Fall Activities for The Best Season Ever
Fall is a great time to get creative and explore new things. From apple picking to pumpkin carving, there are so many fun fall activities out there for you and your family to enjoy together. What’s more? We have an entire list of 20 ideas right here! To make the most out of this season, give one (or all!) of these activities a try this autumn. Happy exploring!
1. Go Foraging for Wild Edible or Medicinal Plants
Believe it or not, there are many plants that can be foraged in the fall, from rosehips, chickweed, mushrooms, nuts, seeds, berries, and plant roots to name a few.
2. Start a New Book Series or TV Show
It’s that time of year when the days are shorter and are often rainy and cooler making it the perfect time of year for cozy fall activities like reading and watching TV or movies. So, cuddle up with a snuggly blanket, and a nice warm beverage like this recipe for Pumpkin Spice Moon Milk!
Tip: As a former librarian, I wholly encourage you to use this time of year to visit your local library. It is a wealth of treasures and free resources. Not only do they have print resources, but they have free downloadable eBooks, audiobooks, magazines, and video streaming services…All. For. Free!
3. Cook or Bake Some favorite Comfort Foods
It’s finally cool enough to run the oven after the long hot summer months, so now’s the time to do some cooking or baking. This time of year, life seems to move at warp speed. It seems to be the nature of season- a gradually revving up, building towards the holidays as days become shorter and colder. This brings changes with our appetites too! As Fall gets underway we start craving cozy comfort food recipes that warm both body & soul. So, head to the freezer and take out some preserved summer harvest to cook or bakin into something nourishing & comforting
Here are a few ideas that I’ve made using my summer harvest:
4. Take a Hike or Drive and Enjoy the Changing Leaves
Spending unplugged time surrounded by nature is for sure one of my favorite fall activities. Get away from the noise and crowds of daily life and take a scenic hike or drive to do some leaf-peeping and admire the colorful beauty of the Autumn season.
5. Find a Local Community Event that Celebrates Autumn
Go to a local harvest festival or fall craft fair, and drink some freshly pressed cider and maybe even start your holiday shopping. More importantly, support local craftspeople and make connections that build a stronger community into the future. Talk with the farmers and other patrons, get to know neighbors and other community members to build a town that is strong and friendly.
6. Visit a Local Pumpkin Patch
The leaves are changing colors, days are getting shorter and colder, and that crisp fall smell of pumpkin spice, apples, and cinnamon fills your nose. There’s nothing like pumpkin season!
If you’re looking for a fun way to spend some time with your family this fall, take the kids on a pumpkin-picking adventure! This is not only a fun activity for the whole family, but it’s also a great way to support our local farmers. No need to buy pumpkins at the store when they are in season right in front of your eyes. What more could you ask for? So grab your family (and maybe even friends) and head out to one of these pumpkin patches today!
7. Make Some Fall Crafts
Fall is a great time of year for craft projects since the shorter days and cooler weather keeps us indoors more and more.
Make some fall crafts by using what you find in nature! Here are a few ideas for how to make decorations from materials found outside.
- Find some pine cones and make a garland by tying them together with string or yarn.
- Gather up colorful autumn leaves and preserve them by dipping them in wax. Make a hanging leaves display in your home. Full tutorial here.
- Use fallen branches as an arrangement piece on your porch or deck.
- Make a fall wreath with waxed leaves, pinecones, and acorns.
8. Do Some Fall Planting
One of the fall activities that’s essential to every homesteader is to do some fall planting. Did you know that there are a bunch of cold weather crops that actually do better in cooler weather? Many people think that the only time to garden is in the spring and summer, but the opposite is actually true. For many plants such as spinach, kale, arugula, and beets, their preference is cool weather and will actually do better if planted in late summer and early fall for late fall and winter harvest. In many instances, these vegetables can even tolerate a light frost. In fact, the frost helps these cold-weather crops to release stored sugar, making them sweeter and more delicious!
Fall is also the time to plant trees and perennials, and it’s even more rewarding when you can purchase them at a discount.
Tip: Take advantage of sales at your local nursery and plant your purchases before the ground freezes. Fall planting gives the plant time to establish strong roots so that it can bloom and fruit better in future seasons.
9.Go Apple Picking
Fall is not just reserved for pumpkins, it’s also apple picking season, one of our very favorite fall activities. So, pack up the kids and head to the nearest orchard for some fall fun!
Here are three reasons why you should go apple picking this year:
1) You’ll be able to spend quality time with family or friends.
2) You won’t get apples this fresh from a store.
3) You’ll be supporting a local farmer.
10. Drink a Warm Fall Beverage
Drink a warm fall beverage like hot chocolate, cider, chai tea, or pumpkin spice coffee while reading your favorite book.
Learn to make your own copycat coffeehouse lattes like this recipe for Pumpkin Spice Moon MIlk. It’s the perfect drink for a crisp Autumn day.
