Frugal Fall Fun

I wish I had more trees around my home. Not just because of the aesthetics or practical reasons (noise reduction and cleaner air) but because when fall rolls around, there is little that is more fun (or more free) than raking leaves only to have the kids (ok, and their parents too) jump in them.

As fall rolls in, that means there are a whole bunch of new, seasonal activities available to you as a family- that are high on fun and low on cost.

Apple Picking

These days, some apple orchards are tantamount to a farm version of Disney- with pony rides, wagon rides, corn mazes or combination thereof. These extra activities are often free, and are an effort to lure families of fruit lovers to their orchards.

You also have the chance to fill your baskets with yummy apples at the height of their season for less money than you’d pay in the store- and usually better quality too.

You can extend this activity by heading into the kitchen when you get home to bake some apple pies or apple crisp. Can’t beat those aromas on a fall afternoon.

Go for a Hike

Now that the scorching summer sun has retreated, this is the perfect time to pack the family up, along with a picnic and go exploring around your area- looking for parks or conservation areas that are conducive to a leisurely family stroll.

This is also a good opportunity to have an on-the-spot science lesson, about changing seasons and animal habitats.

Leaf Art

Go around your yard and collect leaves of varying colours, shapes and sizes.

Get out the crayons and paper. Layer the leaves underneath and start shading overtop with the crayons.

You can also glue leaves on paper in an interesting collage- and kids never seem to get tired of this.

Fall Fairs

While the midways and food tents at the small-town fall fairs can be pricey, you can’t beat these community events for unique local flavour.

In addition to the more expensive activities, there are always fun, free things to check out- like looking at the animals and local club exhibitions.