The crisp autumn leaves, pumpkin spice lattes, and fall festivals can only mean one thing, fall! Fall is a great opportunity to gather friends and family together and do some activities together. It is the last few weeks of the year before the weather is so frigid that no one wants to leave the comfort of the house. The changing of the seasons is also a good reminder to slow down and spend time with those important to us before the business of the holiday seasons get the best of us. It can also be an exciting opportunity to get to know your neighbors, classmates, and teammates. You can invite them along on one of the fall fun activities below. We put these tips together for your family to enjoy the fall season. These are just some of our favorite things to do in the fall. Check out our Instagram and Facebook pages for pictures of our fall family adventures.
- Enjoy the great outdoors. Head out to the pumpkin patch or fall fest. Grab your family and friends and head out to a local pumpkin patch or fall fest. Research what activities each location has to offer and what the best fit for your group is. Also, check if they offer any discounts or specials. Many are done through social media. We love it when a fall fest or pumpkin patch has a corn maze. It is fun to split into teams and see who can get through it first. Fall can also be a fun time to organize a bonfire or go apple picking. Invite your child’s classmates, teammates or neighbors to get to know more families. Bring a camera and take lots of pictures. We love the new HP Sprocket which enables you to print out pictures right on the spot and doesn’t use ink. This is especially fun if you are with a big group and want people to have a memory they can take from the festivities. We love fall nights
2. Plan for a rainy day. With the change of seasons, usually comes rain. It is always good to have a rainy day back up plan should the weather alter outdoor festivities. We love planning a trip to a museum, aquarium or
children’s museum. It can be a great way to get some of that energy out and learn in a fun way! Many museums offer discounts during the fall as well and some even do free admission on certain days. Check out our Facebook page with photos from our recent trip to the San Diego Natural History Museum, San Diego Railway Museum and OC Discovery Cube. Our little guys had a blast checking out the dinosaurs, trains and learning the science behind ice hockey. We try and go first thing in the day. This usually means that there is less of a crowd and less people are bothered when our guys scream in excitement over the giant dinosaurs and sharks! We also try to wrap it up by naptime that way there are no meltdowns or we bring the strollers so that they can take a nap wherever we are. If going to a museum seems overwhelming with your group, many libraries offer story time, crafts and other activities daily and can be a great place for the little ones. Here is a list of the FREE museums for kids in San Diego during the month of October.
The boys’ at the San Diego Railway Museum.
3. Enjoy a Halloween party at a theme park. If you are concerned about trick or treating late at night, theme park Halloween events can provide a safe family environment. Check with the theme park’s website for age guidelines. Some parks have scarier interactions and are geared for older children and adults. Many parks encourage costumes, while some have guidelines as to what can and cannot be worn. They all usually offer candy stops throughout the park and some even have special entertainment and activities. Theme parks typically offer the Halloween festivities throughout the month of October and are usually the most crowded the weekend of Halloween. Some of our favorites include Legoland’s Brick or Treat, Disneyland’s Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween, SeaWorld, and if you like to be scared Universal Studios.
On the lawn at the San Diego Natural History Museum
4. Have a Pinterest party. There are so many amazing fall inspired décor items on Pinterest. Pick one or two ideas and have a girls’ or mom’s night in or have a family night. In addition to the traditional pumpkin carving, pumpkin painting has become a recent trend. It can as simple as painting your family’s last name or maybe words that you want to have as fun reminders in your house, “Faith,” “Love,” “Fun,” or “Hope,” are just some examples. It is good to remind yourself that you don’t have to be perfect. Just enjoy the time together as friends or family. If you are feeling competitive, you can take pictures of everyone’s creations and have friends vote for their favorite via social media.
5. Make some fall treats. Ask granny for her famous pumpkin pie recipe or try a new apple cinnamon cookie recipe out. The possibilities are endless. Bake them together as a family. Make a couple extra dozen to share with neighbors, a teacher or a new friend. You can even have your children write a special note to include. We also like to bake some extra and pop them in the freezer. That way when we have guests or feel like a special treat, we don’t have to break out the Kitchen aid!
Have another fall idea? We want to hear about it! Share it on our FB post.
