Autumn Bucket List: fun family friendly activities that won't break the bank

Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn (Elizabeth Lawrence)

Autumn is finally here, setting the trees aglow with golden colors and urging us to cozy up with a cup of tea or pumpkin spice latte, catch up on our reading lists, admire the leaves and turn on the ovens. We are overwhelmed by a desire for comfort and are dizzy with fear of missing out on all the seasonal cozy activities autumn offers before giving in to winter charms.

I put together a list of fun fall activities that our family enjoys and looks forward to every year and plan to print it out, frame it and let the kids tick them off as we indulge in them. Some activities can be spontaneous and take place every day, others need a bit of forethought and planning, but all yield a good reward in the end. Most autumn activities can be done together with family for little or no money at all. Kids always remember these simple times together, even when things don’t go exactly as planned. Hope you get inspired to make your own or make a start with mine.

The thing we found about the quality family time is that if we are not intentional about it - it just doesn't happen. Thus we try to single out one special activity each week and do our best to keep with the plan.

We live in the Garden State within an hour’s drive to the best NJ and Upstate New York farms that offer signature autumn activities such as hayrides, corn mazes, pumpkin decorating (and picking), scarecrow making, live animals, live music and food trucks and even early Halloween Fun. We always try to take the scenic route and enjoy the fall foliage as we head towards the farms and there is nothing better than a hot picnic and a chance to roam free for our urban family.

I am particularly fond of apple picking and hope to bake a pie, crumble or a cobbler with my bounty and maybe even dip one in a homemade caramel sauce or have them sliced and enjoy with honey. What do you like doing with your apples?

What’s on you Fall Fun Guide?