What October Looks Like in Florida: Beach Days, a Fall Bucket List & Pumpkin Spice at the Pool

I'm a Midwest girl at heart, and fall has always been my season: the treats, the traditions, all of it. So moving to Florida didn't mean giving any of that up…

For most of my life, October meant one thing: winter is coming. In Minnesota, it was the month of pulling out the sweaters, scraping the first frost off the windshield, and quietly bracing myself for five (okay, six) months of cold, gray, gloomy days.

This year? I spent October in flip-flops.

This is our very first fall as Florida girls (well, Florida girl + Matt + a whole crew of pets), and I have to tell you, it's been a completely different kind of autumn. There are no crunchy leaves or apple orchards, but there is sunshine, warm Gulf water, and a pumpkin spice latte by the pool. I'm not mad about it. Here's what October really looks like down here.

October in Florida at a glance

If you're wondering what fall feels like along the Gulf Coast, here's the quick version:

• Warm days, cooler nights. Highs hover around 80°, and evenings drop into the 60s. Hello, light-cardigan weather!

• The Gulf is still swimmable. The water stays in the mid-to-upper 70s for most of the month.

• It's one of the sunniest months of the year. Around 20 sunny days on average, and so much less rain than summer.

• The humidity finally backs off. You can actually style your hair and have it stay that way.

• The summer crowds are gone. The beaches feel like they belong to the locals again.

  
  

Hurricane season does officially run through November 30, so it's not all sunshine. Read about my first hurricane experience here.

Gulf sunsets in October hit different.

Pumpkin spice at the pool (yes, really)

I'm a Midwest girl at heart, and fall has always been my season: the treats, the traditions, all of it. So moving to Florida didn't mean giving any of that up. It just looks a little different now. I still love my pumpkin spice latte hot, I'm just sipping it by the pool instead of bundled up in flannel. And I'm on the hunt for the Florida version of all my favorite fall activities and treats (more on that in my bucket list below!).

A few ways I'm bringing fall into a Florida home:

• Pumpkins and mums on the porch (they love the sunshine as much as I do)

• Fall scents inside, open windows outside

• Seasonal drinks, hot or iced: pumpkin spice, chai, or cinnamon anything.

• Warm, earthy decor in caramel, terracotta and sage instead of heavy plaids

• Dinner outside on the patio now that evenings are comfortable

🎃 Pumpkin Spice Protein Balls

A delicious little fall treat with added protein!

Ingredients:

1 cup rolled oats

½ cup almond butter

¼ cup pumpkin purée

1 scoop Bravenly Fit Fuel protein (vanilla works great!)

1–2 tbsp maple syrup

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

½ tsp cinnamon

Optional: Mini dark chocolate chips

Directions: Mix everything together, refrigerate for 20 minutes, then roll into bite-sized balls. If the mixture is too sticky, add a little more oats. Store in the refrigerator.

I share Bravenly products I personally use and may earn a commission.

My Florida fall bucket list

Since we're new to Pensacola, I made myself a fall bucket list to help us explore and get to know our new home. Here's what's on it (and what's still coming up this week if you're local):

☐ Swim in the Gulf in October — just because I can

☐ Pensacola Interstate Fair — the classic fall fair, running through November 1

☐ Halloween on Pensacola Beach — the boardwalk usually hosts costumes, candy and games; check the Pensacola Beach events calendar for times

✔️ A haunted history tour of downtown Pensacola — one of the oldest cities in the country has some stories to tell

Ghost hunting in one of America's oldest cities. 👻

☐ Sunset cruise on the Gulf

☐ Foo Foo Festival — Pensacola's 12-day arts and culture celebration kicks off October 29

✔️ Watch the Blue Angels practice at NAS Pensacola

The Blue Angels are Home

✔️ Find a pumpkin patch — palm trees by in the background are a must.

Pumpkin patch in flip-flops. Only in Florida! 🎃

✔️ Dinner outside, every chance we get.

Matt + a Gulf shrimp boil under the oaks = my kind of fall dinner.

What I don't miss (& what I kind of do)

I don't miss the gray skies, the early dark, or that heavy feeling of knowing winter is about to settle in for a very long stay.

What I kind of miss? NOTHING! Moving has been the best decision for us. If you're in your 40s (or beyond!) and you've been dreaming about a fresh start somewhere new, this is your sign that it's never too late. You can pack up, start over, and find a whole new way to love a season you thought you knew.

Your turn

Are you team cozy-sweater fall or team beach-day fall? And if you live in Florida, tell me your favorite October tradition so I can add it to my list for next year!

Our first Florida fall, and we're loving every minute. 💛

XO - Kari Lynn