🍂 Cozy, Creepy,& Completely Home: How to Soak Up Fall in Utah

You can feel it the second you step outside — that crisp Utah air that smells like leaves, wood smoke, and maybe a little bit of Halloween magic. October isn’t just a month here — it’s a mood. The light changes, the canyons glow, and suddenly everyone’s craving soup, sweaters, and something spooky on Netflix.

But the best part? You don’t have to go far to experience fall. Some of the most magical moments happen right here — in your kitchen, your car, and your favorite local hideouts.

🕯️ Set the Mood at Home

Fall is the perfect excuse to slow down and make your home feel like a retreat.

Try this: simmer a pot of water on the stove with cinnamon sticks, orange peels, and cloves — it fills the house with instant cozy vibes (and makes you look like you have your life together).

Add a soft blanket, a candle with words like amber or cedarwood, and you’ve officially entered “main character in a Hallmark movie” territory.

🍲 Soup So Good It’s Scary

Nothing says fall like a simmering pot on the stove.Here’s our go-to cozy favorite for chilly nights — and yes, it’s as good reheated as it is fresh. This vegan butternut squash soup is the ultimate fall comfort food! Store it in the fridge for up to 4 days, or freeze it for up to a few months.

Creamy Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• 1 large yellow onion, chopped

• ½ teaspoon sea salt

• 1 (3-pound) butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed

• 3 garlic cloves, chopped

• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage

• ½ tablespoon minced fresh rosemary

• 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger

• 3 to 4 cups vegetable broth

• Freshly ground black pepper

• Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, salt, and several grinds of fresh pepper and sauté until soft, 5 to 8 minutes. Add the squash and cook until it begins to soften, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes.

  
  

• Add the garlic, sage, rosemary, and ginger. Stir and cook 30 seconds to 1 minute, until fragrant, then add 3 cups of the broth. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook until the squash is tender, 20 to 30 minutes.

  
  

• Let cool slightly and pour the soup into a blender, working in batches if necessary, and blend until smooth. If your soup is too thick, add up to 1 cup more broth and blend. Season to taste and serve with parsley, pepitas, and crusty bread.

  
  

☕ Utah’s Coziest “Haunts”

If you’d rather let someone else do the cooking, here are a few local spots that feel like fall the moment you walk in:

• Silver Fork Lodge — Up Big Cottonwood Canyon. Rustic charm, hearty menu, and mountain air that smells like pine and firewood. (silverforklodge.com)

• Log Haven — Millcreek Canyon classic. Perfect for date nights or cozy dinners under the aspens. (log-haven.com)

• The Foundry Grill at Sundance — Everything about Sundance in the fall is cinematic. The food just makes it better. (sundanceresort.com/dining)

  
  

🚗 Fall Drives with a Little “Ghost Story Energy”

Utah’s fall colors are showstoppers, but the best drives are the quiet ones — the kind that make you roll the windows down and just breathe for a minute.

• Alpine Loop (Hwy 92) — American Fork Canyon through Cascade Springs to Provo Canyon. Fiery maples, golden aspens, and mountain views that don’t quit. (utahvalley.com)

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• Guardsman Pass — Between Big Cottonwood Canyon and Park City. Go at sunset — it’s equal parts breathtaking and a little eerie when the fog rolls in. (Guardsman Pass)

  
  

🏡 Fall at Home

Fall isn’t just a season — it’s a feeling, and home is where you feel it most. Whether it’s soup on the stove, warm light through the windows, or a quick drive up the canyon to see the last of the gold leaves — this is what makes living in Utah special.

📍At FamilyTiesRealtyUtah.com, we help families find that feeling — the one that makes a house feel like home.Explore our listings, grab our free guides, or schedule a fall consult — because the best homes are the ones you can’t wait to come back to.