Autumn is my absolutely favorite season! It also seems to be the shortest one ... the heat of summer fades away, the foliage just begins to change and then - FLASH! - the snow arrives! Take advantage of everything autumn has to offer with this list of fun ideas.
1. Go apple-picking! Since apples are readily available in the grocery stores year-round, most people don't realize they have a season just like every other fruit. It's now! Plan a trip to Battleview Orchards in Freehold or Eastmont Orchards in Colts Neck.
2. Make a leaf rubbing. Enjoy a family walk after dinner and choose a few leaves you find on the ground. When you get home, choose some fall-colored crayons (oranges, reds, yellows, and browns). Place the leaves underneath a piece of paper, peel the paper off your selected crayons, and use the side of the crayon to make a leaf rubbing. Use your works of art as part of your fall décor!
3. Enjoy a hike. Local trails will soon be in their full fall splendor. Did you know that there are over 124 miles of trails in Monmouth County? Check it out here! Of course, you still need sunscreen and bottles of water, but your kids may be able to hike further than they can in the heat of the summer sun.
4. Go for a hayride. Casola Farms is THE place for hayrides—both family-friendly ones and haunted ones! Just remember, hay is itchy, so do it when it's cool enough that you're wearing long sleeves and pants.
5. Pick a pumpkin. Head to Von Thun's Country Farm Market and pick out a gourd (or two, or three)! Draw a jack o'lantern face on it now, carve it later. Check out our Fall & Halloween Pinterest Board for a variety of new ideas, from carving with a drill to decoupage!
6. Watch football! Don your jerseys, make a few Game Day Dips or try our Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches Slow-Cooker Style, and cheer on those Giants or Jets! Head to the Meadowlands to watch it live ... did you know you can buy tickets from season ticket holders through the NFL Ticket Exchange?
7. Run a race. Our area has several 5K Races and Family Fun Runs coming up and most are appropriate for the whole family. Sign up!
8. Make a bird feeder. Smear a pinecone with peanut butter and roll it in bird seed or try our Soda Bottle Bird Feeder. Just make sure to get the non-sprouting seeds, or you'll be pulling all sorts of strange weeds next summer from your yard (trust me on this one, people!).
9. Read a good book. Out loud with the whole family. Pick a classic like Treasure Island or choose something newer like Harry Potter. Or share one of your childhood favorites, like Where the Red Fern Grows. It doesn't matter how old your kids are ... sharing a good book is still a great way to bond!
10. Rake up all the leaves together. Jump in them. Rake them up again, then bag them up, and make giant pumpkins!
11. Bake something. Try some Favorite Fall Recipes or just do a search of something like "pumpkin cookies" on the internet. Your house will be warmed and will smell oh-so-good. Deliver a box of goodies to an elderly neighbor or your local police station.
12. Get scared silly. From Fright Fest to Casola Farms Hayride of Terror, there’s lots to scare the pants off of you!
13. Watch a Halloween-type movie. Monsters Inc. or this year's prequel, Monsters University, are great for preschoolers (both rated G). The Nightmare Before Christmas or Hotel Transylvania (both rated PG) is fun for elementary school kids. Tweens and young teens will get a kick out of Coraline (rated PG) or The Addams Family (rated PG-13). Poltergeist (rated PG ... but in the days before PG-13 existed) or The Rocky Horror Picture Show (rated R) are fodder for older teens.
14. Make a big batch of chili. Double or triple your favorite recipe and freeze some for later. My whole family loved the Pumpkin Chili I made last weekend ... not too spicy for the kids but still warms the belly!
15. Go on a scavenger hunt. Make a list of different fall and outdoor items (suggestions: acorns, prairie dog hole in the ground, animal tracks, a tree with lots of leaves on it, a tree with no leaves on it, an ant, a feather, leaf on the ground, feather, rocks, and something that doesn't belong in nature) and take a walk, observing your surroundings in a new way. Keep track of who spots each item ... the person who finds the most gets to choose the next family activity.
16. Play a board game or card game. Although my kids love video games, they don't allow for much human interaction. As it turns out, they seem to enjoy an old-fashioned board game just as much. Break out an old classic like Monopoly, Yahtzee, or Uno to feel like a kid again yourself. Or try something new like Spot It!, Bananagrams, or HedBanz Game.
17. Build a puzzle together. Completing puzzles develops fine motor skills, develops hand-eye coordination, stimulates memory, and teaches children problem-solving skills and patience. They come in every style, type, age group, and skill level imaginable. And they don't need batteries! I'm in!
18. Start a new tradition! BOO someone! Put together a couple of baskets or bags with fun treats, add instructions, and secretly deliver to friends in your neighborhood.
What's your favorite fall activity? Leave a comment below and we'll add it to next year's list!
