The Perfect Fall Day in North Star

Make the most of the season right in your own community, with our guide to a perfect fall day in North Star.

If you live in a Robert Thomas home, you’re never far from a treasure trove of seasonal activities. As fall begins to settle over our beautiful neighborhoods, we’re crafting new series to help you make the most of the season—right in the community where you’ve planted your roots. Our first stop?

The North Star community of Lake Elmo.

Known for its rural charm, rich history, and abundance of green, open space, Lake Elmo truly comes alive in Autumn, as radiant colors paint the treetops above its scenic landscapes. This sense of place is beautifully reflected at North Star, a community that has been thoughtfully planned with respect for the land’s history and agricultural roots, weaving the past into the curves of its modern amenities and family homes. 

If you’re a North Star resident, you won’t have to look far to find hints of fall beauty around every corner. Grab your coziest flannel, breathe in the crisp air, and get ready to embrace the season that makes everything burst with color. 

This cozy, lemon yellow-tinted coffee shop is every bit as charming as the town it calls home—and it happens to be less than a 20-minute walk (or a four-minute drive) from your doorstep in North Star. The cafe’s fall drink menu is packed with seasonal favorites like pumpkin spice, sweet caramel apple, and homemade cookie butter, making it almost impossible to choose just one. Here are two of our favorites for fall:

Less than 2 miles from North Star lies Sunfish Lake Park, a scenic, 248-acre natural area featuring rolling green hills, restored prairies, and serene wetlands. When fall sets in, the park becomes a popular destination for leaf-peeping, with a paved, wheelchair-accessible Tree Trek that leads hikers through 40 different tree varieties—each one alive with color by late September. Sip your pumpkin latte and take it all in as you traverse the wooded landscape, which is widely considered a crown jewel of Minnesota’s park system (and conveniently, is right outside your back door). 

Looking to spruce up your doorstep, home, or wardrobe for fall? Downtown Lake Elmo’s locally owned gift shops and boutiques are overflowing with decorative pumpkins, cozy fall candles, and soft, woven textiles this time of year. We can already envision one of La Vie Est Belle’s sequin velvet pumpkins enlivening a Robert Thomas Homes living room.

Here are a few spots to add to your shopping list: 

Just outside of Lake Elmo, Sunnybrook Apple Orchard offers the quintessential fall afternoon, with over six varieties of apples available to pick fresh from a mile of scenic orchard views. The property also harbors a squash and pumpkin patch, free-range chickens, and a gift and baked goods shop with homemade fall treats.

With a history that traces back as far as 1881, Lake Elmo Inn emanates a historic small-town charm that offers the perfect backdrop for a cozy, candlelit dinner to end your fall day in Lake Elmo. The award-winning restaurant is celebrated for its eclectic decor, rotating seasonal menus, and, above all, its famous dessert tray served on wheels at the end of each meal. 

The best part? You can easily walk home after dessert.

Nestled in nearby Woodbury, Alamo Drafthouse is a dine-in movie joint that features a bar and fill scratch kitchen, along with nine auditoriums playing a mix of current, indie, and classic films. Cap off your fall night with a hot apple cider or craft beer, and catch one of the seasonal films showing this month, including “Practical Magic 2,” “Beetlejuice,” and “Halloween.”

There’s no place like North Star after a long day of fall festivities. Cozy up and enjoy the beauty of your serene neighborhood as the city goes to sleep. Don’t forget to look up at the stars on your back porch—they’re a sight to behold in North Star. 

If this itinerary sounds like it was plucked straight from your dream day, consider making North Star your future home. Connect with our New Home Specialist Kayla Ekholm to see what space might be a right fit for you and your lifestyle. As the season brings a fresh sense of possibility, it might be the perfect time to fall into something new.

If you tried out our perfect fall day in North Star—or even checked a few stops off the list—tag us on social media and share your adventure. We’d love to see how you’re savoring the season, discovering new favorites, and making the most of the community you’re proud to call home.