11. Infuse Your Home With The Scents of Fall
Make some Autumn scented potpourri. It’s a wonderful, all-natural way to bring the fresh smell of fall right into your home.
Here’s a quick and easy stovetop potpourri blend that you can whip up with a few basic kitchen ingredients.
- 1 apple
- 1 orange
- 2-3 cinnamon sticks
- 1 Tbsp cloves
- 2 whole nutmegs (cut in half) * You could also substitute 1 tsp powdered nutmeg
- 1 tsp vanilla
Cover with water, stir gently, and simmer on low. Add more water as it gets low (don’t allow the water to boil out completely).
12. Carve Pumpkins & Roast the Seeds
When it comes to Fall activities, there’s nothing like making time for pumpkin carving. This is an especially fun activity for those looking for a creative way to get into the Halloween spirit. There is no shortage of ideas when it comes time to choose what your carved jack-o’-lantern will look like – from scary faces (think zombies or witches) all the way down to more playful arrangements with everything from Candy Corn to flowers.
Tip: To roast seeds, place them in a bowl and drizzle olive oil over them before sprinkling salt on top. Toss well to coat evenly and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes until they are dry and crisp. You can also add garlic powder or other spices if desired!
13. Make a Scarecrow to Guard Your Garden
Building a scarecrow is not only a fun fall activity, but it’s practical too, as it can be useful for scaring crows and other birds away from vegetable patches, crops, and allotments. A scarecrow is a great way to keep your yard free of pesky critters.
You can also use it around Halloween or Thanksgiving time for some fall decorating fun!
14. Bring Nature Indoors
Bring the outdoors inside this fall with a little bit of nature! By doing this simple fall activity, you can enjoy fresh leaves, changing colors, and nature’s beauty without leaving your house.
As the days get shorter and cooler, many people experience lower moods. Bringing nature into indoor spaces can have a huge impact on how we feel. Studies have shown that adding natural elements to workplaces, hospitals, living spaces, and schools can reduce stress, blood pressure, and heart rates, while increasing productivity, creativity, and overall well-being.
So, gather some twigs, or branches with colorful fall leaves and make an arrangement for your dining table, or create a display of pinecones, acorns, or other natural objects.
15. Plan a Seasonal Celebration
Plan to celebrate the Fall season and our connections to our natural world with intentional and meaningful celebrations that renew our joy in life and bring a deeper meaning to our human existence.
Hosting a fall get-together it’s such a lovely and significant way to celebrate a new season and is something everyone can relate to. The perfect way to celebrate is to decorate your indoor or outdoor space with seasonal decorations like mums and pumpkins, serve up some seasonal food and hot drinks. You might even want to consider planning an Instagram-worthy DIY craft project everyone will love.
16. Have a Fire
Starting a cozy fire is one of the most perfect fall activities you could do. Whether it’s outdoors in a firepit, or inside in a woodstove or fireplace, you’ll be hard-pressed to find another activity as cozy. There’s just something so comforting about curling up next to a warm fire to help you enjoy the fall season.
A fall fire is one of the best ways to enjoy fall weather this year. A cozy place for sitting around and roasting s’mores, or just swapping stories with friends; fires are an excellent way to get your fill of fall activities right in your own backyard!
17. Start a Nature Journal
Fall is the perfect time to start a nature journal. You won’t have any shortage of inspiration when surrounded by such colorful splendor.
Nature journaling is the practice of drawing or writing your unique observations of nature. Keeping a nature journal can help you to connect more closely with nature. Through this fall activity you can deepen your connection with the natural world by starting your own nature journal. Learn more about where to start here.
18. Plan a Fall Photo Shoot
The colorful leaves and trees of Fall are the perfect backdrop for outdoor photos.
This is one of those fall activities where you can set up your own backyard scene with props such as pumpkins, hay bales, or a picnic blanket and basket. If finances allow, you may even want to consider hiring a professional photographer who can make the most of the natural splendor of fall scenery.
19. Go on a fall picnic
Summer picnics get all the glory, but as autumn-loving New Englanders, we prefer this colorful season for eating outside. The cooler days, fewer bugs, not to mention the incredible scenery, lends itself to eating outdoors with friends and family. So, whip up some favorite warm comfort foods, pack snacks you can cook on the fire, and bring plenty of blankets for an autumn lunch in the great outdoors.
20. Make a List of All the Things You are Grateful For
Fall also brings the Thanksgiving season, which means there’s no better time to celebrate what you’re most grateful for. And if you want to get more creative, you can even DIY a thankful tree.
We hope these 20 ideas will help make this fall season one of the best yet! If you’re looking for more seasonal inspiration, sign up for our newsletter where we share articles about living intentional, self-sufficient lives, closer to nature.
What are some other ways that you celebrate the seasons? Let us know in the comments below so we can all have a little bit more joy this autumn.