On Monday, my calendar motif changed from a smiling sun donning a set of shades to a gathered bunch of tricolored leaves, which can only mean one thing — summer is gone and fall is here to stay.

While I consider myself a summer child — a lover of warm beaches, cold beers and long nights — I couldn’t be more excited for fall to begin. At this point, there is nothing unique to say about the merits of fall, so I’ll go ahead and repeat all the clichés I love about fall: snuggling up under warm blankets with a warm cup of cider, lighting pumpkin-scented candles, toasting marshmallows around a bonfire and watching the leaves change as I wrap myself with a sweater.

Sure, I might not have anything grand or profound to say about fall, but that is because it has all been said before by many who can say it better than me.

American journalist Jim Bishop once wrote: “Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons.”

English poet John Donne wrote: “No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace, as I have seen in one autumnal face. And French author Albert Camus once penned the phrase: “Autumn is a second spring when every leaf’s a flower.”

All of these quotes are very articulate ways of saying what I am trying to: fall is really great.

Since the beginning of time, fall has been many people’s favorite season, and it’s easy to see why. The fall brings with it comfortable temperatures, festive holidays and a bountiful harvest.

Fall also comes with several fun activities across Michiana. From apple picking at Lehman’s to hayrides at Amazing Acres and getting spooked at the Niles Scream Park, there are plenty of opportunities in southwest Michigan to get into the festival fall spirit and see all that the season has to offer. The season is also not devoid of festivals. This weekend will see the Four Flags Area Apple Festival in Niles, while Oct. 11 will see Dowagiac’s Under the Harvest Moon festival.

I think we all owe it to ourselves to get out to some of these activities and events, enjoy fall’s beauty and have some fun before the season ends. After all, before we know it, winter will be here — the worst season — and I’m not ready to think about that yet.

SARAH CULTON is the managing editor at Leader Publications. She can be reached by phone at (269) 687-7712 or by email at sarah.culton@leaderpub.com