School has started or will soon start for many of us, so it’s not to early to be thinking about fall break getaways. Whether your district has a full week off or just does a long weekend, or you homeschool and have a flexible schedule, you can take advantage of the changing seasons. Fall is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy nature.

Enjoy a staycation and explore your local area or venture a little further from home if you have the time. Not quite sure what to do for your fall break?

8 Ideas for Fall Break Getaways

1. Do some leaf peeping

This site has a map that shows projected optimal leaf peeping times throughout the country. See if they line up with your break and go enjoy the spectacular colors of fall, whether on a road trip or while hiking.

2. Go for a hike in the cooler weather

Summer heat can be oppressive and scorching, which makes hiking much less enjoyable.  Fall brings cooler temperatures that make for much more pleasant hikes. And if you live in an area where the leaves are changing colors, you might catch a beautiful show.

3. Visit a national park

Take advantage of the off-season and go to a national park. There will most likely be smaller crowds, and seasonal ranger programs are usually still being offered in October.

4. Visit a state park

Just as with national parks, take advantage of the off-season to explore that state park you’ve been meaning to visit.

5. Festivals

Does your town hold a pumpkin festival every fall? Maybe two towns over there’s an annual craft festival. Go and enjoy a day exploring what your town has to offer. Not sure what festivals are held in your area? Do a search for fall festivals, and you may be surprised what turns up.

Festivals could be centered on hot air balloons, sauerkraut, pumpkins, potatoes, sunflowers, bacon, oysters, apples, sausage, blueberries, cranberries, steam engines, the list goes on and on. You may even be lucky enough to sample some sauerkraut fudge! Yep, that’s really a thing at the sauerkraut festival held in Waynesville, Ohio, near where I grew up.

6. Do the touristy thing close to home

Maybe you live in a city with some tourist hotspots that you’ve never managed to visit, or it’s been too long since you last visited them. Take advantage of fewer visitors and play tourist right at home.

7. Visit the local apple orchard, pumpkin patch, or corn maze

Pick some apples, drink some fresh-pressed cider, eat an apple cider donut, or make some applesauce. If there’s no apple orchards nearby, try the local pumpkin patch, which may even have a corn maze attached. Pick out the perfect pumpkins to make into pumpkin pie or jack-o-lanterns, go for a hayride, or get lost in a corn maze.

8. Enjoy being outside with fewer bugs and more temperate weather

Every summer we say we’ll spend more time on the deck or patio, but we rarely do. Every time we try it, we get eaten alive by the mosquitos.  Between them and the heat and humidity here in Virginia, it’s just not enjoyable to eat a meal at the picnic table or lounge on the deck chairs. Cooler weather makes spending time outside so much more enjoyable.

How long is your fall break? Do you have any plans?