45 Best Fall & Winter Family Activities For Your Bucket List!

While I’m not nearly ready to see the end of summer, I can’t help but feel a bit excited at the same time. I do love the warm weather, beach trips, frozen cocktails and all of the other fun things that go along with the summer months. However, I do also very much enjoy the fall season. Spring and fall have always been my favorites. So while I could definitely do with another month or so of summer vibes, I won’t be terribly sad to enter the next season of the year.

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Kicking Off The Fall Season…

Our fall season activities always kick off on the first day of school, even though the beginning of fall is technically a couple of weeks later. The first thing we do every year is enjoy a nice late lunch/early dinner to celebrate the beginning of the school year…and the beginning of fall. I’m sure my son doesn’t really see it as a celebration, but the crab leg or mussel feast we have at the end of that first day, certainly does make the medicine go down a bit smoother!

From there, we try to fit in as many of our favorite fall activities as possible, before winter begins to set in. We don’t always get around to checking off all of the lovely little seasonal ideas on the list. No worries. Whatever we don’t get to this year, we will just add to the top of the bucket list for next year 🙂

Here are some of my favorites. We have enjoyed some of them before and some, we are still working on. Most are easy to accomplish and are inexpensive. They are all activities the entire family can enjoy and look forward to every year.

The last two are adult activities, but hey…what are date nights for?

1. Take A Scenic Drive.

There is nothing more beautiful than taking a drive down a tree lined country road, during the fall. Pack the family in the car and go on a relaxing little adventure while taking in the dramatic changing colors of the season.

2. Cozy Up With A Blanket And A Good Book.

I can be happy doing this any time of the year, but there is something special about it during the fall. Outside gazebo, cushioned porch swing, warm blanket, hot cup of tea, and a captivating book. Finish that off with the smell of the neighbors’ chimneys smoking from the season’s first fireplace lighting = Pure Bliss.

3. Host A Fall Friendsgiving Potluck Party

Wrap up the end of summer with one last backyard party! We have done this plenty of times and it is always awesome. Everyone brings a dish (or liquid refreshment of sorts :), and we all enjoy the crisp fall air, while exchanging stories of our summertime escapades. Love it!

4. Host A Chili Cook Off.

Oh yeah – I’m in! Hold the event outside on a nice fall day, and see which of your friends impresses the most! Maybe it will be you! Chili cook offs are always fun and competitive, AND the weather is perfect for it!

5. Attend A Fall Festival.

There is a fall festival out there, for Everything! From pumpkin oriented festivals, to festivals that are centered around apples, crafts, nature, Halloween, food, wine or beer, to produce…the list goes on! So many reasons to celebrate the fall season. Just look up festivals and events for your area, and you should find a plethora of things to choose from…especially during the month of October!

6. Buy And Light Scented Candles.

Anything with the scent of apples, cinnamon, pumpkin, nutmeg, vanilla (or even certain woodsy scents) are perfect for getting into the fall season. So, light one (or 3!) scented candles throughout the house and Fall into a warm, comfy little mindset.

7. Go Apple Picking At A Nearby Orchard.

What better way to spend a nice cool afternoon, than to go pick some fresh fruit for your next snack or dessert? Find a local apple orchard at www.pickyourown.org and hop into the car for a fun, relaxing day! With delicious prizes at the end of the day, how can you afford to Not put this on your list?

8. Make Caramel Apples.

Take the apples you just picked and create a yummy batch of caramel apples! The kids will love helping you make them, and the whole family will love eating them!

9. Have A Backyard Fire And Make S’mores.

This is a no brainer. Fire, cool weather, and chocolate marshmallow goodness. What else do you need?

10. Pumpkin Spice (Everything!)

Pumpkin Spice latte, cake, pie, cookies, and any other edible concoction you can include the flavor in. I nearly fell down the first time my husband brought pumpkin spice ice cream home from the store. Holy Bad Idea!

I don’t go too crazy…I at least wait until September 1st to dive into those delicious spiced treats, even though the stores and restaurants start putting them out by mid-August these days!

11. Rake The Leaves In Your Yard.

Rake them into piles and jump on in! Even if you don’t have kids, what’s wrong with reliving your own childhood for a moment!

12. Go On A Hayride.

Hayrides were always a yearly activity when I was growing up. Super fun for all ages and you can probably find a few different places within your area that offer those festive little fall tours.

