Though the scorching days of summer have passed, that doesn’t mean families should retreat indoors as the weather cools down. Fall brings a splash of brilliant colors and refreshing air, providing a wonderful chance for families to engage with nature.
Explore local farmers’ markets
As the harvest season unfolds, it presents a wonderful opportunity for children to try new foods. Fall showcases some of Canada’s tastiest produce, including sweet potatoes, radishes, winter squashes, and fruits like apples and cranberries. Visiting farmers’ markets allows families to learn about these seasonal delights directly from their growers.
Advice: Encourage kids to ask farmers for their preferred recipes or cooking methods. Children will enjoy making seasonal treats like butternut squash soup, apple pie, or pumpkin bread.
Engage in Halloween festivities
As Halloween approaches, it’s an ideal time to embrace some spooky fun. Numerous community centers and amusement parks host kid-friendly Halloween events, like Camp Spooky at Canada’s Wonderland, which features haunted rides, mazes suited for children, and a daily costume parade.
Besides Halloween, the Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, is celebrated across Mexico and parts of Latin America. This festival honors the belief that the spirits of the deceased come back to visit their loved ones on November 1 and 2. Families create altars adorned with colorful flowers, cheerful skeletons, and candles to remember those who have passed.
Advice: Creating your own altar can be a heartwarming way to celebrate a loved one and teach children about the festival’s significance. Various centers, such as the Harbourfront Centre in Toronto, offer free educational events, including dance performances, live music, storytelling, and face painting.
Head to a pumpkin patch
A visit to a pumpkin patch can turn into a delightful day out. Throughout October, families can select their own pumpkins, whether for carving into jack-o’-lanterns for Halloween or cooking (roasted pumpkin seeds are a delightful fall treat).
Advice: According to Tom Pate, a pumpkin grower from Brantwood Farms in Ontario, choose a pumpkin with a sturdy stem and avoid those with blemishes or soft areas. While it’s easy to buy pumpkins at a grocery store, “there’s a lot of joy in searching through a field brimming with pumpkins,” Pate explains.
Many pumpkin patches also provide hayrides, face painting, and even petting zoos. For those feeling artistic, Brantwood Farms offers an assortment of pumpkin varieties, including unusual shapes and colors perfect for unique carvings.
Take advantage of Canada’s beautiful hiking trails
Autumn truly is a natural wonder, especially from September through mid-October when hiking trails are adorned with leaves in vivid orange, red, and yellow hues.
Advice: Some of the finest hiking destinations in Canada include:
- The Fundy Trail in New Brunswick, which offers 16 km of stunning coastal scenery, just a short drive from Saint John.
- The Bruce Trail in Ontario, recognized as Canada’s oldest and longest hiking route.
- Lighthouse Park in Vancouver, featuring trails among towering Douglas firs and western red cedars, culminating in breathtaking ocean views.
Jump in the autumn leaves
Instead of viewing the piles of leaves to be raked as a chore, turn them into an exciting playtime! Kids can rake leaves into huge piles, and as a fun reward, they can jump into the stacks as a surprise.
Advice: Creative children can also collect and preserve beautiful leaves. Gather leaves that are still vibrant and dry, then press them between sheets of newspaper for a day, placing heavy books on top to flatten them. They can then be displayed in an album or framed as a lovely year-round reminder of fall.
Explore a nearby farm
In the fall, many farms welcome visitors for tours and activities. For instance, Brooks Farms in Mount Albert, Ontario, features a petting zoo, train rides, and hay races. Visiting a farm provides a refreshing escape to the countryside and offers kids insight into agricultural life.
“It’s a distinctive experience,” shares Paul Brooks from Brooks Farms, which also offers apple, squash, and pumpkin picking. “It’s a great way for kids to learn where their food comes from.”
Scott Lunau from Albion Orchards in Ontario emphasizes that picking your own fruits is an affordable, traditional, and eco-conscious activity. “While most produce is imported, fall is the time to enjoy what’s locally grown,” he explains.
Advice: Make sure to research the best times for farm visits, as many farms post their picking conditions and the variety of ripe apples on their websites. When picking apples, ask staff for proper techniques: “Avoid grabbing and yanking,” Lunau advises, as this can cause others to fall and bruise.
Give little ones small baskets to hold their apples, making them feel included in the experience, and don’t forget to take home some delightful apple products like ciders, jellies, and pies.
