Family Fall Bucket List Ideas 2023: How to Make The Most of Fall
Autumn is here, and it’s the perfect time to start planning unforgettable adventures with your family. With the weather slowly transitioning from summer heat to cool, crisp air, it’s prime time to discover activities that bring joy and excitement to everyone involved. This fall bucket list for families offers a variety of options for fun, bonding, and creating lasting memories together.
When you think of Autumn, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Cozy sweater weather? Apple pie in the oven? Pumpkin picking? Haloween preparation? Perhaps it is hiking and some leaf-peeping fun? Let’s explore all the ideas for the whole family and make the most of this magnificent season!
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Family Fall Bucket List Ideas
Embrace the beauty of fall by enjoying various activities perfect for families. With the changing leaves and crisp air, enjoy this vibrant season with these fun and memorable activities.
Farmyard Fun
Go Apple-Picking
Visit your local fruit orchard to handpick those ripe and juicy apples. Yes, you can buy apples at a supermarket, but where is any fun in that, right?!
Visiting an orchard to pick apples and roam between the apple trees is fun for adults and kids. It is a great way to reconnect with nature and teach your kids about apples and how they make their way to the groceries.
If you live near the NYC area, check out Alstede Farms, Demarest Farms, or Battleviw Orchards.
When to Visit Apple Orchards?
Depending on where you live, there are a variety of apples grown. They all grow at their own pace and have different harvest times. However, mid-September and early October are the best times to have apple-picking fun and gather some apples!
Visit Pumpkin Patch
In the fall, you will find pumpkin flavors in most food and beverage establishments. Pumpkins have become the top decor items to fill the homes and outdoor porches during the fall season.
Pumpkin picking season usually opens in mid-September and lasts till early November only. So make sure you put this on your family fall bucket list.
Visit Sunflower Field
Sunflower season usually starts in July until mid-September, so if you did not have a chance to visit the beautiful blooms, early fall is your chance! Most farms offer pick-your-own stems. Please bring a few to decorate your fall corner afterward or use them for a dinner table centerpiece.
Attend the Fall Harvest Festival
Celebrate the fall season with a family trip to a fall harvest festival! You can find one locally at farms and schools. Just search “Fall festivals near me” and save the date. There is a variety of activities that they offer at the fall harvest festival. Usually, there is music, food vendors, arts and crafts for kids, pumpkin decorations, and some will also have hay rides!
Autumn Leaves and Foliage
Gather Colorful Leaves
Gathering leaves is an easy yet enjoyable activity during the fall season. Besides, you do not have to go far for it.
Stroll around the local park or go for a short hike. Try to find colorful and uniquely shaped leaves and bring home to use them for arts and crafts later.
You can also let kids make piles of leaves and jump in them. So fun!
Go on a Scenic Drive
Fall is the best season to plan a scenic day trip! Road trips are generally fun, but imagine driving through the colorful wonderland! There are many stunning places to view the foliage. If you want to go close to NYC, check out the 16 best scenic rides in New York.
Getting Artsy with Fall Crafts
Make Something with Colorful Leaves
Another great idea for kids is to get creative with colorful leaves. If you struggle with thoughts, do not worry because you can find many Autumn-inspired leaf craft ideas.
Make a Fall-themed Dinner Table Centerpiece
A change of season is a perfect time to decorate. Adding a festive fall centerpiece to your dinner table will be a heartwarming piece to enjoy autumn meals with family and friends. There are many ideas for fancy fall centerpieces, but you can stick to simple and easy ones to put together with just things you and your kids find out in nature!
Outdoor Adventures
Plan a Fall Family Getaway
You can guess; family getaways are my favorite. Fall is a great time to escape the cities, head somewhere mountainous to reconnect with nature, and take in all the fall beauty. Below are my favorite places to enjoy fall away from NYC.
- Catskills, New York – Check out our guide to Fall Foliage in the Catskills.
- Stowe, Vermont – Stowe is magical every season, including fall. Check out our little getaway to Stowe, Vermont.
- Woodstock, Vermont.
- Portland, Maine.
- White Mountains, New Hamshire – If you visit New Hampshire, drive through the famous Kankamugus highway—one of the most scenic roads in New Hampshire.
Organize Picnic Outdoors
Picnics are a fun way to bond with family. Whether you are up for hiking locally or driving through some scenic roads, have some goodies packed in the picnic basket and a large shawl and enjoy a great lunch with a panoramic view!
