Thursday, March 28, 2024

Find ways to enjoy fall weather

October 5, 2011
	<p>Hokans</p>

Hokans

A friend recently asked me which season is my favorite. My response was “Fall, of course.” Aghast, she replied, “Why? It’s cold, and everything is dying.” After a moment of reflection, I could not respond. Was she right? Is all the coziness, apple cider and warm colors just a façade to cover up for the fact it’s getting cold and everything is dying outside?

No, this could not be! There must be some reason why I and many others instinctively answer autumn as our favorite season. So I went out in search of what makes fall great. And knowing that happiness only gets better when it’s shared made me want to show you how you too can realize the full potential of autumn in the Lansing area.

Before I could start on my quest, though, I wondered why in past years I hadn’t gotten the most out of autumn. Living on our nation’s most beautiful college campus should have made me look back on autumn with perpetual nature inspired glee.

Then, I realized my usual lifestyle at this time of the year was the problem.

Between going to class, extracurricular activities, football and whatever else I did on the weekends, I had forgotten to appreciate the vast outdoor beauty that surrounds me. I had to break out of my routine in order to fully appreciate this season before I was grumbling my way to class through piles of slush.

On a run along the river trail not long ago, I realized ignorance was the main reason I had not broke out of my routine in the past and experienced many autumnal delights. The river trail that takes so many of us around campus each day is only the start of miles of scenery along lakes, streams and vibrant forests. Eventually my jog took me to Hawk Island County Park, and afterward I was inspired to visit Potter Park Zoo, Lake Lansing and Burchfield Park. These are just a few of the many parks in Ingham County.

These parks include nature trails, boat rentals, a new disc golf course and many more attractions that can help many a Spartan, such as myself, understand autumn’s allure.

Now, I’m not saying a bit of tomfoolery every now and again isn’t fine, but if you begin to forget the world around you, as I did, you know you have a problem.

Getting outdoors helped me realize that in the past, my life was reduced to a series of tasks bookended by “going out.” I’m sure this is the mind-condensing lifestyle many students find themselves falling into this time of year. This is a shame because even a short outdoor adventure in one of the Lansing area’s many attractions can remedy this mindset.

Beyond breaking me of bad habits, exploring Lansing’s outdoors revealed to me some of the secrets behind autumn’s mystique. The juxtaposition of the howling winds and brightly colored trees make it seem as though nature is beckoning us to recognize her in all of her splendor.

So heed nature’s call and lose yourself in one of the Lansing area’s many fall delights. Go rock climbing in Grand Ledge, pick out the perfect pumpkin at a cider mill or just sit by the Red Cedar river and enjoy some sweater weather in between class.

When you realize the great potential of autumn in these ways you not only benefit yourself, you also help your community. Many of these attractions provide economic stimulus to areas that need it most. Also, enjoying the Ingham County parks can help you realize that government can be good at some things, namely conservation.

On the topic of conservation, just being outdoors helps us understand what is being impacted our way of life. A great conservationist once said the two dangers in not knowing nature are “…supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from the furnace.” Here in the Lansing area impactful realizations like this are never far from your doorstep.

However, even after all of that searching I can’t give an easy answer to the question of why autumn is peoples’ favorite season. But I felt it. And even though my questioning friend probably wouldn’t accept the answer that autumn’s secrets are more visceral than explainable, it is true.

Which is all the more reason why getting outdoors this autumn is a great idea for you and your community. With the many opportunities the Lansing area has to offer, what’s your excuse not to?

Christian Hokans is a State News guest columnist. Reach him at hokansch@msu.edu.

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