Yahoo LifestyleA Fall Foliage Train Ride Needs to Be on the Top of Your Bucket List This Autumn
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A Fall Foliage Train Ride Needs to Be on the Top of Your Bucket List This Autumn
Is there any season better than fall? The air is crisp, the leaves are changing and the smell of pumpkin spice is everywhere — not to mention there all the pies, apple treats and other fall desserts you could ever want! And sure, we'll miss the pool parties and backyard barbecues of the summer, but this season also brings plenty of fun fall activities, from festive outdoor adventures (hello, leaf-peeping!) to cozy indoor activities for kids, adults, couples and the entire family. Luckily, if you're looking for the ultimate fall bucket list to complete this season, we've rounded up the best autumn must-dos right here.
Start with activities that make the most of crisp autumn days: You can't miss the pumpkin patch or your local fall festival, where you can take in all the beautiful foliage, sip on apple cider, and get lost in a corn maze. (And don't forget to pick out the perfect pumpkin to carve later!) Once the weather starts to get more chilly, it's time to cozy up inside with your favorite fall candle, a super-soft blanket and the perfect fall movie on Netflix. Looking for more creative ways to spend the perfect autumn afternoon? Host a pie bake-off with friends, DIY some fall crafts or go on a leaf hunt with the kids. Whatever activity you pick, don't forget to don your coziest sweater and get ready to have an absolute ball this fall.
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Take a Scenic Train Ride
The best way to see the changing leaves? On a fall foliage train ride, of course! There’s nothing more magical than steaming through the gorgeous autumn landscape — especially from the comfort of a train where you can just sit back, relax and take in the view.
RELATED: The 10 Best Train Trips in the U.S. for Stunning Scenery and Family Fun
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Cozy Up by the Fireplace
Come colder months, there's nothing better than sitting by the fire with a hot cup of cocoa, a soft blanket and a great book. Looking for a fall reading list? We've got you with the best new fall books of the season.
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Tour a Winery
Fall is one of the best times of the year to visit a winery — not only are the vineyards especially beautiful this time of year, you can also experience the excitement of fall harvest time.
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Host a Potluck
Get a group together for a Friendsgiving potluck, complete with everyone's best homemade fall recipes! (Mashed potatoes and butternut squash are a must, of course.)
RELATED: 60 Tasty, Easy Fall Dinner Recipes for Busy Weeknights
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Volunteer at a Food Bank
It's the season of giving! With the holidays approaching, many charities may need extra volunteers — and fall is a great time to give back to your community by volunteering at a food bank or soup kitchen.
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Attend a Fall Festival
If you're looking for the ultimate fall experience, there's no better place to celebrate the season than your local fall or harvest festival. Take in the autumn scenery, hang out with the scarecrows and don't forget to pick out a pumpkin to take home!
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Light a Fall Candle
Is there anything that gets you in the fall mood more than a nice scented candle? Grab a soft blanket and a book, then cozy up with your favorite fall-scented candle (we're partial to pumpkin spice!).
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Carve a Pumpkin
If there's anything that's a must-do activity for fall, it's carving some pumpkins. Get creative with the best pumpkin carving ideas — like this super-fun "candy land" pumpkin dressed up with everything from gum drops to candy corn.
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Go Apple Picking
Head to the nearest apple orchard for a fun day full of apple picking. The best part is that you'll be able to take home some fresh apples to make delicious, fall-worthy recipes.
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Make Caramel Apples
Who doesn't love a tasty caramel apple? They're the quintessential fall treat, after all, and you can even have some extra fun by setting up a dip-your-own caramel apple bar (complete with yummy toppings like chopped Reese's Pieces).
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Have a Backyard Bonfire
For a cozy night full of fun, gather 'round the fire to warm up, swap ghost stories, and spend some quality time with family and friends. Don't forget the cozy blankets and yummy s'mores!
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Indulge in Pumpkin Spice
Pumpkin spice season is finally here! Enjoying the PSL is a must, of course, but for an extra decadent homemade treat, this heavenly pumpkin spice cake is sure to make jaws drop (and mouths water) everywhere.
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Have a Fall Photoshoot
There's no denying that autumn is the prettiest season of all — which means you should definitely take full advantage of the beautiful scenery with some great fall photos with the family.
RELATED: 100 Best Fall Instagram Captions for All Your Gorgeous Autumn Photos
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Go Horseback Riding
Saddle up! If you're looking for a fun way to spend a fall afternoon, you'll love trotting along the forest trails atop a horse — where you'll also be able to enjoy the fall foliage from a great vantage point.
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Tailgate at a Football Game
Autumn also means football season, which means it's time to cheer on your favorite team at a fun tailgate party — complete with the best game day food, of course.
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Go to a Petting Zoo
If you're heading to a fall festival or your local farm, don't forget to say hello to the cute goats, ponies and more at the petting zoo!
