18 Fun Fall Activities For Families You Don’t Want To Miss Out On

This post, originally 12 Fun Fall Activities For Families You Don’t Want to Miss Out On and published in 2017, has been completely updated August 2019 for even more family fun!

Have you ever looked on Pinterest and found those lists of fall activities?

Have you seen those ones that have almost a hundred things on them?

I don’t know about you but I feel stressed looking at those lists lol. Stressed and overwhelmed!!

Now granted, they are an awesome resource ….

But I’ve decided to pare it down for you and your family.

Originally this post had one activity for each week of fall.

But I just had to add in a few extra, six to be exact.

Now I know what some of you may be saying: a lot of these could actually be done together in just one day.

Agreed, but why not space them out or enjoy them multiple times throughout fall 🙂

I’ve also included a cute checklist, comes with an awesome scavenger hunt with this update!) to help remind you of the fun coming up!!!

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Outdoor Fall Activities for Families

Football

If you’ve read my post, 10 things that make me happy in fall, you know I love my football, and it’s a natural one here since fall is football season.

So, as for fall activities for families, this one definitely is one I love so much!

It can be enjoyed indoors, watching it on tv or even playing it on a gaming system.

Better yet, it can be enjoyed outdoors throwing the football around.

And just in case you don’t really understand football or care for it, you don’t have to actually play a game of football to enjoy the act of ‘playing’ football.

Jumping in leaves

If you’re lucky (or unlucky?)  to live in a place that has leaves that fall this one is easy.

So, it does include a little bit of work but so much fun afterward.

Rake the leaves into a pile and begin the jumping! 🙂 Or for the little ones, just walking through the pile is super fun too.

Collect leaves

While you’re at it, why not try to collect different colored or shaped leaves?

Then you can take them inside and do lots of fun activities with them like gluing them on paper in different ways to make different kinds of collages.

How about looking up each leaf to figure out what type of tree it came from.

Or one of my favorites, if they aren’t dried out, put them under a piece of paper and make a rubbing of each leaf.

Scavenger hunt

So, while you’re collecting those leaves, how about looking around and see what other awesome fall things are out and about.

Get this fun scavenger hunt printable now!

It’s great for little ones because of the pictures but also for slightly older kids with the counting involved 🙂

Go hiking

There’s no better time to go hiking than in the fall!!!

With the trees changing colors, the cooler air, it’s perfect.

To me, it’s one of the best fall activities for families!

Not only is it free but it’s a great opportunity to get some fresh air, exercise gives the kids a chance to explore nature.

Go camping

While you’re at it why not go camping too!

Just make sure, depending on where you’re going to go, you bring lots of layers for nighttime.

But just think, it’ll be the perfect chance to make s’mores 🙂

Make s’mores

I love s’mores!

It’s been too long since I’ve gotten the chance to make them but they are always on my bucket list lol!!

Just in case you’ve never heard of them, make them or tried them I’ll give you the basics.

They are a graham cracker, chocolate, marshmallow sandwich of sorts.

You’ll place a piece of chocolate on top of a square of graham cracker and set it aside.

Then you’ll need to roast a marshmallow to your liking (lightly toasted or blackened) then carefully place the marshmallow on top of the chocolate.

Use another piece of graham cracker, on top of the roasted marshmallow, to keep the marshmallow on the chocolate and there’s your sandwich, enjoy!!!

Now, of course, there are lots of variations.

You can add or substitute other candy bars like snickers, butterfingers, milky way, etc.

Or how about using Nutella instead?

Why not add some fruit or peanut butter?

You could always use a different type of ‘cracker’. Maybe a pretzel, savory cracker or if you really want to indulge yourself a cookie?

The sky and your imagination is the limit 🙂

Corn maze

I think corn mazes are the best 🙂 and the perfect fall activity for families.

The little ones will enjoy exploring and running around the corn, and the adults will have fun trying to find their way out of the maze.

There are several different maze options out there.

