Family Fall Bucket List Ideas: How to Make The Most of Fall

Autumn is here, and it’s the perfect time to start planning unforgettable adventures with your family. This post is a great start if you need help coming up with some family fall bucket list ideas.

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.

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 it any fun?

Visiting an orchard to pick apples and roam between the apple trees is fun for both adults and children. It is a great way to reconnect with nature and teach your children about apples and how they make their way to the grocery store.

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, pumpkin flavors are available in most food and beverage establishments. Pumpkins have become the top decor item for 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 and lasts until mid-September, so if you do 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. They offer a variety of activities 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!

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. Look for colorful and uniquely shaped leaves and bring them home to use 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.

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—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!

Plan a Fall Family Getaway

As 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 beauty of the season. 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 scenic roads, pack some goodies 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.

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 your kids to the change of seasons. Here are some 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 traditionally fun 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 fabulous inspirations for decorating 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.

Make an Apple Pie

There are many delicious desserts, but nothing fits the fall mood more than 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 family’s favorite activities. 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.

Take Family Pictures

Family photos are always a good idea, but they are especially important 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 Fall Family 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? Would you happen to have more to add to the list? Please share in the comments!