Fall Activities

Halloween's Best Ghost Trains and Spooky Rides for LA Kids

Submitted by Roberta B on Mon, 09/16/2019 - 4:24am

So you've already been to the pumpkin patches, and you're ready to take Halloween to the next level; you're ready, in fact, to put it in motion. We know several deadly ways to take this haunt on the road before it's time to trick-or-treat, with everything from an old-fashioned train ride through fields of pumpkins, to a spooky tour through the bowels of a haunted ship, or even a scream-filled hayride through fields of zombies. Whatever Halloween means to your family, you can make it a ride at one (or more) of these vehicular annual haunts. After all, the family that hunts down armies of zombies together stays together.

Pumpkin Festivals and Jack-O-Lantern Displays for New England Families

Submitted by Tara D on Sun, 09/15/2019 - 8:00pm

New England is brimming with fall festivals, but kids are particularly enamored with events celebrating the humble pumpkin: the symbol of autumn and Halloween. Whether you stick close to home or make a day or weekend trip out of it, going to a pumpkin festival or visiting a glowing jack-o'-lantern display is a fun, family-friendly way to get into the spirit of the season. Here's a sampling of pumpkin fun in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine over the next month. Get inspired for a trip to the pumpkin patch for a jack-o'-lantern display on your own front porch!

30 Perfect Fall Family Day Trips from NYC

Submitted by Katia on Sun, 09/15/2019 - 2:00pm

With fall upon us, we're craving more than just a change of seasons. Sometimes, fresh scenery—even for a day—can do wonders to reboot and re-energize weary New Yorkers who dodged tourists and sweltered in subways all summer.

Whether fall in your house means an afternoon harvesting nature's bounty at local farms, heading out for a hike, or something else, we've rounded up 30 spots worthy of a day trip. Some are even accessible by public transportation. Read on for our picks sure to inspire your love of the season, and find more getaways in our Day Trip and Travel Guide.

Hayrides and Fall Farm Fun for Kids in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

Submitted by Janine Annett on Sun, 09/15/2019 - 10:00am

Hayrides are our favorite mode of transportation when it comes to fall fun. We've gathered up some of our favorite family farms and orchards in Westchester and the Hudson Valley with hayrides and other awesome autumn activities, including apple picking and corn mazes.

Many of these hayrides are free, or at least included with the admission price.

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Cool Pumpkin Displays, Festivals, and Decorating Events in NJ

Submitted by Michelle Vames on Sun, 09/15/2019 - 8:00am

Kick off the festive fall season at one of the many wonderful pumpkin-themed events happening around NJ, from elaborate pumpkin displays and carving competitions to good old-fashioned pumpkin picking and decorating fun.

Read on for our top picks, plus a couple of bonus events that are worth a drive across state lines. You can find even more even seasonal events in our Fall Fun Guide.

Best Pumpkin Patches for LA, Ventura, & Orange County Pumpkin Picking

Submitted by Roberta B on Fri, 09/13/2019 - 4:05pm

Ready to talk pumpkin patch? Yes, the time has come to surrender to the Great Pumpkin—who is, frankly, spoiled for choice around the Southland in Halloween season. We would never presume to call one pumpkin patch more sincere than the others, but LA’s pumpkin patches (and pseudo pumpkin patches) run a satisfying gamut from small to large, folksy to commercial. Whether you're hoping for a hit-and-run Halloween photo or a day's outing in autumnal reverie, your pumpkin picking destination is below...

NYC's Only Corn Maze and More Fall Fun at the Queens Farm Museum

Submitted by Sydney Ng on Fri, 09/13/2019 - 3:00pm

There aren't many better ways to get the family excited for the fall in NYC than taking the kids for a tour through a three-acre corn maze in the middle of Queens and letting their imaginations run wild. The Queens County Farm Museum's Amazing Maize Maze opens for the season September 21, and it's just one of the quintessential fall activities happening at this New York City institution.

The Amazing Maize Maze is the only corn maze in the city. My family and I have conquered lots of these mazes and can happily say that the one at the Queens County Farm Museum is just as much fun as its country counterparts. We made it through in just about one hour—even with a pair of 8-year-olds leading the way. That left us plenty of time to enjoy other farm fun. We've got some tips for how to make the most of your visit to the farm and the corn maze. But no, we aren't giving you the route. You'll still need to figure that out yourself!

Halloween and Fall Train Rides for New Jersey Kids

Submitted by Michelle Vames on Fri, 09/13/2019 - 11:34am

Halloween and hayrides go hand in hand, but if you really want to up your game this year, take a trip on a Halloween train! From spooky to scenic, these fall train rides offer a unique bit of fall fun for the whole family: passengers can take a seat in a vintage caboose, travel through gorgeous fall foliage, visit a pumpkin patch, and even trick-or-treat onboard. After the ride, round out the day with autumn activities like corn mazes, crafts, and a costume party.

Don't miss out on one of these four seasonal NJ railway adventures—plus one across the Delaware in Pennsylvania.

Check out our NJ Fall Fun Guide for even more seasonal family fun around the state, and sign up for our FREE newsletters to get the latest Halloween coverage and more delivered right to your inbox.