Fall Bucket List for Kids: 35 Top Things To Do in NYC this Fall

Candy, critters, and plenty of sweet treats await when Boo at the Zoo takes over the Bronx Zoo this fall. Photo by Julie Larsen Maher

With Labor Day behind us, we're focused on finding the best fall activities in NYC for families because it's official: The seasons are shifting. So, instead of lamenting the summer that was, we're looking forward to all the fall activities that await.

With that in mind, here's our season-long look at the best things to do this fall in NYC. After all, we've got assorted school holidays, plus a few long weekends to fill before the weather really changes. Without further ado, here is our fall bucket list, chock full of 35 things to do in NYC with kids.

Now that we've got you dreaming of fall, find our top picks for family-friendly fall day trips and more seasonal fun in our Guide to Fall Fun in NYC.

Best Free Things To Do in Chicago This Fall With Kids

Shimmy your way through Chicago SummerDance! Photo courtesy of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs

There are so many free things to do in Chicago this fall—there's a fun neighborhood festival practically every weekend, and all sorts of other free kid-friendly events. Between outdoor fairs, harvest festivals, concerts and performances, cultural celebrations, and of course, Halloween and Thanksgiving, Fall in Chicago is jam-packed with no-cost family fun.

We'll update this list all season long with the best FREE things to do with kids in Chicago, so bookmark this page and watch this space. Looking for more free ideas? The Best Playgrounds in Chicago are always free, and there are Free Museums and Museum Days. Our list of 100 Things to Do With Chicago Kids Before They Grow Up is full of free or low-cost ideas for local and visiting families, and of course you can always find more free activities in our Chicago Event Calendar.

The Great Pumpkin Train and More Halloween Train Rides in New Jersey

Join in the Halloween fun at the Whippany Railway Museum's Pumpkin Patch Train. Photo courtesy of the museum

Halloween and hayrides go hand in hand, but if you really want to up your game this year, choo-choo-choose 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 classic autumn activities like corn mazes, crafts, and a trick-or-treat. 

Book your tickets now to ensure you don't miss out on one of these seasonal NJ railway adventures. We've even found one across the Delaware River 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.

Fall Bucket List for Kids: 40 Top Things To Do in Atlanta This Fall

Celebrate fall by touring the Atlanta Botanical Garden for its Scarecrows in the Garden fall event. Photo courtesy of the garden

Fall in Atlanta is pretty much the peak of our seasonal activities—there are just so many things to do in Atlanta this fall with kids. We've got leaves changing colors, amazing weather (not too cold, not too hot), and lots of fall festivals. Atlanta families are also abuzz about football season, apple picking, Halloween, and all the opportunities to get outdoors without breaking a sweat. In fact, there are so many fun fall things to do in Atlanta with families that we decided to narrow it down with a list of merely 40 ideas.

Forty ideas aren't enough for you? We've got more where that came from in our Fall Fun Guide for Atlanta Kids!

Fall Bucket List for Kids: 25 Top Things To Do Near DC This Fall

It's not fall without a visit to the pumpkin patch. Photo courtesy of Great Country Farms

Fall is just around the corner in DC, and that means gorgeous weather, no stifling humidity or bugs, and beautiful fall foliage. It's the perfect time to enjoy all of the wonderful outdoor things to do in DC this fall that are on our fall bucket list for kids, like pumpkin picking, petting zoos, and tons of family-friendly fall festivals. There are also Halloween events galore, amazing exhibits and shows to see, and exciting fall train rides.

Read on for our list of 30 things to do in DC this fall and its surrounding areas with kids. The list includes fall activities in Maryland, Northern Virginia, and the city itself for families and kids of all ages. For even more ideas for autumn activities, check out our Fall Fun Guide for Washington, DC Families.

Fall Bucket List for Kids: 35 Top Things To Do in Orlando This Fall

Brick-or-Treat will bewitch kiddos at Legoland Florida! Photo by Charlotte Blanton

Though it may not quite feel like fall (thanks continuous heatwaves), it's that time of year to celebrate pumpkin spice lattes (preferably the iced variety here in Florida)! There are lots of things to do in Orlando in the fall because the temperatures ease up, and the holidays increase the amount and cool factor of fall events. Of course this city throws epic fall festivals because Orlando knows how to party for every season of the year!

We've rounded up our favorite things to do in the fall in Orlando, perfect for families of all shapes and sizes. Find Central Florida Fall Festivals and more Orlando fall activities in our Orlando Fall Guide.

Fall Bucket List for Kids: 55 Awesome Things To Do in Philly This Fall

The quaint, fairy tale-themed amusement park, Dutch Wonderland, in Pennsylvania's Dutch Country caters toward the small but fearless. Photo courtesy of Dutch Wonderland

Fall foliage, cooler temperatures, and doorways decorated in cornstalks and gourds create a welcome change from summer throughout Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley. As autumn settles into the region, Philly families anticipate traditions they know and love, including day trips to nearby corn mazes and hayrides, apple picking or pumpkin picking, and plenty more.

This year, we've rounded up the classics and thrown in some fresh ideas, too. Don't forget to review our comprehensive Fall Activity Guide for Philadelphia Kids and create a customized bucket list of fun for your family. For even more inspiration, browse our ultimate Philly bucket list, 100 Things To Do in Philly with Kids Before They Grow Up.

Fall Bucket List for Kids: 35 Top Things To Do in Los Angeles This Fall

Visit the rescue animals at Kfar Saba Urban Farm. Photo by Limor Ness

Here's the fall bucket list for kids, jam-packed with fun things to do in Los Angeles this fall!

It’s easy to buy into the notion that Los Angeles doesn’t have seasons. LA’s pendulum only swings from summer heat to a more temperate 70ish as fall falls. But that doesn’t mean Angelenos don’t look forward to fall activities and autumn adventures!

Fall means we can start to do the things that it was too hot for in the summer (like hiking, camping, and taking trips to the desert) while still hitting the beach. We can even get our fill of fall fun like fall festivals in Los Angeles, apple picking near LA, pumpkin patches in Los Angeles, and leaf peeping near LA.

Without further ado, here are fabulous fall activities near Los Angeles. For more seasonal fun, be sure to bookmark our Fall Fun Guide for Los Angeles and OC Kids

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