September 23 was the first day of fall. Immediately, Starbucks started selling pumpkin spice lattes, Halloween decorations went up, and friends across the country posted Facebook pictures of their kids bundled in sweaters and boots as they traipsed through multicolored forests in search of the perfect pumpkin. Meanwhile, in San Antonio, we bought bigger sizes of tank tops and shorts for our kids who had outgrown their summer wardrobes and slapped on sunscreen and sunglasses as we looked to see which outdoor pools were still open. I’ve spent nine “falls” in San Antonio, and it never gets any easier to suffer through three more months of summer-like weather while celebrating fall holidays.
This year, I’ve decided to look on the bright side while I wait for the weather to magically cool off. Here are 15 reasons to love fall in San Antonio:
1. Your kids don’t have to wear coats over their Halloween costumes.
As a kid growing up in Maryland, there was nothing worse than getting dressed in the perfect She-Ra: Princess of Power costume and then having to put on a coat and hat so no one could tell who I was.
2. Multicolored leaves are pretty, but they’re a pain to rake and bag.
And pick out of your hair. And clothes. And carpet.
3. Margaritas > pumpkin spice lattes.
But if you’re interested, here’s a recipe for a pumpkin spice margarita.
4. We’re less likely to gain weight over the holidays because it’s always swimsuit season.
Nothing stops you from having that second piece of pumpkin pie like feeling the spaghetti straps of your tank top start to tighten.
5. Let’s just keep it real: no one besides the Brawny Paper Towel guy looks great in plaid.
Except possibly Bob Vila.
6. We have until at least December to start fighting our kids to wear jackets. And pants.
7. Flip flops > Uggs.
Are flip flops bad for my feet? Yes. Will you still have to pry them from my cold, dead legs? Also yes.
8. We can enjoy dining and playing outdoors in San Antonio’s many parks and outdoor restaurants until Christmastime.
If you need some ideas, you can find a list of great parks here, and some family-friendly dining spots (read: restaurants with outdoor playgrounds) here.
9. We can use the excuse that it’s too hot to turn on the oven to get our spouses to cook Thanksgiving dinner outside.
You haven’t lived until you’ve deep-fried a turkey.
10. We can get away with saying, “You don’t need a bath; you were in the pool today,” for a few extra months.
11. Fewer clothes means less laundry.
12. We avoid the beauty hallmarks of winter: chapped lips, runny noses, staticky sweater hair, and dry skin.
13. It’s much more fun to tailgate and watch football dressed in shorts and T-shirts than in parkas and gloves.
It’s hard to crack open a cold one when you have gloves on.
14. You don’t have to feel guilty about not having Christmas decorations up until December because your air conditioner will remain on until the end of November.
15. You get two extra months to finish your summer bucket list! [hr]
I hope this helps to cheer you up and embrace “fall” here in the Alamo City. What’s your favorite way to celebrate fall in San Antonio?
