Frugal Field Trips: 10 Ideas for Fun Fall Outings

Ever since I was a little girl, fall has been my favorite time of year. I love the transformation of the Midwest landscape as the beautiful fall foliage appears, raking and playing in the leaves with my kids, the smell of fresh cut hay and warm bonfires, the aroma of pumpkin bread and the taste of caramel apples. Yes, there is much to love as autumn dances into full swing.  As a homeschool mom, I also love all of the wonderful opportunities that come along with fall in the form of fun field trips.

Here are a list of some of the wonderful fall field trips and family outings I’ve enjoyed with my own children in the past.

1. Who can resist a fall trip to the pumpkin patch? Not only do we enjoy selecting our own pumpkins, our local pumpkin patch also offers educational tours, fun hayrides and other special events throughout the autumn season.
2. A corn maze is a great outing for older children.  We’ve visited several corn mazes in several states but the one that sticks out as the most educational was one in the shape of the state of Ohio. To find out way out of the maze we were required to answer a question about our state’s history; each correct answer pointed towards the exit.
3. An apple orchard is another of my favorite fall stops! Our local orchard offers fresh apple cider and the best apple donuts I’ve ever tasted!
4. Visit a beekeeper. What my kids thought would be a boring field trip turned into one of the most interesting field trips we’ve ever been on.
5. Botanical gardens and arboretums offer a different landscape with each season and certainly warrant more than one visit a year.
6. Fall festivals and fairs not only celebrate the wonderful harvest and bounty that the Lord has provided but also offer skilled artisans an opportunity to display their wares. Some even offer a bit of historical flavor to the atmosphere.
7. Indian Pow Wows offer a glimpse into the history and beliefs of Indian tribes that once resided in your area.
8. Local barn or farm tours are sure to be a hit with the younger crowd but don’t rule them out for your older kids as well. We’ve visited fish hatcheries, llama, alpaca, goat and buffalo farms. Each one allowed us the opportunity to learn about the value of the various farming practices and sometimes allowed us to sample the products produced at each farm; ice cream made from goats milk or buffalo burgers. Yum!
9. As homeschoolers head back to school, many attractions offer special homeschool days and events which often allow you to visit at a fraction of what the normal cost of admission may be.
10. Finally, don’t forget that fall is a wonderful time to invite friends for a hike through your local or nearby state parks. You’ll get the benefit of physical exercise and fellowship with good or new friends.

What memorable fall field trips have you taken with your children?

Visit Tonya at The Traveling Praters for more fun, family friendly, educational travel ideas.