Go Boating / Kayaking
While boating and kayaking are more summer fun for most, do not underestimate the fall views from the boat during Autumn. Besides, there will be fewer crowds and more lovely views!
Go on a Hike
No other season offers views as beautiful as fall. Could you take advantage of it and go for a hike? You can find many kid-friendly hikes locally. Get lost in nature, let the kids collect, and bring home all the natural things that are safe to play with later.
Cozy Indoor Fun
Decorate Home For Fall
Nothing is more heartwarming than making a home cozy and festive during the holidays. Fall is one of the best times to decorate and make it stand out with colorful pillows, throw blankets, autumn-scented candles, and so on. Get creative!
Add Fall-Themed Mug To Your Mug Collection
If you are obsessed with a seasonal mug, it is time to add one to the collection! They add a little coziness every time, and the drink tastes extra delicious. Look out for new designs and fill your cup with your favorite fall drink during those crispy, chill days.
Get Cozy With a New Book
Get cozy under a warm blanket and read your kids a new seasonal fall book. It is a great way to celebrate fall and introduce them to the change of seasons. Here are some of the fantastic fall-inspired picture books to consider.
Plan a Family Movie Night
Get a cozy blanket, gather popcorn and hot cocoa with marshmallows, and have quality time together. If you like spooky movies, this is the time to turn them on. Otherwise, any family-friendly film will make the evening fun and relaxing.
Fall Family Movie Recommendations:
- Hotel Transylvania
- Hocus Pocus
- Matilda
- How to Train Your Dragon
- Monsters inc
- Ghostbusters
- The Harry Poter Series
- Shrek
- The book of life
Carve / Decorate Pumpkins
Carving is a traditionally fun thing to do with pumpkins, but you can get more creative. Gather fun materials you can work with, such as paint, leaves, acorns, rocks, grains, and flowers, and start decorating! It sure is a fun way to challenge kids and make something special with the pumpkins they chose at the farm. Here are some of the fabulous inspirations to decorate pumpkins without carving.
Pull Out Your Fall Wardrobe
It is time to remove your fall wardrobe and put away the summer clothes. If you are someone like me who loves sweater weather, cleaning your closet will most likely be satisfying.
Involve your kids in the process. Let them go through what they have and what they have outgrown. This is also a perfect time to introduce them to donate clothes and books.
Fall Flavors and Aromas
Fall is all about warm, cozy flavors. Treat your family to a warm cup of apple cider and the delightful aromas of pumpkin spice. Explore local farmers’ markets and indulge in seasonal produce like apples, squash, and pumpkins. Don’t forget to bake an apple pie or make some homemade jam as a family.
Make an Apple Pie
There are a lot of delicious desserts, but nothing fits the fall mood more than an apple pie. Engage family members in the process while listening to some fall-inspired music. Kids will undoubtedly love getting messy during the process and appreciate the dessert made with apples picked by themselves.
Make Pumpkin Bread
Bake pumpkin bread and instantly fill the home with a delicious fall scent from the oven. Who needs scented candles when you bake something at home? Don’t forget to roast those seeds too!
Make S’mores
Roasting marshmallows is one of the favorite activities for the whole family. You do not need to be camping or starting a real wood fire to make it happen. Use a mini fire pit for indoor fun, and follow all the safety rules.
Community Events
The fall season is packed with various community events you and your family can participate in! Watch for fall festivals, fairs, and local football games to cheer on your favorite team. Embrace the season’s spirit by attending performances in your town or city, such as Halloween-themed plays or concerts.
Community events are excellent opportunities to bond with your family while supporting local talent and organizations.
With so many exciting local outings, your family’s fall bucket list will be brimming with unforgettable experiences and precious memories. Enjoy the season with your loved ones, and make this fall memorable!
Take Family Pictures
Family photos are always a good idea, but it is a must when nature offers a realistic picture backdrop. Take this opportunity to take some family photos. You do not need to hire a professional photographer ( Unless you want to!). Snapping a few pictures with a tripod will do, too.
Other Family Fall Bucket List Ideas
- Gather around bonfire
- Make Cinnamon Rolls
- Get / Make your own Halloween Costumes
- Host a Friendsgiving
Free Family Fall Bucket List Ideas Printable
Below is the printable list for you. Use it when you feel like there is nothing to do and look for family activities during the fall season.
What is your favorite family fall activity from this fall bucket list idea? Do you have more to add to the list? Please share in the comments!
