The best fall date ideas make the most of crisp air and early evenings: apple picking at an orchard, a leaf-peeping walk, a corn maze, a bonfire or a cozy night of soup and board games. Here are 30 autumn dates sorted by type, plus easy backup plans for when the weather turns.
Orchards and farms
Pick apples at a pick-your-own orchard, then bake something with them.
Choose pumpkins at a pumpkin patch.
Get lost, on purpose, in a corn maze.
Take a hayride.
Visit a farm stand and taste-test ciders. See the cider tip below.
Shop a harvest farmers market, then cook dinner together.
Leaves and the outdoors
Go on a leaf-peeping hike. The USDA Forest Service says that, depending on where you are, you may see aspens, oaks, maples, cottonwoods and even golden larches.
Take a scenic fall drive with a playlist and a thermos.
Walk an arboretum or botanical garden.
Have a picnic in a sunny spot with blankets and hot drinks.
Bike a leafy trail.
Do a golden hour photo walk. Our sister site explains golden hour vs blue hour.
Go stargazing on a clear, early-dark evening.
Make s'mores at a fire pit, where fires are allowed.
Paddle a calm lake among the fall colors, life jackets on.
Cheer at a local football or soccer game.
Cozy nights in
Hold a soup or chili cook-off for two.
Bake an apple crisp or pumpkin bread.
Have a scary (or not so scary) movie marathon.
Carve or paint pumpkins.
Play board games with mugs of hot cider.
Read a short story aloud to each other.
Do a jigsaw puzzle to a fall playlist.
Out in town
Go to a fall festival or harvest fair.
Take a history or ghost walking tour.
Stroll a historic cemetery, quietly and respectfully.
Spend an afternoon at a museum or gallery.
Do a coffee shop crawl for seasonal drinks.
Thrift for cozy sweaters, with a $10 limit each.
Volunteer together at a fall food drive.
The University of Florida's Smart Couples program includes several of these in its list of fun dates, from fruit picking to agritourism spots like pumpkin patches and corn mazes.
Fall weather can swing from warm sun to cold rain fast. The USDA Forest Service notes that conditions can change quickly, especially at higher elevations. Check the forecast the night before and choose a backup at the same time.
Apple picking rained out? Buy apples at a market and bake at home.
Too wet for a hike? Swap in a scenic drive, a museum or a greenhouse at a botanical garden.
Bonfire cancelled? Light candles, make hot cocoa and play cards.
Corn maze closed? Try an escape room or a board game café.
Picnic too cold? Spread the blanket on the living room floor.
Game called off? Watch one at home with homemade snacks.
Days get shorter in fall, so plan outdoor parts earlier in the day and bring layers for the chill after sunset.
Example fall Saturday date:
10:00 am: Apple picking at a local orchard.
12:30 pm: Picnic lunch among the trees.
2:00 pm: Short leaf walk on a marked trail.
5:00 pm: Home to bake an apple crisp and pick a movie.
This is general information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.
On the trail. The USDA Forest Service suggests telling someone your destination and when you expect to return, packing extra water, food and warm layers, and staying on marked trails, since in some areas fallen leaves can cover trails and hide the route. Cell service may be limited, so carry a map.
Ticks. The CDC says ticks live in grassy, brushy and wooded areas. They are most active in warmer months, but you can be exposed year-round. Its tips include:
Use an EPA-registered insect repellent.
Avoid tall grass and leaf litter, and walk in the center of trails.
Check your whole body for ticks after time outdoors.
Shower within two hours of coming indoors.
Tumble dry clothes on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks.
Fresh cider. Ohio State University Extension explains that bacteria on apples, including E. coli O157:H7, can get into cider when the apples are crushed. Unpasteurized cider has to carry a warning label, so check the label or ask the seller. Ohio State says people with weakened immune systems should drink only pasteurized cider, and lists young children, older adults and people with chronic illnesses among those at highest risk.
When to call a doctor. If you feel unwell after a tick bite, or get sick after eating or drinking something on a farm outing, call your doctor and mention where you've been.
Apple picking, a corn maze, a leaf-peeping hike, a fall festival and a soup night in are all classic picks.
Bake with apples, visit a museum, try a board game café or have a movie night under blankets.
Leaf walks, stargazing, carving pumpkins at home, a picnic and many fall festivals cost little or nothing.
Many mix one outdoor outing, like an orchard or a hike, with a cozy night in. That pairing also gives you a built-in rain plan.
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