Make time for outdoor family traditions this fall. Choose from nature walks, apple picking, leaf crafts, geocaching and pumpkin patch visits, and check each destination before heading out.
1. Go natural
A nature center is a great way to spend a cool fall day or evening. Many have walking or hiking trails nearby, so along with learning and making memories, you can also exercise. Some have night hikes and other fun programs for the kids where they can see animals like owls, snakes and bats up close. To find a nature center in your state, check out bit.ly/2Dya5Ce.
2. Animal instinct
Fall is the perfect time to head to the zoo (nationalzoo.si.edu; marylandzoo.org) because the animals are more likely to be outside due to the break from the heat. Pack your lunch and a camera and make it a day!
3. Go to a market
Many cities have outdoor markets with fresh fruit, veggies, flowers and other fun items (pumpkins and gourds!) which local farmers bring in to sell. A farmer’s market is a cool way to spend a Saturday morning before heading out to another fall activity. A great source for finding local farmer’s markets is localharvest.org/farmers-markets/.
4. An apple a day
Head to a local apple orchard for some picking and then make simple cobbler, pie, applesauce, cinnamon apples and more. PickYourOwn.org has state-by-state listings for just about every U-Pick orchard fruit you can think of! Then fire up your computer and go to allrecipes.com to find unique and traditional recipes for any fruit dish you can think of.
5. Go milk a cow
My kids still talk about the time we went to a local dairy farm for a fall field trip. They got to see how cows are milked by machines, how they are cleaned, how milk is processed and – the best part – they got to sample different flavors of milk. Google “dairy farms” near your home, then find out from there if they are currently giving tours or when they might be doing so again.
6. Go find it … the old-fashioned way
Have some of your kid’s friends over for an outside-only, socially distanced scavenger hunt. Assign them to teams and give them a list of things you want them to go find. The team that comes back with all the items on the list first is the winner.
7. Go find it … using technology
According to the website Geocaching.com, “geocaching is a real-world outdoor treasure hunting game. Players try to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, using GPS-enabled devices, and then share their experiences online.” On this site, parents and kids can search for caches in their area and then go hunt them down. When you find the cache, you sign a logbook and sometimes there’s a small prize for you to take (but you must also leave something behind!). Don’t forget the hand sanitizer!
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8. Leaf it to the kids
Rake up the leaves and jump in them. Take lots of pictures and video! When you’re done, hunt down some favorite leaves in different colors and make a leaf collage. Glue leaves to a piece of construction paper and paint designs on them.
9. Light up the night
Get a bunch of families together from school, church or the neighborhood for a game of socially distanced flashlight tag in a park. Check out wikihow.com/Play-Flashlight-Tag for the rules.
10. Patch things up
Meet up with some friends at a pumpkin patch to hunt for pumpkins and funky gourds in colors like salmon and white. Visit PumpkinPatchesAndMore.org to find a patch near you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some easy fall traditions to start with kids?
Try a nature walk, an annual pumpkin patch visit or apple picking followed by baking together. Choose activities your family enjoys and can look forward to each year.
What fall activities can families do at home?
Jump in piles of leaves, make leaf collages or organize a backyard scavenger hunt. You can also turn apples from a local market into cobbler or applesauce.
How can we find fall activities near us?
Check local nature centers, farmers markets, orchards and pumpkin patches. Before heading out, confirm hours, reservations and available activities directly with your destination.
What should we bring on a fall family outing?
Pack layers, comfortable shoes, water and snacks. For outdoor adventures, bring a charged phone, and check the weather so everyone is prepared.
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Pick Your Own Apples, Pumpkins and More!
Kerrie McLoughlin is the seasoned mom of 5. Check out the fun at TheKerrieShow.com.
