Ultimate Guide: 50+ Must-Do Fall Activities for Families in Wisconsin!

Take within the altering shade and benefit from the cooling temperatures with countless fall adventures good for Wisconsin households. It’s actually exhausting to not love autumn in Wisconsin; the sunshine is a bit more golden, the air is crisp, and naturally, there are wonderful views to absorb. Possibly as a result of everyone knows a protracted winter is looming, however there are such a lot of issues to do within the fall you’ll have hassle becoming all of it in!

Select your must-do fall actions from our large listing of superior Wisconsin autumn actions. Now we have the perfect pumpkin patches, apple orchards, festivals, and a lot extra. Seize your pumpkin spice latte or apple cider and head out on a enjoyable journey together with your households to make new fall recollections this 12 months!

1. Take a Hayride

Is there something that feels extra like fall has arrived than a brief journey on a straw hayride—cozy in flannel and sweaters bouncing alongside a bumpy path? From quick rides to decide on your pumpkins to (not too) spooky haunted trails, there’s a hayride for everybody!

Look ahead to hidden faces on the timber at Little Farmer or take a trip out to the pumpkin patch at Cuff Farms. Child-friendly haunted hayrides at BerryLand Pumpkins and extra enjoyable choices await at these pumpkin patches!

2. Decide Contemporary Apples

Fall recollections and traditions are made within the orchards and your kitchen! Decide baskets of apples and revel in them as some ways as you’ll be able to, together with our kiddos’ favourite—straight from the tree. Wisconsin’s apple season lasts from August to late October, with totally different apples prepared all through; discover out when your favorites are prepared with our information to apple sorts and finest occasions to select.

We’ve received 8 favourite apple orchards to share, together with Star Orchard in Kaukauna, which boasts 25 several types of apples! Heat up with a cup of apple cider or deliver a gallon residence.

3. Go to a Pumpkin Patch

Would it not be fall in case you didn’t choose and paint or carve a pumpkin? We expect not. We’ve received 10+ Image Excellent Pumpkin Patches to select from to get pleasure from an entire afternoon or day enjoying earlier than everybody claims their favourite formed pumpkin to take residence.

Every patch has its personal distinctive tackle fall enjoyable, from animals to pets and feed to corn cannons—your loved ones may want to go to multiple!

Many areas may also help you with your whole fall porch adorning wants with pumpkins, squash, mums, gourds, dried corn, hay, and extra!

4. Feed Animals

It’s so a lot enjoyable to go to a petting farm and see what the animals are as much as because the seasons change. Don’t overlook change for feed dispensers at a few of these 15+ Petting Zoos & Farms close to the Fox Cities for Animal Lovers!

A few of Our Favourite Petting Farms: 

5. Get Misplaced in a Corn Maze

Are you in search of a enjoyable journey past the everyday pumpkin selecting? Try one in all these Wisconsin corn mazes and add it to your Fall Bucket Listing for a enjoyable household outing!

Discover an enormous walkthrough puzzle that farmers reduce out of their cornfield is nice old style fall household farm enjoyable. Expertise the enjoyable and studying of navigating, getting misplaced, and discovering your approach once more.

6. Take a Fall Drive

Fill a thermos with scorching chocolate and hit the street! We’ve picked out some attractive routes to take a leisurely trip.

Decide a country street and a dreamy vacation spot to spend a while alongside the way in which. Rustic Street 23 will take you to Little Hope with a picturesque creek-like stretch of river and coated bridge at Pink Mill, then go to close by Hartman Creek State Park to absorb much more colourful appeal on a hike or kayak paddle across the lake. 

7. Get pleasure from Wisconsin Treats

We love indulging in fall treats on a heat and colourful autumn day. If it might occur in an orchard or farm, even higher.

Cuff Farms is providing a variety of meals all through pumpkin season with woodfired pizzas on Saturdays, The Wandering Desk Meals Bus with Sunday brunch, apple cider donuts, Kelley Nation Creamery ice cream, scorching canine, caramel apple slices, and extra. The play space is free and a lot enjoyable right here additionally!

