Kiel James Patrick Shares His Rhody Fall Favorites

Seasonal picks from the entrepreneur who has turned reveling over autumn into an art form

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Favorite Scenic Drive:

My favorite fall drives are usually the ones with no particular destination in mind, but every year I drive from my house to Pomfret [Connecticut] with a quick stop at Brown & Hopkins Country Store in Chepachet. Those old dirt roads light up with the resplendent reds and golden orange hues you long for in a New England autumn.

Favorite Place to Pick Pumpkins:

I really love heading to Barden Family Orchard for the first pumpkin picking of the season. [My son] Harry loves to find the absolute biggest pumpkin we can carry and it ends up riding in the back of our old red truck all autumn long.

Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving: 

I’m lucky to have my entire family really close to us. So, especially in the fall, we get together almost every weekend for a big family Sunday dinner that feels a lot like a traditional Thanksgiving. Since I’m spoiled with that, I’m gonna go with Friendsgiving. We usually get one or two trips up to Vermont each autumn with a group of friends and do a big outdoor dinner where everyone makes a course for everyone to share. 

Favorite Fall Beverage:  

You’re really going to make me choose, huh? It would have to be between a pumpkin spiced latte and a good cup of apple cider. I’m gonna go with apple cider, and for me, you can’t beat Jaswell’s.

Cider Donuts or Apple Pie: 

As much as I love cider donuts, one of my favorite fall traditions is coming home from the orchard after a day of apple picking and digging into one of [my wife] Sarah’s famous apple pies. The whole house smells amazing for days and Harry loves helping (and taste tasting) every step of the way.

Bike or Canoe: 

I bring our canoe with us pretty much everywhere we go. It’s the best way to see the foliage from the water and there’s just something calming about an early morning autumn paddle. Plus the Goldens [Retrievers] get to come on every adventure with us that way.

Best Places for Mums: 

Dame Orchard – their mums never disappoint when you’re looking for a full bloom of fall colors.

Halloween Costumes: Cute or Scary?

Both! Harry was obsessed with Ghostbusters last Halloween and it was ridiculously cute, but I think he really got into the whole scary/spooky element.

When Do You Start Decorating for Fall?

As soon as Sarah lets me! But seriously, Halloween is Harry’s favorite time of year and when we were in the attic just after the Fourth of July, we stumbled upon a bin of decorations. We may or may not have decorated most of his room for Halloween that day.

Are you Team Daylight Savings Time Ends? 

I love the extra hour of sleep, don't get me wrong, but it’s a long winter and I’m not wishing the sun goes down any sooner. I will say though, when it gets darker a little earlier and the fog rolls in, it’s pretty darn spooky around our house and I love that.

Best Place to Go Camping:

The backyard! We pretty much always have a tent set up in the woods behind our house. It’s a great excuse to go roast some marshmallows and sleep under the stars on a random Wednesday night.

Favorite Piece of Cozy Clothing:

I love my sweaters but throwing on the first flannel of the year is the quintessential “fall has arrived” moment for me.

See for yourself just how much Kiel, wife Sarah, son Harry, and dogs Bennie and Maple enjoy fall on Instagram: @kjp; @sarahkjp; and @bennieandmaple 

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