Try some of these fall and fun family activities
Published: August 31, 2021
By: Kimberly Blaker
Summer may be seen as the outdoor season, but autumn also offers lots of opportunities for outdoor fun. Try some of these family activities, and fill your and your kids’ senses with delight.
Enjoy a color tour. National parks and forests are the places to be in the fall. Contact your nearest National Park, and find out when fall colors will be at their peak and recommended routes for picturesque views.
Host a campfire cookout. If outdoor fires are permitted in your area, have the kids round up neighborhood friends for a cookout. Hot dogs, hot chocolate, marshmallows, and s’mores are a traditional way to top off the season. Have everyone take turns telling stories around the fire. If you have little ones, check out library books with autumn themes to read to the youngsters.
Attend a football game. Gather your blankets and head to the stadium. High school, college, and pro football games are great fun for kids and parents alike.
Visit an apple orchard. Take your kids apple picking, and top off the day with cider and doughnuts, a hayride, and an end-of-the-year picnic.
Make a scarecrow. What’s fall without a scarecrow on your porch? It is easy to make. Just buy a couple of bales of straw, then have each family member gather some old clothes and hats. Stuff it using string to tie off the hands, feet, and head.
Walk in the woods. As flies and mosquitoes retreat, it’s the perfect time of year for a walk in the woods. Look for animals scurrying about gathering for the long, cold months ahead, and don’t forget your binoculars. Contact state and local parks for wooded trails near you.
Leaf fun. Do you remember diving into the crisp fall leaves when you were a kid? Grab some rakes, and have your youngsters pitch in. Pile up the leaves to jump in, build a fort, and even have a leaf fight.
Find a festival. Apple, pumpkin, fall harvest, and many more festivals are found this time of year featuring food, arts and crafts, kids’ games, pony and wagon rides, and more. Visit your local event’s website online to see what’s coming up.
Visit a pumpkin patch. Begin a family tradition of picking your pumpkins from a patch. After cleaning out the pumpkins, make roasted pumpkin seeds, a yummy treat that kids love. Rinse the seeds, pat them dry, and coat with melted butter. Spread the seeds on a cookie sheet, sprinkle with salt, and bake at 350 until golden brown. Be sure and stir them occasionally.
Bird migration watch. As fall fills the air, many birds begin to head south.
Contact state and national parks or your Department of Natural Resources for recommended birding locations as well as bird festivals.
Shift through a cornfield maze. Kids delight in finding their way through cornfield mazes. To find a maze near you, visit http://www.cornmazesamerica.com/.
Plant perennials and bulbs. Let your kids try out their green thumbs. After all, fall is the time of year to plant perennials and flower bulbs. Let your kids choose some plants from the gardening store, and allow them to help design the garden. A hand-painted rock or two adds color until the spring blossoms bloom.
Take a railroad excursion. With the colors of fall blazing under bright blue skies, a scenic railroad excursion is a sure bet. Check your local travel agency for tours in nearby.
Hold a pumpkin sale. If you have little entrepreneurs, have them set up a pumpkin stand in your front yard. Find an orchard where pumpkins are cheap, then have your kids purchase a small stock to sell for a higher price. Hot cocoa, baked pumpkin seeds, or doughnuts are profitable additions.
Horseback rides. Head to the stables and enjoy the fall colors on horseback. For horse rental listings by state visit http://www.horserentals.com/index.html, or look in the yellow pages under stables.
Make a bird feeder or house. Kids will enjoy the carpentry experience and marvel at watching birds make use of the kids’ creations. Kits are available in hobby stores and online for making bird feeders. To make one from scratch, visit your library and check out a book on how to build a birdhouse, or find free instructions on the Internet.
Parades and marching bands. Find out when your local college or high school will hold its homecoming parade. Be sure to take a blanket and snacks, and enjoy the colorful floats, majorettes, cheerleaders, and marching band. Also, don’t forget the spectacular Thanksgiving Day parades.
Kimberly Blaker is a freelance family writer. She’s also founder and director of KB Creative Digital Services, specializing in SEO content, at kbcreativedigital.com