The Ultimate Fall Bucket List

As I step foot outside in the early hours of the morning, I feel the crispness of the air beginning to fill the atmosphere. Summer flowers are slowly dropping their leaves in preparation. The tips of the leaves are an ombre color, signaling a change is to come. The chilly breeze runs through the evening, leaving evidence of coldness on the back patio. 

My inner seasonal timer alerts my heart that something is around the corner.

Fall. The season of fall. Fall is approaching us. 

As we navigate through our lives, I find it so much fun to blog about bucket list things. The simple bucket list things. Not our “whole life, huge dreams” bucket list things. A simple list of things to do this fall. 
A fall bucket list. This is supposed to be a list of things that I would love to encounter this fall and I would love to share it with you too. I think fall is such a fun, cozy season that nurtures our soul. Sometimes writing out a list of things we want to do actually holds us accountable to DO THEM. It is so easy to get on with mundane & ordinary routines of our lives, and before you know it, the season has disappeared.

So here is what I am personally hoping to do this fall and I hope this brings ideas to your fall bucket list:

1.) Take a Long Drive to See Fall Foliage

Sometime this fall, I want to wake up early in the morning to take a long drive through the valleys and mountains to witness the radiant changing colors of the trees. Long drives are so good for tuning into our thoughts and feelings, and capturing what’s on our hearts. So let’s get a fun drink, buckle up, and enjoy the scenery that God has created in the fall season.

2.) Maple. Maple Coffee. Maple Doughnuts.

This is for non-pumpkin spice lovers. I do not mind PSL, however, I LOVE maple. This is for the girls who love maple doughnuts and maple lattes. Or hazelnut. The nutty flavors of fall. Let’s buy the maple coffee and the maple doughnuts and savor the tastiness of FALL!

3.) Sit around the Fire on a Chilly Night.

Gather with your friends and family. Get the blankets out because the weather is getting cooler as the sun sets. Spend time with the people that love you & inspire you.

4.) Actually Cozy Up and Read Good Books.

Here is my current book bucket list for this fall season:

  • Captivating by John & Stasi Eldredge 
  • Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult 
  • The Simplest Way to Change the World by Dustin Willis & Brandon Clements 
  • Love & War by Stasi & John Eldredge 

Please let me know your book recommendations that is on your list for fall 🙂

5.) Bake Yummy Fall Treats

Sourdough Bread. Pumpkin cookies. Banana & Zucchini Bread. Apple Pie. Pumpkin Pie. Apple Butter. Pumpkin Creamer. All the fall things! The best part about baking fall treats is that your kitchen will smell LOVELY. To make it extra special, make extra batches to give to friends and neighbors. Why not spread the fall cheer for all to ENJOY!

6.) Visit a Pumpkin Patch and Drink Apple Cider

Pumpkins are too cute to pass up. I love the fall hayrides and squirmy squeals of little kids playing in the pumpkin patch. Additionally, pumpkin patches usually have corn mazes that are so fun to do with friends or your loved ones.  Going to pumpkin patches usually, supports a small family-owned farm! Some pumpkin patches and family farms sell their homemade fresh apple cider. Talk about YUM! Sip on some apple cider while you search for your favorite pumpkin.

Shop their fresh farm produce and take some home to bake with (think fresh chicken eggs and pumpkins for pumpkin pies & cookies). Most pumpkin patches have so many fun activities to do while you are there. One pumpkin patch where I live does live pumpkin launching with giant catapults. Search your area and hop on Pinterest to see about fall fun activities to do at a pumpkin patch!

7.) Apple Picking!

I have not done this yet, but I have heard wonderful things about it. There are local apple orchards that offer apple picking. This would be such a fun date and would give you fresh apples to bake pies with! 

Search in your area for local pumpkin patches and apple orchards. I am sure they have great apple cider here too 😉

8.) Stay in a Cabin and Shut Off for a Weekend

Last fall season, RJ & I road-tripped to South Dakota to stay at a tiny little cottage. It forced us to spend lots of quality time together outside of our comfortable & everyday routine. The trees were changing colors all around us. Of course, I was on the hunt for the best fall maple doughnut in the state :D.

We got to explore the fall atmosphere in another state, and I highly recommend doing this with friends or your loved ones!

We are able to do this affordably. I will write a blog post about traveling on a budget when you don’t have the means to do so. It is so fun and so doable! It just takes some pre-planning and flexing your creative muscles to make it work!

9.) Make a list of Gratitude and Thanks

Recently, I was gifted a book by Ann Voskamp called One Thousand Gifts. I HIGHLY recommend reading this book as Ann Voskamp is the most beautifully gifted writer I have ever sampled. She is remarkableand her story is powerful. She talks about journaling one thousand things you are grateful for. 

So buy a cute journal. Write 1000 things you are grateful for this season. In the morning, during coffee time or lunchtime, I will pencil in 5 (ish) things that brought me joy that day. 

The things I wrote down in my gratitude journal this morning: 

  • Fresh zinnia buds about to bloom
  • Freshly baked banana bread filling the aroma of my kitchen
  • Warm coffee hitting my quiet soul in the stillness of the morning
  • Sun shimmering her way through the window, welcoming another day 
  • Dogs’ paws pittering & pattering their way around the wood floor

10.) Do a Puzzle & Play Board Games!

As the weather starts to change, I would love to take more intentionality with my indoor time. I bought a fall-like puzzle to set out on the table & attempt to do during personal short breaks.  Speaking of activities to do with friends and family, I would love to include more board games as they make fun quality time. Sitting around the couch, playing Yahtzee, SkipBo, or Uno invites undivided attention to the ones we love.

I have crafted a fall bucket list. What is on your bucket list for this upcoming season of fall? I would love to see some of your ideas and thoughts. 

Happy eve of Fall!!! It’s right around the corner. 

Even as the weather dips here where I am from, don’t forget to let your sunshine shine.

With all my heart,

Haley