Making a fall bucket list for yourself or your family is all about dreaming up your ideal autumn experience. We’ve found some of the best ideas to add to your bucket list this season so you can focus on daydreaming of cozy sweaters and all the pumpkin-spiced things rather than figuring out what to do this autumn!
Outdoor Activities for Your Fall Bucket List
We’re breathing that sigh of relief right along with you as the cooler weather moves in. Mostly because it means we can get outside and enjoy nature without immediately breaking a sweat. Try these outdoor ideas:
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Go on a hayride.
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Jump in a pile of leaves.
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Pick apples with friends or family.
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Have a bonfire.
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Run a marathon or sign up for a turkey trot. (Hint: If you're a beginner, try a learn-to-run app; almost anyone can do it!)
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Take a stroll through a graveyard at sunset. (Or go all out and visit a famous cemetery!)
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Read a book outside.
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Plan a cozy fall picnic.
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Cozy up with your sweetheart for a fall date at the drive-in movie spot.
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Add fall decor to your mailbox.
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Pick a pumpkin at your local pumpkin patch.
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Work your way through a corn maze.
Add These Autumn Foods & Drinks to Your Bucket List
There’s a reason so many claim fall as their favorite season: it has the best seasonal foods and drinks. From pumpkin spice lattes to freshly baked bread, we think these autumn delights belong on every fall bucket list.
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Make homemade apple pie.
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Bake a pumpkin-flavored dessert.
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Try making your own pumpkin spice latte at home.
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Make candied apples or enjoy some at a fall event.
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Have friends over for a soup and chili night.
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Whip up fall drinks or mocktails for a night in.
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Share a fall-themed charcuterie board.
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Wake up early and bake cinnamon rolls.
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Try a chai tea latte.
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Look for the best apple cider donuts near you.
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Make your own applesauce.
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Host a fall cookie exchange.
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Bake fresh bread to share with your neighbors or coworkers.
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Recreate iconic foods from Gilmore Girls episodes.
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Make pumpkin or butternut squash soup.
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Whip up pumpkin spice pancakes on a Saturday morning.
Related: 100 Bucket List Ideas for Teens to Try Before They Graduate
Exciting Seasonal Events to Try This Fall
Our schedules stay pretty full this time of year. Mostly because of all the exciting events that take place in the fall. We think some of these deserve a spot on your bucket list this autumn.
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Attend a local high school or college football game.
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See your town’s minor or major league baseball team play.
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Go to a sunflower festival.
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Plan an evening at the carnival or your local fair.
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Check out a local craft market.
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Attend a costume party.
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Check out a lineup of concerts in the park.
Stay In With These Cozy Fall Bucket List Ideas
If you love to snuggle up and enjoy the indoors during autumn, these ideas will speak to your cozy heart. Every fall bucket list needs at least a few comfy indoor activities to encourage rest during this season.
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Spend a day decorating your home for fall.
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Have a fall movie marathon.
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Host a seasonal sweater swap with friends.
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Press fall leaves into your favorite books.
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Plan a game day viewing party at home.
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Make your own fall wreath.
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Knit your own cozy blanket.
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Watch all the Thanksgiving episodes of Friends.
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Designate an entire day for baking fall treats.
Self-Care Activities Perfect for Autumn
Fall is the season of settling in and reflecting on the year past. It’s also a time to prioritize self-care as you try to enjoy everything autumn has to offer. Do something kind for yourself and add a few (or all) of these self-care activities to your bucket list this fall.
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Get a fall manicure.
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Take yourself on a fall-themed date.
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Grab a coffee and quietly tour a bookstore or spend some time in your local library.
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Start a gratitude journal or just write down a list of what you're thankful for.
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Spend some time journaling outside.
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Try a new fall makeup look.
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Add some autumn flair to your hair.
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Buy yourself a bouquet of fall flowers.
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Treat yourself to a new fall outfit.
Unique & Fun Activities for Your Fall Bucket List
Whether it’s a day at home with family or an outing with friends, fall is an opportunity to dial up your fun meter. We love these unique and fun-filled activities for bringing some life to your autumn bucket list.
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Host a fall-themed party.
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Get matching fall pajamas for your family.
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Carve jack-o'-lanterns with friends.
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Get the kids involved in a no-carve pumpkin activity.
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Recreate a date from a famous fall romantic comedy.
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Explore a small town near you — if it looks like Stars Hollow, you’re golden.
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Go on a ghost tour or check out a haunted house.
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Do a craft beer crawl.
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Tour a cidery.
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Attend a poetry reading.
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See a show at your local performing arts theater.
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Do a fall-flavored food taste test with friends.
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Go thrift shopping for fall decor.
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Have a fall photo shoot with family or friends.
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Paint personalized mugs for your fall drinks.
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Take a weekend trip to the mountains.
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Shop for fresh fall herbs and spices.
Want to give back this season but don't have a ton of time? Try one of these ways to help your community that you can do in 30 minutes or less!
How to Work Through Your Bucket List Items
Now that you have all the ideas you need for your fall bucket list, it’s time to plan how exactly you’ll get them all checked off. Here are a few ways to tackle it and have it completed before winter.
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Organize your list in alphabetical order and work your way from A to Z.
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Write each list item on a piece of paper and toss it in a mason jar. Grab one activity per day or week and set out to complete it before reaching for another.
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Use each bucket list item as a journal prompt. Write about what you enjoyed and how the activity made you feel.
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Assign each bucket list item to a person in your life so you can spend quality time with everyone important to you throughout the fall season.
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Write out your bucket list items and cover each line with a small post-it note. Whenever you’re ready to check off an activity, choose a post-it at random and complete the activity underneath.
Fall for These Fun Autumn Activities
You don’t have to use every idea on our list, but we think you’ll find a ton of inspiration for your own. We suggest finding the items that you would enjoy most and getting a few friends or family members involved as you work through them throughout the end of the year. Don't forget to check out our Halloween bucket list too!
