15 Fall Activities to Keep You Busy

By Kathryn Trudeau

There are just some classic fall activities that are too good to pass up: apple picking, pumpkin patches, and noshing on some apple cider donuts. But once you check these items off of your list, then what?

This is a round-up of fall  activities that will be sure to delight your family!

The Great Outdoors

Apple orchards and hikes are obviously two tried-and-true fall activities, but these are not the only two outdoor activities during the fall. Fall is one of the best times to get outside and enjoy nature. The temperatures are a bit more temperate, which is a nice break after a hot summer. Plus, who can argue with the beauty of changing leaves! It almost doesn't’ matter what you do as long as you get outside and soak up the sun!

• Zip-lining: If your kids are older, this is a great way to explore the fall foliage. Many state parks have special zip-lining loading zones so you can take longer aerial adventures through the woods.
• Go the beach: Yes, you read that correctly! The beach can be a very relaxing place during the fall. Of course, you don’t need to go swimming if it is too cold. It’s actually kind of nice to listen to the waves without the crowd and without the oppressive heat. Grab a blanket, pack a picnic, and bring your little ones to the beach.
• Visit the zoo: The zoo is another of my favorite fall destinations because the air temps are much more enjoyable for long excursions. To make it more fun, visit a zoo you’ve never been to - even if it’s a longer drive.
• Enjoy the leaves from new heights: That’s right, go on a hot air balloon ride!
• Cloud watching with a twist: Instead of gazing at the clouds, try to spot geese flying south. (And if you live in the south, try to spot the geese coming in!)

Perfecting the Art of Hygge

I must admit that hygge (pronounced as hoo-guh) is one of my all-time favorite concepts. It’s a Danish concept that more or less translates to English as coziness while enjoying the love, warmth, and friendship of family and friends - basking in a warm moment. Think: fireplace, hot cocoa, and reading stories out loud to your kids. As it turns out, there are lots of ways to practice the art of hygge during fall:

• Get knitting: If your child is old enough (7+), take a knitting/crocheting class together. Learning this skill now can keep you busy during the chilly fall and winter nights.
• Bake an apple pie a new apple dessert together: After all, you just picked 54 pounds of apples at the orchard, so why not do a little baking with your kids? What will you try? Apple tart? Stuffed apple cinnamon rolls? Start crossing off some of the apple recipes you’ve pinned!
• Backyard bonfire: Grab a few stadium blankets and head outside after dark. Build a good ol’ fashioned bonfire and tell some tall tales. Bundle up baby in a fall-inspired Zipadee-Zip.
• Build a blanket fort and settle in with a pile of books: This works great for kids of all ages! Whether you are reading Curious George out loud or Harry Potter, there are few things more relaxing than an afternoon spent reading.
• Family game night: Turn off the lights, light the candles (or electric votives if you have little ones with busy hands), and a board game at the kitchen table. From “Candy Land” to “Go Fish” to “Blokus”, this is a fun way to spend the evening!

Arts and Crafts

Add a touch of autumn to your art and crafts routine.

• Pumpkin spice rice sensory bin: Tis the season for pumpkin spice, right? Why not bring the pumpkin spice love to art time. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of pumpkin spice and 2 squirts of hand sanitizer (helps to spread the spice) into a few cups of rice. Let the rice dry, and then add pine cones for a fun sensory experience.
• Pumpkin moon sand: Combine the following ingredients until you have the most festive DIY moon sand there is! (2 cups of corn starch, 4 cups of play sand, 1-2 cups of water, 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice, a few drops of orange food coloring)
• Apple stamps: Cut an apple in half horizontally (so you see the star), and use that apple as a stamp with tempera paint.
• Acorn crayon holder: Collect acorns and hot glue them to the outside of a glass mason jar. Store all those broken crayons in the jar!
• Make pinecone bird-feeders: This is a nostalgic craft for me! Roll a pinecone in peanut butter, roll in bird seeds, and hang in your tree with yarn. To be fair, this should also be called a squirrel feeder since they adore these as well.

What about you?

What is your favorite fall activity? Post in the comments below!

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About Kathryn

Kathryn is a self-proclaimed book nerd who has a passion for natural parenting and writing. As a homeschooling mother of two, Kathryn understands the dynamics of a busy family life. She is the founder of the Cor Domum movement, a mission that guides families through life so that they can parent with joy. Read more at  www.katietrudeau.com