There are ones that have no map and you simply walk around until you find your way out, ones that have a map to try to follow, ones that have trivia spots throughout the maze to learn different subjects and ones that are more of a puzzle game.

My favorite is Tom’s Maze in Ohio.

And while you’re at the maze, you’ll probably be able to take in a lot of the activities listed below too!!!

No amount of money or success can take the place of time spent with your family.

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Take a hayride

Many places that have corn mazes will also offer hayrides.

Just do your research to make sure you know what you’re getting into though 🙂

I personally don’t like haunted hayrides so I always make sure to go during the day to avoid the haunted side!

But for fall activities for families, it can’t be beaten.

The youngest to the oldest can participate and enjoy it.

Apple Fall Activities for Families

Apple picking

I love going apple picking.

Just be prepared to bring home more than you expect 🙂

But, it’ll be perfect for the next few activities listed!!!

Bobbing for apples

This is such an oldie but a goodie 🙂

Grab a big bucket or tub and put a bunch of apples in it, then fill it with water.

The idea: grab an apple out of the water with your mouth. You can’t use your hands!!!

I’ll give you a hint: it’s not that easy and yes, your whole face will get wet. Have some towels available 🙂

And remember: keep any kids safe that might be around or participating!!!!

Time spent with family is worth every second.

∼unknown

Apple cider

So, besides football, this is one thing I think of as specifically fall.

Enjoy some wonderful apple cider from that corn maze you’ll visit, the grocery store or from your favorite beverage shop.

Add some fresh sticks of cinnamon to your apple cider for a wonderful treat.

Apple pies

Remember all those awesome apples you got from your apple picking?

This is the perfect opportunity to make a fresh homemade pie.

Or, if baking isn’t quite your thing, there are always lots of great options from the grocery store!

Pumpkin Fall Activities for Families

Pumpkin picking

So, it can’t really be fall if you aren’t going pumpkin picking 😉

Find a farm in your area (or your local grocery store – I give you permission ;)) and have fun finding your favorite pumpkin.

We went last year to a farm and tried our best to find the biggest pumpkin.

We didn’t find the biggest but we sure did find a whole lot of different shaped and sized ones.

It was so much fun and we can’t wait to do it again this year.

Family time is sacred time and should be protected and respected.

∼Boyd K. Packer

Pumpkin carving

Such a fun activity to do with your newly gotten pumpkins!

Full disclosure: my son hasn’t exactly enjoyed pulling those slimy seeds out and of course, he’s too young to be using the knife to cut out the shapes on the pumpkin. But, if you have little ones that are willing, they can certainly help with the seeds and can draw their own faces on the pumpkin to be cut out by an adult!

There are so many options in the stores and on-line to get ideas for your carving. I would suggest getting a pumpkin carving kit, which normally includes carving tools and patterns to follow.

I like a simple face but you can get as creative as you’d like!

Pumpkin pie

Now, in case you love to bake things from scratch, you can use those pumpkins you picked to make delicious pumpkin pies 🙂

Or go back to that grocery store you got the apples from and get one of there already made pies (again – I won’t tell :))

Chili

Since we’ve been talking about eating, why not make some chili.

And depending on how old your kids are why not have a chili cook-off, and have each family member find and make their own chili.

If any of the kids are too small then do teams instead.

Boys vs. girls, oldest vs. youngest (with adults help of course).

What you’re thankful for

And last but not least, write down, think about and/or share with your family/friends things you’re thankful for.

Suggestion: try doing this every night during fall.

It’s simple but it’s a great way to remind yourself of how wonderful life actually is!

And there you have it!

A nice simple, sweet list of fall activities for families!

I hope this gives you a great starting place of fall activities to start with your family, and that it doesn’t overwhelm you 🙂

Have fun and make those memories!!!!!

Have you already enjoyed these fall activities with your family? Please share with us in the comments below!!! Thanks!

Either way, don’t forget to grab your printable and scavenger hunt. Just click on this image!