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Get Spooked at a Haunted House
It's spooky season! If you're feeling brave this Halloween, head to a haunted house — or better yet, make your own home the spookiest house on the block with some awesome outdoor Halloween decorations.
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Have a Chili Cook-Off
There's no better way to kick-start fall than with a warm bowl of chili — but it's even greater if you're hosting a fun chili cook-off with your friends and family.
Get the recipe for Hearty Bean and Beef Chili »
RELATED: 40 Super Easy Chili Recipes That Are Perfect for Cold Winter Days
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Run a Fall 5K
Ah, crisp air! Autumn's cooler temperatures makes for the perfect weather to go on a run — and a great time to sign up for that marathon you've been meaning to run for years.
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Have a Movie Night
Get cozy inside (or outside in your backyard!) with a festive fall movie to enjoy with the whole family. And if you want to get into the Halloween spirit, why not try out some scary flicks?
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Go on a Bike Ride
There's no better time than the fall season to go for a ride on your bike — you'll get to enjoy all the beautiful autumn scenery!
RELATED: The 10 Best Commuter Bikes, According to Experts and Consumers
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Write Down What You're Thankful For
Fall also brings the Thanksgiving season, which means there's no better time to celebrate what you're most grateful for. And if you want to get more creative, you can even DIY a thankful tree.
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Host a Murder Mystery Party
Ready to solve the case? Take inspiration from your favorite "whodunnit" films and gather your friends and family for a fun murder mystery party. Costumes required, of course!
RELATED: 20 Best Murder Mystery Movies to Bring Out Your Inner Detective
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Play a Game of Touch Football
After cheering on your favorite football team this season, why not play a little of the game yourself? The whole family can get in on a friendly game of touch football (losing team has to rake the leaves!).
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Enjoy the Fall Foliage
Go on a leaf-peeping drive to enjoy the very best part of the season: seeing all the trees change into beautiful yellows, oranges and reds.
RELATED: Where and When to See the Best Fall Foliage Colors in Every State
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Host a Pie Bake-Off
It's officially pie season! Put your baking skills to the test with a friendly bake-off competition to see who can make the best pies using fall's tastiest flavors (including apple, pumpkin and pecan, of course).
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Warm up With a Cozy Soup
During chilly autumn nights, there's truly nothing better than a warm fall soup — especially when it incorporates some of fall's best flavors like this must-try pumpkin and sage soup recipe.
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Visit a Pumpkin Patch
Looking for a perfect way to spend a fall afternoon? Head to your local pumpkin farm to pick out your own pumpkins and take in all the sights.
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Decorate the Front Porch
Welcome the season by adorning your front porch with flowers, haystacks and pumpkins galore!
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DIY a Festive Fall Wreath
Fall decor wouldn't be complete without a festive wreath to hang on your front door. For a fun fall craft project, DIY your own nature-inspired fall wreath like this one, complete with fresh greenery, pinecones and a gorgeous satin ribbon.
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Get Lost in a Corn Maze
How could we forget the all-classic corn maze? Whether it's at a local farm or a town fall festival, finding your way through a corn maze is an ultimate family-friendly activity you can't miss.
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DIY a Fall Floral Arrangement
For an easy way to add a festive touch to any room in your home, create a gorgeous floral arrangement that doubles as a great fall centerpiece like this pumpkin vase. Simply decorate a pumpkin with metallic spray paint, then carve a hole in the top and slide in a plastic cup before adding a medley of beautiful, bright blossoms.
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Go on a Camping Trip
Forget camping in the summer — autumn is the best time to pitch a tent in the woods (or your own backyard!), with cooler temperatures, fewer mosquitos and plenty of opportunity to take in fall's beautiful sights.
RELATED: 20 Fun Backyard Camping Ideas for an Adventurous Family Outing
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Roast Pumpkin Seeds
Don't discard the seeds after carving all those pumpkins — use them to make a tasty, must-have autumn treat!
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Play Pumpkin Bean Bag Toss
For a creative DIY craft and fun family game all in one, carve pumpkins that you can use to play a bean bag toss game. After you're done playing, you can use the pumpkins as festive Halloween decorations.
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Cozy up With a Book
The fall season couldn't be a more perfect time to curl up with a good book in your coziest sweater (all while sipping on some hot chocolate, of course).
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Make a Cozy DIY Pillow
Cozy up your couch and living room space by creating your own DIY pillow. You can even spell out the word "cozy" on it, like this fun no-sew pillow cover craft!
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Visit a Sunflower Field
Autumn is sunflower season, which means it's time to head out to the nearest (and prettiest) sunflower field. It's the perfect outdoor setting to enjoy the season — not to mention it makes for a gorgeous fall-themed photo spot!
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Bake Pumpkin Pie
Is it really autumn if you haven't yet baked — and gobbled up — a delicious pumpkin pie?
