10 Ways to Celebrate Autumn—Grab an Apple, Jump in the Leaves, Sip Some Cider and Admire the Trees!

All of a sudden, it's autumn in Geneva. Here are 10 ways to get the most out of your fall experience.

1. Go Apple Picking! My favorite orchards include Jonamac Orchard in Malta, IL—complete with the most amazing corn maze you will ever experience. Also excellent:

• Kuiper’s Family Farm in Maple Park - kuipersfamilyfarm.com
• Royal Oaks in Hebron - royalokayfarmorchard.com
• Pine Apple Acres in Huntley – pineapple-acres.com.

2. Buy old-fashioned Apple Cider from Gould’s Family Farm located off of Green Road in Sugar Grove. This stuff is the real deal! You won’t regret drinking this cider and you’ll never want to have that store-bought, pasteurized cider again!

3. Play catch. I know it sounds simple, but amidst the glowing colors of autumn, an afternoon game of catch with friends, family or your dog won’t soon be forgotten. Embrace the true beauty of fall!

4. Admire the trees with a walk through Johnson’s Mound or .

5. Rake leaves in your yard or better yet, voluntarily help your neighbors. This activity is a win-win. They yard gets clean, you’ll get some exercise, and if you work hard enough, you’ll have a gigantic leaf pile to jump in when you’re finished! Check out the city of Geneva website for 2011 leaf collection dates.

6. Go to a at Geneva High School. This may be the ultimate cliché fall activity, but if you attend, I promise you will discover the magic of those Friday night lights.

7. Play tennis. OK, this one is a selfishly motivated suggestion because I have played competitive tennis each fall throughout high school and college. But seriously, just pick up a racket, find a friend or a wall and I promise you’ll relieve stress and have a great time. Not to mention, it’s a great cognitive activity to bolster brain power and plus, with cooler temperatures, you will sweat less and I presume, play better. So, I hope to see you all out on the courts! Game. Set. Match!

8. Make a for your kids and/or pets. This is a great fall activity for a rainy day, gives your kids something to look forward to and hopefully will save you from spending a fortune on the “must-have” costumes from the store. Also, enjoy in downtown Geneva.

9. Make an early Thanksgiving pie. Who said you can only eat pumpkin and pecan pie on Thanksgiving? Give your taste buds a treat this fall with your favorite holiday pie. Whether it’s apple, cherry or my favorite, pumpkin, pull out your apron and the oven mitts and indulge!

10. Get a caramel apple at in Geneva. Sticky, sweet and delicious, I would go so far as to say that this is a Geneva “delicacy.” Just don’t promise your friend that you will share. I guarantee that the entire apple will be in your belly and caramel will be stuck to the roof of your mouth before your friend will even have a fighting chance!