Gear up for cool weather with the ULTIMATE Fall Bucket List for Southeast Michigan. List includes places to go, at-home fun and date ideas!
In our family, we LOVE lists. Each season, we brainstorm ideas for things we’d love to do. Fall is the BEST for many reasons — the cooler temps, the gorgeous colors, and one of our family’s favorite holidays: Halloween!
The cooler air, fresh apples and cider, and the amazing display of colors are just a few reasons to love fall in Michigan. There’s also ALL the amazing activities you can get up to as well. Let’s all get out there are support our local farms and cider mills 🙂
Here are some ideas to get you started categorized by family fun in specific areas, at-home fun, and adult fun, so it’s easy to find what may work best for your family.
Be on the lookout for more Halloween and calendar listing events coming soon too!
The Ultimate Fall Bucket List For
Southeast Michigan
General Ideas For Families
- Head out for U-pick apples
- Check out a local corn maze
- Admire fall colors on a trail walk at one of these family-friendly hiking trails
- Take a horseback trail ride
- Run a fall 5K together as a family
- Go see The Addams Family 2 at the theater, or rent it on-demand {Oct. 1 release date}
- Check out a Halloween event {list coming soon}
Ann Arbor Area
- Roam Nichols Arboretum in Ann Arbor to explore the beautiful fall colors
- Visit Argo Canoe Livery in Ann Arbor and rent a canoe to view the fall colors by water
- Get cider, donuts {and hard cider for the parents!} at the Dexter Cider Mill
- Go for a fall walk at Mill Creek Park North in Dexter
Flint Area
- Take a color hike {and check out the amazing treehouse!} at For-Mar Nature Preserve in Burton
- Check out the Ooky Spooky light show at Longway Planetarium in Flint {Sept. 29 – Oct. 31}
- Picnic and take a fall walk at Applewood Estates or Stepping Stone Falls in Flint
- Visit Diehl’s Orchard & Cider Mill in Holly for donuts, cider, pony rides, hay rides and more
Lansing Area
- Hike the trails and admire foliage at Harris Nature Center in Okemos
- Visit Norfolk Outback in Webberville for the petting zoo
- Take a color cruise on the Grand River in Grand Ledge
- Pick apples and enjoy fall fun at Country Mill in Charlotte
Livingston County
- Stop for cider and donuts at Markillie Orchard and pick up pumpkins at Fawcett Farms in Howell {learn more here}
- Take a fall drive to Hell, Michigan to admire colors
- Visit farm animals and check out the corn maze at Chambers Farm in Pinckney
- Grab fall decor and pet animals at Armstrong’s Pumpkin and Petting Farm in Gregory
- Stop by Munsell Farms in Fowlerville for pumpkins and donuts
- Take an eco zip tour at Howell Nature Center to view fall colors
- Pick apples and munch on donuts or sip wine at Spicer Orchards in Hartland
- Take in the historic scenery at Parshallville Cider Mill in Hartland
- Purchase or pick apples and admire the season’s last flowers at Schell Family Farm in Pinckney
- Take in the historic scenery at Parshallville Cider Mill in Hartland
Metro Detroit Area
- Visit Kensington Metropark‘s Farm Center for a hay ride
- Pet goats, go through the corn maze, and take a tractor ride at Erwin Orchards in South Lyon
- Visit Franklin Cider Mill in Bloomfield Hills to taste their old world recipe for donuts
- Visit the barn yard play land at Three Cedars Farm in Northville
- Stop into Parameter’s Cider Mill for fresh cider and donuts in Northville
- Visit Obstbaum Orchards for cider and donuts in Northville
- Visit Bowers School Farm for a wagon ride, petting farm, and more in Bloomfield Hills
- Enjoy fall fun at Debuck’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch in Belleville
- Pick pumpkins and grab some corn stalks at Birds Big Punk’ns in Romulus
Northern Metro Detroit Area
- Take picturesque photos with cider and donuts at Yates Cider Mill in Rochester
- Climb the giant hay pyramid and more at Rochester Cider Mill in Rochester
- Take a trip to Goodison Cider Mill for cider and their famous pistachio nut bread in Rochester
- Enjoy a maze, wagon rides and plenty of kid-centric fun at Westview Orchards in Washington
- Pick apples or enjoy some fun spots to play at Big Red Orchard in Washington
- Enjoy a moonlight wagon ride at Stony Creek Orchard and Cider Mill in Romeo
- Visit Blake’s Orchard & Cider Mill in Armada for an entire day of fun
- Take a harvest moon hayride, complete with a bonfire at Upland Hills Farm in Oxford
P.S. If you are gluten-free, check out this list of Michigan Cider Mills with Gluten Free Donuts from my friend MI Gluten-Free Gal
Ideas For At Home
- Enjoy a bonfire with s’mores
- Make caramel apples
- Have a photo shoot with leaves!
- Boo your neighbors {here’s ideas for getting it started}
- Go on a color walk tour of your own neighborhood
- Make a leaf and crayon press craft
- Carve pumpkins and decorate the house for Halloween
- Shop for and create our Halloween costumes
- Make a leaf lantern like this one from Little Pine Learners
- Bake some pumpkin muffins, apple crisp or make homemade crockpot applesauce
- Watch a Halloween movie as a family
- Roast pumpkin seeds {these cinnamon and sugar ones are delicious!}
- Make a pumpkin pie from scratch
- Create a fun scavenger hunt with candy
- Check out a local fall festival {check out my September calendar for some ideas}
- Host a haunted trail in your neighborhood {we love doing this and telling ghost stories along the way}
- Make a fall themed charcuterie board for dinner {apple spice pancakes, caramel and apples, etc.}
Ideas For Adults
- Host a chili cook-off or soup day with friends
- Visit a local winery or brewery and taste their fall selections
- Watch {or play} football with friends
- Create a new hot cocktail with apple cider {or make an apple pie cocktail with the help of Michigan-based InBooze}
- Head to an escape room or host a murder mystery dinner party {using a game like this}
- Plan a road trip up north to look at the changing leaves
- Do a fall themed puzzle together
- Host an Oktoberfest party complete with soft pretzels and fall craft beers
- Cuddle up with hot cider and go stargazing
- Watch scary movies together
- Visit a haunted attraction
- Head out disc golfing or foot golfing and admire fall colors
What are your favorite fall things? Please share!
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