Fall is officially here! Although the global pandemic may be limiting us when it comes to activities and travel during this time, there are still plenty of safe and cost-effective things you and your family can do to stay entertained! To help plan a fun fall outing that’s both entertaining for the whole family and budget-friendly, we’ve compiled these suggestions:
Visit a farm
Take advantage of the fall harvest with a visit to a pumpkin patch or apple orchard. A lot of local farms offer family-friendly activities like hayrides, mazes, and petting zoos with minimal entrance fees. The pumpkin patch is a great way to collect pumpkins for Halloween and makes a great backdrop for family photos. The best part about farm visits is that they’re relatively safe; you’ll remain outside the entire time and it’s easy to social distance.
Picnic at the park or take a hike
Pull your kids away from their electronics and spend some quality time in the outdoors while the weather is still cooperating. Pack up your favourite snacks and drinks and plan a picnic at the park. Fall is also the perfect time to go hiking, as there are plenty of beautiful (and free) trails within Ontario you can explore.
Host a scavenger hunt
Create a fun and challenging scavenger hunt for your kids. You can do this around your house, backyard, or park. Use landmarks like trees, flowers, mailboxes, etc., and have a fun friendly competition with clues and riddles.
Have fun with foliage
The fall foliage, although beautiful, can leave quite a mess in your yard. Instead of collecting and discarding leaves after raking, have some fun with the kids by creating jumping piles. Discarded leaves can also make great DIY fall-themed decorations to have around your home.
Enjoy a movie night
Bring the theatre to your backyard with an outdoor movie night. Given the restrictions surrounding movie theatres, most streaming services allow users to rent brand new movies at reasonable prices. You can also invest in a projector, which are low maintenance and can give you an authentic movie theatre experience. All you need is a white sheet or canvas and you’re good to go. You can also recreate this inside the home during the winter months.
Gather around a bonfire
Have a fire pit? Fall is the perfect time to cozy up outdoors for a bonfire and s’mores! Grab a few chairs for a perfect night of bonding under the stars with your family.
Celebrate Halloween
This Halloween will likely look a bit different than in previous years, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a spook-tacular night. Here are some fun and safe ideas:
- Turn your home into a haunted house
- Make your costumes at home instead of purchasing them
- Hide candy around the house and plan a scavenger hunt
- Bake Halloween treats with your kids
- Host a virtual costume party with friends and relatives via Zoom
With a bit of planning, fall fun is easy to find without breaking the bank or putting your family at risk. Make this an autumn to remember!
