Plan to Make this Fall Season More Memorable for Your Family

Autumn is my family’s favorite time of year. The weather is cooler, the trees look gorgeous, we admire the neighborhood Halloween decorations, it’s football season, and we go nuts for Pumpkin Spice Donuts. 

However, it's also a busy time of year. With school, afterschool activities, homework, and even upcoming Holiday plans sometimes it's hard to schedule time to enjoy the season. So, to make sure we don’t miss out on a minute of our favorite seasonal activities, we create a Fall Family Fun Plan or a bucket list of activities we want to do this Fall. We pick a night and at dinner everyone throws out ideas and then we get those activities on the calendar.

As inspiration to create your family's plan, here's a list of some of my family’s favorite Fall activities to get you started. Most of these ideas are inexpensive and get you outside enjoying the crisp Autumn air. For more inspiration as you create your Family Fun Plan, check your local park districts, libraries, and Children’s Museums for family specific fall events coming up in your area.

Ideas for Fall Family Fun Plan:

1. Fall Foliage Drive or Bike Ride – We enjoy driving through our local forest preserves or if we are feeling adventurous, we google "Fall Foliage Drives" and head out for the nearest route in our area to see the most amazing colors on the trees. If we are lucky, we’ll find an orchard or fruit stand to grab apples and pumpkins. This year we are totally into biking so we’re going to hit the bike trails for a new foliage experience. Read my tips on how to plan a family bike ride. Don't forget to walk through your neighborhood to admire the leaves and the Halloween decorations.

2. Visit a Pumpkin Farm – Nothing says Fall like a trip to a pumpkin patch. We have some fun local pumpkin farms that have games and a petting zoo for little ones. It’s a great place to take a photo of your kids for the Christmas newsletter! The colors are outstanding. Of course, you need to decorate those pumpkins when you get home. Now that my kids are a little older though, we like exploring the corn maze at night by flashlight. Spooky!

3. Crafting & Decorating for Halloween – We take decorating for Halloween very seriously at our house. I like to spend time with the kids making a new Halloween decoration or treats for their Halloween parties every year. It’s time we get to spend together creating, talking, and connecting. You can see some of the Halloween decorations that I’ve made with the kids here and get the instructions.

4. Organize a Neighborhood Trick or Treat Procession – Trick or treating is so much more fun in a group. Our neighborhood started a Trick or Treat Procession a few years ago where everyone would meet and walk together. Our procession had wagons full of snacks and hot chocolate, more wagons to pull the young ones who get tired after 3 blocks, dogs on leashes in costumes, and plenty of cameras and video cameras to capture the fun. It's like hosting a party but you don't have to clean your house!

5. Football Party - Invite your friends and family over to watch that special game at your place, take your kids tailgating to your college football game, or just organize a neighborhood flag football game. The party can be simple and have everyone bring a dish. Or, go all out with tasty dips and vats of chili. Set up games for the kids like throwing a football throw a hula hoop or measuring the longest throw. Rather throw a Halloween party instead? Check out these ideas for a fun and easy Kids Halloween Party. 

What is your family's favorite thing to do in the Fall?