There’s nonetheless time to seize a snack or meal from a meals truck. If you wish to pair it with a seasonal beer or cider, head to McFleshman’s in Appleton for an outside beer backyard and regionally brewed craft beers that usually have meals vans parked proper outdoors on the weekends.

In case you love native, seasonal brews and need to head out on a date, strive Craftoberfest in Inexperienced Bay or Lagerfest in Appleton!

And, don’t miss making an attempt one in all these contemporary pressed ciders: 9 Northeast Wisconsin Apple Ciders to Attempt This Fall!

Tailgate at residence to prepare for the subsequent Packers recreation! Decide up some enjoyable, flavored brats at Jacob’s Meat Market downtown Appleton, Meat Block in Greenville, or Haen’s in Kaukauna—tell us in case you strive gummy bear brats!

You will discover a neighborhood highschool soccer recreation virtually each Friday night time round city. 

Go to Titletown in Inexperienced Bay and play on their discipline or catch a enjoyable exercise.

9. Eat a Caramel Apple

We’re unsure if there’s a quintessential fall deal with than a caramel apple (apple cider and cider donuts could also be a detailed tie). We requested our readers for his or her favourite and added our personal to the listing. Some you’ll discover at apple orchards and pumpkin farms. Others can be found at shops all through the realm. We love that you’ll find the simplest and fanciest proper in our backyards.

Discover GVK and Reader favorites right here: Yummy, Candy, Finger-Lickin’ Good Caramel Apples within the Fox Cities!

Wilmar Goodies and Vande Walle’s Candies provide caramel apples all through the autumn. They’re dipped in freshly made chocolate and caramel. Don’t skip these in case you haven’t tried them!

Little Farmer in Malone, Wisconsin, is such a enjoyable spot to go to, and their apple home has so many scrumptious treats. We love that you may get your caramel apples in wedges right here and might select your personal toppings like traditional sprinkles or sunflower seeds or nuts!

Some areas provide caramel to take residence—have a enjoyable fall household night time in seeing who can provide you with probably the most inventive and scrumptious toppings!

10. Discover a State Park

Fall is perhaps our favourite time to discover Wisconsin State Parks. The whole lot is altering from the bottom to the sky and it’s a good time to decelerate and breathe all of it in. There are 26 Superior Wisconsin State Parks That Are Solely Two Hours or Much less From Appleton, sufficient to fill each weekend with someplace new.

11. Eat Fall Flavored Ice Cream

Go to Kelley’s Nation Creamery, or discover a few of their flavors at Cuff Farms. Knotted Cone, a meals truck that’s typically on the Northsider in Appleton on Sundays, presents award-winning seasonally flavored gelatos.

Try our Final Ice Cream Lovers Bucket Listing with greater than 60 native spots to get nice ice cream!

12. Roast Marshmallows across the Campfire 

It looks like marshmallows style finest in wool socks and flannel shirts. In case you aren’t fortunate sufficient to have your personal firepit at residence, there are some spots to move out to get your fill of toasty marshmallows. 

The Plaza in Neenah has hearth pits and the resident espresso store, Globe Cafe has s’mores components for you. Fritsch Park in Fox Crossing has hearth pits obtainable to be used, they’ve ping-pong tables (BYO paddles and balls) additionally, and the playground there’s tremendous enjoyable.

13. Snuggle Kittens

Go to The Farm in Door County on a crisp fall day for a stroll by their stunning grounds and to spend a while with their kittens.

You may even deliver one residence at Mulberry Lane Farms! Bonus: Pumpkin Harvest Celebration kicks off on September 16, 2022. Every customer can choose a pumpkin by the tip of October. Throughout the fall, there’s an Previous Vogue Play Space and buildings with antiques and nostalgic memorabilia to discover.

14. Go on a Nature Hike

Enthusiastic about the right hike typically brings to thoughts crisp air with heat solar and beautiful views. Fall hikes test the entire containers. 

In case you’re in search of well-defined trails pleasant for little toes, head to 1000 Islands in Kaukauna, Heckrodt Wetland Reserve in Menasha, or Bubolz in Appleton.

Go to Mosquito Hill for a hike and a peek at their new sensory backyard and sculptures.

