Even though it was 80 degrees in Milwaukee last week, it is technically autumn. And, occasional heat waves aside, that’s actually started to become quite apparent these last few days as the fall chill has entered the air, leaves have subtly started to change colors, you’ve likely brought your air conditioning unit back down to the basement, apples and pumpkin flavors have permeated our collective diet, and Packers fans are once again whining about the team’s placekicker. Now that fall is indisputably here, we’re finally able to partake in one of the best seasonal activities out there: the nice autumn stroll.
Fall is the best season to enjoy a nice autumn stroll. Sure, it’s also the only season in which one can take a nice autumn stroll, but let’s not get too hung up that detail. There are a bunch of reasons walking outside in and around Milwaukee during the heart of fall can be great. Here are just a few of that come to mind.
Depending on when you take said autumn stroll, perhaps there’s a slight nip in the air. Unlike summer walks, getting too hot isn’t really of much concern. Just wear a sweatshirt, flannel, light jacket, and other warm attire, then adjust accordingly if you start to work up a sweat. Unlike the rare winter walks, slipping isn’t really worth worrying about, as crunchy leaves line the trails instead of black ice.
Whether your stroll takes you along neighborhood sidewalks, through a public park, or—like a recent fall walk we took—on one of the county’s many beautiful trails, there’s less of a chance of there being too many people to bother you than, say, a walk in spring (when people have been cooped up for months and we are ready to get outside) or summer (when there are higher temps and longer periods of daylight). And fall walks pair especially well with a travel mug filled with coffee, tea, or cocoa.
If you’re lucky, your autumn stroll might feature a cameo from a squirrel (just like the one pictured above) or another woodland creature that’s working tirelessly outside in preparation of the cold, unforgiving winter to come.
On that note, we should take a lesson from those creatures and try to scavenge every last ounce of outdoor enjoyment from Milwaukee’s autumn because before we know it, another cold, dark, brutal, and soul-crushing winter will be upon us and we’ll all be left wishing we had sucked it up and gotten outside a few more times before fall fell away.
So get out there and take it all in while you still can. It’s not like the days are getting any longer or warmer. Even if you’re just going around the block, parking in a spot a little further away from the grocery store than usual, getting off the bus a stop or two early, or taking time out of your busy work day to hit up a trail because you decided to write an admittedly soft-hitting article about this ultra-specific topic, get your ass outside and embark on a nice autumn stroll, a pleasant pre-winter bike ride or skating session, a festive fall jog, or any outdoor action that’s at your disposal. You’ll be glad you did.
Going on a nice autumn stroll: 10/10.