My family has made many fall drives in the countryside through the years admiring the colorful foliage of Michigan. The day would usually end at a good restaurant and laughing together. Other weekends we visited the apple mills for fresh Michigan apples, cider, and fresh-baked pies. Sweet memories.
As I’ve remembered countless good memories of family activities this past month, I decided to share my thoughts on making family traditions. Family traditions make little jewels of memories that can be brought out and shared countless times in the future. Are there special activities your family likes? Here are a few suggestions for autumn family fun.
Take a family photo
Plan ahead. Let everyone wear their latest favorite outfits. When we look at my family photos from the 1970’s, we always laugh at the wild fashion current then. After my father died when I was 14, we realized he had been the photographer for most shots. This meant few photos of him. Now as we look at photos from the last 50 years, we note that my brother-in-law, Clive, took most of the photos. Again not as many of him are available. Use a tripod or have a friend ready to snap photos. Make sure the whole family is present. Repeat each autumn. Below is a family portrait from the 1930’s of my maternal grandmother, 2 aunts and my uncle.
Enjoy a family campfire
Even if your family doesn’t enjoy camping, time spent outside with a fire is another memory in the making. Use a fire pit. They’re easy to build. (See The Spruce’s 31 DIY Firepit Ideas & Plans.) Cook marshmallows, hot dogs, s’mores, or whatever your family enjoys. Watch the sunset and enjoy the starry sky. Tell stories or jokes. Enjoy each other.
Take a Hike
Pack snacks and water and go for a hike with a view. It could be a state park or a national forest. Depending on your family’s hiking experience, find a beginner or family friendly trail. Enjoy the fresh air and fall colors. Discuss with the kids if they’d like to come back to the same place next year or discover a new place.
Be Thankful & Giving
In October and November besides the fun of Halloween, start a family discussion of being grateful for the gifts you have and ways to share with others. Volunteer at a soup kitchen or animal shelter. Visit a nursing home or senior center. Begin your holiday review of things not used and donate. Giving back to others is a great character building exercise and leads up to a meaningful Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Pick Your Own Harvest
Wherever you live, there are probably you-pick farms for the fall produce. Whether it’s apples or pumpkins, choose a farm or orchard to visit. Pick and later choose recipes for your autumn harvest. Involve the whole family in the meal planning and preparation.
A friend recently gave her 2 sons her favorite cookbooks and said choose what you’d like to eat. She was tired of making the same things over and over. Surprisingly, the boys enjoyed choosing future meals. Above is the first dinner planned by her 8-year-old, rainbow pasta dinner with homemade Italian dressing.
Try Something Different
Besides enjoying pumpkin patches, and corn mazes, try doing something a little different each year. Add a hayride, visit the state capital or a historic site, visit a local garden, or do whatever family autumn fun is available. (See apple orchards for a list of farms by state.) One year my family took a Halloween train ride with an antique locomotive. I loved every minute of it. Another year we took a river tour of the area.
It’s fall y’all! Make some memories!
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So many good tips and wonderful shots.
leaves changes the color during fall. So amazing for me.
have a great day for you and your family
Wishing you a beautiful autumn!
This reminds me of the things we did when the kids were still here. I think we’ll have to reinvent a few with the grands in another year or so!
Grandkids make everything better – don’t they!
Such a challenge to nab those family photos, but I need to do a better job of making the effort!
All lovely fall traditions, my son loves a camp fire especially when it involves marshmallows lol X #mmbc
thanks!
We always pick a pumpkin and then head out to dinner. We enjoy so much of fall in New England. #keepingitreal
Oh yes New England in the fall is wonderful!
Oh my goodness, your beautiful pictures make me want to pull out a warm, cozy sweater and head out to the pumpkin patch and it’s 89 degrees here. 🙂 This is a lovely post. I think we will try the hayride with our grands this fall. TFS.
Hayrides are such fun. I’m glad you are safe and sound after the storm.
These photos are divine!!! What have I been doing all my life? I should have been seeing fall in Michigan!
There are many beautiful places to explore in autumn. I know you just moved and everything is new there. Discover Virginia would be my suggestion for a fall outing.
Such lovely memories. Love the idea of a family seasonal photo. Tripod included. We are big on the idea of family traditions. I think I might try some of your suggestions to add to our list. #keepingitreal
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Cheryl. After reading your post, it’s like another side of the coin. Hope your weekend is wonderful.
Hi Carol, I love family traditions. I’d like to think that my two will take some of ours and make their own if and when the time ever comes. We did things like reading Christmas books outloud together in the run up to Christmas. We tie ribbons to the Christmas tree and make secret wishes… That family photo of yours is a treasure. To think they are members of your family from a time long past!… Your autumnal photos are quite beautiful too. Autumn is such a bueatiful season.
Thank you for linking up with #keepingitreal.
xx
Your Christmas traditions are sweet. And yes I do love the 1930’s photo. Happy Saturday!
I’m all for going for a walk and being in awe of the colours nature reveals to us #keepingitreal
Sounds marvelous!
some lovely traditions, i note there are few photo’s of me up until i reached my late teens as I was the one taking the photo’s. sorry i’m so late commenting as I’ve been travelling #keepingitreal
not a problem – hope you had a wonderful trip
We love being active in the fall season! Great reminders. Thanks for sharing at Reader Tip Tuesday. Looking forward to seeing what you have to share at this week’s party. xo
I loved this post. It spoke what I want to convey with The Fabulous Party at Our Holiday Journey!
Thanks for always being faithful to link your posts. I featured this one. You’ll see it on the sidebar and
my Saturday post Happy Homemaker in Texas post at My Journey Back. And of course when I get to it
(sorry I am being slow) I’ll pin! Have a wonderful Sunday and great new week!
Thanks for the feature Sherry. Have a beautiful Sunday!
Happy Fall to you too, Carol! What wonderful ideas for family traditions for this lovely season. And I love your vintage photograph! Thank you for sharing, and for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Link Party. Hope to see you again this week. Have a great week ahead!
Happy Monday April! See you at the party.