Nelson Household Heritage Crossing, the Newberry Path, and the Friendship/Trestle Path will provide you with water views with playgrounds to cease to play. Listed below are 18+ Fox Cities Trails for Households to Get pleasure from.

In case you’re up for a little bit extra journey, there are 11 Well worth the Drive Hikes About an Hour from Appleton.

15. Play

Head out to play! We’re all the time seeking to get outdoors each potential day we will within the fall. It’s so fairly outdoors and the climate could be completely good. Along with hitting up parks and playgrounds, we look ahead to the orchards and farms that open to guests bringing us large slides, tricycle races, pumpkin tik tack toe, corn pits, and extra.

If you’re thinking about a play-all-day fall journey, the drive to Waldvogel’s Farm in Juneau, is price your time! It’s Wisconsin’s largest pumpkin farm and has greater than sufficient actions to fill an entire day!

16. Replace your Household Photos

Telulah Park in Appleton is a superb spot for household photos; head to the paths to take photos within the leaves, then take the path right down to the water. There are even docks for on the water image. Doty Park in Menasha has a fairly stone bridge surrounded by timber and is Insta-worthy for certain. We’ve received plenty of concepts right here for Body Worthy Backdrops: 25+ Favourite Locations for Fall Photos.

17. Journey the Chair Raise at Granite Peak

Take your fall views to new heights with a trip on the chairlift at Granite Peak! Rib Mountain State Park shall be bursting with shade within the fall and it’s a nice day journey to make a fall reminiscence or custom.

18. Heat up with a Bowl of Soup

A favourite factor concerning the return of chillier climate is how cozy it makes a bowl of soup really feel! Whether or not you’re making it at residence or venturing out, remember to cease and revel in a heat bowl or soup, stew, or chili. We’re followers of soup and all soup adjoining meals like chili, booyah, and potpie. We lately requested for Reader Favorites and received nice replies!

19. Soar Above on a Zipline

Are you the adventurous sort? Zip by the autumn air and get a distinct view of the altering colours at Hofacker’s Hillside Orchard on Saturdays and Sundays or on the NEW Zoo Wednesday – Sunday (there’s additionally a cover tour over the zoo right here!). 

20. Eat Pie

With the entire apples to select up on the farmer’s market or pluck from timber at an orchard, now we have heat pie on the thoughts incessantly within the fall. We prefer to keep watch over Whisk and Arrow for pie choices and like to cease in to see what’s freshly baked at Easy Simon in Appleton. After all, along with the primary ingredient for apple pie on the markets, you too can discover scrumptious freshly baked entire pies and hand pies! 

21. Savor a Cup of Fall Flavored Espresso 

Are you a Pumpkin Spice Latte fan? Your season has arrived! Check out a neighborhood cafe’s model of your favourite seasonal espresso drink at one in all these espresso outlets with play areas good for a playdate meetup! Hearth Cafe in Menasha has a comfy fire and out of doors play space for a pleasant day. Kaukauna Espresso and Tea is the right location to seize your latte and a comfy lunch with a heat cup of soup and a improbable youngsters’ menu. Or head to the Candy Lair for a deal with and board recreation!

The latest (and coolest) addition to Downtown Appleton, All Tied Up Floral Cafe has a improbable lineup of surprising seasonal drinks, and we love the Maple Pecan Latte—scrumptious scorching or iced. Their lunch menu and house-made bakery don’t disappoint; one in all our cozy favorites is the truffle grilled cheese.

The Fox Cities even has espresso outlets with play areas (good for a playdate meetup)! Hearth Cafe in Menasha and Kaukauna Espresso and Tea. 

22. Head to a Farmer’s Market or Market Retailer 

Many Farmer’s Markets run by October. Preserve an eye fixed out for fall produce favorites on the markets, like these harder-to-find apple varieties, heirloom winter squash that appears fairly in a basket and tastes wonderful, and contemporary Brussels sprouts on stalks which are so enjoyable to take residence!  

You may spend the entire morning gathering up your favorites and selecting out treats like apple or pumpkin pies, cider donuts, jams, jellies, salsa, and extra! You’ll seemingly run throughout many samples to graze your approach by the market!

