Eight Reasons I Love Fall in the Arizona Desert

“Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird

I would fly about the earth seeking successive autumns.”  -George Eliot

This is the time of year that I start to remember why I still live in Arizona and why so many continue to move here. The scorching heat of the Arizona summer seems to be disappearing into my memory somewhere and I actually want to go outside.

Fall in the desert regions of Arizona is not orange. It isn’t red or yellow either. Fall in the desert is brown as always. Even so, it is my favorite season in the desert. Being a desert dweller, I do not look forward to the fall because of falling leaves or changing colors. I look forward to fall for a variety of reasons, some of which I have listed below.

1. Lower high temperatures. The start of October usually means the end of 100+ degree highs. Sometimes we go over 100 degrees in October, but it is rare.
2. Lower low temperatures. Sounds redundant but it isn’t. Right about the end of September the night air usually develops a slight chill. Sometimes I go outside at night just to feel it. It’s nice to go outside at night without sweating.
3. The Arizona State Fair. Fall means the fair is here. I love going to the fair. I am a little too chicken to ride some of the rides, but I manage to have fun anyway.
4. Pumpkin patches and harvest festivals. These events make me feel like I live somewhere that actually turns orange in the fall.  Besides that, they are great family fun and an opportunity to get outside and enjoy the nice weather.
5. Perfect hiking weather.  In my opinion there is no better time and place to hike than Arizona in the fall (except maybe Arizona in the spring).
6. No “car burn.” I can finally get into my car without being burned by the steering wheel, door handle, or gear shifter.
7. I can wear pants again. If you don’t live somewhere hot, you won’t get this one.  I hate shorts.  I simply get giddy when I can break out my blue jeans after a long hot summer without them.
8. Hot chocolate, tea, and soup make a comeback. Sure, you can have these things in the summer, but they are not as enjoyable as they are in the fall (not to mention the winter).