Fall is a great time of year. The weather finally starts cooling down, the leaves change, football is back, and somehow everything tastes better when you put the word “pumpkin” in front of it.
But fall in Utah also feels like it lasts about 14 minutes. One day you’re wearing shorts and complaining that it’s still 85 degrees, and the next you’re scraping frost off your windshield wondering where summer went.
So this year, I’m making a fall bucket list. Nothing crazy. Nothing that requires a perfectly planned family calendar or a Pinterest account. Just 20 things I want to do with my family before winter shows up and we’re all stuck inside.
1. Go See the Fall Leaves
This one seems obvious, but sometimes we get so busy that we forget to actually go LOOK at fall.
Take a drive up the canyon, go for a walk, or find somewhere with a good view and just enjoy it.
2. Go to a Pumpkin Patch
Yes, it’s basic. Yes, we’re still doing it.
There’s just something about walking around a pumpkin patch trying to find the perfect pumpkin that makes it officially fall.
3. Go Apple Picking
If you’ve never gone apple picking with your kids, add it to the list.
If you have, you already know that you will come home with approximately 47 apples more than you actually needed.
4. Make Something With Those Apples
Apple pie. Apple crisp. Caramel apples. Apple bread.
Or just eat them straight out of the bag because nobody actually knows what to do with 47 apples.
5. Go to a Football Game
It doesn’t have to be a huge college game, but if it is GO UTES!
Go to a high school game. Watch your kids play. Throw the football around in the backyard.
6. Have a Backyard Bonfire
Get the fire going, grab some blankets and tell spooky stories.
This is one of those things that doesn’t have to be complicated to be memorable.
7. Have a S’mores Night
Regular s’mores are great.
But I also fully support experimenting.
Different chocolate. Different cookies. Peanut butter. Caramel.
Let the kids create their own ridiculous s’more and see what happens.
8. Take Each Kid on a Fall Date
This might be my favorite one on the list.
You don’t need to do anything expensive.
Grab a drink. Get fries. Go for a drive. Walk around a store. Get some hot chocolate.
The important part is getting some one-on-one time with each kid.
9. Watch a Fall Sunset
Find a good spot, bring some blankets and watch the sunset together.
No big plans. No agenda. Just be there.
10. Go Through a Corn Maze
Because apparently getting lost with your family is a fall tradition.
Let your kids lead, it will lead to some great memories.
11. Make a Giant Pile of Leaves
Rake the leaves. Then let the kids destroy all your hard work.
It’s basically the parenting circle of life.
12. Make a Giant Pot of Chili
Fall is officially here when you make a giant pot of chili.
Let the kids help and freeze the leftovers for an easy dinner in the future.
13. Find the Best Fall Donut
This is where the bucket list starts becoming important research.
Apple cider donut? Pumpkin donut? Maple? Something completely ridiculous?
Try them all and rate them to see which one is the winner.
14. Find Your Favorite Fall Drink
Pumpkin spice gets all the attention, but there are plenty of other options.
Apple cider. Hot chocolate. Thirst’s new fall menu. Whatever your family loves.
Everyone gets to pick a favorite.
15. Have a Fall Movie Night
Blankets. Popcorn. Maybe some homemade treats.
And nobody is allowed to complain about the movie choice after it starts.
And check out our favorite fall movies here.
16. Go on a Fall Hike
You don’t have to hike 10 miles. Find an easy trail, enjoy the leaves and get outside while the weather is still good.
Because pretty soon “Let’s go on a hike” is going to require three layers, snow boots and a serious discussion.
17. Have One Last Outdoor Adventure
Go camping, (my favorite.) Have a backyard campout. Take a day trip.
Whatever works for your family.
Just do something outside before winter makes the decision for you.
18. Do a Fall Blind Taste Test
You already know I’m going to recommend a taste test.
Apple cider? Do it.
Fall drinks? Do it.
Pumpkin snacks? Absolutely.
Buy a bunch, hide the labels and see who can actually tell the difference.
Spoiler: someone is going to be extremely confident and completely wrong.
19. Have a Family Pumpkin-Carving Competition
Everyone gets a pumpkin. Everyone gets the same amount of time.
And then vote on the winner. No hard feelings.
20. Have a “Fall Dinner” Outside
Take dinner outside while you still can.
Pizza. Burgers. Chili. Whatever your family likes.
There’s something about eating outside on a cool fall evening that makes an ordinary dinner feel like an event.
So Here’s the Challenge
You don’t have to do all 20. Pick five. Pick ten. Or come up with your own list. But don’t let fall fly by without actually enjoying it. Because before we know it, the leaves will be gone, the temperatures will drop, and we’ll all be complaining about how long winter is. So grab the kids, get outside and make some memories.
