Autumn smells of forest, damp earth, cinnamon and something hard to define, something that simply makes you want to slow down. When leaves whirl in the wind and mornings are cool, it's easier to find balance with a cup of tea in hand. What to do in autumn?
What to do in autumn to truly feel its atmosphere? Here are a few ways to enjoy the autumn season – from home rituals to weekend getaways.
Autumn – some facts
Astronomical autumn begins on September 23, and calendar autumn a day earlier – on September 22. This is the time when the days noticeably shorten and temperatures drop. In Poland, we have the so-called "Indian summer" – a few weeks of warm, sunny days after the first chills, thanks to a stable pressure system over Europe. Autumn is also the time when nature prepares for winter: leaves change color, trees shed fruits, and animals gather supplies.
It is no coincidence that in autumn we feel the need for calm and regeneration – it is a time of natural quieting and closure of the cycle.
Cinnamon-scented kitchen – what to do in the autumn kitchen
Autumn is a season when the kitchen becomes the heart of the home. It’s worth focusing on simple, aromatic dishes: pumpkin cream soup with ginger, apple pie with cinnamon, pears in wine, or a warming infusion with honey, lemon and cloves.
It’s also a great time to return to homemade preserves – plum jam, preserves, apple juices, and quince syrups not only smell wonderful but also help get through winter.
Blanket and tea in cozy home corners
You don’t have to spend every weekend traveling. Sometimes the best plan is no plan at all – a blanket, tea with orange, and a good book. In autumn, it’s worth reaching for classics: "House by the Lake" by Małgorzata Kalicińska or "Tender Guide" by Natalia de Barbaro if you need something more reflective. And if you prefer screen to paper – "Letters to M.", "Autumn in New York" or "Pride and Prejudice" always have a soothing effect.
Evenings at home are also a perfect moment for TV series marathons: "The Crown", "Outlander" or "Anne with an E" perfectly capture the atmosphere of long autumn evenings.
Ideas for an autumn weekend
Autumn just begs for a short trip – preferably where nature plays the leading role. If you’re looking for a place to relax near Warsaw, Santa Natura Resort & SPA with stay packages or a day spa offer is an excellent choice.
The first one is a Halloween-themed weekend – slightly spooky but above all full of fun and relaxation. Guests can enjoy healthy slow-style breakfasts, buffet dinners, evening bonfires in the garden, and a night horror movie marathon in the hotel cinema. Adults can use the vitality pool, dry sauna, steam bath, and Estonian sauna sessions led by sauna masters, while children can enjoy activities and ghost movies that are more amusing than scary.
Meanwhile, the "Autumn Relax" package is a calmer, warmer take on this season – scented with mulled wine and full of aromas of the seasonal Chef Grzegorz Birek’s cuisine. The daily plan includes: moments in the wellness zone, unhurried breakfasts, evening film screenings, as well as walks or bike trips in the Bolimowski Landscape Park. It’s a proposal for those who want to catch their breath, enjoy silence and rest without hurry.
Both packages share one thing – an atmosphere where autumn shows its most beautiful side.
Gifts of the forest – what to do in autumn?
Autumn is mushroom picking time. A basket, a knife, and a thermos of coffee – a few hours in the forest are enough to return with a head full of oxygen and a basket full of porcini mushrooms. In Bolimowski Landscape Park, around Santa Natura, the forest smells of resin, and the forest floor hides real treasures.
Mushrooms gathered can be prepared as dried goods for winter, pickles or sauces. It’s also worth making supplies from other gifts of nature: plum preserves, apple compote, elderberry juice. Autumn is the best time to seal these flavors in jars – and return to them when it gets really cold outside.
Autumn colors – forest walks and photography
Autumn is a real spectacle of colors – a time when every walk turns into a small expedition into the world of gold, red, and amber. Just a few hours in the forest make you feel the world has slowed down and breathes more calmly again. The rustling leaves underfoot, the smell of damp earth, morning mists – there’s no better way to reset your mind.
It’s worth taking a camera or just a phone. Autumn light is soft and warm, and photos turn out naturally atmospheric, even without filters. Shots of forest paths, droplets of dew on spider webs, or sun rays breaking through tree crowns can capture what words cannot describe.
What to do in autumn – summary
Autumn is a season that teaches mindfulness. Slowing down, simple pleasures, and gratitude for what we have here and now. You can spend it in the forest, camera in hand, in a cinnamon-scented kitchen, or at a hotel spa, where the warmth of the sauna and the sound of rain outside create the best background for relaxation.
Whether you choose a weekend trip to Santa Natura Resort & SPA or a lazy afternoon with tea and a book, one thing is certain – autumn has a magic worth holding onto, even just for a moment.