50 Fun Things to Do This Fall

Fall in love with fall!

The leaves change to beautiful shades of orange, red, and yellow. The air gets a bit of a chill. The days get shorter. At least that is how fall looks and feels in the Midwest, where we are lucky to experience the splendor of all four seasons.

Fall is also the perfect time to travel…even if you don’t venture too far from home.

One great reason to travel in the fall is the beautiful colors nature provides. But there are also practical reasons to make fall travel a priority.

Families generally take vacations during the summer while the kids are out of school. That means fewer people are traveling in the fall and popular destinations may not be as crowded or as expensive.

Fall weather also provides a nice respite from the summer heat, making outdoor exploring more enjoyable. And you won’t yet have to worry about heavy coats or snowstorms ruining your travel plans.

Whether you have a whole weekend or just a few hours, you can find several festive options to fill up your fall calendar. Many fall activities can even be enjoyed with a modest budget.

To give you a bit of inspiration, I’ve come up with a list of 50 fun things to do and places to explore this fall.

Weekend Getaways

When we think about traveling, our first thought is to get out of town and out of our normal routine. September, October, and November are the perfect months to take a weekend getaway. Choose the style of travel and accommodations that best suit your clan, and you will be on the road to making fabulous fall memories.

1. Go Camping. Become one with the great outdoors as you rough it in the woods. Fall is the perfect time to commune with nature before it settles in for a long winter slumber.

2. Try Glamping. If camping is a bit too rustic for you, try the more luxurious options of outdoor fun known as glamping.

3. Take a Road Trip. Get out your old fashioned paper map (or your GPS) and pick a fun town within driving distance. You may enjoy the beautiful fall scenery along your route as much as you do the final destination.

4. Rent a Cabin in the Mountains. Choose a rustic cabin or one complete with a game room and a hot tub. Then relax and gaze at the autumn hues sprawling across the mountain peaks.

5. Spend the Weekend at a State or National Park. Whether you choose to sleep under the stars, bunk at the Inn, or rent your own cabin, state and national parks provide plenty of fall activities to occupy the whole family.

6. Visit the Relatives. Plan an overnight at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Travel to a favorite aunt’s home in a neighboring state. A weekend trip can be just the right amount of time to catch up with extended family.

7. Enjoy a Short Trip to the Beach. The water may be a tad chilly, but the crowds will be minimal and the prices to rent beach houses can’t be beat in the fall months. And as far as I’m concerned, the salt air and roar of the ocean waves are good for the soul no matter the time of year.

Kid Friendly

Even if your schedule doesn’t allow for an overnight trip, fall is full of kid-friendly and parent-approved activities to experience. Don’t miss the opportunity to get outside and make fun fall memories while your wee ones still want to hang out with mom and dad! (The teen years will be here soon enough!)

8. Head to a Pumpkin Patch. Pick out the perfect pumpkin straight off the vine while you snap priceless photos of your little ones. Pumpkin patches offer lots of other entertainment as well as seasonal food options that will please the whole family.

9. Carve Pumpkins. Enjoy quality family time and embrace the mess as you scoop out your pumpkin’s guts. Then carve out scary or funny faces. For a safer alternative with tiny tots, use paint to decorate your gourds.

10. Visit an Apple Orchard. Balance out some of fall’s plentiful candy with a healthier option as you taste a variety of apples. Bring home a jug of refreshing cider and a bushel of this perfect fruit. Then spend some family time in the kitchen trying apple recipes you find on Pinterest.

11. Go for a Nature Walk. Notice the birds. Study the variety of trees. Listen to the sounds of insects and other wildlife. Fall is a great time to encourage your family to escape from their electronics for a few hours and experience nature’s beauty.

12. Play at an Indoor Water Park. Though the neighborhood pool may be closed, there’s no need to let water play go by the wayside. Find a local indoor water park and splash around all day, with no need for sunscreen.

13. See an Outdoor Movie. Find an outdoor screening of a family-friendly flick or invite the neighbors to your very own backyard movie theater. Don’t forget the popcorn…and bug spray!

14. Try Geocaching. Keep your smartphone close at hand for this one, yet still explore the outdoors as you seek out hidden treasures. Geocaching is the perfect activity to get your family moving and working together as a team.

15. Horseback Riding. Fall is an excellent time to saddle up. Find a local horse farm and select the ride option with an appropriate length and skill level to suit your crew.

16. Throw a Halloween Party. Make your own excuse to dress up in costumes and whip up festive snacks by hosting a Halloween bash. A trip to Goodwill can help your family create one-of-a-kind costumes at an affordable price. The local dollar store will have plenty of budget-friendly options for scary decor and tasty treats.

17. Check out Local Trick or Treating Options. In addition to trolling the neighborhood on October 31st, many communities offer festivities throughout the month that will add to your candy stash. Get more use out of your Halloween costumes and visit a trunk-or-treat at your local mall or community park. Or turn the tables and sign up to pass out the candy at a local event and marvel at all the creative costumes.

18. Take Outdoor Family Photos. Nature provides the perfect backdrop for amazing family photos. Whether you hire a photographer or set up your own photoshoot using just a smartphone, you can capture the joy of fall as you frolic in the leaves with your loved ones.

19. Get Lost in a Corn Maze. Spend quality time with your family as you meander through the cornstalks. The more lost you get, the more family memories you create!

20. Jump in the Leaves. Raking may be a despised chore, but not if the payoff is some rambunctious play in the piles you create. Kids of all ages (that includes adults!) will embrace this child-like fun.

