The fall season is upon us! But if you’re tired of pumpkin patches and hayrides, there are other options. Here, we present a list of fun, out-of-the-box activities the whole family can partake in this season.
Go Horseback Riding
Horses are magical, majestic creatures known for helping battle anxiety and depression. You can book riding lessons with a local professional or join in on trail tours.
Craft Fall Decorations
Fall decorations don’t have to be purchased at your local Home Goods; they can be created in the comfort of your home! Raid your pantry, go through your craft closet, see what’s easily accessible in the backyard, or head to your local store. Once you have your supplies, gather the fam and tell them what you’re making – maybe it’s a fall wreath or a table centerpiece.
Go to a Farmer’s Market
Plan a day trip to your local farmer’s market with the whole family. Select some pumpkins that the kids can decorate when you get home, and while you’re at it, grab some fresh veggies like Brussels sprouts and cauliflower. Maybe you can convince the kids to help you in the kitchen!
Volunteer at a Food Bank
The holidays are always a special time to share with family and friends. So why not give a little bit of that cheer to others by volunteering at your local food bank? Get the kids involved at a young age, and they’ll want to do it every year. Show them that there are people in this world willing to help others.
Make Baked Stuffed Pumpkins
Piggy backing on our last suggestion, urge the whole family to participate in cooking dinner with everyone making their own baked stuffed pumpkin, using mini pumpkins as individual casserole dishes. It may sound bizarre, but it’s worth it! Try this recipe courtesy of Country Living.
Ingredients:
- 4 oz sweet Italian sausage
- ½ cup chopped onion
- 1 large pumpkin
- ½ cup Granny Smith apples, chopped
- ¼ cup white wine
- 1 cup Israeli couscous
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- 1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp fresh thyme
- 1 tsp fresh oregano
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp fresh ground pepper
- 4 small hallowed out pumpkins
Instructions:
- Make the Stuffing: Preheat oven to 350°F. De-case and crumble the sausage meat and place in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook the sausage until it’s almost done, about 8 minutes. Remove from pan, increase heat to medium, then add onion and 2 cups of the large chopped pumpkin. Sauté until pumpkin begins to soften, 5 to 7 minutes. Add apple and sausage and sauté for 3 minutes. Add wine; cook for 2 minutes, remove from heat, and set aside. Combine couscous, dried cranberries, olive oil, thyme, oregano, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Add meat mixture to bowl and toss to combine.
- Bake the Pumpkins: Evenly fill the hollowed-out pumpkins with the stuffing mixture and place in a shallow baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil; bake for 25 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for 10 more minutes. Serve immediately.
Do you have any ideas for fun, family-friendly fall activities? Share them with us in the comments below!