It’s October…true autumn at last. I have friends all over the country, and some of them are telling me “it’s so cold here!” while some are saying, “is it ever going to cool down?” Obviously the answer to that is, yes, of course. It will cool down, and for the most part, families will be driven back indoors by the chill in the air.

That’s too bad, because few things the earth offers us are so pleasant as cool autumn evenings. It would be lovely if we could spend every weekend in front of a campfire, snuggling together for warmth and eating marshmallows. I wish it worked that way. But even if it doesn’t, there are ways for a family to enjoy a cool fall night together.

One of the easiest and least expensive is simply to buy an outdoor heater. These are like space heaters, but the heat is more focused and less diffused. The ones I like, made by Outdora, are designed to warm up people and objects, like that patio chair you’re curled up in, and not just to warm the air in front of you—because let’s face it, on these lovely fall nights, that warm air will blow right way in the breeze, leaving your kids shivering.

It’s so great to be able to sit outside during my favorite time of year. I love the wind, the smell of burning leaves, and the feel of wearing several layers of clothes—but I hate being cold. And I cannot stand for my kids to be cold—I’m one of those moms that makes everyone put on a sweater when I get cold. It’s possible that my aversion to cold makes us miss a lot when it comes to beautiful fall days and evenings.

This is why I want one of these outdoor heaters. Outdora makes the kind that sits on the floor and warms from below, but it also has some really cool ones that look like standing lamps or table top lamps. You don’t even really know they’re heaters unless someone tells you, so they add to the beauty of the décor.

I’m sure I don’t have to say this, but I’d better, anyway…obviously you don’t want to leave small kids unattended with an outdoor heater or anything else that’s hot. If you have toddlers, you’re probably best off with one of the table top models. But whatever kind you get, think of all the good times you’re opening up for your family, just by making it warm enough to go outside together.

Few memories are as wonderful, or lingering, as camping as a child. Roasting hot dogs and marshmallows on a campfire as a child are memories which most of us still carry as our nearest and dearest. Outdoor fire pits can recapture these memories from your youth and serve to create new memories for your family.

Nothing says comfort and togetherness quite like a warm fire, which easily explains the popularity of outdoor fire pits, and that isn’t even mentioning that an outdoor fire pit is a safe and inviting way to utilize an area on your patio or pool area as a warm and inviting place. The renewed closeness of your family and the atmosphere that an outdoor fire pit can create are simply impossible to beat.

When most people think of outdoor fire pits, they think of a hole in the ground. With all the advancements of today, that form is simply gone. Today’s versions of the fire pits are both inviting and warm and inviting. The safety is vastly more modern than it used to be, there is much less to worry about with the newest innovations than the ‘hole in the ground’ version of yesterday.

A popular option is the Chiminea, which are closed off and yet still are so comfortable and inviting. While they are an incredibly popular option, it’s really no wonder! You may have seen them around in various restaurant and some shops, it’s truly no small surprise when you stop and consider the warm and inviting atmosphere they create.

The Chiminea’s popularity also comes with the reassurance that the smoke will be blown up and away from any guests or children. So, it is a fantastic choice for a family friendly fire pit option.

While life is so much busier than it was in the past, and it isn’t really so unheard of for both parents to be out of the home, there is still time (however limited) to create those fabulous family memories that your children will still carry for years to come.