Through the smells of pumpkin spice and leaves fluttering through the sky, fall is in full bloom. As a fall worshiper, I look forward to the fall-themed decorations, activities and foods, yet I have a hard time finding activities to actually participate in. To brew up some fall ideas, consider some autumn activities within the Missouri area that are both family and friend oriented.

Eckert’s Farm is an all-in-one experience for all things fall. With apple and pumpkin picking, live performances, petting zoos, corn mazes and haunted hayrides, Eckert’s displays the classic fall festival anyone can enjoy. There are activities for each age group to ensure fun for both younger children and older friends to enjoy.

https://eckerts.com

Daniel’s Farm and Greenhouse has the similar fall festival experience but is more kid oriented. With the corn play pits, face painting, hay mazes and live music, going on a family outing to Daniel’s is a great way to entertain younger kids while spending quality time with older members of the family.

https://www.danielsfarmandgreenhouse.com

Pumpkin decorating and painting contests: A fun, competitive way to bond with family and friends is through pumpkin contests. Dedicating a day to have a competition with judging and all is a great way to enjoy the fall weather and unleash your creativity.

Bonfire nights: Gathering around a warm fire during a cool night is a great way to entertain during the fall weather. Telling scary stories, making smores and struggling to keep the fire lit is a great way to get closer to your friends.

Drive In Movies: Skyview Drive-In is one of the last of its kind in the Missouri area. Their plethora of scary movie showings create the perfect fall atmosphere. Gather into a car and make a mini road trip to Skyview, grab some snacks and have a great night with your friends.

http://skyview-drive-in.com

Hiking: Missouri has breathtaking views on their hiking trails. Packing a picnic and taking a hike through beautiful trails is a rewarding activity for the more active friends. There are plenty of trails of various mileage fit for any level of hiker. Lewis and Clark trails range from five to seven miles, Broemmelsiek has a two-mile loop perfect for younger hikers, Castlewood has an intense, two-mile uphill hike and for the truly adventurous, and Hidden Valley has an 11-mile hike made for experienced hikers.