Summer may be seen as the outdoor season, but autumn also offers lots of opportunities for outdoor fun. Try some of these family activities, and fill your kids' senses with delight.
Visit an apple orchard. Take your kids apple picking, and top off the day with cider and doughnuts, a hayride and end-of-the-year picnic.
Host a campfire cookout. If outdoor fires are permitted in your area, have the kids round up neighborhood friends for a cookout. Hot dogs, hot chocolate, marshmallows, and s'mores are a traditional way to top off the season. Have everyone take turns telling stories around the fire. If you have little ones, check-out library books with autumn themes to read to the youngsters.
Make a scarecrow. What’s fall without a scarecrow on your porch? It is easy to make. Just buy a couple of bails of straw, then have each family member gather some old clothes and hats. Stuff it using string to tie off the hands, feet and head.
Walk in the woods. As flies and mosquitoes retreat, it’s the perfect time of year for a walk in the woods. Look for animals scurrying about gathering for the long, cold months ahead. Don't forget your binoculars. Contact state and local parks for wooded trails near you.
Find a festival. Apple, pumpkin, fall harvest, and many more festivals are found this time of year featuring food, arts and crafts, kids’ games, pony and wagon rides, and more. Visit your local events website online to see what's coming up.
Bird migration watch. As fall fills the air, many birds begin to head south. Contact state and national parks or your Department of Natural Resources for recommended birding locations as well as bird festivals.
Shift through a cornfield maze. Kids delight in finding their way through cornfield mazes. To find a maze near you, visit CornMazesAmerica.com. Also, watch the entertainment section of your newspaper.
Plant perennials and bulbs. Let your kids try out their green thumbs. After all, fall is the time of year to plant perennials and flower bulbs. Let your kids choose some plants from the gardening store, and give them the opportunity to help design the garden. A hand-painted rock or two adds color until the spring blossoms bloom.
Take a railroad excursion. With the colors of fall blazing under bright blue skies, a scenic railroad excursion is a sure bet. Check your local travel agency for excursions nearby.
Hold a pumpkin sale. If you have little entrepreneurs, have them set up a pumpkin stand in your front yard. Find an orchard where pumpkins are cheap, then have your kids purchase a small stock to sell for a higher price. Hot cocoa, baked pumpkin seeds or doughnuts make good commercial additions to the stand.
Horseback rides. Head to the stables and enjoy the fall colors on horseback. For horse rental listings by state visit HorseRentals.com or look in the yellow pages under "stables."
Make a bird feeder or house. Kids will enjoy the carpentry experience and marvel at watching birds make use of their creations. Kits are available in hobby stores and online for making bird feeders. To make one from scratch, visit your library and check out a book on how to build a birdhouse, or find free instructions on the Internet.
