Fall Family Fun: 10 Ideas to Take it Outside
There is nothing quite like a gorgeous Fall day when the sun is shining and the leaves falling from the trees are every shade of red, yellow and orange. Even though the temperatures are also falling, this time of year is the perfect opportunity to take your family outside and make some lasting memories!
10 Ideas to Take Your Family Outside
Hiking
I guarantee there are hidden gems within a 45 minute drive that are just begging to be explored. Water falls, tucked away lakes, rolling hills and trails leading through gorgeous forests. Get out there and enjoy. Google hiking trails around you, check out local ski hills that might be open for Fall rides on the chair lifts or follow that path into the forest near your house just to see where it leads.
Geocaching
A great outdoor experience for the whole family, Geocaching is catching on! The sport of using GSP co-ordinates from your smart phone to find hidden treasures and log books is happening all over the world and right in your own backyard. A simple download of the Geocaching app and you only need to hit one button that says “Find Nearby Geocaches” and you are off. It will lead you by compass and distance markers right to the area where you need to start looking in bushes, under logs and hanging from tree branches for the hidden cache. When you find it there will be a log book to sign and maybe a treasure to take, as long as your replace it with a new treasure for someone else. Check out www.geocaching.com for more information.
Corn Maze
So many local farms are getting in on the Corn Maze craze! Some are elaborate with 20 km of intricate design that families can explore and answer skill testing questions as they go. Others are easy fun mazes that kids can run in and out of for hours. Google corn mazes in your area and support local farmers by checking them out.
Apple Picking
The season starts in early September and goes to late October and is a perfect family fun activity. If you are lucky the apple orchard will also have pumpkins on hand and wagon rides. Try all the varieties of apples the farm offers and maybe get your kids in the kitchen when you get home to make some yummy apple pies or healthy Oatmeal Applesauce Muffins for school.
Bike Path
Get those bikes and helmets out and strap on the training wheels. Most cities now boast bike paths that are even riding terrain for the newest cyclists in your family. Bike riding on new paths lead to new adventures and if you plan your journey right, you may even end up at an ice cream shop!
Horseback Riding
If you have older kids, why not look for a local horse stable that offers Trail Rides. Many have staff on hand that will walk along side riders as young as three and have horses that are gentle with beginner riders.
Archery
How good is your aim? Think outside the fruit farm and look for Conservation areas or Harvest Festivals nearby that offer archery or log cutting.
Visit a Pioneer Village
Wonder what they do at a Pioneer Village? Go check it out. You might just learn how to make sausages or see demonstrations on candle dipping, historic cooking, apple schnitzing, or grain threshing! Who doesn’t want to learn about apple schnitzing?
Go Fly A Kite
The wind that sets those fall leaves free from the trees is excellent for flying a kite at a nearby park or soccer field. And running with that kite will have the kids flushed and giggling all afternoon.
Leaf Jumping
No Fall Family Fun is complete without a giant pile of leaves to jump in and mess up! Get in on the action. Collect leaves from all the neighbours lawns, rake them into a giant pile and then spend the afternoon rolling around in them with your kids. I promise they will never forget the fun they had watching you make a mess of the leaves.
So much fun to be had outdoors, don’t be afraid to explore new ideas and events in your own community. You may be surprised at how many new Fall Family Traditions you can create!
Deb Lowther is a mother of 3 young daughters who, when not running after the kids, is running in the trails. She contributes Family Health articles to many websites and magazines and ensures her own family has fun while eating healthy & staying active. Find more inspiring tips on her website http://www.raisinghealthkids.co and follow her on both Twitter @Deb_Lowther and Pinterest.
