Fall is without a doubt my favorite season. As the season changes and the air gets crisper, there’s a certain magic that swirls amidst the falling leaves and the misty mornings. The energy when Autumn arrives is different than that of any other and it’s fun to kick off the holiday season with an abundance of fall fun. This is my list of the best fall activities for you to do if you want to make the most out of the season. Try one or try them all, the season is your oyster!
15 Fall Activities to Keep You Busy All Autumn Long
From apple picking to Friendsgiving and costume contests to corn mazes, pumpkin season wouldn’t be complete without many of these fall activities. Pick a few or use this post as your Fall Bucket List, the autumn memories are just waiting to be made.
Visit a Pumpkin Patch
Whether you are picking up pumpkins to decorate your house, carve or eat, a visit to the pumpkin patch is a must for any wish list of fall activities. Whether you choose the little local patch around the corner from your house or a bigger venue with other attractions, you are sure to have fun basking in the autumn air. Some local favorites around Monterey are Earthbound Farm Stand, Borchard Farms and Swank Farms.
Carve Pumpkins
Be sure to add a few carving pumpkins to your wagon when you visit the pumpkin patch, because fall wouldn’t be fall-ing without this age old nostalgic tradition. Is it just me or is it impossible to not feel like a kid again every time the pumpkin carving tool kit comes out and the Jack-o-Lanterns get lit?
Host a Pie BakIng Contest
Hosting a pie baking contest is definitely one of the yummiest fall activities on this list. Gather your besties and invite anyone willing to bake to bring a homemade pie. Set up an anonymous tasting and have every taster vote for their favorite. Of course, a contest wouldn’t be complete without a prize!
Read a Fall Book (Fireside)
The book girlies will love this recommendation. If you are anything like me, you love a good seasonal read (check out my fall TBR for the ultimate list of autumnal novels). There is something practically magic about fall vibes in book form read by the fireplace. Light a pumpkin candle, grab a cozy blanket, and start reading your heart out!
Get Spooked
Haunted houses, ghost tours, and more! Would Halloween be complete without some sort of spooky adventure? You can seek out the paranormal or take a jaunt through a man-made fright factory, just be ready to scream. Some local favorites around Monterey are the Ghost Tour of Old Monterey and the “Unhinged: Hotel” tour of the Winchester Mystery House.
Have a Fall Movie Marathon
Craving autumn vibes but don’t want to leave your house? No problem, this one’s for you! Gather your group (family, friends, whoever) and have everyone pick out their favorite fall film for the ultimate movie marathon. Put an air mattress in front of the television, bring out all your best blankets, and get the popcorn popper ready. Wear pumpkin jammies to make the evening feel extra special.
Go Apple Picking
Apple pie, apple cider, apple fritters, apple butter: Fall is filled with apples, so why not go pick them yourself? This was my first year going out to a farm to pick apples and now I don’t know how I got through autumns past without this fresh air experience. My favorite local apple picking spot: Gizdich Ranch!
Make Caramel Apples
You went apple picking, now what to do with all those apples? You can try your hand at all sorts of different apple goodies, or you can just dip them in caramel! Make it a fun event for a group by pulling out all the festive toppings (chocolate chips, graham crackers, M&Ms, white chocolate, Oreos, nuts, etc.) and let everyone create their own caramel apple masterpiece.
Get Lost In a Corn Maze
Isn’t it a thrill to get lost amidst the corn stalks? This fall to-do is perfect for all ages, creating exciting memories for children and adults alike. Most big pumpkin patches will also have a corn maze, so bundle the two fall activities in the same visit to maximize the autumnal fun.
Visit a Halloween Themed Park
Depending on your fall activities budget, you may or may not want to go all out for this one. Regardless, from Gilroy Gardens to Halloween Time at Disneyland and Knott’s Scary Farm to Fright Fest at Six Flags, Halloween themed parks are aplenty in California during fall.
Make Apple Cider Donuts
You surely had an apple cider donut during your visit to the farm for apple picking, and there is nothing better than this sweet treat on a crisp autumn day. Now it’s time to make your own! If you need a vegan recipe, Chloe Coscarelli has an incredible one for delicious apple cider doughnut holes in her Chloe’s Vegan Desserts cookbook (my absolute favorite for vegan desserts).
Gather for Friendsgiving
When “Friendsgiving” first became a thing, I was immediately sold. What a fun way to show your gratitude to the friends who have become your chosen family, right? You can feast on the traditional Thanksgiving offerings, order pizza, or have a harvest brunch, but the importance is in the people you surround yourself with.
Go on a Camp Trip
Autumn and camping go hand-in-hand in my mind, so it’s one of the first fall activities I thought of when curating this list. The leaves are changing, the air is crisp, and fireside s’mores simply taste better in autumn. Disconnect from the outside world and make a fall camp trip an annual tradition for your family or friends.
Host a Costume Contest
Whether you are throwing an epic Halloween party or an office potluck, no Halloween celebration would be complete without a costume contest. Pick a theme or let everyone fly to the beat of their own pumpkin, but encourage everyone to come in their costumed best and have everyone vote for their favorite. Don’t forget to have a prize for the winner!
Hike Through Changing Leaves
Out here on the coast of Monterey County, we experience some of our best weather during autumn. So what list of fall activities would be complete without including a hike through the changing leaves? You may be partial to the budding blooms of spring on your hikes, but there is something special about hiking amongst the autumnal hues and falling leaves.
Putting together this list of fall activities to keep you busy all autumn long has me itching to get out there and smell the pumpkins! So far I’ve crossed a couple of these fall activities off my autumn bucket list, but I’ve got several more planned for the coming weeks. I hope this list inspires you to have some autumnal adventures and encourages you to make the most of this beautiful season.
xoA
Over To You
What are some of your favorite fall activities? Are any of the fall activities I have mentioned in this post on your autumn bucket list? Have suggestions for fall activities I may not have included? Leave me a comment below and let me hear all about your fall plans.
