Festive Fall Bucket List For Families
With the weather cooling down, the air getting crisper and the nights appearing longer, there’s no doubt that the Fall and Autumn months are amongst most people’s favorite.
Fall is a magical time of year because everything noticeably changes. From the leaves changing colors, to the smell of pumpkin spice and apple pie, it seems everyone, everywhere you go are welcoming in the season.
Menus at our favorite restaurants start to change by offering specialty dishes related to the season and crops. You can find all sorts of pumpkin spice, apple and cinnamon treats all over the place.
Apple orchards start to open for business and allow visitors to pick their own fruits.
Pumpkin patches start to pop up on every corner and so much more! Here’s a list of fun fall activities the entire family will enjoy.
Visit A Pumpkin Patch
Pumpkin patches pop up all over the city around Fall and are a fun way to celebrate the beginning of the season.
Click here to find pumpkin patches near you.
Carve A Pumpkin
Fall and Autumn are notorious for Halloween celebrations, so this is the perfect time to get started carving pumpkins. Decorate the house with them for a head start on Halloween.
Make A Pumpkin Flavored Meal Or Treat
We all know how much fun it is to carve a pumpkin, but what can we do with the insides? There are plenty of pumpkin-flavored recipes like waffles, soups and breads that can be prepared with a few simple ingredients you may already have on hand.
Make A Pumpkin Latte
Pumpkin spice and everything nice! There’s a reason why pumpkin lattes are so special and one of the most sought after drinks during the fall. Try making your own pumpkin spice latte, or tea to see what all the rave is about.
RELATED POST: Pumpkin Breakfast Recipes
Go Apple Picking
Trade a weekend on the couch for some outdoor fun by going apple picking. Kids will enjoy the outdoors and as parents, our bodies could use the exercise.
Apple picking also encourages fresher and healthier options for snacking, dinner and desserts.
Make Or Enjoy Some Apple Cider
Think of apple cider as an unfiltered apple juice. With that in mind, not only is apple cider fun to make – but it’s also actually a lot healthier than most store-bought apple juices on the market.
While you’re out apple-picking, see if the farmer has some homemade cider already prepared for you.
Make Candy Apples
You can also take those delicious apples you picked and dip them in chocolate or caramel to create your own delicious, candied apples at home.
Make a party out of it and create a spread of chocolate syrup, your favorite nuts and even sprinkles!
Bake A Pie
Now that you have pumpkins and apples, you can toss them with some cinnamon and butter, blend the filling and pour over your favorite pie crust to create a savory, fall pie!
Go On A Hayride
Trade the car for a few hours and hop on the back of a hay filled wagon.
You can find hayrides at nearby fall festivals, pumpkin patches and farms. Depending on the location and event, hayrides are filled with scenic views and can usually hold large families, so that you all can enjoy the ride together.
Rake The Leaves
Raking leaves offer many benefits to your yard, but it’s also a fun taks for the kids to take on! Grab some rakes and make a game out of it.
Have the kids see who can rake up as many leaves in a given time period and offer a small prize at the end.
Jump In A Pile Of Leaves
Let the house have a break from the normal wear and tear of having kids by letting the kids outside to jump in pile of leaves.
Visit A Corn Maze
You can’t help but to bond more with your spouse and your kids as you all work together to find your way out of a corn maze. It’s a great activity for bonding and solving problems together as a unit.
Make Some Hot Cocoa
Hot cocoa is a special treat and as a kid, I always looked forward to the Fall months just for these moments! Believe it or not, cocoa powder is a good source of fiber and iron.
Cocoa is not to get confused with chocolate syrup that’s filled with preservatives and sugar. So be sure to grab some organic cocoa powder when shopping for your hot cocoa drinks.
Check out this list of warm fall drinks to add to your bucket list as well.
RELATED POST: Cute And Festive Fall Mugs
Go On A Nature Hike
Let’s face it, the leaves steal the show during the Fall months. Going on a hike is a great way to explore nature and discover the colorful leaves.
The brisk weather is also helpful and less crowds are around hiking trails when summer ends.
Roast Marshmallows And Make S’Mores
Marshmallows are good, but even better roasted! Try having a bonfire in the backyard and invite the whole family out after dinner one weekend.
Camp In The Backyard
While you’re roasting marshmallows and enjoying some delicious s’mores, have the family spend the entire night out back.
Camping in the backyard creates a good opportunity for bonding. Kids will also enjoy viewing the night sky and it’s a great way to introduce your kids to sleeping in a tent.
If you have a larger family, outdoor camping in your backyard could also serve as a way to host everyone who otherwise wouldn’t fit.
If you enjoy camping, camping in the backyard with your family could also serve as practice for a later camping trip away from the home.
Create Some Fall Crafts
Get crafty this fall and take some of the colorful leaves you find outside and include them in a craft project.
Crafts offer so many benefits to kids and can create an opportunity for your kids to enjoy something other than the tv and electronics.
RELATED POST: Thanksgiving Crafts For Kids
Host A Family Movie Night
Movies can be a great way to start difficult conversation with your kids and your family. Having a family movie night is a great way to foster those conversations and create stronger family bonds and memories.
Check out this post on how to host an epic family movie night!
Have A Fall Picnic
If camping isn’t necessarily your thing, but you love outdoor entertaining, host a fall picnic in your backyard instead.
Bake Halloween Cookies
Baking can also be a great way to bond with the family. Here’s a list of Halloween cookies for the occasion!
Make Your Own DIY Halloween Costumes
Enjoy getting crafty? Have fun and use your imagination as you craft your own DIY Halloween costume.
Get Started Decorating For Halloween
Take a weekend to shop for Halloween decorations and place them throughout the house. This can create a tradition for the entire family as you get ready for the upcoming holidays!
It can also be a weekend to remember as your family grows older. Mark the special weekend for years to come!
RELATED POST: Budget At Home Halloween Party Ideas
Visit A Haunted House
Personally, I am not a fan of horror movies or tv shows, but because of Hotel Transylvania, my kids have been fans of monsters and anything seemingly creepy since they were toddlers.
Because they were so enthused with the film, we decided to dress up and visit our local zoo at the time for Halloween.
The zoo has an annual Halloween festival and of course there was a kid-friendly haunted house. I was skeptical at first, but it was definitely quite the thrill and it was a time to remember.
If you’re not a huge fan of haunted houses that are known to have people on their edge of their seats (or toes, or sanity), try a kid-friendly one. I highly recommend it at least once every few years!
Find Cheap Fall Home Decor At Second Hand Shops
Decorating for fall is super fun and doesn’t have to break the bank. You can find fall home decor for just about any budget. Check out this list of must have fall decor while you’re at it.
Secondhand shops are great way to save and they’re super fun. You can even make a game out of it to see what your kids can find to decorate with.
RELATED POST: DIY Christmas Wreaths
Write A List Of Gratitude
This is the perfect time prepare for the upcoming holidays. With Thanksgiving right around the corner, have your family site together and list out what their most thankful for.
Once they’re done, hang the notes around the house, or fridge. That way, everyone can always have a reminder of what they’re truly grateful for.
RELATED POST: 25 Quotes About Having Gratitude
In conclusion, fall is a great time to start new traditions and embark on any opportunity to bond with the family. Time is fleeting. Try something new this year, you’ll never know what you’ll actually enjoy experiencing. The smiles on your kids faces from breaking away from the usual – priceless.
Save this post and tell me what you think your family will enjoy most on this list. Happy Fall!
