1. Go Apple Picking

The fall season is one of the best times of the year for many reasons. The nice change in cooler weather is a great break from the scorching summer heat. The beautiful changing leaves are so incredibly colorful. The aroma from baking and yummy fall candles fills the air. I could go on and on about why fall is so great, but on of the best things is that there are so many fun and festive activities you can do with the family this time of year. It’ll get you all in the mood for the season and will create some fun, lasting family memories. I guarantee the whole family will love these 10 fall activities.

1. Go Apple Picking

One of my family’s very favorite things to do in the fall is to go apple picking. It’s a great way to get fresh produce and a wonderful learning opportunity for the kiddos. You can show them the differences between good apples and bad apples and teach them how to properly pick the apples off of the tree. There’s also lots of fun things to do and see at apple farms. A lot of times they will have demonstrations on how to make certain kinds of apple treats like apple sauce or apple cider and they may even have games such as bobbing for apples that everyone can play. If you live in the city, you will have to take a drive out to the country for this activity, but trust me, if you make a full day out of it it’s well worth it and will soon become a family tradition every year.

2. Visit A Pumpkin Patch

Of course, one of the most iconic fall things to do is to visit a pumpkin patch. It’s simply a must when it comes to fall activities. It’s so fun seeing all of the different kinds and sizes of pumpkins. I like to get a variety of pumpkins and use them for decorating our home during the fall. Pumpkin patches, like apple farms, usually have fun things for the family to do, as well. A lot of times they have little rides your kids can go on and maybe even a little petting zoo. It’s a fun experience for the whole family!

3. Go On A Hay Ride

Hay rides may be hard to find, but if you have the chance to take one, you’ve got to do it! It’s not every day that you get to ride in a wagon on top of bunches of hay. If you’re lucky you’ll find hay rides at pumpkin patches or apple farms so you can simply hop on and take a ride while you’re already out visiting the area. I’m sure your kids will love seeing how a wagon works and of course will love watching the horses pull the wagon.

4. Attempt A Corn Maze

Doing a corn maze can be a really fun family activity. It gives you the opportunity to work together to make decisions on which ways you should go. It’ll feel so good for everyone when you finish the maze and make it to the end. It’s a great way to build trust and strength between your family members. Good luck, though, because some of these mazes can be really hard!

5. Make And Drink Apple Cider

One of my favorite seasonal drinks is hot apple cider. It’s a must for fall. You can find this drink often times at coffee shops during the fall season and you can even make it on your own! It makes your home smell incredibly yummy and will surely put everyone in the fall spirit when they walk into your home. I’ll warn you, though, it’s so good that it’s addicting. If you’re like me you’ll end up wanting it all year long.

6. Bake A Pie

Baking and the holidays go hand in hand, so baking a pie would be the perfect fall activity to do with the family. They are a lot of work, so the more help you have the better. My personal favorite are pumpkin and apple pie, but you and your family can make whatever sounds good to you. Find a great recipe and have at it. Even if you mess it up, you’ll still have fun memories making it together and playing in the kitchen.

Source: Russ via Flickr

7. Jump In A Leaf Pile

With all the fallen leaves on the ground, you’ve really got to take advantage of the opportunity to jump in a leaf pile. Take the kiddos outside one day, have them help you rake up all the leaves in the front yard and pretend like you’re just going to throw them away. Then, surprise them, run and jump into the leaf pile letting the leaves explode everywhere. It’ll definitely have your kids laughing, giggling, and jumping in their own leaf pile and spending lots of time outdoors for the day.

8. Roast Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds are one of my favorite fall foods for many reasons. They’re delicious, of course, but they’re also easy to make and easy to eat as a healthy little snack. When you’re carving out the pumpkins around halloween tell everyone to put their seeds in one bowl. As they are carving away, clean up the seeds in the sink, put them on a cookie sheet, sprinkle them with whatever seasonings you’d like, then pop them in the oven. There are so many flavor possibilities that you can make some healthy ones for you and some tasty sugary ones for the kiddos as well. That way everyone will enjoy eating them.

9. Make Caramel Apples

Caramel apples sure are a delicious fall treat. This fall season, instead of buying some to devour, make them at home. You can have a caramel apple party. Buy lots of different topping options so that everyone can really customize their apple and make it taste the way they want. Chocolate, white chocolate, sprinkles, nuts, heath bar, marshmallows, etc. It would be so fun to make these as a family and then eat them afterwards while watching a fun seasonal movie.

10. Collect Fallen Leaves And Acorns

One of the best things about fall are all the colorful leaves and acorns that fall on the ground. They are great for crafting with as well as decorating your home! Take your kiddos outside and collect as many as you possibly can. Then, come inside and start making things with them and decorating your home. They’re free and not to mention so beautiful and festive

Original article and pictures take http://lifeasmama.com/10-fun-and-festive-fall-activities-for-the-whole-family/ site