In case you’re headed to Door County with youngsters this fall, take a look at Wooden Orchard Market in Egg Harbor Seaquist Orchards Farm Market in Sister Bay, Door County. The children can get pleasure from tremendous enjoyable actions like a corn maze, pedal automotive tracks, video games, and playgrounds after you select your treats to take residence—or to get pleasure from whereas they’re working off some vitality earlier than your trip residence!

23. Adorn for Fall

Spruce up your porch with pumpkins, mums, a brand new wreath, or a doormat. Discover enjoyable classic or handcrafted fall decor at Vintage Up in Kimberly or Ye Previous Goat in Appleton. 

Deliver fall scents indoors with a candle from Eco Candle Firm. Eco Candle Co is an artisan candle firm positioned in Downtown Appleton and has handcrafted soy candles, handmade cleaning soap, and pure bathtub & physique merchandise in fall favorites like caramel apple, crushed cranberry, pumpkin pecan, and orange clove.

Pink Door Mercantile in Neenah is all the time a great spot to seek out residence decor for any season. You’ll discover plenty of native and distinctive objects in your residence or to present as items!

22. Take a Fall Street Journey

Door County is taken into account probably the greatest locations in Wisconsin for Fall. The actions and locations there are so diversified that it’s a good household day, romantic getaway, or day journey with mates.

Wausau is one other nice fall vacation spot! There are such a lot of enjoyable fall issues to do, good for the entire household, and beautiful colours surrounding the realm from Rib Mountain State Park.

Cedar Creek has wonderful river setting views and Harvest Competition in mid-September. Port Washington could be a quieter day journey vacation spot with loads of enjoyable and lakeside fall views available inside a brief drive and a brief drive to Lion’s Den George Nature Protect in Grafton.

Don’t depend out Wisconsin Dells as a fall street journey contender! You may lengthen your stick with a waterpark sleepover journey and a side-quest to Satan’s Lake State Park for iconic Wisconsin fall landscapes.

23. Discover a Fall Competition or Fall Craft Truthful

Wisconsin loves fall and it exhibits within the sheer variety of celebrations, festivals, and festivals. We’ve rounded up over 100! Some Door County highlights embody: 

• Egg Harbor Ale Fest
• Sturgeon Bay Harvest Fest
• Bailey’s Harbor Autumn Fest
• Egg Harbor Pumpkin Patch competition
• Washington Island Cider Urgent Social gathering and the Autumn Lighthouse Competition
• Sister Bay Fall Competition

The 100 festivals listing doesn’t even embody the entire Oktoberfests! Discover these right here!

Do you know Wisconsin is residence to the biggest arts and crafts competition within the U.S. Each September hundreds of customers stroll the miles of cubicles at Waren’s Cranberry Fest? Keep on the close by Three Bears Resort and Waterpark to make a enjoyable household weekend for the occasion!

24. View the Altering Seasons from Above

Commentary towers are an ideal spot for breathtaking anytime scenic views however particularly at fall. Benefit from the fall colours all through Wisconsin. In case you aren’t afraid of heights and never frightened of a few steps, take a look at these enjoyable adventures!

Peninsula State Park has a more moderen commentary tower that has a stroller pleasant and accessible for all ramped on a cover stroll. The Lighthouse at  Lakeside Park in Fond du Lac presents an attractive view and there’s a coated bridge for a fall picture backdrop.

25. Stargaze

Be taught concerning the Fall sky at Barlow Planetarium — listed here are two household astronomy nights in October as a result of moon part timing!

October Household Astronomy Evening #1 – Saturday, October 1st

October Household Astronomy Evening #2 – Saturday, October twenty ninth

If you wish to head out by yourself, the low inhabitants density and, due to this fact, low mild air pollution, Northern Door County is among the darkest spots in Wisconsin. This makes for some wonderful nighttime sky viewing alternatives. Fall is an ideal time to take a look at the nighttime sky since you received’t even have to remain up as late as within the summertime, making it, much more, child/household pleasant.

Newport State Park in Ellison Bay, Door County is one in all solely two Darkish Sky Parks within the Midwest, the seaside at Newport State Park is an ideal spot for star-gazing. Additionally they have a enjoyable Nature Heart with child actions contained in the Park’s Predominant Workplace. Regulate the northern lights forecast additionally to see in case you’ll have an opportunity to see stars and a light-weight present—you’re in search of a forecast of a kp of 6-7!!

