Scenic Day Trips
If you want to get closer to nature this fall, plan a scenic day trip and enjoy the landscape of changing colour together.
A fall driving tour. Grab a local map and plot a course on nearby rural routes. Rural routes offer uninterrupted, panoramic views. Keep an eye out for parks and local stop-offs, so you can take a break en route with a basket of picnic food and enjoy the scenery. Pack your cooler and basket with:
 | Chilled sandwiches or wraps |
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| Fresh beverages, bottled water such as  ® and fruit juice |
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| Grapes, cut-up fruit such as melon chunks, and sliced vegetables |
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| Snacks in convenient, crush-proof packaging, such as Pringles® Snack Stacks |
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| A warm-you-up thermos full of Folgers coffee for chilly days |
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| Homemade brownies or cookies |
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| Bounty® paper towels for cleanups |
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| Don't forget a few soft blankets to spread out for the picnic! |
If you're living in a warmer climate, consider a trip to the beach! During the off-season, many resorts and beach towns offer reduced rates, and you'll enjoy fewer crowds and cooler temperatures.
A fall hiking trip. On a hike, you all get an opportunity to exercise in the cool weather, take in the foliage from a more intimate point and bring home souvenirs from your tour.
Be sure to take along a bag to collect the most colourful and shapely leaves you find. It's fun and educational to identify them once you get home. Or identify them right on the trail with a field guide such as "Trees of North America: A Guide to Field Identification" (St. Martin's Press). Also keep an eye out for fallen pine cones and clusters of acorns. They're beautiful as decorative indoor touches, and make great supplies for crafts.
A few other imaginative ways to take in the view this fall include:
| An all-day canoe trip |
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| Horseback-ride the trails at a local stable |
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| Get out the family bikes and pedal your tour |
You may also want to consider a weekend getaway. Many resorts in more northerly regions offer weekend getaway packages that include activities and meals at reduced rates.
Apple Picking
You know the old saw about "an apple a day." It's based in fact — according to the U.S. Apple Association, apples promote bone health, contain natural fruit sugars and are a great source of fiber. And at harvest time, you can pick them by the bushel!
To find pick-your-own orchards in your area, contact your area tourism bureau or department of agriculture, or visit PickYourOwn.org for a list of farms throughout the United States and Canada. You'll find many farms offer seasonal activities in addition to fruit-picking, such as hayrides, pumpkin carving, hay bale mazes, petting zoos and more.
Be sure to contact the farm or orchard ahead of time to confirm their dates and hours of operation — the weather can affect their harvest timing.
More Fun Fall Options
| Spend the day at the zoo — the animals are more active in cooler weather. |
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| Hit the stadium for a college game. |
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