It arrived at 4:44pm on Sunday, September 22, 2013 – Fall. The surest sign that you will now see the sun rising later and setting earlier – the Autumnal Equinox.

High school, college and professional football has begun, colors changing in the leaves and grasses and pumpkin spice everything everywhere, Fall brings a new crispness in the air makes you grab an extra layer as you head out the door each morning and evening.

The word equinox comes from the Latin words for "equal night." The fall and spring equinoxes are the only days of the year in which the Sun crosses the celestial equator. During Equinoxes the tilt of the Earth (with respect to the Sun) is 0° and because of it duration of the day and the night are almost equal on Equinox day. Bloomington had 12 hours of both, the last time until the Spring Equinox we will see this.

Want to learn something else – do you know how leaves change color? Now that the days are getting shorter of daylight hours and temperatures are dropping, trees are producing less chlorophyll and the production eventually stops all together. When production does stop, the green leaves changes to vibrant hues of yellow and orange. The leaves fall off the trees because the veins that carry sap to the leaves gradually close, making the leaves fall to the ground. The oak tree is the only exception of the trees, their leaves remain on the trees throughout the winter, as the separation layer never full detaches.

Bloomington has it all this Fall. The local Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Bloomington should be your first stop to take in and see the definite change in season. With over 14,000 acres of protected land, you will see the brilliant shades of fiery red, blazing orange, vivid yellow and stunning coral first-hand from the observation deck outside of the eco-friendly Visitor Center. The well-groomed Fall trails submerge you in color, while the resident coyotes, bald eagles, warblers and trout intermix during your visit.

Want to take in an event that showcases the history of Bloomington? Be sure to stop in to River Rendezvous – a festival to celebrate and experience the living history of Bloomington at the Pond-Dakota Mission Park. People living in Minnesota between 1830 and 1870 will come alive through storytelling and hands-on demonstrations. This event takes place in September.

Hyland Lake Park Reserve in Bloomington is also a wonderful place to visit to see the color change, which is home to the Richardson Nature Center, Hyland Disc Golf Course and the Hyland Play Area - all worthy of a visit to round out the day. Hike the trails and see how many colors you can find.

Fort Snelling State Park is close to Bloomington and a wonderful place to visit. You can enjoy a crisp walk under a cottonwood canopy on Pike Island or along the Minnesota River to look for ash trees to turn yellow first. Be on the lookout for deer and migrating waterfowl and songbirds during the fall.

Lastly, Minnehaha Park & Falls overlooks the lovely Mississippi River and is one of Minneapolis’ oldest and most popular parks. The 193-acre park features a 53-foot waterfall, limestone bluffs and river overlooks. The park contains oak, elm, silver maple, basswood, hackberry and cottonwood trees, as well as native and prairie woodland wild flowers, all which take on a lovely hue in the Fall. A must see at this time in the year, you can also grab a bite to eat at Sea Salt Eatery, until the end of October, and don’t forget to bring your favorite four-legged friend, to take in the sights, sounds and smells!

The other vision of Fall that this time of year brings to mind is Apples, fresh off the trees. The Sweet Riverbelle apple was introduced this year. This exclusive, Minnesota grown apple, from the town of La Cresent, joins the Zestar, SweeTango and Honeycrisp as favorites from the orchard. Most new apple varieties are created at the University of Minnesota and are cold hardy, high-quality varieties to handle the extremes in Minnesota weather this time of year.

If your plan takes you North, keep in mind that the fall colors peak mid-September to early October and can take a dramatic change quickly if there is frost, rain or wind. With so many state parks to visit, make sure to take a look at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website for complete details.

Multiple apple orchards are located within close proximity to Bloomington. Minnesota Harvest Orchard in Jordan, Aadmodt’s Apple Farm in Stillwater, Afton Apple Orchards in Afton and the famous Emma Krumbee’s in Belle Plaine all feature pick-your-own apples or pre-packed bags in their retail locations, along with many family-friendly events to take part in every weekend. Pumpkin patches are also available at most orchards to find your Great Pumpkin to take home.