Parenting can be so frustrating – especially in the fall when your kids are back to school.  On weekends, they need a break and beg for creative ideas on something fun to do. 

Here are ten ideas specifically targeted to the crisp air and crackling leaves of fall weather:  

• Attend a college football game or have an at-home mini tailgating party

• Sneak in some history lessons at a local HARVEST FESTIVAL.  Many historic farms host events where they demonstrate horses plowing fields, antique tractors, tractor pulls, hayrides, craft demonstrations, authentic open-fire cooked foods and folk entertainment.  Children are often bored on tours of historic homes – but not during festivals

• Go apple picking and then bake a homemade apple pie.

• Go to an APPLE FESTIVAL.  Not only apples and cider, but also pie eating contests, apple peeling contests, apple butter making, tons of apple flavored foods, parades and wagon rides out through the orchards.  Many historic farms hold this event yearly.

• Visit a bakery and try fresh baked pumpkin bread.

• Eat your way through a PUMPKIN FESTIVAL or PUMPKIN PATCH.  These events feature pumpkin contests (like the largest, rolling pumpkins, pumpkin pie eating contests).  Take a hayride out to the fields and pick out your favorite pumpkin – right off the vine.Rides and entertainment are often intertwined with vendors selling the unusual pumpkin flavored cotton candy, burgers, chips and ice cream!

• Make a scarecrow for your yard.

• Plan a day of fun at a CORN MAZE and STRAW PLAYLAND.  Many public farms host these from September through October.  The cornfields and barns are converted into mazes and playlands with chutes and slides that add that Fall touch to normal play.  Some mazes are tricky and other paths are stroller accessible (or, at least kid-sized).  Parents, be sure to remember your cameras for the numerous photo ops!

• Make a list of all the things you’re thankful for.

• Still craving more adventure? Most kids absolutely love participating in annual BATTLE RE-ENACTMENTS.

Learn about the early 1800s frontier life.  Period, costumed townsfolk and soldiers “set up shop” amongst Native American Indian camps.  See fur trading posts, kids’ infantry, barbershop medicine, and old-fashioned games.  Areas of woodcarving, blacksmiths and spinning and weaving surround demonstrations of muzzle loading, shooting and tomahawk throwing.  Open hearth cooking with period foods are for sale (ex. Kettle popcorn and chips, cider, stew, barbecue, buffalo burgers, dumplings, ham & beans, birch tea and Indian fry bread.

Whatever you do, the countryside is full of hundreds of family events and attractions – you’ll never run out of ideas this fall! >click here< for KIDS LOVE TRAVEL guide examples – by clicking on the Look Inside the Books)!