I think everyone can agree that fall is just so fabulous and fall in San Diego: perfection! The weather is beautiful, fresh routines are starting with a new school year and there are so many fun traditions to go along with the season. As much as I love making my Summer Bucket List, I get even more excited about making one for fall.
If you aren’t a list lover like me, have no fear; I have compiled everything you need to make the perfect Fall Bucket List:
1. Find your way out of a corn maze.
Can you think of anything that is more fitting for the season than exploring a corn maze? Our favorite corn maze is at Big Horse Feed store in Temecula. Not only does Big Horse offer an awesome corn maze, but they also have a pumpkin patch, farm animals and a play pit filled up entirely with corn. Every weekend in October they offer a different theme, including a military appreciation weekend. The Pumpkin Station in Rancho Bernardo also offers a corn maze in addition to their pumpkin patch and hayride.
2. Visit Bates Nut Farm.
Tucked away in Valley Center is our very favorite fall tradition. Bates Nut Farm has so much to offer for families and kids of all ages. You can spend hours searching for the perfect giant pumpkin, or you can take a hayride through the fields. They have lots of different activities for kids like a petting zoo, pony rides and a rock-climbing wall. After picking out our pumpkins we like to head into the retail store for some fudge and other treats. It can get pretty busy on October weekends, but if crowds aren’t your thing, they are open daily year-round.
3. Take a day trip to Julian.
Just a short drive into the mountains you can explore the quaint town of Julian. You can spend the day apple picking or eating some famous apple pie. You can grab some warm apple cider and walk around the little shops on Main Street. They also offer a few Bed & Breakfasts right in town, if you are able to sneak off for a romantic weekend away.
4. Spend a day at the beach.
We are so lucky to have such beautiful weather all year round in San Diego. Some of our family’s favorite beach days are fall beach days. The summer crowds have gone, but there are still plenty of warm days to spend by the ocean. We also love to bring our dog to run free again at Dog Beach.
5. Visit a local pumpkin patch.
Sometimes our fall weekends fill up fast, and we don’t have a full day to devote to family adventures. These are the perfect days to explore a local pumpkin patch. It is hard to drive a few miles and not see a pumpkin patch pop up on a street corner or in the mall parking lot. These local pumpkin patches usually still have plenty of pumpkins to choose from and sometimes even have a few activities for the kids.
6. Make a fun fall recipe.
One of my favorite times of year to cook is in the fall. I love to bake something with pumpkin or apple. I love to put my crockpot to work. I love to try out a new appetizer to bring to a friend’s house to watch some football. Be sure to follow our Pinterest page to see all the yummy recipes our contributors are going to try out this season!
7. Shop at your local Farmer’s Market.
It is always a good time to go explore the Farmer’s Market, but fall might be my favorite time to shop. There are so many fresh vegetables and fruits to choose from, not to mention the atmosphere is just so perfectly fall. Grab a girlfriend and spend the morning browsing and sipping freshly brewed coffee.
8. Visit a haunted house.
If your kids are old enough, or if you want a fun date night, you need to check out a local haunted house. Halloween is a highlight of fall for our family and although our kids are too little to be scared for the fun of it, my husband and I love getting scared during a spooky date night out.
9. Go to a Halloween event at a local amusement park.
Living in southern California, we are pretty much surrounded by amusement and theme parks. Most of our local theme parks offer some sort of fall or Halloween celebration. Legoland offers a fun Brick-or-Treat event and Sea World puts on their annual Spooktacular season. You can also venture up the coast for a haunted night at Knott’s Scary Farm or head to Disneyland for Mickey’s Halloween party.
Every weekend in the fall seems to offer endless opportunities to get outside and enjoy quality time with family. There is always some festival going on that offers great food, live music or fun competition. Try something new this season and pick a festival that catches your eye!
No matter what you decide to put on your Fall Bucket List this year, we truly hope you and your family will enjoy every part of this season! Happy adventuring!
 Find your way out of a corn maze. 2) Visit Bates Nut Farm. 3) Take a day trip to Julian.){kind=link}