I don’t know about you but I always look forward to things to do in the fall as the swim pools close and I want to treasure every day before the winter strikes.

Fun Things to do in the Fall Outside

While Summer is truly my favorite season, Fall is a close second. The cooler temps make it easier to get outside with the family and have some fun. The options for Outdoor Fall activities are almost endless (or so it seems). I know many people who prefer to wait until the fall weather shows up to get outside just because it is a more comfortable temperature. We have a fair amount of adventures during the summer months but, we pack twice as many into the fall months.

Go apple picking as a family

For me, apple picking signals the start of fall. I know fall starts much earlier than the apple picking season starts but, for some reason, I don’t feel like fall has truly started until the apple picking begins. Of course, the apple cider doughnuts don’t hurt either.

Go see beautiful fall color changes

Following closely behind apple picking is hiking to see the beautiful fall colors. Anytime after the leaves start changing you can head out to your favorite trails. However, the best hikes will be when the colors are at their peak. Take a peek at the Trip Savvy Guide to Fall Colors for information about the most common colors and their general peak times.

Play in the leaves outside

One of my kids most anticipated outdoor fall activities happen when the leaves begin to fall. Good old fashioned leaf piles can provide lots of entertainment. My kids can spend several hours making piles and jumping in them.

Go camping at a local state park

Depending on where you live, camping can stretch well into the fall season. For some, it even stretches into the beginning of winter. This one may not be as popular for some but, it is an amazing outdoor fall activity. The reason I love this one so much is that you don’t have to deal with the heat of summer and, to top it off, the bugs have started to vanish. Couldn’t ask for a better time to go camping.  Check out these 10 Campgrounds in Illinois for great ideas of places to go.  Our Ultimate Camping Lists for Families will come in handy when planning!

Visit a local pumpkin patch

We cannot forget about the most popular outdoor fall activity of course: Pumpkin Patches. This is also a favorite among my kids but, if I am totally honest, it is a favorite of mine too. I prefer to find pumpkin patches that let you take a hayride out to the patch and pick your own pumpkin but, many places offer pre-picked pumpkins as well. Not only do many of these places offer the pumpkins but, many offer several really fun activities as well.

Check out local corn mazes

Another very popular outdoor fall activity is corn mazes. Some places offer ones specifically for little kids and others are much more elaborate. For many of these, they can be included in possible activities at the pumpkin patch or, you can go somewhere specifically for the maze. While you can go through them during the day, some places also offer haunted corn mazes. This is a very popular thrill for many people. We have a few mazes around me that you need to buy advanced tickets to get into them because they are so popular.

Take time this fall to enjoy the weather and get outdoors and have some fun with your family.  This list of things to do in the fall is just what you need to start thinking of fun family weekends as the weather cools down!

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