26. Get pleasure from a Cider Donut

Head to Misty Ridge Orchard for Soften-in-Your-Mouth Apple Cider Donuts! In case you haven’t tried these donuts, it’s possible you’ll be questioning… What are apple cider donuts? Apple cider donuts are made by including apple cider to the donut batter, deep-fried, after which rolled and dipped in cinnamon sugar and different typical apple pie spices like nutmeg. The apple cider leaves a refined sweetness and the sugary topping is finger-lickin’ good.

27. Go Horseback Driving

Spherical up your favourite horse-loving youngsters and hit a path, discover classes, and even host a enjoyable fall birthday celebration at a steady! We’ve rounded up nice locations to spend time with horses and have equestrian adventures!

Wild West Campground & Corral in Amherst presents path using by the woods throughout the weekends in September and October. The 45-minute trip is accessible for ages 4 and up, and all expertise ranges are welcome. Rides begin at $38. Reservations are made on-line.

Kurtz Corral in Sturgeon Bay is open year-round, every day for scenic, guided rides. The one-hour, guided path trip winds by previous Door County orchard and delightful forests and obtainable for riders ages 6 and up of all skills. Rides final one hour, and begin at $75. Reservations are made on-line.

28. See the Colours Throughout the Lake

Our Final Fall Information to the East Aspect of Lake Winnebago has a choose-your-own fall journey vibe relying on the kind of day you’re in search of. Pumpkin patches? Test. Espresso outlets? Test. Ice cream? Huge test. Even in case you enterprise during our listing of 17 spots to go to on the east aspect of Lake Winnebago, you’ll nonetheless be again residence in an hour or much less out of your final cease! Go forward! Select your personal day journey journey with these worth-the-drive spots to go to to seek out nice climbing trails, petting farms, and loads of scrumptious treats!

29. Hire ATVs

There are countless miles of ATV and UTV trails throughout Wisconsin! These trails present a enjoyable and adventurous option to spend time in a pure atmosphere that can swimsuit the fun seekers in your loved ones. Is that this a brand new exercise for your loved ones? The DNR has plenty of suggestions and assets to assist in planning your journey and there are numerous areas to lease an ATV or UTV!

30. Take a Boat Tour 

Lake Winnebago, Lake Michigan, Lake Winnebago, Fox River, Chain of Lakes—now we have so many choices! There are quick cruises and kayak rental or tour alternatives to supply views that you just usually wouldn’t get to see!

31. Hire a Cabin

We’ve discovered some image good cabins of all sizes to get pleasure from within the colder months round Wisconsin. E-book a comfy weekend away from the noise of on a regular basis life. Or, if a cabin isn’t your factor, head to a waterpark lodge!

32. Head to the Park

Rubber floor parks are good for muddy fall days. It’s so good to have the ability to squeeze in playground time in between wet fall days!

33. Kayak

Glide by water and observe the altering panorama with a serene view. There are cool kayak rental kiosks at spots alongside the Fox River in addition to spots round Wisconsin good for a paddle on a fall day. Discover a spot to make your reservation!

34. Go Tenting

Fall tenting could be much more nice than summertime tenting. The climate is cooler, it will get darker a little bit earlier and these components could make sleep come a little bit simpler in a tent or camper! Now we have concepts for campgrounds, recipes, gear, and extra in our Household Tenting Information.

Making an allowance for the entire new sensory experiences for brand spanking new little campers may also help to make your tenting adventures go extra easily; we’ve received Ideas for a Profitable Household Tenting Journey from a Sensory Perspective!

35. Feed the Geese

A visit to Bay Seashore Wildlife Sanctuary within the fall guarantees a enjoyable day with wandering the paths to see animals, trying out the play and academic alternatives within the nature heart, and our favourite, a cease to feed the geese! Discover luggage of corn within the nature heart and assist fill these duck bellies!