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Create a Fall Tablescape
Make your dining room holiday-ready by crafting a gorgeous autumnal tablescape, perfect for welcoming guests for Thanksgiving dinner and beyond.
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Go on a Hayride
When you head to the local pumpkin farm, don't forget to hitch a ride on the wagon for a fun hayride through the cornfields. It's a classic activity that allows the entire family to sit back, relax and enjoy the sights!
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Make Fall-Themed Embroidery
If you're looking a great DIY activity for a cozy autumn night in, try out some embroidery crafts. You can even make a festive fall-themed project, like this adorable pumpkin truck embroidery hoop art.
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Set up a Cozy Backyard Space
The weather is perfect right now, which means you'll want to be spending as much time in the backyard as possible. Pro tip: Make it extra-cozy with string lights, lanterns and plenty of warm blankets!
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Sip on Apple Cider
Drinking apple cider is a must, obviously — especially when you can make it into a classic cocktail for adults who want a little more kick.
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Go to a Farmer's Market
Pick out fall's best (and freshest!) produce at a local farmer's market — then use them to whip up some cozy recipes at home.
RELATED: 35 Healthy Fall Recipes for People Who Want Comfort Food Without the Calories
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Knit a Fall Scarf
There's no better time to take up knitting than in the fall, when you can make the coziest fall essentials for your wardrobe. (Plus, homemade scarves make the perfect gifts for the upcoming holidays!)
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Make Pumpkin Art
Transform your pumpkins into gorgeous DIY art — and they don't all have to be jack-o-lanterns for Halloween, either. This gorgeous fabric covered pumpkin craft, for example, makes a classy yet festive seasonal display (all you need is some fabric and some Mod Podge).
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Mix a Cozy Fall Cocktail
There's nothing better than a crisp cocktail (or two) on a cool fall evening. If you want to mix it up after making your go-to fall classics, this cozy butterbeer recipe is perfect for the season (especially for Harry Potter movie marathon night!). This one is kid-friendly, but if you want to make it boozy, we recommend adding a shot of vanilla vodka.
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Rent a Cabin
For a cozy fall getaway with family or friends, rent out a rustic cabin in the woods or mountains. Unplug, relax and spend some quality time in nature before heading inside to warm up by the fireplace.
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Make Leaf Crafts
Welcome the season by making creative leaf crafts with the kids, like this simple marbled paper fall leaves craft. The secret to getting the marbled effect is shaving cream, which makes this a fun, get-your-hands-messy project.
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Collect and Paint Acorns
For another fun DIY fall craft, collect a bunch of acorns to use for a creative art project — like this craft that involves painting them with beautiful colors. You'll want to bake your collected acorns before giving them a single coat (two, if you're going for opacity!) of acrylic paint.
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Go on a Hike
Lace up your hiking boots and set out on a nature hike with family and friends, where you can take in the crisp air and the stunning fall foliage.
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Decorate Your Mantel
Get your mantel fall-ready with gorgeous seasonal decorations, like with this reusable garland that's made with the burnt rust shades of the season. To make things a little simpler, collect colorful leaves from the backyard and string 'em up!
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Jump Into a Pile of Leaves
Kids will love this activity (it's practically a rite of passage, after all), but it's also a simple pleasure — and a delightful fall pastime— for adults of all ages.
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Play Backyard Games
For more backyard fun, set up some creative games for the kids to play — including a fun Pumpkin Patch Stomp where the little ones can use their feet or bums to stomp around the (pumpkin) yard.
Get the tutorial at Delia Creates »
RELATED: 15 Backyard Games for Kids That Will Get the Whole Family up and Moving
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Make Your Halloween Costume
Halloween is coming up, which means it's time to get started on making your DIY Halloween costume. Not only will this ensure that you have a super-creative (and one-of-a-kind) ensemble this year, it's also a great way to pass the time during your fall afternoons.
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Go on a Leaf Hunt
Use printable leaf cards and some brown paper sacks to play a fun leaf hunting game with the kids. An activity that gets the rascals outside and removes leaves from the front yard? Genius!
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Decorate Your Walls
Add some festive color to your bare walls with a creative DIY decoration like a paper leaf branch mobile. This one simply involves tying watercolor leaves to a branch (a backyard find!).
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Play Pumpkin Checkers
... or tic tac toe! Use a black marker to mark pumpkins as "X" or "O" and tape up a game board on a sturdy table. For checkers, a mix of white and orange mini pumpkins makes jumping your opponent all the more satisfying.
Get the tutorial from Kid Friendly Things To Do »
RELATED: 60 Fun Halloween Games Kids and Teens Can Play at the Halloween Party
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Make a Fall Bucket List
Of course, to enjoy all these fun fall activities, you'll want to create a handy bucket list to cross off as you go. Better yet, you can place some action-packed popsicle sticks in a jar, then pick one out to choose the day's excursion!
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