10 Must-Do Fall Activities!

By: Toronto4Kids

We greet fall with mixed emotions. Fall marks the transition from summer into winter but it's also the beginning something new; a season filled with unique sights, smells and tastes. Fall is one of the most beautiful seasons of the year. Why not capture the spirit of the season by taking in some great fall activities. It's the perfect time to get outside with the kids and explore all that fall has to offer!

1. Go Apple Picking

Apple picking is a wonderful family day trip option for those looking to enjoy a fun outing in the country. You'll find that most orchards offer much more than just apple-picking so look for an array of family activities such as guided tours and tractor or horse-drawn rides through the orchard. And, don't forget to sample (and purchase) yummy apple products such as cider, jellies, jams, pies and more! Click here for Ontario Orchards.

2. Jump in the Leaves

If you have a yard full of leaves that need raking, there are plenty of ways to play away a fall day at home: jump in the leaves! Rake them into a huge stack and leap in! Or, have a leaf fight. Equip everyone with rakes and gather large piles of leaves. Form teams and take your places behind a stack. Shower your opponents with handfuls of leaves until the stack is gone - the first team to lose its pile wins!

3. Go for a Fall Hike

Fall is an ideal time for exploring. Since kids love to be outside, hit the trails! Discovering some of the hiking trails in and around your community or at a local Conservation Park is a great way to spend time together. The air is crisp and cool, the trails are dry and the fall foliage colors are simply breathtaking. Click here for Hiking Trails in Ontario.

4. Visit a Fall Fair

Check out a fall fair in your community or take a day trip. From treats and old-fashioned kids' games, to midways, parades, petting zoos, entertainment, agricultural displays and horse and cattle shows, there will be something for everyone in the family to enjoy! Click here for a Schedule of Fall Fairs.

5. Make Your Own Halloween Costume

Before you know it, Halloween will be here! Have you figured out what your Halloween costume will be? If you have your costume picked out already, it's a great time to get started. If you're not sure what to do, the Internet offers up hundreds of ideas. You'll find lots of easy, creative ideas to make inexpensive homemade costumes for everyone in your family! Click here for Halloween Costume Ideas.

6. Visit a Farm

Farms are all about making fall memories and enjoying good clean country fun. Look for some special activities such as losing yourself in a Corn Maze, picking out your favourite pumpkin in the Pumpkin Patch or going on a Hay Ride. Or, shop for fall items like mums, fresh apples and cider, straw, gourds, and Indian Corn. Don't forget the miniature pumpkins - an all time kid favourite.

7. Collect Leaves

Fall is one of the most beautiful seasons of the year. Why not capture that beauty by collecting and preserving colored leaves. Go to your nearest park and round up a collection of fall leaves. Make sure they are dry and flat, then press them between two sheets of newspaper. Place heavy books on top of the leaves and allow them to flatten and dry for 24 hours. Place your leaves in an album. Then, have fun going online or through reference books to identify them!

8. Decorate a Pumpkin

Go to your nearest farm or pumpkin patch and gather the pumpkins of your choice. Pumpkins are no longer just for spooky Halloween jack-o-lanterns. Find decorating ideas for your home that go way beyond traditional Halloween pumpkin carving - add gourds, squash, and dried corn! Create a unique table centre piece for your holiday table, a flower arrangement, or beautify your front porch! Click here for 32 Pretty Pumpkins for Fall.

9. Fall Treats

Make fall treats at home with the kids. Try a traditional favourite or a new experimental recipe. Fall is all about old-fashioned fudge, gingerbread, pumpkin bread or pie, candy apples, and hot apple cider. Click here for Fabulous Fall Treats.

10. Plan a Harvest Dinner

Celebrate the Fall Harvest by shopping your local supermarket for newly arrived fall vegetables and fruits, like apples, pears, pumpkins, corn, and squash. Try something you haven't made before or cook up some seasonal favourites to chase those chilly fall days away!

Happy Fall everyone!

©Toronto4Kids - October 2008