A Family's "Must Do's" for Fall

by Polly Schlafhauser

I absolutely love fall. Crisp air, crunchy colorful leaves, and the
smell in the air I can't quite describe. To me it is the best
time
of the year, and if I could I would have a year of falls and forgo
the springs, summers, and winters. With my love of fall comes my
enthusiasm for adding lots of family activities to our already busy
calendar. I can't stand the thought of passing on an opportunity
to
visit the apple orchards and cider mills, hopping on the hay wagon
for a ride through the pumpkin field, or just a quiet walk through
the park enjoying the beautiful leaves. I love it all, but
unfortunately like many of today's families we can't possibly
fit it
all in and maintain our sanity at the same time. So reluctantly we
have narrowed our list down and try every year to do what we
consider the "must do's". Here's our list,
what's on yours?

1. Bury Ourselves in Leaves-We start by giving everyone big
enough a rake and together work all the leaves into one large
gigantic pile. Once the leaves are piled high, we hold contests to
see who can make the biggest and funniest jump into the leaves or
take turns burying each other.

2. Visit a Farm -Many farms are now opening their barn doors to
families during the fall months and hosting activities such as cow
milking, sheep sheering, butter making, and yes even those back
breaking hay rides. This is a favorite with the kids.

3. Take a Hike - We take advantage of the cooler weather and
beautiful foliage and hike through the woods. We collect leaves and
acorns to save in a memory box, press into a family scrap book, or
use to adorn a family totem pole.

4. Visit a Corn Maze - Many farmers are converting their
harvested corn fields into corn mazes and inviting families to find
their way out. This is a great activity for families with older kids
who love to explore.

5. Make Apple Cider and Caramel Apples - What better way to
enjoy the apples of the season than with warm cider and apples
buried in caramel topping? These are great for those cooler fall
evenings as an after dinner snack.

To learn more about these great activities and others, visit
www.familieswithpurpose.com/fallactivities.

Polly Schlafhauser is Founder and President of Families with
Purpose, a website dedicated to helping busy families enhance their
family life. To subscribe to their FREE newsletter or to learn
about more great family activities, visit their website at
www.familieswithpurpose.com.