Fall is my favorite season. The weather is starting to cool down, and you can feel that crisp fall breeze when you walk outside. The leaves are changing into their beautiful autumn colors, and it is one of the best times of year to hang out with friends and family to do all of the fun fall activities that only come around for the season.

Apple Orchard

In La Crosse, we are lucky to have a variety of apple orchards right on our doorstep. I have been to Ecker’s Apple Farm in Trempealeau and Ferguson’s Orchard in Galesville. Both were a lot of fun, and I went home with some delicious apples and other sweet treats.

Along with picking your own apples, Ecker’s features a craft beer garden and special events such as live music and trivia. Ferguson’s has a pumpkin patch to go with their apple orchard and an activity area called Apple Blossom Park that is filled with fun for both kids and adults.

Wagon rides at Ferguson’s and train rides at Ecker’s are great for kids as well, and if you want to see some farm animals, there are ducks, sheep and goats at Ferguson’s.

Other apple orchards in the area include Southwind Orchards, Fruit Acre Apple Orchard and Van Lin Orchards.

Corn Maze

There are also several corn mazes to choose from in the La Crosse Area. I visited Hidden Trails Corn Maze in West Salem last year and plan on returning this year because it was such a great experience.

Their theme this season is 80’s Retro, and Hidden Trails features four mazes in one. Each maze is a different difficulty level from a 0.3 mile maze for young children to the 2.6 mile maze that I got lost in last year. It’s definitely a challenge, but a ton of fun!

In the two large mazes you search for discount coupon checkpoints that are sponsored by local businesses. The smaller mazes encourage participants to solve a mystery with clues at each checkpoint. The one-mile Farm Scene Investigation maze was my favorite, and I am looking forward to solving the mystery again this year.

Other corn mazes in the area include Schwertel Family Farms, which is conveniently located near Ecker’s Apple Orchard, and Big Springs Farm Pumpkins & Corn Maze.

Fall Colors Hike

La Crosse is a great place to hike no matter what time of year it is, but the most beautiful colors are shown off in the fall. The best way to experience them is by taking a fall colors hike.

If you are not much of a hiker, the La Crosse River Marsh has some short trails that allow you to get outside without having to go too far from campus. Chad Erikson Memorial Park also has some beautiful walking paths and a pond that is great for fishing.

The River Marsh trails connect to Hixon Forest, which offers a variety of trails up and along the bluff. If you are up for a bit of a climb to check out a stellar view, you can hike right from campus all the way up the bluff, or you can drive up to the Rim of the City or Grandad Bluff to see a great view without having to hike up the hill yourself.

There are some trails over the river in La Crescent, too. Apple Blossom Overlook Park is a nice loop about a mile long that features a gorgeous view from the top of the bluff looking towards the city of La Crosse.

We are also close to Perrot State Park which offers a variety of hiking trails and great bluff views as well.

Pumpkins

Pumpkins are a fall staple, and there are so many things you can do with them! Ferguson’s Orchard and Hidden Trails Corn Maze both have a pumpkin patch where you can pick out your own pumpkin to bring home.

You can also buy pumpkins at most grocery stores during the fall, and once you get your pumpkin home, the fun begins.

Carving pumpkins is a classic fall activity, and there is no end to the amount of things you can carve from classic pumpkin faces to other spooky scenes to things not related to the fall season at all. A lot of pumpkin carving kits even come with a design book if you are stumped for ideas of what to create.

Don’t forget to save the seeds from your pumpkin to make roasted pumpkin seeds. You have to clean and dry your seeds before roasting them, but it is worth it for such a tasty snack.

If you are not into the whole pumpkin guts and carving process, painting pumpkins is another great way to create some fall decor. Acrylic or tempera paint are good options for painting pumpkins since the paint dries quickly and offers vibrant colors.

Charcuterie Board and Movie Night

After all of these outdoor activities, sometimes it’s nice to have a night in, or if you’re not a big outdoors person, this is the activity for you.

The cool fall weather means it’s the perfect time to curl up on the couch and watch a movie. There are plenty of spooky season movies to choose from. My favorites are classics like Casper and The Nightmare before Christmas, but you can also go full on scary and watch movies like my favorite horror movie, The Ring.

Movies always pair best with food, and if you’re getting together with friends, have everyone bring a snack, or even better, put together a charcuterie board.

Some cheese, meat, fruit and crackers are all brought together for the perfect movie snack, and it looks absolutely amazing, too. Charcuterie boards pair well with wine or sparkling juice, and once everything is put together, your movie night is set to begin.

While these are some of my favorite fall activities to partake in, there are so many other fun things to enjoy this season. Just don’t let the fall colors pass you by and miss out on all of the fun before it’s over!