There’s just something about Minnesota’s autumn. It is majestic in its beauty. We all know how breathtaking the views and colors Up North can be. However, with fall seemingly being one of the busiest times of the year, sometimes a trip Up North isn’t a realistic option. No problem, though! We have you covered here in the Twin Cities. It appears that every park, city, or organization hosts one last festival before the chill sets in. There are so many wonderful events to choose from that my family has chosen to focus on one theme each year. This year is the year of all things involving pumpkins! Here are a few of our favorite local things to do during the fleeting fall season.
Apple Orchards
The Twin Cities area is blessed with so many fabulous apple orchards that it is tough to choose one. My family has landed on Afton Apple Orchard for our yearly trip. There’s something about going to the same place every year – taking the same photos showing how much the kids have grown each year. Afton Orchard offers so many fun activities – hayrides, a petting zoo, little train rides, a large jump pad, a corn maze, and a fantastic playground complete with a huge tire structure to climb on. Depending on your timing, you may be able to pick more than just apples – they have berries, flowers, pumpkins, and gourds, too! Other South Metro favorites include Applewood Orchard in Lakeville (check out their awesome hedge maze!), Ferguson’s Minnesota Harvest in Jordan, and Brand Farms in Farmington.
Dakota County Parks
My family is a huge fan of the programs and trailheads that the Dakota County Parks offer. They offer fun monthly nature classes on Saturdays for you and your younger children to attend with different themes. There are so many trails to hike or leisurely walk on as you take in all the sights and smells of fall. They happen to have a Story Trail scheduled for MEA Weekend! Start at the Visitor Center Trailhead at Lebanon Hills and take a self-guided walk in the park while reading picture book pages displayed along the trail. (Pro Tip: Have your younger kids bring along a play stroller with their favorite stuffed animal. It amps up the fun!)
This year, Dakota County’s Spring Lake Park Reserve just added a 150-acre fenced-in home for around ten bison. I hiked around the Fahey Trailhead with my kids a few times this summer. Seeing those mighty creatures just wandering around (with two calves!!) was a showstopper for the kids! All the foliage and natural prairie vegetation promises to be a glorious sight once the chill sets in and the leaves start changing colors.
One memorable fall, my family and I got the chance to stay in one of the cabins on stilts in Whitetail Woods. I highly recommend this adventure! It was fun to wake up and peer out into the forest and watch the sunrise and sunset. Our evenings were spent around the bonfire and playing games in the cabin. It was hard to believe we were less than ten miles away from our house!
Everything Corn
Corn mazes, corn pits, pick your own corn . . . what is it about this dry and dusty kernel that brings us so much joy? I don’t remember any type of corn maze or corn pit from my childhood, but I know I would’ve thought it was the best thing ever! You can go low-key and check out Pahl’s Market to play in their corn pit. This is an excellent option for a rainy day or a sporadic decision to do something out of the normal after school or church.
Many local apple orchards also offer corn mazes in some capacity, but nothing compares to Sever’s Famous Corn Maze! They have a giant corn maze that, if completed, grants you a chance to win some big cash. They also boast not one but two corn pits. Their “extreme” corn pit is so large that it has jungle gyms and other play structures. Sever's has it all – obstacle courses, zip lines, pig races, llamas, straw sculptures, tire mountains, jumping pillows, kiddie trains, and wildlife shows! Whew, plan to sleep very well after this outing! Your kids will be tired out but full of incredible memories.
Pizza Farm
This may not be exactly what comes to mind when you think of fall activities, but hear me out! October is the last month you can check out these two fabulous pizza farms before they close for the season. It is a very cool opportunity for kids to experience a farm-to-table type of meal. These farms grow most of the veggies used for their pizzas. There are trails to walk, live music to listen to, and farm animals to see. Grab a few picnic blankets, pack a few drinks and desserts, and head out for the freshest pizza adventure! Red Barn Pizza Farm is a gorgeous place in Northfield. This is the place that my family has enjoyed over the years. If you are looking for different days/hours, there is a pizza farm in Waseca called Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm as well.
The Arboretum
The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is such a treasure! My favorite time to visit is the fall, during the height of the dahlia blooming season. My husband is a hobby photographer, and this is the place where we took our first Christmas card pictures together. It is where I anxiously hoped that he would "pop the question" while we were throwing leaves in the air as a timer snapped our photos. It is where we have photographed our kids surrounded by all the reds, golds, yellows, and oranges of fall leaves – photo opportunities galore!
Each year, the Arboretum hosts a Scarecrows in the Garden display. We really enjoy walking through all the creative designs for the different scarecrows. It brings up fun discussions about creative uses of art and imagination, as well as some healthy debates about which one is best. Luckily, you get to vote for your favorite scarecrow, so that answer does not remain a mystery or an argument for long!
Pumpkins
And my family’s plans for this fall? Bring on the pumpkins! We have two plans – we will visit Crazy Legs Farm & Pumpkins in Farmington to pick out our pumpkins . . . and to watch the pumpkin cannon, of course! And we are finally checking out Stillwater’s Harvest Fest. They boast a giant pumpkin weigh-off, drop pumpkins from a 100-foot crane, provide live music, host a chili cook-off . . . and what I am MOST excited to see: Pumpkin Regatta! Picture creative people who have turned giant pumpkins into watercrafts that they can fit their bodies into . . . and then they paddle them down the St. Croix River. This will be something to witness, for sure!
Your Neighborhood
Don’t forget that your neighborhood park just may have the brilliance of color and beauty you crave! Pack up that picnic basket one last time and head to the park for a leaf hunt. Bring along a bag to store your precious fall treasures. Once home, you can make a variety of crafts using nature. This year, we plan to buy white shower tiles and make leaf coasters for Christmas presents. Just gather your best leaves and press them in a book for at least a week. Once flattened and dried out, you can Mod Podge designs onto the tiles – little leaf people, large colored trees, whatever comes to mind!
Always make time for adventures with the ones you love!
Fall can be overwhelming with the start of school, sports, and all the kids' activities. There’s a rush to get all yard work and winterizing done. If you are like me, you are drowning in vegetables that need to be canned or frozen. All these things are good and important, but we must find time to step away from these tasks and make a little time for family adventures!
I challenge you to step back and reflect upon God’s design in the change of the seasons. There is such beauty in each one. Fall is a brief season but full of reminders of God's promises to us. What fall activity brings joy and reminds your family of God's love? We would love to hear about it!
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