Winter is fast approaching as the leaves of fall continue to turn colors and fade away with each passing day. Summer is long over and temperatures continue to draw colder, but as the weather changes, fall has a lot to offer for outdoor activities and even if you don’t live in a place with colorful fall foliage, there is plenty to do with friends and family. Don’t forget to bring along the kids for the activities as well.
Here are the top 10 fall activities to enjoy before fall is gone and the snow is falling fast…
- Make a leaf pile and jump in! Re-live your childhood memories and after laboring in the yard raking and blowing those leaves up, go ahead and jump in. It will feel good. Just don’t make too much of a mess that you have to clean the leaves again!
- Have a bonfire. With the cooler temperatures, those flames will sure feel warm when the sun sets and temperatures begin to drop. Fall is the perfect time to build a bonfire and sit together with friends over a nice mug of cocoa or apple cider. Don’t forget the marshmallows for roasting!
- Visit a corn maze. Oh what fun this can be. Test your skills in a local corn maze and see if you can find your way out. You will get some fresh air and have some good fun with the little ones.
- Take a hayride. Whether a scary, haunted hayride or just a leisurely one, this can be a ton of fun. Your local farm stand probably holds these annual events and can be a great way to kick back and enjoy nature while you take a ride. Just watch out for those zombies!
- Go apple picking. This is almost an annual ritual in some parts of the country, especially in the northeast where there are lots of apple orchards. It’s a great time to go out with the kids and pick apples right off tree. Check ahead to see what is being harvested before you go. Make sure to pick extras for canning applesauce, or making pies and don’t forget about those yummy fresh apple cider donuts at the orchard.
- Collect fall leaves. Picking up those colorful leaves after they have fallen and putting them into a collage or scrap book can be a great activity to keep the kids busy for a few hours. Don’t forget the glue, crayons, and wax paper.
- Visit the pumpkin patch. Another annual fall ritual, heading out into the pumpkin patch and finding that perfect gourd for the front stoop is an essential activity. Kids also love wandering around the patch to pick out the perfect pumpkin. Don’t forget a few bigger ones to carve into jack-o-lanterns and you can roast the seeds in your oven with a sprinkling of tasty spices. Grab an extra few to bake a pie.
- Fly a kite. The breezy winds of fall makes it a great time to fly that kite you have sitting in the back of the closet. Get the kids involved and see how high they can get it to go.
- Stuff a scarecrow. With Halloween approaching, you will need to decorate, so dig out an old plaid shirt and some overalls, and stuff it with leaves until firm. You might need to get an extra pumpkin at the patch to use for his head!
- Go on a nature hike. Before it gets too chilly outside, grab the boots and head out on the local trail. Take the kids along and show them the animals collecting food, the birds migrating south, and the different types of trees. Make sure you bring along some snacks and some water for the long trek back.
According to a study by the National Retail Federation, Americans will spend nearly $6.9 billion on Halloween costumes, decorations and candy this year. So before you rush out to the store to stock up, visit your local orchard or farmstand for some great outdoor fall fun.