Ultimate Fall Bucket List for Southeast Michigan

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!