13. Haunted House

Find a haunted house tour near you and prepare to be spooked! Walking haunted corn maze tours are even better!

14. Go To A Drive-In Movie.

Drive-In Movie theatres have begun to make a come back in recent years. There are more than 300 operating drive-ins sprinkled through the U.S. If you don’t have one nearby, set up your own backyard theatre for movie night! Purchase a projector and create a screen area in your yard. Set up a few chairs. Get together some blankets and snacks. Enjoy!

15. Take A Bike Ride.

In some ways, a bike ride is even better than taking a scenic drive. With a bike, there is more opportunity to take it slow and embrace the crisp air and fall colors!

16. Make Your Favorite Soup.

I do this every single year at some point or another during the fall months. I have to make at least 1 batch of chili and 1 batch of chicken noodle soup, to feel I’m on track with the season. Of course, I make a variety of other soups as well. Those mouth watering smells making their way through the house, is reward enough. The later consumption sends you over the top after all of the hours of smelling that beautiful creation!

17. Go To A Pumpkin Patch.

Take a leisurely walk through your local patch and find that perfect pumpkin! It’s a great way to take in some fresh air and have something to look forward to decorating, later! Always good fun 🙂

18. Go Camping.

It is my opinion that camping is best done during the fall. I love the spring too, but the fall usually entails less rainy days. Well…and again…that crisp cool air is just refreshing. Perfect weather for a night in the woods. If not a campground, set up a tent in your backyard! A win no matter what!

19. Go Through A Corn Maze.

Corn mazes are totally awesome. I remember the scariest haunted tour I ever went on, was a tour through a corn maze. Loved it!

I chaperoned a school trip to a nearby farm when my son was in kindergarten. When 1 of the 6 five year olds you’re in charge of, somehow disappears within the maze, the fun either goes away or gets better. While I did have a temporary moment of panic, I thoroughly enjoyed the curious nature of the child who decided to go a different path. One of the best school trips I’ve ever chaperoned 🙂

20. Make A Fall Table Arrangement.

This could be anything from fall flowers to scented candles (or both!), to fall themed placemats and napkins. The possibilities are endless…just a touch can go a long way!

21. Go To A Farmer’s Market.

What better way to tempt the kiddos to like veggies, than to have them take part in the choosing? I did say tempt. They sure do love being involved in the decision making process. Sticking to the rule of eating what you choose (when it comes to vegetables), isn’t so easy to accomplish. It makes for a fun afternoon anyway.

22. Take A Hike.

A hike through any park or wooded area is especially refreshing during the fall months. Any walk would do, really. It doesn’t have to require high energy. The whole point is to take in the cool fresh air, witness the beautiful scenery, and just enjoy the moment. Enough said.

23. Have A Picnic.

Grab a basket, fill it with your favorite lunch meal, and escape to the local park for a bit of time with nature. Leave the technology home! Down time is always a good thing 🙂

24. Go Kayaking.

I love to kayak. I’ve been a water person for as long as I can remember. Contrary to what some might believe, kayaking is not hard at all. The point isn’t to reach a destination by a certain time. If you’re okay with just leisurely strolling along a river or lake, kayaking can be one of the most peaceful activities you can partake in. Observing the abundance of nature, takes it even further!

25. Decorate Your House For Fall/Halloween.

With so many different ways of honoring the fall season, there is no reason to Not do some kind of decorating. Maybe you prefer a single pumpkin outside of your door, or an elaborate front yard Halloween set up, or even a scarecrow. Whatever the case might be, a little fall decorating of sorts is always fun.

26. Go On A Ghost Tour.

I love ghost tours. I have been on a few. The end conclusion…I’m a believer…lol!

No really…there is something super spooky and fun about ghost tours. Depending on your tour guide, you could end up giggling along the way or feel goosebumps creep along your arms. Regardless, I’m always up for a creepy walk around haunted sites.

27. Go On A Nature Scavenger Hunt.

Scavenger hunts are always fun, especially for kids. Why not put together a list of fall related things to be found outside, and then go for a walk? Take it up a notch and make it a photo scavenger hunt with a nature related theme? Takes only a bit of imagination!

28. Stage A Family Photo Shoot.

All that is needed is a camera, the natural beauty of the fall colors in your backyard, along with a few smiles. This is a great way to soak up the beautiful weather while creating some lasting memories!

