One morning last week, I got up before sunrise and tiptoed out to the back patio with my journal and pen. There’s no better time to get organized than when the weather starts to shift. Cooler temps and quiet mornings have inspired me to spend some time thinking about the things to do in fall with families that I know my friends and I are all adamant about checking off with our kiddos before the craziness of the holidays kicks in. It’s time to break out the fall family bucket list!
I’m talking about the apple cider/jumping in leaves/hay rides kind of things that never get old or cheesy because they’re just so darn awesome. I want to be building those memories for our family, but as I’m sure any fellow parent out there can attest: it takes major planning and intention to make sure they actually happen. It’s not always easy, between the school, work, sports, and busy schedules that can so easily take over our lives.
Featured image by Kristen Kilpatrick.
My solution that works just as well for summer, spring, and the holiday season as it does for fall? A weekend bucket list. When the bliss of a free weekend stretches before us, instead of whiling it away just hanging around the house (though there’s nothing wrong with that once in a while), we can seize the day and have an adventure in our hometown. Hopefully, by the time Thanksgiving rolls around, we’ll be feeling like this guy and walking around with all the cozy feels.
And I’d love to hear in the comments what fun fall things y’all have on your lists this year!
15 Fun, Creative, and Cozy Things To Do In Fall With Families
Visit a pumpkin patch and corn maze
Get lost in the corn maze, take home pumpkins from the pumpkin patch, play corn hole, snack on kettle corn, and take lots of adorable photos. It’s one of my favorite things to do in fall with families that can rarely be topped. It’s worth it! Just be sure to wait until late October when things have cooled down a bit so we don’t all get cranky spending hours in a cornfield.
Watch a classic fall movie
Curl up with your cuties and throw on one of your old faves: You’ve Got Mail, Coco, and more are at the top of our list!
Volunteer at a local animal shelter or sanctuary
The cooler weather makes it the perfect time to enjoy outdoor things to do in fall with families. Walking dogs that are in need of homes or helping out on a local farm sanctuary is a great way to instill the importance of community service in kids which also happens to be incredibly fun. (Bonus: You might be tempted to take a cutie home!)
Check out a local cidery or winery
Most are kid-friendly, and you can enjoy an afternoon spent sipping on delicious local brews. Fall is the harvest season, so it’s the perfect time to get a look at a gorgeous vineyard. Can’t make it to the countryside? Find a tasting room near you.
Take a road trip to a small town
I have this fall fantasy of climbing into the car, turning up the radio, and driving down country roads with dappled sunlight filtering through turning leaves. We haven’t done a real road trip with the kids yet, and this season feels like the perfect time to make the most of a weekend and explore a small town for hiking, antique hunting, and maybe we’ll even hit up a winery. I’d love to hear in the comments if y’all have any favorite towns to visit!
Rake up crunchy leaves then dive in
Turns out, it just doesn’t get old.
Cook a meal using your favorite fall ingredients
Fill your kitchen with the scents of the season. Pick up some seasonal produce at your local market and whip up a warming, delicious, comforting dish that everyone is sure to love.
Carve pumpkins with grandparents
In the past, our pumpkin carving has been kind of a last-minute attempt. I’m not going to lie—it also felt like kind of a pain. As a kid, I never really appreciated what a major task carving a big pumpkin can be until I grew up and had to do it myself!
This year, I want to set aside an evening and invite my parents to join us for pumpkin carving as the main event. I’ll roast the seeds for snacking on, and we can take time to relax and enjoy the process. Fingers crossed I can delegate the actual carving to someone else (thanks dad!). Otherwise, I may just have to resort to decorating our pumpkins with this.
Host a Soup & Wine Sunday
Pretty much exactly what it sounds like. I’ll invite a few friends to come over on a Sunday evening for a big pot of soup, a crusty loaf of sourdough, and a good bottle of Pinot. Entertaining doesn’t get much easier (or cozier) than that. Encourage the kids to help out in the kitchen and this easily turns into one of the best things to do in fall with families. P.S. You can browse all my favorite soup recipes right here.
Family game night
Add a deck of cards, Jenga, a new puzzle, and a big pot of apple cider (oh, and popcorn) to your fall bucket list. Family game night, sorted. Also mandatory: this candle. Yum!
Pick up a new book to enjoy this season
Whether you love memoirs or are looking to lose yourself in one of the best new novels of the year, few things are better than cracking open a book by a roaring fire.
Take an evening stroll to collect leaves
Then press them and put them into a photo album to always remember your fall bucket list. Even though we take loads of morning walks as a family, my kids think there’s something really novel and fun about going for an evening stroll around the neighborhood. Every once in a while when it’s usually time to get ready for bed, we instead tell everyone to put on their sneakers—and the excitement is next-level.
As soon as the leaves turn this year, we’ll go for an evening walk where we take time to reflect on the beauty of the season by collecting pretty leaves and acorns as we go. The next day, we’ll use our little flower press to preserve them, and later we can put them in a photo album along with photos from the season to mark this fall as one for the books.
Treat yourself to a new fall sweater
Few things are as cozy and warm as a delightful new fall sweater to traipse around town in. While you’re at it, stroll around your neighborhood shops and enjoy the crispy weather. Are you a wool or cashmere kind of person? I’m a little bit of both.
Visit a local museum of natural history
Check out the new exhibitions, revisit beloved old favorites, and enjoy an afternoon spent soaking up some knowledge.
Pumpkin bread decorating with friends and kids
Who on earth doesn’t love a fresh-from-the-oven loaf of pumpkin bread? If that person exists, I don’t want to know them (just kidding!!!). Instead of making and gifting all my friends loaves this year, I’ll invite them to come over one Saturday with their littles for a baking afternoon. I’ll bake the loaves in advance using this pan (is it not the cutest thing you’ve ever seen?!), then give everyone little bags of cream cheese frosting so they can decorate their own to take home.
