10 Outdoor Fall Activities

Today I’m bringing you a list of 10 ways to get active outdoors this fall! With the end of the summer slowly making it’s way, the though of cooler air and brightly colored leaves is starting to make me squeal in anticipation for some of my favorite outdoor activities. Gone are the pesky mosquitoes and humidity that make pretty much anything outdoors impossible most of the summer. In comes the crisp cool air of fall, and with that the chance to once again get outdoors and be active.

This time of the year is often about readjusting schedules. Kids are back in school, college classes have started back up. The sun is setting earlier and earlier each night, and the mornings seem to have just a touch of coolness that makes you question your summer wardrobe selection. Now is the time you can start making your outdoor activity list for fall, you have plenty of weeks to check off these fun activities. Getting outdoors is a great way to connect with nature.

Adding in low impact leisurely exercise is also amazing for your overall health and well being. Not every exercise has to be high intensity or a 10 mile run. Sometimes slowing down is exactly what the body needs. Take these next few months as an opportunity to connect with friends and family outdoors all while enjoying the crisp cool air. And if you are lucky, you might even get some fresh apple cider, pumpkin spice everything and create some amazing memories!

Dave and I make it a point to go on long leisurely walks every night that we don’t go to the gym. We go explore different parts of our neighborhood or nearby neighborhoods or parks. But soon, I will be begging to instead embark on my list of must do fall activities. We are lucky enough to live about an hour and a half from some amazing hiking trails. Waterfalls and all. I can’t wait until the leaves start changing and we get to go exploring. Just remember to pack healthy snacks, like these pumpkin spice trail mix bars or baked oatmeal pumpkin bars to fuel you adventures. No one wants to hang out with their hangry friends on the side of a mountain or in the middle of a corn maize!

Top 10 outdoor activities for fall:

Corn Maize – this is a must for us! Dave and I did a corn maize last year and it was the highlight the month for us!! Dave has already stalked the website to see when they open, it’s such a great time! Get a team together and see who can get through the maize first!

Apple Picking – if you are lucky enough to live near an orchard, this is such an awesome way to spend the morning or afternoon. And of course the bonus is apples for days. I never had any problem eating my way though bushels of apples. Some of my favorite uses for apple include: homemade apple butter, apple bundt cake, apple pancakes, apple cinnamon overnight oats, or my favorite, spiced apple and oat pancakes with homemade cinnamon vanilla caramelized walnuts!

Hiking – Waterfall trails, your local parks, anywhere with a scene. We have trails all around and once the leaves start changing, even those trails you see all the time turn into something amazing! Be sure wear proper shoes and be wary of trails after the rain. The leaves can get incredibly slippery and make trails more difficult than advertised online. Always be prepared with water and a snack and let someone know your intended hike, especially if you expect to lose cell service.  Also make a note of what time the trail closes, you don’t want to get locked in (yes, this is from personal experience).

Biking – mountain biking or just getting out on your bike again. During the spring and fall it’s invigorating to ride your bike. Remember to check the tire pressure, your brakes and to wear a helmet. Take water and a snack if you plan to ride thing over 10 miles round trip.

Pumpkin Patch – Who doesn’t love the pumpkin patch! This year, get on your hiking boots and go pick your own pumpkin! This is a great full body exercise and I bet you won’t have to do an arm workout for days if you pick the right sized pumpkin! And don’t forget, those seeds are mighty tasty, so don’t throw them out as you carve your pumpkins! P.S. please note that the pumpkins you pick are not the same pumpkins you make pumpkin puree out of. Those are called sugar pumpkins and they are much smaller!

Haunted Walking Tour – this is something new on my list this year! When I went to Seattle we tried to do a walking ghost tour but it was sold out. Apparently Charlotte has some great haunted history, but I’m always afraid that I won’t want to walk around in the dark once I found out about it lol! But I would love to make my way down to Charleston or Savannah to do a ghost tour sometime soon! Notice I did not include haunted corn maize or haunted house because I”m a chicken and these activities scare the crap out of me. But if that’s your thing, it’s a great way to get the blood pumping and your adrenaline up!

Visit local national parks/monuments – once school is back in session, these tourist attractions tend to attract a lot less tourists, even on the weekend. So if you have been waiting for the perfect time to check out a national park or historical sight nearby, now is the time to check it out! Do some research before you go but be open to learning new things as well!

Canoeing – just because the air is getting cooler doesn’t mean that you cant’ get out on the water. Dave and I hope to get out to the White Water Center again and do some canoeing this fall! We are hoping that once the summer heat is over, there will be less boats on the water so this will be a calmer experience.

Raking leaves – fun? No probably not, Huge calorie burner, you bet! This could also include trimming/pruning trees and bushes, planting fall flowers, installing a new patio (ahem DAVE) or just good old raking leaves! Don’t forget to keep that core engaged and to stretch for at least 10 minutes after this repetitive movement.

Visit the Zoo/Petting Zoo – this has been on my adventure list all summer. Fall is a great time to get to the zoo and see the animals. The air is cooler, the animals can spend more time outdoors without being exhausted from the heat. everyone is happy.

So I’m curious to know, what’s on your fall adventure list?

Peace, pancakes and all my love!

Sam