21. Walk the Dog. Rover shouldn’t miss out on all the fall fun. So leash up your pup and set off to explore autumn’s splendor.

22. Make S’Mores. Fire up the grill or huddle around the fire pit for a delicious sweet treat. Everyone loves s’mores on a brisk fall evening.

23. Enjoy a Hayride. Snuggle in close as you bounce along the trail. Find a daylight option or a nighttime thrill ride depending on your family’s scare tolerance.

24. Visit a Petting Zoo. Take your wee ones on an outing that involves feeding goats, petting ponies, and quacking with the ducks. Who wouldn’t love getting up close and personal with farm animals?!

25. Pack a Picnic. Celebrate the moderate temperatures with an outdoor feast. Whether you venture to the park across town or simply eat in your backyard, a picnic is an awesome opportunity to generate family togetherness.

26. Volunteer in Your Community. Bond as a family while you help others in need. Serving at a soup kitchen, collecting items for a clothing drive, or picking up trash in your neighborhood are just a few ways to make a difference and give back while you bond as a family.

27. Get Crafty. Sign up for a class at your local craft store or break out the art supplies around the kitchen table. Fall is the perfect time to create leaf rubbings, decorate masks, or make a pinecone birdfeeder.

28. Spend Time at the Lake. Watch the autumn colors dance across the water as you bait up a hook and cast your line. Regardless of how many fish the family catches, you can all tell tales about the one that got away.

Teen Approved

Your teens may roll their eyes at some of the fall activities they loved just a few years ago. But there are plenty of ways to get them out of their bedrooms and spending time with the family. They may even crack a smile once in a while!

29. Visit a Haunted House. Dial-up the thrill factor with some frightful fun. Take your teens on a tour of local Haunted Houses and watch them squeal with delight.

30. Attend or Host a Bonfire. Gather around the flames with family and friends for sure-fire fun. Teens will love staying up late and gazing into the fire until the last embers burn out.

31. Go Zip-lining. Embrace the fall weather and soar through the trees on a zip-line. Winter will arrive all too soon and have everyone spending much more time indoors and on solid ground.

32. Visit a Theme Park. Take advantage of discounted admission and shorter lines with one last trek to your favorite theme park. Fill up the mini-van with several of your teen’s friends, and you’ll be in the running for parent of the year.

33. Take in a Football Game. Whether it’s a pee-wee league, your high school alma mater, or a favorite college rival, enjoy quality family time on the sidelines.

34. Sign up for a 5K. Get some exercise as a family, and support a worthwhile cause at the same time. Regardless of how fast you finish, you’ll all have matching shirts to commemorate the day.

35. Watch Scary Movies. Pop some corn and cuddle up under the blankets as you let Freddy Krueger or Michael Myers into the house for a few spine-chilling hours.

36. Plan a Selfie Scavenger Hunt. Have your teens scurry around town taking goofy selfies as they check items off the zany list you create. This is a great opportunity for teens to learn their way around town and stop to recognize key landmarks they may never have noticed.

37. Go Hiking. Lace up your hiking boots for a romp through the woods. Get them out in nature and encourage the use of cellphones…for snaping Instagram-worthy shots of nature’s colorful display.

38. Tell Ghost Stories. Practice the fine art of storytelling as you take turns sharing spine-tingling tales.

39. Take a Canoe Ride. Put on your life jackets and glide through the water in a canoe. Be careful not to rock the boat…the water is pretty chilly this time of year!

40. Go on a College Visit. Fall is a great time to witness college life in action. Get your teens thinking about life after high school and considering their career path as you wander through campus.

Adults Only

While there are plenty of fall activities to enjoy with your children, sometimes it’s good to have some seasonal fun with just the grown-ups!

41. Go Wine Tasting. One of my favorite activities any time of the year, I never pass up an opportunity for wine tasting. As temps begin falling it is a great time to test out seasonal wines and spiced varieties.

42. Sample Craft Beers. If beer is your adult beverage of choice, visit some local craft breweries and check out this season’s newest brews.

43. Try Bourbon Tasting. With Uber on standby, its Ok to get a little tipsy as you learn the fine art of making bourbon. Savor several samples of this American-made product.

44. Strolling through Small Towns. Pop in and out of cafes, boutique shops, and local eateries as you walk hand in hand. Don’t forget the matching sweaters and snap some photos with your love as you explore the charm of a small town.

45. Stay at a Romantic BnB. Reconnect with your significant other during a night away at a charming bed and breakfast. Fall provides the perfect opportunity to stroll the grounds and snuggle by the fireplace at a BnB located in a quaint town.

46. Enjoy Pumpkin-Spiced Everything. Indulge in a pumpkin spice latte or whip up a few calorie-laden pumpkin desserts. These fall treats are only available for a limited time, so why not celebrate the season!

47. Attend a local fall festival, such as Oktoberfest. While some fall festivals are perfect for the whole family, others make the perfect outing for you and your over 21 friends.

48. Get a Jump Start on Your Christmas Shopping. Whether you are a die-hard Black Friday shopper or have all your Christmas presents bought and wrapped by Halloween, there are plenty of deals to be found during the fall season. A girls’ trip to my favorite mall topped off with dinner and drinks at a casual hangout sounds like fall fun to me!

49. Enjoy a Date Night. Put on your favorite fall sweater and trendy boots and enjoy one of those new restaurants you’ve been meaning to try. Linger over drinks or take a stroll in the crisp fall air as you reconnect as a couple.

50. Coordinate a Progressive Thanksgiving Dinner with Friends. Spread the love and the cooking around by going house to house with your friends and neighbors while you recount your many reasons to be thankful this time of year.