Along with fall comes crisp weather, changing leaves, spooky season, and a plethora of fun, seasonal activities for you to enjoy with your boo (pun-intended). I’ve compiled ten of my favorites below in hopes that they will help you create the perfect balance of pumpkin-spiced and Halloween-haunted in your life this season.
Go Pumpkin Picking
…..enough said. How much more autumnal active can you get? Aleah and I have a certain distaste for any children that aren’t related to us by blood, so rise and shine to beat the families to the patch to secure the best gourd and mitigate the headache of little munchkins.
Test your Navigation Skills at a Corn Maze
Corn mazes have always both interested and a”mazed” me. I’ve always found it enjoyable to be challenged based solely on “hey, haven’t we been here before” sort of scenarios, mostly because I pride myself on attention to detail. The amazement part comes back to my own childhood. Pre-drones, how did farmers/artists cut such intricate pictures and portraits into a corn field…… coordinates, helicopters or hot air balloons pilots with radios???? Regardless, they always put on quite a good show of talent and make sure you experience the entire maze with activities along the way.
Hit the Hay (Ride)
Taking a gold-ol’ hayride is yet another popular childhood past time that I highly recommend. It’s pretty safe to say that most traditional pumpkin farms will provide transportation to their pumpkin field that will involve the opportunity to sit atop some hay and be towed by tractor. If you are unable to find a pumpkin farm with a hay ride, try your luck on a haunted hay ride instead. Watch out for ghouls and chain saws though, they are always lurking in the corn!
Relax at a Winery
Pack up some cheese and crackers and visit your favorite local winery, or make a day trip out of it and set out to discover a new one! There’s nothing better than sitting by a crackling outdoor fire with a nice bottle of wine on a crisp fall afternoon. Bonus points if you find one that boasts live music too.
Pick Apples at a Cidery
Find an apple orchard that uses their own apples to make cider! You can pick your own apples for a homemade apple pie while sipping on some dry apple-based booze. What could be better? FYI, after years of mooching off of our grandmas for delicious holiday pies, we decided to try our hand at an apple pie, and (surprisingly) we crushed it! Like absolutely killed it. Whole pie gone in 2 days killed it (not to gloat).
Have a Scary Movie Marathon
Enjoy a spooky night in filled with your favorite scary movies. Pop some popcorn, cozy up under a blanket and get ready for a dose of nostalgia with your S/O, or better yet, introduce them to a movie they’ve never seen before. You’ll know where all the scares are, but they won’t!!!!
Check Out a Spooky Amusement Park
Aleah was lucky enough to score some tickets to Busch Gardens this year for Howl-O-Scream, and this event did not disappoint. I had never been to an amusement park for Halloween festivities before this year, and wow was I missing out. Busch Gardens did an amazing job transforming the park into the perfect scare-topia after dark. My personal recommendation, go early in the game (when the park starts to transition into a haunted playland), and if you do end up going closer to Halloween, buy the fast pass to beat the lines because these events are wildly popular.
Pack a Fall Picnic
I know spring and summer are the seasons that come to mind with regard to picnic weather, but hear me out. Fall means no pests, not worrying about cold food needing a cooler, nice cushiony fall foliage to sit on top of, and the beautiful scenery of the season’s change. Convinced!? Hit your favorite park and enjoy some outdoor dining under a canopy of multi-colored leaves.
Go on a Leaf Peeping Road Trip
As National Park Service season pass holders, we make sure to take full advantage of our local national parks and see as many red, yellow, and orange painted landscapes as possible. Lucky for us, Shenandoah National Park is close by and is a leaf peeper’s dream. People come from all over the country to visit this park so don’t be surprised when you find yourself sitting in a line of cars to enter. Trust me though, it’s worth it every time.
Take a Hike
This one pairs perfectly with the previous date idea. Walking through the woods surrounded by brightly colored leaves while hand-in-hand with the one you love is pure magic. I love a lush green summer forest as much as the next guy, but experiencing the way a small gust of wind sends colorful vegetation fluttering down towards is a truly captivating sight that can only be seen during the fall. Plus, with bare trees comes great sight lines. Talk about unobstructed views – and great photos!
