Fall is such an amazing time of year. The sun is warm, but you can feel winter's chill making an entrance. There are so many great outdoor activities associated with fall and the harvest season. Keep reading to find out our favorite fall activities!
Apple Picking!
Autumn is the season for apple picking and it's not fall without a trip to your local orchard! This is one of our favorite things to do (it was even one of our first dates)! There are apple tastings to figure out your favorite kinds and then you're free to head out and pick to your hearts desire. It's an excellent way to get fresh air, stretch the legs, and be in nature with family and friends. Many orchards also have apple cider and doughnuts! A definite MUST for fall enjoyment.
Get in the Harvest Spirit!
Many orchards or local farms make an effort to include their community in harvest season by providing pumpkin patches, petting zoos, hayrides, and corn-mazes! (Usually doughnuts and cider too!) All of these activities are on our yearly Fall Bucket List. Clemente always picks out our pumpkin and we enjoy it on our porch all season. You can also carve it! We love the hayrides, and checking out the animals around the farm. Last time we went in a corn maze we got VERY lost! We made friends with a few families, and between Clemente and the dads of the families, we all made it out safely! We love the country aspect that fall brings, reminding us what a special time harvest season is. Tip for farm/orchard adventure days - wear good boots that you don't mind getting muddy! Fall weather can be rather wet and leave behind lots of mud. It's part of the adventure but don't wear your new white shoes!
Leaf Scavenger Hunt!
Fall colors are so magical and don't always last long! You can usually look up predictions on peak colors for different parts of your state on google to use as a guide. We highly recommend chasing down the beautiful colors. Go on drives, hikes, or a park picnic - don't let the colors pass you by. If you have kids, I highly suggest a leaf scavenger hunt. It can be as simple as finding one of each color, or more complex, getting into the types of trees there are in that area. There's lots of great art projects they can make with their collected leaves. We made place-mats when I was a kid and I think my mom still has them somewhere!
Wine Tasting!
The fall is also a great time to visit vineyards and wineries. They are beautiful this time of year. We went to the Old Mission Peninsula/Traverse City, MI for our honeymoon in September. We've been back other times of the year as well - and we think that the September trip was the best. The weather is usually not too hot, not too cold. It's off-season so it is quiet. We had most places to ourselves and got to meet owners, or talk with staff about the wines more in-depth than we would be able to in summer. It was extremely pleasant and we highly recommend visiting vineyards in (early) fall. Many also create cozy indoor environments if you choose to go later in the fall, closer to the holiday season.
Chili Cook Off!
We LOVE Chili Cook Offs! I used to plan one annually for the organization I worked for and it was a blast every time. Challenge yourself to not just attend, but enter your favorite chili recipe! You'd be surprised on how many other people will like it too! Whether it's a town-wide event, a church harvest party, or your hosting at your house! - chili cook offs are a really fun way to bring people together over food, fun, and games. Throw in a bonfire, blankets, and warm wassail (spiked or virgin, your choice!) and you have an unforgettable evening.
Tailgating and Football Games!
'Tis the season to get your game face on! Tailgating is another fun way to bring people together. You don't even have to like football to participate! The experience of hanging out with friends and supporting a team is really fun - and gets you outdoors! Bring layers as the games usually go into the evening and temperatures drop. Bring warm beverages in thermoses and don't forget an extra blanket to sit on! Those bleachers get cold! Throwing around the ball or playing a pick-up game is also also a great fall activity that gets you outdoors.
Trick-or-Treating!
Whether it's a harvest party, trick-or-treating, or even an adult's Halloween party - get your spook on and have fun. Church harvest parties were the highlight of fall for me as a kid - we'd have hayrides, great food and tons of games for kids (do kids still bob for apples!?). It was an amazing time for all. Now as adults we love hosting Halloween parties - costumes required! Friends always help with food and drinks and it has facilitated some or favorite memories over the years.
Bonus Tip!
Our bonus tip to ensure that you have a great fall and check off everything from your Fall Bucket List is this - if they don't have it, HOST IT! If your town doesn't have a chili cook off, host one at your house with your friends! If you can't find a local hayride, but you have a friend who is a farmer - talk to them and see if they'd be willing to work together to make one happen! If you don't know what to do for Halloween, have a party or organize a trip to a haunted house with your friends. Take initiative and bring the wassail to the football game! It could be as simple as a "wine not Wednesday" with girlfriends and pumpkin spice muffins! Don't let this season pass you by - make the most of it and the people around you will appreciate your efforts in making the season extra special.
Wassail! I always forget about this lovely warm cup of autumn until someone reminds me, but it's so good! My grandmother used to make the best!