29. Go To A Flea Market Or Yard Sale.

This is yet another leisurely thing to do during the cool fall months. It is perfect weather for a stroll. Why not see if you can find a bargain while you’re enjoying the weather?

30. Grab A Coffee/Latte And Go Window Shopping.

We often did this on weekends, at one point. There was a small retail strip mall near where we use to live. It included a Starbucks, an small outside produce stand, and a host of other retail stores. We would grab that, oh so anticipated pumpkin spice latte, and stroll along the strip of stores. So simple, yet so rewarding.

31. Visit A Country Store/Nursery.

Country stores and nurseries are the best places to go during the fall months, when you are looking for seasonal decor for your home. Between autumn scented candles, handmade crafts, and colorful plants, you are sure to add something to your fall collection.

32. Go Star Gazing.

One of the best times of the year for star gazing, happens to be during the fall months. Not only are there more hours of the day that are dark, but there tends to be less clouds during the evenings that will impair visibility. This of course, is in addition to the perfect temperatures that occur during that time of the year 🙂

33. Carve Or Paint A Jack-O-Lantern.

Ah yes…an old tradition that has remained a fun activity for years. Not so nifty with a knife? Take out some paint or colored markers and draw instead! There was one year we replicated the Joker on a pumpkin…facial paint, wig, etc. One of our best yet!

34. Have A Scary Movie Night.

Pick 2-3 scary movies and have a small marathon in preparation for Halloween. Make some popcorn, turn off all of the lights, and see how far you get before the lights have to come back on 🙂

35. Make Hot Cider.

This is the perfect drink to warm you up on any cool day. If you plan to spend some time outside, fill a thermos of hot cider to keep with you! Mmmm!

36. Tell Ghost Stories By The Fire.

Start a fire in that backyard pit, grab some hot cocoa and see who the master of ghost stories, really is.

37. Make Your Favorite Fall Dessert.

Between apples, pumpkin, peaches, cinnamon, and sweet potatoes…where do you start? So many different options and all sooo good!

38. Take A Night Time Walk.

Even if it’s just 15 minutes around town, a leisurely walk on a cool autumn evening is a great way to end the day. I’m going to fit as many of those in as possible over the next few months!

39. Take A Day Trip/Road Trip.

It doesn’t really matter where you go. You are likely to cross paths with the sure signs of Fall, along the way. Why not pick a town you’ve never been to? Stick with a place that takes only 3 or so hours to get to. Spend a few hours exploring and still make it back home by evening! Sounds like an adventure to me!

40. Have Family Game Night.

This of course, an activity that is good for any time of the year. Why not take it up a notch and play your favorite board game outside? Make some hot chocolate or cider and grab a few snacks. Pull up the patio or picnic table and get to it! The fresh crisp air is the best part of course!

41. Go Horse Back Riding.

This is an excellent idea if you have the option somewhere near you. I remember taking a day drive once only to go on a horse back riding adventure in the mountains. The ride was only a couple of hours long, but it was worth it! The fall months are the best months for this activity.

42. Take A Train Ride.

I have yet to do this, but it is definitely on my bucket list. I can only imagine how stunning this sight seeing ride, is!

43. Start Early Holiday Shopping.

I don’t think I’ve ever been more serious than now, when I say this is a smart idea. I managed to get all of my holiday shopping done by Thanksgiving, one year. With this economy, I’m thinking I should get started by Halloween this year!

44. Celebrate Oktoberfest.

There are plenty of events lined up every year, specifically for this special celebration of beer (Oktoberfest). Along with beer, the events tend to include delicious pretzels, bratwurst, parades, games, or other various activities to keep you busy! Go the couples route or invite a couple of friends for a group date! Always good fun!

45. Tour A Winery.

This is yet another beautiful way to welcome the fall season. Take a trip to your local winery and learn all about the history and process of making fine wine. Depending on the winery you visit, you can end your educational tour with a bit of wine tasting! Some wineries will even supply a sample of cheeses and meats to accompany your wine. Sounds like a date night idea to me!

Final Thoughts…

I suppose before I get to any of the above, I should probably start with the process of swapping out my summer wardrobe for my fall wardrobe. When the temperatures do cool down a bit, I will definitely want my favorite cozy sweaters ready to go.

Also time to stock up on hot chocolate, broth, cake mix, spice, pumpkin…Better start making that list!

Before any of that happens, though, I think I will go enjoy one last margarita 🙂

Until next time…Cheers!

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