Autumn is a Great Season to Plan Family Fun Excursions and Activities

Written By Tia Braswell
Supporting child care and families for young children in Georgia Atlanta

The first day of fall in the northern hemisphere happens later this week on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. This is the same day as the autumn equinox, which is one of two times each year that the sun is aligned with the Earth’s equator and that day and night are almost equal in length. After the 23rd, you’ll begin to see the days become shorter and the nights longer until we reach the spring equinox in March 2024.

Along with the shorter daytimes, the fall season ushers in cooler weather. You may have already noticed a slight reprieve from the hot summer days of July and August and even grabbed a sweater or hoodie this week for some of the cooler mornings or evenings. It’s the perfect time to plan and enjoy some outdoor activities like camping, hiking, sports and lots and lots of festivals and fairs.

Add these fall family-friendly excursions to your calendar:


Pumpkin Patches: Many farms in Georgia open their pumpkin patches to the public in the fall. Kids can pick pumpkins, go on hayrides, and enjoy corn mazes. Find a location near you at Georgia Grown.

Apple Picking: Head to an orchard to pick apples. With this article from 365 Atlanta Traveler, you can teach your young children about how apple orchards got started in Georgia and find the ones with the best family-friendly activities.

State Parks: Georgia is home to numerous beautiful state parks. Plan a day visit or stay for the weekend! You can go hiking or geocaching, have a picnic, play some frisbee golf, rent a cabin or yurt in some parks, or visit for special events. Find out more at https://gastateparks.org.

Gardens, Natural Wonders and Wildlife Areas:

  • Some gardens, like the Lou Glenn Children’s Garden at the Atlanta Botanical Garden and the Alice H. Richards Children’s Garden at the State Botanical Garden in Athens, are stunning in the fall and often offer children’s programming, family-friendly events and activities.

  • Check out these Georgia Natural Wonders, which include Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island, Radium Springs in Albany and more.

  • Toddler Tuesdays at Oatland Island Wildlife Center and the monthly Puddle Ducks programming for toddlers at Phinizy Center for Water Sciences make great year-round options but are especially wonderful in the cooler months of autumn.

Fall Festivals: Look for local fall festivals and fairs in your area. These often feature games, rides, live music, and delicious food. See our lists below for festival calendars

Farm Visits: Visit a local farm where children can interact with animals, learn about farming, and perhaps even try their hand at milking cows. Georgia Grown has a list of farms located across Georgia that welcome families. Find one near you here.

More ideas for family fun planning:

Tia Braswell
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