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 yours and your kids' senses with delight.
Ice cream treats. We live in Florida, so while kids up north are putting on their fall jackets, the weather's always warm enough here to justify some cold treats!
Host a campfire cookout. 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.
Attend a football game. Gather your blankets and head to the stadium. High school, college, and pro football games are great fun for kids and parents alike. Take along a bag of popcorn and get ready to cheer on your team.
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. It's the perfect time of year for a walk in the woods. Look for animals scurrying about and don't forget your binoculars. From Sleeping Turtles Preserve to Myakka State Park, trails abound in Venice.
Visit a pumpkin patch. Begin a family tradition of picking your pumpkins from a patch. After cleaning out the pumpkins, make roasted pumpkin seeds, a yummy treat that kids love. Rinse the seeds, pat them dry, and coat with melted butter. Spread the seeds on a cookie sheet, sprinkle with salt, and bake at 350 until golden brown.
Bird migration watch. As fall fills the air, many birds begin to arrive in Venice from the north.
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 allow them to help design the garden. A hand-painted rock or two adds color until the spring blossoms bloom.
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 are profitable additions.
Horseback rides. Head to the stables and enjoy the fall colors on horseback. For horse rental listings visit http://www.horserentals.com/index.html.
Make a bird feeder or house. Kids will enjoy the carpentry experience and marvel at watching birds make use of the kids' 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.
Parades and marching bands. Find out when your local college or high school will hold its homecoming parade. Be sure to bring snacks, and enjoy the colorful floats, majorettes, cheerleaders, and marching band.
Venice Lifestyle wants to thank our models, Seth, 13, and Quinn, 8. Shot on location at Scoops.