By Tobey Grumet Segal
Courtesy of Match.com's Happen magazineMake the most of the season with these romantic activities-for-two -- from stargazing to pot-pie baking to tailgating:
Learn how to cook comfort food
Cooler temperatures tend to bring out your inner homebody, making fall a prime time to learn how to cook the best comfort foods. What's better than a piping hot chicken potpie or homemade macaroni and cheese to fill you up and keep you warm in the post-summer chill? Plus working side-by-side with your sweetie is a fun, domestic way to bond. Check
www.cookforfun.shawguides.com to find a class near you.
Go Mars-gazing
Some hot spiced cider and a secluded spot make for a romantic evening of stargazing. With the changing of the season comes the changing of the night sky, and autumn is perfect for viewing the planet Mars, with or without a telescope. This year, your best viewing time is October 30th, when the planet named after the Roman God of War will be closest to the earth. It will look bright red, and be located low on the southern horizon. Check
www.space.com for more details. Bonus: Chilly nights and hunkering together to peer through a shared pair of binoculars can lead to canoodling.
Celebrate Oktoberfest
The beer-centric festivities traditionally begin in the first week of September and last until the last week of October. The largest celebration is in Munich, of course, but plenty of opportunities reside stateside to listen to an oompah band, dance the polka, nosh on pretzels and try some of the finest specialty beer the German people have to offer. Hoist a pint, get a little woozy, split a bratwurst, and you've got one fun fall date. Go to
www.aviso.net for information on events nearest you.
Go pumpkin-picking
Travel back to your Charlie Brown childhoods and pick your own pumpkin together from the patch. Place bets to see who can find the biggest -- or weirdest-shaped -- hunk of squash, then lug it home together to carve. Log on to
www.pumpkinpatchesandmore for nationwide pumpkin-patch listings.
Scare yourselves silly
You may be too old to trick-or-treat, but you’re definitely not too old for another Halloween tradition: Scary movies. Rent one of the classics—Psycho, A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Shining—or head to
www.fearfulfilms.com for more suggestions. Then cuddle up with a bowl of popcorn, some Goobers and Raisinets, and get ready to grab each other for support!
Fly kites
Those swift and steady fall winds are perfect for kite flying, so go buy two colorful kites and hit a beach or open field. Staring up at the clouds, listening to the breeze, and enjoying some quiet time together can be the ultimate bonding experience.
Throw a tailgate party for two
Whether you're already a fan or just looking for an offbeat date idea, football season can definitely deliver -- anything from a pro game to your local high-school homecoming festivities will get your adrenaline going. Pack a picnic (chili, chips, steaming hot chocolate, and whatever else you two are craving) and a heavy blanket; then head to the stadium on the early side for an intimate tailgate party for your own. Need some recipes? Check out
www.chiff.com.
Tobey Grumet Segal is a New York-based freelance writer whose work has appeared in Self, New York, The New York Observer, Modern Bride and Maxim. Fall is her favorite season and every year, she and her husband love to pick their own pumpkins. 
