Fall means Friday night football, all things pumpkin flavor and colorful foliage. It’s a time where sweaters start to make a daily appearance in your wardrobe and time is spent outside enjoying the cooler weather. There are many things to do together with friends or family in the fall like jumping in giant leaf piles, going apple picking and picking out the perfect pumpkin at the pumpkin patch.
Leaf Pile
With the beautiful color changing leaves often comes a huge mess in your yard. Raking the leaves into a pile to be disposed of can be a fun activity to do with your family or friends. If you decide to jump into the leaf pile, make sure there are not any sticks or rocks that could injure someone. This activity can be especially fun with young children.
Raking leaves can be a vigorous workout that may work muscles you don’t use every day, so pace yourself. Children can help with smaller rakes sized just for them. Don’t forget gloves to help protect your hands from blisters.
Apple Picking
If you’re fortunate enough to live near an apple orchard, take advantage of it and spend a day apple picking. The views are always spectacular at this time of the year, so it’s a great opportunity to take photos as well. Plus, there are almost always treats to try at the orchard like apple cider, donuts, apple pie, and other apple-themed pastries. The obvious benefit of a trip like this is the haul of apples you can take home with you to eat or turn into festive fall treats.
Depending on the orchard, apple picking can involve a lot of reaching, bending, and even getting on ladders. Be careful going up and down the ladders, especially with small children underfoot. Be on the lookout for tree roots that are not fully underground, so you don’t trip.
Pumpkin Patch
Pumpkin picking is the definition of a classic fall activity. Take your family or friends to a local pumpkin patch and pick out a few pumpkins to take home. You can decorate your pumpkins by carving designs into them or painting the outsides. The pumpkin seeds can be a delicious fall snack once they’ve been seasoned and roasted, and you could even make a pumpkin pie, pumpkin muffins or pumpkin bread.
Carrying pumpkins out of the pumpkin patch can be like carrying heavy weights that are hard to grasp! If you have large pumpkins or several pumpkins, using a cart or a wheelbarrow can make it easier. Be careful not to trip on the uneven ground as you walk out with your chosen pumpkins.
Corn Maze
After corn is harvested, some farmers like to mow a path into the field and create a corn maze! If you live in easy distance of a corn maze, it can be a great weekend activity. The maze is often cut in an unusual shape, such as a dinosaur or pumpkin, and a map is usually available to help you make your way through it. Other fall activities like a pumpkin patch or hayrides may also be available.
A corn maze is usually flat, but sturdy, closed-toe shoes are a must since you’ll be walking in a field. Check with the individual maze to see if a stroller or cart is allowed in the maze; younger children may need to be in backpack carriers.