Until the last almost three years, we have been blessed to live in areas where we could easily experience the beauty of the Fall season. We love traditional Fall activities and want to share a few of our favorites with you. These activities are great for families of all ages and sizes from one to infinity. We hope you are inspired to get out there and explore!
Visiting a Farm
Visit a fun farm with lots of photo opportunities and kid-friendly activities. Kids love driving tractors, riding cow trains, and being measured to see how tall they have grown. Giant corn pits to play in are another popular activity at many farms. While a bit messy, it is still better than a sand box. Many of the farms you can visit may also have a hay ride that may take you to a field where you can pick a pumpkin. Usually, this is a good opportunity to rest your legs, grown ups!
2. Do a Corn Maze as a Family
We have experienced some fun mazes over the years, some more challenging than others. I recall one where we were "lost" for a couple of hours inside. Kids will love following the clues or answering riddles to find their way. Little ones will just love running through the corn stalks.
3. Pick out pumpkins at a pumpkin patch or roadside stand.
I love stacks and piles of big orange pumpkins. Don't forget to take some good pictures of the kiddos sitting in a big pile of pumpkins. One of our favorite pumpkin stands had a huge pumpkin "mountain" one year. The kids loved it!
4. Carve the Pumpkins
This may seem like a messy and "dangerous" activity for younger kids, but you can make it safe and fun for all. Let the smaller kids help clean out the pumpkin guts. They will love playing with the messy treasure inside. Our carvings over the years usually are picked by our kids. When we lived in Charlotte, we had big Carolina Panthers fans so my husband carved one into a pumpkin. I have carved Mike Wazowski from Monsters, Inc. into a pumpkin.
5. Pumpkin Painting
Painting a pumpkin can be a messy but safer alternative to carving. Our kids have enjoyed painting their smaller pumpkins they usually get at the pumpkin patch.
6. Apple Picking
The North Carolina mountains are an excellent place to go apple picking. The town of Hendersonville south of Asheville becomes the apple picking capital during the Fall. I love to make homemade applesauce and apple pie. I love apple butter, but I have not attempted making that treat yet.
7. Jumpin' in the Leaves
I just love the joy on kids' faces when they are jumping into a big ol' pile of leaves. It kind of makes the work of raking the leaves a little more worthwhile.
8. Go on a Nature Hike and Scavenger Hunt
We loved these nature trails close to our old home in Charlotte, North Carolina. I made the kids a little Fall scavenger hunt with bags to collect their treasures. They also insist on using hiking sticks.
9. Go for a Leisurely Fall Drive
A drive through the countryside or in the mountains to see some gorgeous Fall colors is a must. A lazy Sunday afternoon is the perfect time for this activity.
10. Dress up for Halloween Once we started having more than one kid, dressing them in themed costumes was a must. Their first year, they were a pirate and parrot duo and another year, they were a policeman and his little prisoner. One of my favorite themes was Ghostbusters when my oldest was a ghostbuster and his little brother was the signature ghost. I handmade the ghost costume and the no symbol. After adding more kids, we started dressing as a family. I loved our Harry Potter year with Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Harry, a dementor, and cute little Dobby the Free Elf. Another favorite costume year was Pac-Man (we love the 80s) and I was a pregnant Mrs. Pac-Man with a little ghost in my "mouth." This one was definitely a fandom year when I made everyone dress like Doctor Who characters. My second son really wanted to be a Dalek so I made his costume. I was the Tardis, my third son was the Doctor, the baby was Baby Stormaggedon "Dark Lord of All", and my husband and oldest son were the other evil villains, the Silence and a Cyberman.
What do you enjoy doing in the Fall? What is your favorite season? Do you have any favorite costumes for Halloween? We would love to hear from you.
