Welcome to fall ya’ll. It’s a wonderful time of year packed with great weather, colorful leaves, and family-oriented festivals galore. What does your family have planned this weekend? I suggest the following activities:

Take a Hike: Plan to hike the same trail each weekend during fall. This may sound repetitive, but hear me out. If you do this you and your family will witness just how much the landscape changes throughout the season.

Leaf Peeping: This autumn activity gets  family outdoors to photograph the changing fall foliage. 

Pumpkin Patch: Head out to the local pumpkin patch. Visit this website to find a pumpkin patch near you. Don’t forget, medium-sized, fully orange pumpkins are best for carving. 

Pick Apples and Berries: There’s nothing like a freshly picked apple or the taste of seasonal berries. Plus, your children get to see how fruit grows and everyone enjoys the “fruit” of their labor. 

Craft Away:  Gather twigs, pine cones, and leaves and make your own fall crafts. Check here for some for some great fall craft ideas. 

Scavenger Hunt: Challenge other families or your own to find seasonal foods, a leaf of every color, fall flowers, acorns, and more. 

Fall Feast:  Invite the neighbors for a fall potluck and whip up some homemade goodies — pumpkin cupcakes, pumpkin pie, or toasted pumpkin seeds. 

Fall Movie Night: Fall may bring a few rainy days, but don’t despair. Pop some caramel popcorn and snuggle the family up for a good flick. 

Decorate: Get the whole family involved in decorating for fall. Use colorfully painted pumpkins, mums, or holiday-themed items to create a spectacular landscape for your front porch or sidewalk. 

A’Mazing Corn: Corn mazes abound during this time of year, and some corn mazes are open all day and into the night. Visit this site to find one in your area. Many corn mazes have other activities for families, such as ring toss games, pumpkin painting and snacks.

Outdoor Sports and Games: Get your family involved in outdoor sports. Football season started, and days are still warm enough to play baseball, soccer and other games. 

Autumn Festivals: Seek out fall festivals. Many communities have fall events, such apple- and pumpkin-themed celebrations where local businesses will contribute activities and meals for everyone to enjoy. 

Whatever you choose to do this fall celebrate the season with new joy for your military family and take time to reflect in the beauty of our Earth and the bounty it provides.