“And all at once, summer collapsed into fall.”
– Oscar Wilde
What if I told you that the best kept secret about September is to go camping?
Camping may be synonymous with summer, but I promise you, it’s best reserved for fall. When the world has returned to its usual rhythms, there is a fleeting period in September that feels almost designed for camping.
September trades humidity and bugs for crisp air and golden mornings.
September gives us a sun that feels glorious when stepping out of the tent after a night bundled up in layers of wool and fleece.
September brings longer and cooler evenings warmed by campfires and hot mugs.
Inviting quietude after a glittery summer, camping in September is deliciously peaceful.
Best of all: this glory must be shared with friends.
These friends certainly don’t have to be experienced campers, either.
Just kindred spirits who appreciate the restorative balm of nature and crave a pause from busy city life. The sort that share a love for coffee in the woods, an afternoon forest walk and a campfire beneath the equinox sky.
When camping, there is no agenda.
The weather dictates the rhythm of the day. Luck was on our side when the official end-of-summer skies graced us with three days of sunshine.
And so, here is what camping looks like in September.
The mornings
- The slow ritual of making coffee manually. No buttons or screens required, just patience and the chatter of friends.
- The canopy of trees towering overhead, a red leaf or two falling with the gentle rustle of the changing wind.
- Gathered at the table, friends pass around freshly-made pancakes, bacon and eggs, with the brightness of strawberries and avocados colouring the outdoor tablescape.
- Noticing purple asters scattered around the campground and handpicking a handful of them for bookmarking memories.
The afternoons
- The forest floor carpeted in moss with sprouts of mushrooms and fallen apples hinting at the harvest season ahead.
- Wildflowers and herbs still in bloom in the shape of vibrant purples and velvet reds.
- Conversations and laughter somehow sounding better under the forest trees, with the crisp aroma of balsam filling our lungs.
The evenings
- Bowls of warm noodles and flavourful meat and potatoes warming hands and hearts in the cool evening air.
- As dusk settles, the crackle of the campfire and the smoky aroma of burning wood transform our little corner of the campground into an outdoor living room.
- Deep conversations spill easily into the firelight while we roast marshmallows. Hopes, dreams and fears shared among a circle of trusted friends.
- Above us, an inky sky dotted with brilliant stars and a rising moon keep us company, while an owl hoots somewhere nearby.
By the time we packed up camp, we noticed the air getting even cooler and rejoiced in knowing we’d caught that fleeting window at just the right time.
For a few precious days, two seasons seemed to meet in the woods, and six friends gathered there to savour that overlap.
And that’s the truest charm of camping in September.
Catching that sweet spot before the season fully turns.
So now that I’ve shared my best kept secret, what is yours?
What is something you love about this season, or any season, that feels like a secret worth sharing?
Wishing you a gentle transition, and the pause to notice when you’re in it.
xo 🍂
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