In this part of Southeastern Pennsylvania, we are surrounded by beautiful nature spots, unique farm markets, and tasty restaurants. And when it comes to keeping the romantic spark alive in our relationships, having new experiences is very important! Autumn is the perfect time to plan new adventures or to honor annual traditions. In this post, I’m sharing six date ideas that my husband and I loved so far this fall season.

*photo taken near the Pagoda in Reading, PA*

A MORNING DATE ITINERARY

Bagels at Sweet Brew Cafe & exploring Valley Forge National Historical Park

Sweet Brew is one of our favorite breakfast spots in Phoenixville. They bring delicious NY bagels to our region. We love the quiet summer mornings when Bridge Street is open to pedestrians only, and we can sit in the street and eat.

For a cozy autumn day date, start at Sweet Brew with pumpkin spice bagels and pair with house-made sweet cream cheese. They also have pumpkin spice cream cheese — but I felt that might be tooooo much pumpkin. Suit yourself!

Follow breakfast with a relaxing stroll through the beautiful, rolling hills of Valley Forge National Historical Park. This is such a local gem, and it’s free! There’s so much to explore at this park, with 3,500 acres of meadows, woodlands, and monuments. This time of year is particularly special, with fields of goldenrod and other native varieties on display.

*Valley Forge National Historical Park, photo by Christina of @nauticalexpressions_portraits*

A MIDDAY DATE ITINERARY

Frecon Farms for your fall appetite

Nestled near the historic downtown of Boyertown, Frecon Farms is an institution in Berks County. Its orchard has been in operation since 1944. Their store is part farm-stand, part gourmet shop and cafe.

A fall visit to Frecon’s has become an annual outing for us! We love the fresh-baked apple cider donuts, and my husband loves trying the variety of different hard ciders they have on tap.

This year, they are selling their signature apple cider donuts stuffed with a delectable sweet cream. Yumm. I also enjoyed their apple cider slushy. We went home with a variety of gourds, a quart of apple cider, and a house-made chicken pot pie for an easy dinner option for later that night.

Frecon’s also has u-pick apples & pumpkins, live music, hayrides, play & picnic areas, gourmet concessions, applewood fired pizzas, cut your own flowers & more.

All the fall fixins’ at Renninger’s Farm, plus a stroll by the Schuylkill

This was a new outing for us this year, and I was absolutely delighted by the array of funky pumpkins at Renninger’s! Many more varieties, colors, and textures than I’ve seen elsewhere.

Renninger’s is another long-running farm, with its origins as a dairy farm dating back to 1932. In addition to their fall produce offerings, they have a field of flowers were you can pick your own bouquets. We picked up more apple cider donuts (can you really have too many?!) and loved picking out a few pumpkins together for our stoop. We also enjoyed visiting with their goats.

After stocking up on more fall supplies, drop by the Upper Schuylkill Valley Park for a refreshing stroll. This park is unique in that it features a Wildlife Center. But we were most interested in a walk by the river. There’s plenty to explore, with river-front picnic tables, trails that spread in either direction, and panoramic views of the river.

AN EVENING DATE ITINERARY

Waterfront dining at Lock 29 & exploring the canal

I love walking by water. I love eating by water. I just love being by water! That’s why sharing a meal at Lock 29 is so delightful. We love sitting on the deck that overlooks the canal, and the weather has been perfect lately for dining alfresco. My husband claims that the nachos at Lock 29 are the best he’s ever had. I would recommend the sweet potato steak fries — which come with two dipping sauces: a spicy aoili and a sweet vanilla bourbon. As a bonus, all sauces are made in-house. (They have a bunch of unique salad dressings, too.)

After a tasty meal, wander down the canal and peep all the beautiful fall foliage. Or you could be like the couple we witnessed, and shimmy into your kayak after dinner (dreams!).

Golden Hour at Otts’ Mum Mountain

From the top of “mum mountain” this local haunt looks like it’s right out of a storybook. Apparently, Otts Exotic Plants and their 40-foot-tall ‘mountain’ has been attracting visitors far and wide since the ‘60s.

Golden hour on mum mountain is both gorgeous, and a less busy time to visit this little gem on weeknights. There are vibrant yellows, punches of orange, and deep burgundy mums carpeting the hills and they are particularly stunning in the golden evening light. Underneath the mountain, there’s a little winding tunnel to explore.

And if you’re still jonesing for more, there’s also a conservatory with colossal tropicals and a waterfall (but to be honest, I think it would classify as the perfect date spot for those blustery winter days!).

Enjoy a farm-to-table fall meal at Bella Trattoria

I’ve had Bella Trattoria bookmarked to try now for a while — and visiting for their fall menu was a delight. Located in a farmhouse with white-washed walls and a rustic chic aesthetic, Bella is an upscale modern Italian eatery that partners with local farmers to create its seasonal menu.

We tried their fried Brussels sprouts (served with a horseradish aioli and balsamic) as a starter and shared the sweet potato gnocchi (served with bacon, leek, Brussels sprouts, nage and goat feta) and the soppresatta pizza (served with fior di pizza, ricotta, pickled onion, sauce, honey, and red pepper flake). The flavors were fresh and inventive. We finished with a buttermilk cake, served with cinnamon apples and cream cheese frosting (swoon).

With its cozy ambiance and unique menu, Bella Trattoria is the perfect autumn date night spot. As a bonus, the surrounding area makes the drive to the restaurant a beautiful treat at dusk.

Tips for prioritizing dates

Many couples have the intention of going on regular dates, but … life just gets so busy and Netflix is so cozy, that dates tend to fall by the wayside. So here are a couple tips for curating your own list of places to try:

MAKE A COLLABORATIVE LIST ON GOOGLE MAPS

Whenever I pass by a place that looks interesting, I add it to a designated list on Google Maps. You can make these lists collaborative, so your partner can view and add to it as well. This helps me to recall new places when we are planning adventures.

TAKE TURNS PLANNING DATES

This is so important! There’s often one person in a partnership that loves planning more than the other. But getting locked into certain roles can be cumbersome. It’s refreshing when both people can plan dates because 1) planning can be exhausting (especially if it means arranging for childcare), 2) it gives both partners the opportunity to take the lead, and 3) it allows for both partners to incorporate their interests and personalities into dates.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jaclyn Zeal is a licensed marriage and family therapist, specializing in helping women and couples develop more embodied, trusting relationships with themselves and each other. Jaclyn has a solo private practice and operates out of a wellness center in Royersford, PA. Learn more about Jaclyn, and her services and fees.

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Local date ideas for those picturesque autumn days