10 Healthy Fall Activities

Get your family out of the house and enjoy the beautiful fall weather with these 10 healthy fall activities! 

The air is chilly, the leaves are changing color, and pumpkins are everywhere, which can only mean one thing—fall is here! While I will miss beach days, barbecues, and summer nights, I’m excited for autumn activities. Don’t hide indoors as the temperatures cool down in the Northeast.

Fall is one of the best seasons to be physically active and indulge in healthy seasonal fare. Try any of these 10 fall activities to enjoy the changing of the seasons with a healthy twist:

1. Apple and Pumpkin Picking

No list of fall activities would be complete without apple and pumpkin picking. Enjoy time with your family outside in the crisp air while spending the day on your feet. Add a little healthy competition by challenging your loved ones to find the biggest/reddest apple.

2. Cook a healthy apple dish

After you spend the day picking your favorite apples, cook up a healthy apple dish. You will love this homemade Slow-Cooker Apple Butter or Maple Apple Chips. 

3. Carve a Jack O’ Lantern

Now that you have pumpkins at home, think of a fun design and get carving! Knifing through and scooping out the pumpkin requires some serious muscle. As an added bonus, the seeds are perfect for roasting with salt and olive oil. I recently carved a pumpkin for the first time as an adult, and I can guarantee it’s an activity for people of all ages!

4. Visit the local Botanical Gardens

Hands down, the foliage is one of my favorite parts of fall. What better way to experience the beautiful red, yellow, and orange greenery than to visit a botanical garden. I recently visited the NY Botanical Garden and spent 4 hours walking and exploring the 250 acre terrain.

5. Make a stop at the zoo

On the next sunny fall day, head to the zoo to enjoy time on your feet with wild animals. While visiting the zoo this past weekend, I walked over 5 miles! I had such a good time that I didn’t even notice that I spent the day exercising.

6. Sign up for a race

Fall is my favorite time to run. I have a hard time keeping my mileage and speed up during the hot and humid summer. Fall’s 50-60 degree temperatures make running incredibly easier. Don’t believe me? Sign up for a 5K in December and train for it during the fall months. If you’re in the NYC area, I’ve compiled a list of my top 10 favorite races. 

7. Go hiking

Hiking is another great way to see fall foliage and enjoy the mountain air. Hiking may seem like an intense activity, but there are trails for people of all skill levels. Bear Mountain in NY has flat easy terrain as well as steep difficult hikes.

8. Pick up some seasonal produce at the Farmer’s Market

Farmers markets showcase a variety of beautiful colors in the fall. Orange squash, green brussels sprouts, purple eggplant, and white cauliflower are just some, to name a few.

Visit your local farmers market to pick up a variety of fall fruits and vegetables and make a healthy colorful dish at home. Challenge yourself to buy as many colors as you can find! Here are some recipe suggestions:

• Stuffed Acorn Squash
• Brussels Sprout Naan Pizza With An Egg On Top
• Buffalo Cauliflower Rice Bowl

9. Visit a haunted theme park

Visiting a haunted theme park is another fantastic activity for walking around and getting your heart racing. Try Six Flags Fright Fest or haunted corn maze. Just be wary of the fried and sugary foods at theme parks. Pack your own lunch and snacks to save money and calories.

10. Rake leaves

After you marvel at the beautiful red, yellow, and orange leaves, they will inevitably fall into your yard. Rather than pay a landscaper or neighborhood kid to rake them up, do it yourself. Get your daily workout in while doing housework—you will really work up a sweat and get your heart pumpkin pumping.