Livin’ it up while the leaves fall
It’s time to open your windows and welcome the breeze — fall is officially here!
This is the short-lived sweet spot between summer’s heat and winter’s chill, so make the most of it with your family this year. Explore the outdoors, experience new autumnal adventures and be sure to squeeze in all the go-to fall activities, like:
Get lost in a corn maze
If you’ve never been to a proper corn maze on a farm post-harvest, make this the year you go. Load up the family and find the biggest corn field you can, split up into teams and see who makes it out first! Usually, farms that offer corn mazes have an on-site pumpkin patch, hay rides, lots of family photo ops, apple cider and kettle corn — some even have rides for kids. Make a day of it and bring home a few pumpkins to carve come Halloween.
Take a road trip
Wherever you can find clear, blue skies and vibrant, technicolor trees — go there. Get in the car and drive! Take a little excursion to see those red, gold and orange leaves in all their glory. Pack a picnic and a big blanket to spread out on the grass. And be sure to bring layers, too, because you never know what fall weather might do. That sweater you put on in the morning might be all wrong once the afternoon sun is high, but you’ll probably want it back after dark.
Tackle some fall cleaning (It’s a thing!)
It doesn’t need to be quite as intense as the spring deep-clean, but fall is a great time to clear out closets, stash all the summer clothes, toys and outdoor gear, and make way for boots, jackets, scarves, heavy coats and all your other cold-weather essentials. Take an afternoon to clean the pantry, toss expired goods to make room on the shelves, and restock all the go-to ingredients for comfort soups and stews. When the temperature drops and the mood strikes, you’ll have everything you need.
Try tailgating
Even if you’re not wild about football, everyone loves firing up the grill and hanging out with family and friends! Find a spot outside the stadium, invite the whole crew, grill up some burgers and dogs, fill the coolers and put on a team jersey — everyone will think you’re a pro.
Schedule family photos
There’s something about autumn sunshine, falling leaves — and boot season — that make it just right for new family portraits. Do a bit of online research and book a session with a photographer who knows how to make the most of it. Now isn’t the time for a studio shoot — go outside and capture pictures of your kids jumping in the leaves. Put on a light scarf and smile under that radiant, fall foliage. Bring a few pumpkins for props. Include your dog. You’ll love the results — and fall photos make great Christmas gifts for grandparents!
Start falling for fall!
Each season might claim three full months on the calendar, but somehow autumn always ends too soon. Your window of opportunity is short, so don’t waste a single chance. Get out there and enjoy everything the season has to offer, even if it wears you out a bit. The chill season is right around the corner.