36. Chase Waterfalls

Waterfalls are enjoyable to discover year-round! Surrounded by the colour of fall, a go to can really feel very totally different from the hotter months and lends itself naturally to some nice picture alternatives. There are 5 waterfalls inside two hours of Appleton, we love a enjoyable spot to go to that’s shut sufficient to spend only a morning or afternoon with out an excessive amount of driving. 

37. Journey the Rails

The Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom is a dwelling museum with a enjoyable alternative for a scenic hour-long, 7-mile roundtrip journey on an vintage metal coach. 

The Nationwide Railroad Museum presents practice rides all through the day day by day throughout September and on the weekends in October. Every trip takes about 25 minutes and covers two miles touring two loops of a one-mile circuit, traversing wooded areas, the Fox River shoreline and different Museum property areas. October 8 and 15, the museum has a practice trip to a pumpkin patch and a day of enjoyable actions and leisure for youths and households at The Nice Pumpkin Practice.

38. Play Inside Someplace Enjoyable on a Wet Day

Someway, it’s all the time shocking what number of wet days fall brings to Wisconsin! Fortunately, now we have a number of enjoyable and attention-grabbing indoor areas to play and have enjoyable when the climate is uncooperative for out of doors adventuring. Now we have plenty of concepts for Issues to Do On a Wet Day! Run round at City Air Journey Park in Appleton or discover on the Constructing for Children!

39. Oktoberfest

Wisconsin’s German heritage roots make their option to the forefront every fall with Oktoberfest celebrations so far as the attention can see! That’s proper; deliver on the lederhosen, bier, brats, Bavarian pretzels, apple strudel, wienerschnitzel, and polka. We’ve received 30+ family-friendly Wisconsin Oktoberfest festivals you’ll not need to miss this season!

40. Snuggle Up with a Good E-book

You by no means know who may snuggle with you on the Little Chute Public Library! Cabbage, the library bunny is a household favourite and loves studying.

41. Discover a Big Pretzel

Heat Bavarian pretzels pair completely with mulled apple cider or wine slushies like at Armstrong Apples & Orchard in Cambellsport!

42. Heat up with a cup of Apple Cider

Pumpkin spice goes to wish to share the highlight with these delish ciders obtainable round Northeast Wisconsin. Many native orchards are urgent contemporary cider weekly and promote out rapidly. Test with the orchard you’re heading to earlier than you go! We love apple cider chilly and heat. This 12 months we tried an apple cider slushie on a heat fall day and it was an instantaneous favourite. Get pleasure from by the glass, a half-gallon, or full-gallon contemporary from one in all these orchards! Listed below are 9 Northeast Wisconsin Apple Ciders to Attempt This Fall!

43. Get Buried in Corn

Discover a farm with an enormous corn pit! We love enjoying at Cuff Farms in Hortonville.

44. Take a Bike Journey

Whether or not you need to race tricycles at a farm or take a look at the altering colours on one of many Fox Cities, Oshkosh or Inexperienced Bay space trails, now we have you coated!

45. Dip your Toes within the Creek at Pink Mill

Seize your digicam and head to Waupaca (only a quick drive from Hartman Creek State Park) for creek stomping, ice cream, and a picture-perfect bridge in Little Hope, close to Waupaca on the Pink Mill.

46. Take a Selfie

Discover a Journey Wisconsin selfie stand at a state park! Now we have seen them at Hartman Creek State Park and Kohler-Andrae State Park by the lighthouse.

47. Discover Offers at a Fall Rummage Sale or Thrift Retailer

With the altering seasons and rising youngsters discover a deal at a Fall yard sale or thrift retailer!

48. Soar in Leaves

Generally leaves are higher for leaping after they aren’t in your yard! Head to a park with plenty of timber! Riverside Park in Neenah has loads of giant Oak timber and plenty of areas to run round. Pamperin Park in Inexperienced Bay has a enjoyable picket playground and space to rake up a leaf pile too!

49. Get Prepared for Halloween

You’ve received your pumpkins, and are ending up plans for costumes; maintain this important Halloween enjoyable listing helpful! 

There are such a lot of methods to have a enjoyable season and our neighborhood actually comes by with enjoyable and reasonably priced occasions for households to get pleasure from collectively. Test our Neighborhood Calendar and join our weekly publication to maintain on prime of the entire happenings!