Fall Bucket List

The air has a crispness and a calm that bring a sense of peace. Fall is by far my favorite season for all the change it brings and the way it has the power to slow down the rush from summer. While the days may begin to get shorter, the list of things to enjoy seems to grow. There is never a shortage of adventure in the fall. From the many fall festivals to what you can do at home. I always make a Fall Bucket List with my family of the top things we want to do in the Indy area, which I am honored to share with you. Fall brings the best time to make new family memories.

Apple Picking

Indy has so many options for apple picking. Some open as early as the beginning of August. This is one of our favorite early fall activities. Anderson Orchard in Mooresville is one of our favorite choices for a day of apple picking. There are an abundance of rows you can either drive to or take a short walk from the parking lot. We always bring a wagon, a few light snacks, and water. Our favorite is Gala, but there are many choices to choose from throughout the season.

Fall Scavenger Hunt

What better way to embrace fall, especially on a budget, than to visit one of 24 state parks in Indiana. Based on your children’s age, there are numerous scavenger hunt templates online to choose from. This is always a fun way to engage and empower children to lead the activity and encourage curiosity. I encourage you to take this one step further and try a “leave no trace” scavenger hunt. You can use this as an opportunity to teach about respecting nature and how to preserve the environment—instead of collecting items, finding other ways to document the treasures they find in nature through either photography, sketching or writing about what they encounter.

Pumpkin Patches

Nothing says fall more than a pumpkin patch. Luckily, there is an abundance of amazing pumpkin patches all around the greater Indy area to choose from. For our family we love the nostalgia of visiting the same family-owned pumpkin patch every year. Which we have been visiting even before we had our daughter. As our daughter has gotten older, we spend more and more time at the pumpkin patch when we visit, and it has become so much more than just the pumpkins. Our favorite to visit has been Dull’s Tree Farm, with so many activities to fill a full day and more. When we leave, we leave with so much more than just pumpkins.

Corn Maze

There is nothing short of creativity for the Indiana Farmers who design and plant the intricate corn mazes, creating new concepts every year—the intricate designs, sometimes showcasing the best that the Hoosier state offers. In the past, we have navigated mazes designed as Stranger Things from Netflix icons, racecars, Purdue, and more at our local favorite, just south of Lafayette, Exploration Acres. Nothing encourages family bonding and tests the waters of patience better than a corn maze. Getting lost among the stalks, trying to remember which last turn you made and where to go next. We still enjoy the adventure and challenge, each taking turns to lead the way to the next checkpoint. I highly encourage wearing a mucky pair of boots and pack snacks.

Cozy Fall Reading

Nothing is more fall than curling up with a flannel blanket and a good cozy book. The older I have gotten, the more I appreciate the stillness of the eve, allowing time to reflect, but also time to read and explore new worlds and solve far-off mysteries. There are so many wonderful options to choose from whatever your tastes might be. Fellow Indianapolis Moms writer Alicia shares the top cozy fall reads for 2024 in a recent post.

Fall Baking

I know some have very strong opinions about baking with and without children. I will be the first to admit I fall in both categories most days. However, in the fall, I tend to lean more towards inviting my daughter to bake something together in the kitchen. There is something about the warmth in the air with the oven on while there is a chill breeze in the window. The flavors of fall lend themselves much better than any season to allowing imperfect measurements that have an extra serving of love and laughter.

Family Photos

Every fall, we stop and take time to take family photos. I am a huge proponent of always taking family photos, impromptu as well as scheduled with a professional photographer. Nothing beats the images they capture of how precious life is with family at that stage. As my daughter has gotten older, the photos have become more fun, watching her personality shine through the lens of our long-standing family photographer. Since we have been using the same photographer since our engagement, she knows our family and how to capture our connection.

It wouldn’t be fall if we also did not visit the best local favorites. We always buy tickets for Newfields Harvest Nights, Sullivan’s Pumpkintown Train, Children’s Museum Haunted House, and Zoo Boo at the Indianapolis Zoo. The benefit with Zoo Boo is it is included in The Indianapolis Zoo Membership. For some of the others, you can receive a discount or access to early bird tickets with membership, but you do have an additional ticket cost. For a complete guide of these family fun events and more, check out this list by fellow Indianapolis Mom writer, Andrea. Most of all, remember to enjoy the season and make memories.