacular that, at one point, my dog Charlie gave a “woof” of approval. (My husband says to tell you that Charlie was barking at a squirrel, not the mountain views, but I suppose I’ll leave that up to interpretation.)

No matter how you choose to celebrate the changing seasons, I hope it’s spectacular!

Use the comments to tell us about your autumn traditions!