One of the best ways to add some fun and variety to your routine is to create a family bucket list that you all work towards completing.  Let everyone help think of ideas and watch the excitement build as you work towards crossing things off your list!

A Fall Family bucket list is a great way to get everyone to enjoy each day rather than just longing for the holidays to get here.  Feel free to add holiday items into your list, just aim to keep activities focused on fun things and not just adding to the anticipation of Christmas.

To help you get some ideas, here are some of our favorite family friendly fall bucket list items.  Even better, most of them are free!

Fall Family Bucket List

1. Take a Scenic Drive
   Head out to see the leaves change, or just find a pretty backroads to explore.  You don’t need to have a destination in mind, just head out to see the scenery.
2. Attend a Local Football Game
   This doesn’t need to be the pricey college or nfl game, look up local high school games and spend a night cheering on the local school.  There’s nothing like the Friday Night lights.
3. Volunteer
   A great way to remember what you have to be thankful for this November is helping out others in your community.  Here are some great options for volunteering with kids.
4. Visit a Local Craft Fair
   We see lots of handmade and craft fairs pop-up every fall.  Head out for a fun Saturday morning and see what local artisans are making.  If the budget is tight you can just window shop and still a great time.
5. Go For a Bike Ride
   Take advantage of clear weather and enjoy a family bike ride.  Hunt for local parks with bike friendly trails or just head out around the neighborhood.  When was the last time the whole family went riding together??
6. Visit An Art Museum
   In honor of National Art Museum day on November 9th, it’s time for a family field trip!  If you can’t make it on the 9th that’s okay.  Check local galleries for offers they might be running for discounted entry (like free entrance every first Saturday of the month for Bank of America members).
7. Take New Family Photos
   Wether you send out Christmas cards or not, you should always take the chance to get more family photos.  Use a tripod and take them yourself or enlist the help of a friend to get some fun photos and memories.  Here’s some tips for making easy family photos.
8. Go On A Nature Walk
   One of the best ways to enjoy fall is outside!  Find some trials in your area and plan a nature walk (or hike) that everyone can enjoy.  We love the AllTrails app for finding trails that are good for all ages.
9. Make Leaf Art
   Gather them on your nature walk, or make a special leaf hunt just to find fun leaves for craft projects.  Let the kids press their favorites in a book, create leaf prints, there are lots of fun and easy projects out there.
10. Bake Something New
    Fall baking should totally be a thing!  If you want something fall themed try out a savory zucchini or date bread or even ginger molasses cookies.
11. Play Glow Stick Hide & Seek
    November means that it’s dark by 5 pm… take advantage of extra hours of darkness and play a fun family game of glow stick hide & seek.  Hide glow sticks (like a tricky easter egg hunt) and then send folks outside to find them!
12. Try Apple Bobbing
    Let me warn you, apple bobbing isn’t as easy as it sounds!  All you need is a bag of apples and an ice chest or large bucket.  Make sure to do this outside, but be ready to laugh so hard you cry.
13. Complete a Puzzle
    Whether you go big or pick one the little ones can handle, having a family puzzle night can be a lot of fun.  The phones are down and everyone is focused on the goal.
14. Donate to A Food Bank
    Gather up extra dry goods and pantry items and make a trip to donate to your local food bank.
15. Go Ice Skating
    Enjoy the cooler weather with a classic cold weather sport.  For younger kids ask the rink if they have “walkers” to help new skaters learn without falling.
16. Have a Bonfire
    Go big or just sit around the fire pit, take an evening and plan to hang out around the fire.  Take it a step further with s’mores.
17. Read Aloud a Book
    Take it one chapter at a time or read a smaller book all in one evening.  It’s something your kids will love and probably ask for again and again.  Here’s a list of our favorite read-alouds.
18. Hold a Movie Marathon
    Pop the popcorn, grab the extra pillows and enjoy a fun movie (or tv show) marathon.  You don’t have to do this all in one night either, you could even make a list of movies you hope to see throughout the month.
19. Play Monopoly
    Turns out November 19th is National Monopoly day… what better reason for a family game night.
20. Pajama Night
    As soon as you get home declare it pajama night and everyone enjoy a night in their pjs. Take it a step further and have breakfast for dinner.
21. Make a Funny Home Video
    Let everyone get silly or go super creative and make your own version of a fun movie.  This is one night you will remember forever plus you can always watch it again!
22. Enjoy a Corn Maze or Hayride
    This is best time of year to find either a corn maze or hayride.  Your kids will love it!
23. Make a Holiday Treat for a Neighbor
    Get to know your neighbors and take them a fun treat!
24. Create a Gratitude Jar
    To help you get ready for thanksgiving, have everyone write down things they are thankful for and keep them in a jar all month.  On Thanksgiving enjoy reading them.
25. Make an Indoor Window Garden
    One of the hard parts of winter is no green plants, so fill the house with them.  Spend a night planting some seeds or get live plants at the garden center to make a beautiful indoor garden.
26. Find a New Hobby
    This can be as simple as a craft night or as big as taking on a new project.  Make candles, pick up knitting, there are lots of fun things and you can’t possibly know them all already!
27. Have International Night
    Everyone vote and pick a country to learn about.  Make a local dish for dinner, find some music to enjoy, you can even head to youtube and enjoy some fun travel videos to see the sights.
28. Invite Friends for a Game Night
    Take family game night a step further and invite a few other families to join you.  Get various board games going, play a huge game of sardines.  It’s a fun way to hang out with no large planning needed.
29. Make Christmas Cards
    Whether you get your photo done and get them printed or have the kids hand make cards, taking the time to send a few Christmas Cards to a fun way to spend the evening.
30. Find a New Local Park
    Do a quick search and find a park you haven’t visited.  Enjoy new scenery, trails and maybe even a new playground.
31. Decorate with Paper Snowflakes
    Get ready for winter with easy decor!  Spend an evening making lots of paper snowflakes and hang them all over the house.