As the temperature begins to drop, clothes get warmer, drinks get hotter and trees get more colorful. Autumn is right around the corner.

If you’re blanking on some fall ideas, these are some basic but fun days or nights out you can have with a friend or even on your own. Plan an easy night in watching movies or go on an exciting—or scary – fall adventure outside.

1. Visit a pumpkin patch and carve some pumpkins.

‘Tis the season for pumpkin carving, and pumpkin patches are just the place to go. Senior Amber Smith enjoys going to Relleke Farms, located in Granite City.

“They always have corn mazes and petting zoos with goats, and I love goats,” she said.

After picking out your pumpkin, you can sit down with a fried Twinkie and enjoy the live music being played.

Afterwards, head home and design a spooky, cute or clever design for your pumpkin and set it outside for the neighbors to see.

2. Go apple picking.

Eckert’s Farm in Belleville is the perfect place to pick apples with a friend or significant other and enjoy the cool weather with a cup of hot apple cider.

Senior Taylor Seilheimer recently visited Eckert’s Farm with her boyfriend, junior Ryan Strohmeier.

Seilheimer said she really enjoyed picking the apples and seeing all of the fun apple-themed foods at Eckert’s supermarket, as well as taking cute pictures with Strohmeier.

3. Get your horror fill at one of St. Louis’s haunted houses.

St. Louis has a variety of haunted houses you can visit during this time of the year, including widely known locations such as Creepyworld or the Lemp Brewery.

Junior Douglas Van Dyke enjoys going to haunted houses during the fall and specifically mentioned the Haunted Train in Monticello, Ill. and The Darkness in St. Louis.

4. Go on a walk or a hike and take in the fall weather.

If you’re more of a soak-in-nature type of person, head over to Pere Marquette and hike one of their numerous trails or drive over to Forest Park on a cool fall day. The trees will be beautiful shades of yellows and oranges, and there won’t be any bugs! Simply being outside—whether it be with a friend or on your own—is always a great way to spend a fall day.

Fall is a season that brings many opportunities and fun times with it; things that you won’t be able to do again until next year. Throw on a jacket, call a friend and go soak in October.