When the weather turns crisp and leaves begin to change colors, many people feel that the fun of the year is over until Halloween comes around. However, there are numerous activities that can get the whole family revved up for Fall. Inexpensive crafts and activities abound throughout the season that can make the transition from the warm weather of summer more exciting.
Pumpkins
Useful for far more than just carving scary faces, the quintessential autumnal produce has many other uses. Children and adults alike can enjoy making and eating homemade roasted pumpkin seeds, eating delicious pumpkin pie and decorating the house with colored pumpkins.
Pumpkin spice coffee is back in season come autumn, which begins at the end of September, and the smell of pumpkin candles adds a wonderful autumnal scent to any house. For younger kids, pumpkins are evocative of the season, and arts and crafts projects that include pumpkins will be a sure-fire hit.
Some of the best uses for pumpkins include
- Going to a pumpkin patch to find the perfect jack-o-'lanterns
- Making homemade pumpkin pie and roasted pumpkin seeds
- Decorating a front porch, sidewalk or landing with colorful painted pumpkins
Corn Mazes
One of the perennial delights of fall is the plethora of corn mazes that are available for kids and adults. Some corn mazes are open all day and into the night, allowing younger kids to go through in daylight and explore a large maze.
At night, some of the mazes are haunted by costumed staff members, spooky lights and sounds and new obstacles. This switch after dark makes corn mazes ideal for families with children of various ages. Older kids and teens will be thrilled to make their way through a scary maze, but younger kids can still experience the delight of working through a corn maze without monsters.
Many corn mazes have other activities for families, like ring toss games, pumpkin painting and snacks.
Outdoor Sports and Games
Fall is the perfect time to get involved in outdoor sports as a family. Football season has started, and days are still warm enough to allow for baseball, soccer and other games that can be played as a group. Bike rides, hikes and camping are all family activities well-suited for early fall and will engage the whole family in the outing.
Even simple things like raking leaves can become a fun family tradition. Picking the best and brightest colored leaves from the yard and pressing them between the pages of a heavy book can create wonderful memories that will last for years.
Autumn Festivals
Many communities have fall festivals, such apple and pumpkin themed celebrations where local businesses and restaurants will contribute activities and meals for the whole family to enjoy. Seeking out fall festivals is a great way to enjoy the season on a budget.
Fall Foliage
A beautiful way to make a fall date or family outing is to take a drive to admire the leaves as they change colors. A picnic or hike in the woods during fall can be a romantic getaway for two or a fun day for a whole family. The changing colors on the trees make for gorgeous photography, and the cooler weather means that there will be fewer bugs out. Finding routes along country roads is generally the best way to get the most attractive view of nature's display.
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