With the bright colors of changing leaves and pumpkin spiced everything, it’s easy to love fall. A fall bucket list can help you make the most of this magical season.
Unfortunately, deciding what to do can be tricky with many fantastic options. If you’re not careful, you may even experience decision fatigue.
What items should be on your fall bucket list? Let’s dive in and see!
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Be sure to read Your Guide to a Stunning Fall Foliage Road Trip before the season ends!
When Is Fall?
The official start of fall is the autumnal equinox, which occurs around September 22 or 23. On the opposite side, it officially ends on December 21 or 22. However, like the other seasons, many people ignore the calendar for the start and end dates of seasons.
You may experience weather or characteristics of a season weeks ahead of thef official start of a season. For example, depending on the location, leaves often change in northern states well before the start of fall. In addition, crisp mornings and significantly reduced hours of sunlight are also typical.
It’s important to remember that this assumes you’re reading this from the Northern Hemisphere. Seasons in the Southern Hemisphere are opposite compared to what many of us in the United States have grown accustomed to. So, fall in the Southern Hemisphere is typically from March 20 or 21 to June 21 or 22.
How Do I Make A Fall Bucket List?
The first step to creating your fall bucket list is to have a brainstorming session. Bringing in other voices to help with this step is often beneficial. If you’re planning a family bucket list, it’s a good idea to rope them into the process. This can help ensure everyone can contribute and provide input into how they’ll soon spend their time.
Remember that no idea is too big or small during your brainstorming session. You’re simply putting down these ideas. You’re not setting anything in stone or ink. Think about activities or events you’ve enjoyed in the past or that you previously wished you had done or attended.
When writing down events, make sure you consider your calendar and the dates of the events. Unfortunately, conflicts can and do occur. Prioritizing or ranking each idea or item can help narrow down your list. Sadly, you won’t have time for everything, and you’ll have to eliminate some things.
Make it visual once you’ve narrowed your list to a manageable number of activities or goals. Use your graphic design skills to create a fun poster for your fridge or other highly-visible location. You want it to be front and center, so it’s a constant reminder of what you want to do.
Fall Bucket List Ideas for This Autumn
What are some things you should put on your fall bucket list? Here are some of our favorite ideas to help get you started. Although, check local calendars for events and happenings specific to where you live.
Go Apple Picking
Apple picking is one of the most traditional fall activities to enjoy. Not only should it be on your fall bucket list, but it’s likely on many other people’s, too. You can’t get much fresher than plucking your fruit straight from the tree.
Many apple orchards also have gift shops selling baked or canned goods with fruit harvested from the orchard. It could be your chance to grab pies, homemade applesauce, or a jug of cider. This is also an excellent opportunity to snag apples for those caramel apples you’ll crave soon.
Bake Fall Treats
Once you finish picking apples, use your haul to bake some fall goodies. This is one of our favorite fall activities because we love the smell of fall. Cinnamon, pumpkin spice, and apple in the air create a heavenly aroma.
Some popular fall sweets are apple pies, pumpkin bread, and spiced cookies. At the same time, nothing wakes us up better than a warm apple cider donut with our morning cup of coffee. So, gather your ingredients and get to baking. Let us know if you need anyone to sample your treats!
Visit a Pumpkin Patch
Another popular activity that should be on your fall bucket list is visiting a pumpkin patch. This is your chance to pick your pumpkins straight from the vine. Walk through the fields and put your search skills to use while looking for the perfect pumpkin.
Most pumpkin patches these days offer more than just pumpkins. Many have added activities, like corn mazes, hayrides, and petting zoos. In addition, it’s also common to find treats and other delicious goodies for sale. How much time and money you can spend at a pumpkin patch may surprise you.
Carve Pumpkins
No fall bucket list is complete without carving pumpkins. This is your opportunity to express yourself and show off your art skills. It can be an excellent opportunity to gather your friends, family, and loved ones for a fun evening.
You can find stencils and templates online for practically anything you want to carve into the side of your pumpkin. Whether you want to carve a spooky, silly, or traditional jack-o-lantern, this can be an entertaining activity. Ensure everyone takes safety seriously, especially when using sharp objects like knives.
Visit a Corn Maze
Don’t make the mistake of underestimating the difficulty of a corn maze. While some of these creations feature intricate designs, even those with simple layouts can be very challenging. Finding your way through the twists and turns can be thrilling, challenging, and slightly terrifying, especially at night.
If you add this activity to your fall bucket list, do it early in the season. The corn will dry out, and frustrated participants will often trample paths, looking to escape. While this may not ruin the experience, it’s best if you don’t have to worry about it.
Take a Scenic Drive
A scenic drive is an excellent option if you want to experience fall without getting out of your vehicle. This can make it easy to appreciate the vibrant colors of the fall foliage and how they paint the surrounding landscapes.
The best scenic drives include viewpoints and take you through small towns. During fall, many of these charming towns feature local markets or festivals. These can be great spots to grab a warm pumpkin spice latte, apple cider, or other delicacy before returning to the road.
Jump in a Leaf Pile
No matter how young or old you feel, you’re never too old to jump in a pile of leaves. Despite this, raking leaves can be more challenging than it looks, especially when you get a large pile. If you have access to a leaf blower, it makes the task significantly more manageable.
Jumping in a pile of leaves can be fun for all ages. In addition, it can make for an excellent photoshoot. Grab a camera and snap photos as everyone jumps and tosses colorful leaves. You can then frame these pictures and turn them into decorations for next year.
Visit a Haunted House
For some people, visiting a haunted house is an item on their fall bucket list every year. The adrenaline rush of getting the daylights scared out of you can be exhilarating. You can find professionally designed haunted houses, haunted forests, and a variety of other spooky situations.
When signing up for a haunted house, know what you’re getting yourself into. You don’t want to arrive expecting Casper the Friendly Ghost and end up with blood, guts, and zombies. Some of these experiences can be rather intense and test the limits of your fear threshold. If you’re worried about having nightmares, stick to family-friendly haunted houses.
Decorate Your Living Space
No matter where you live, decorating your living space for fall should be on your bucket list. Swap out the bright colors of fall with the cozy colors of fall. Items like throw pillows and throw blankets can have a considerable impact.
Don’t forget to consider adding some earthy tones and textures to coffee or dining room tables. Dried leaves, pinecones, and pumpkins are fitting for the season. This is also an excellent opportunity to pull out those scented candles to fill your home with the smells of autumn.
One of the great things about fall decorations is that you can start small and work your way up year after year. Spreading out your purchases can make it easier to decorate your living space without breaking the bank.
Watch Halloween Movies
A great way to end the day is to enjoy a Halloween movie. This is an opportunity to chow down on some of the treats you’ve baked or purchased and snuggle up with a loved one. When selecting the movie, make sure you consider the audience.
Some popular Halloween movies include It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, Hocus Pocus, and Beetlejuice. If you’re looking for slightly scarier options, consider The Shining, Poltergeist, or The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Turning the lights on or off is entirely up to you, no matter what movie you pick.
What is Your Favorite Fall Activity?
Now that you’ve read our suggestions, it’s time to start creating your fall bucket list. Think through what memories you want to make and how you want to remember the season. Use your list as a reminder to complete any items you’ve marked as goals. You don’t want to have any regrets once Old Man Winter arrives.
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Last update on 2024-11-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
