As a native of San Francisco, who has really only experienced California ‘seasons’ (called fog in San Francisco, and sun in Los Angeles), I have to say that fall in North Carolina is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.

I am biased, however, because I don’t really have much to compare it to. I visited the East Coast in autumn before, and nothing beats witnessing the transition from the hot (HOT!) summer, to the cool, humidity-free fall. North Carolina, and most of the mid-Atlantic, is notorious for moderate winters. That being said, my perception of cold weather is a little skewed. Northeasterners will be laughing at me when I start complaining about the temperature (I am cold as I write this, and it is only in the 40s). San Francisco has prepared me for the 50-degree days, but when it dips into the 40s I may as well stay in bed unless I’m hitting the ski-slopes.

Truthfully, it is beautiful. The leaves are changing from green to shades of amber and have started to decorate the sidewalks. Every leaf, when stepped on, makes a satisfying crunch sound. That, throughout my West Coast, urban upbringing has been my only real measure of autumn. Pretty soon, however, scarf weather will turn into down-jacket weather.

I’m looking forward to the excitement of my first snow-day, once the novelty wears off however, I’ll probably be anxiously awaiting the first day of spring. My dad, who went to school in New England, always says, “Nothing feels colder than the first winter day it hits 20 degrees, and nothing feels warmer than the first spring day it hits 20 degrees.” Hopefully there won’t be too many of those days! Having lived in Los Angeles for the last four years, it’s safe to say this is all new to me. As of now, I’m looking forward to a year of real seasons, but I’ll keep you posted.