The first day of fall is here, and with it will come cooler, crisper mornings, wonderful, rich colors, and some of our favorite holidays. Fall is just about as good as it gets in the weather department, and that means families all over the country will be heading outdoors to enjoy the change of seasons. If you’re looking for some fun family activities to add to your fall “to do” list, we’ve got some great suggestions. Someone once said that autumn shows us the beauty of letting things go, and we think that’s a great mindset to enter into this most awesome of seasons.

Gather apples. Whether you have an apple tree in your own back yard or visit a local orchard, apple picking is a great way to get the whole family involved in a fun fall activity, from the youngest member to grandma and grandpa. Some local farms even offer canning and freezing classes to make the most of your gatherings.

Visit a corn maze. Wandering through a corn maze is a great way to (temporarily) lose yourself in the magnificence of a crisp autumn day. Teach the kids how to play Marco Polo so they know you’re never far away. Challenge each other to a race and see who can make it all the way through the twists, turns, and dead ends first.

Pick the family pumpkin. Visit a pumpkin patch and pick the family pumpkin – or several – to carve or use for pumpkin treats like roasted pumpkin seeds and pumpkin pie. Lots of farmers who host an annual fall pumpkin patch also offer a hayride at the end of your hunt, which can be a great way to end a day outdoors.

Go on a family hike. Choose a local hiking trail with a rewarding view at the end and pack a family picnic. Get some exercise, bond with the kiddos, and make a memory that just might turn out to be an annual event. Check to make sure you’re on a hiking trail, and one that isn’t reserved for mountain biking. It’s no fun to have to make way for a biker who suddenly appears as he races down the mountainside!

Take a drive through the country. One favorite fall family activity is enjoying the changing leaves while taking a relaxing drive. Pick a scenic route with some places along the way to stop and enjoy a mug of cider, piece of pumpkin pie, and a great view. Stop at a roadside fruit and vegetable stand and pick up some produce to enjoy once you get back home. Take some family photos with a scenic autumn backdrop and use them for this year’s photo Christmas cards.

Go horseback riding. Put on your favorite jeans, boots, and bandana and pack up the kiddos for an equine adventure. Hit the dusty trail with a tour guide at a local stable and spend some time seeing the world from the back of a horse.

Rent a cabin for the weekend. Get away from it all this fall and spend some time on a lake or in the woods at a secluded cabin. Unplug from the world of screens and electronics, build a campfire and roast marshmallows and hot dogs. Tell ghost stories! Have fun enjoying all that nature has to offer and celebrate the season with your loved ones.

Have a baking day. Bust out the aprons and wooden spoons, grab those favorite family cookbooks and enlist the help of everyone in the house. Don’t worry about the mess – remember what we said about fall teaching us the beauty of letting things go?

Teach your kids about canning. Did you have a summer garden this year? Do you have more tomatoes than you know what to do with? Take a day to reap the harvest from your garden and preserve it for the coming winter. Teach your children how to can, and when they’re enjoying the fruits of their labor by way of homemade tomato sauce and salsa this winter, you both can take pride in the fact that they helped make it all possible. Don’t forget we have great personalized canning labels to create great gifts.

Jump in a pile of leaves. This is an iconic fall activity that everyone should enjoy! Motivate the kids to help you rake the leaves with the promise of a pile-jumping good time when it’s all said and done. These are the moments your kids will remember.

No matter how you choose to celebrate the first day of the change of seasons, we hope you are surrounded by loved ones and as happy as Emily Bronte when she said, “Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.”