Fall is a great season to explore Ontario!
The heat of the summer gives way to cooler temperatures, the leaves begin to change colour and the smell of fall is in the air.
It’s my favourite time of the year – I love the crunching leaves, the crispness in the air, the gorgeous colours and the smell of cinnamon everywhere.
And Fall has to be the best time to be a kid – there’s just so many fun things to do!
So bundle up and check out these fun things to do in Ontario with kids in the fall!
Go for a hike
As the weather starts to cool down, it’s the perfect time to head out for a hike!
With cooler temperatures, hiking is definitely more enjoyable and as the leaves begin to change colour, it’s prettier too!
While some of the epic fall hikes in Ontario may be a bit challenging for kids, there are still plenty of short, easy hikes in Ontario.
Make sure everyone has good, safe shoes for hiking (keens or running shoes are great options for kids) and is dressed for the changing weather.
Bring some water and a snack too! If you’re in the Hamilton area, here are some great hikes for kids.
Go apple picking
Fall is harvest time, so why not head out and pick your own?
Apples are a popular choice to pick in the fall, but peaches, pears and plums are also ready now.
And we just discovered that you can also pick nectarines and apricots at a few places in Southern Ontario!
Many pick-your-own farms also offer the option of buying pre-picked fruit at the farm if you don’t want to go and pick your own.
Take a wander through the orchards, enjoy the countryside and pick some of your own fruit to take home!
You can search for places near you in Ontario on the Pick-Your-Own website.
Stop by the Big Apple
Fall is apple season, and the Big Apple is one of the best places for some freshly baked apple treats.
Located along the 401 about 1.5 hours east of Toronto, the Big Apple is a popular spot for anyone travelling east in Ontario.
Stop in and pick up some baked goods or browse the maple syrup, honey, cider and other items in the market.
Walk around the outside and get a photo in front of the Big Apple! Before you leave, be sure to pick up a famous apple pie!
It’s open year round, so if you don’t make it this fall, put it on your list for later!
Take a drive
Fall is the perfect time to get out and go for a drive!
Many small towns are decorated with festive fall gourds, cornstalks, pumpkins and even some scarecrows too!
Grab a coffee or ice cream, stroll along and enjoy the small quaint small town feeling.
Along the way, stop in at the numerous farm markets or roadside stands, offering local fresh, local produce.
Be sure to pick up some pumpkins as well!
See the fall leaves
Ontario, among other things, is known for its’ vibrant displays of fall colours.
Late September to mid October is the prime time to see the leaves change colour.
As the weather becomes cooler and the days become shorter, the leaves start losing the chlorophyll which causes their bright green colour. And as the leaves lose their green colour, the other colours – yellows, reds and oranges – begin to show through.
Although the trees will be displaying their gorgeous fall colours all over Ontario, I think cottage country is truly impressive and there are some great places to see the fall colours in Muskoka and Almaguin.
Kids may not be as impressed with the colour displays as adults are, but they LOVE to play in the leaves!
Take a drive and see the colours, then stop for a rest and let the kids collect some pretty coloured leaves. Even better if there’s enough leaves to make a pile so the kids can jump in them!
Visit a pumpkin patch
It wouldn’t be fall without a trip to the pumpkin patch! Sure you can pick up a pumpkin at the grocery store, but it’s definitely more fun and festive to pick it out of a pumpkin patch!
Many pumpkin patches offer other activities as well, such as hayrides, corn mazes, animals to pet and fresh cider or produce to buy.
Dress warm, wander through the pumpkin fields and learn what a peduncle is!
Be sure to pick out a few pumpkins or gourds to take home!
Many farms also offer pre-picked pumpkins to choose from.
Enjoy a fall fair
Fall in Ontario means fall fairs!
Most small towns and even some villages have an annual fall fair. Some start as early as the end of August (yes I know, that’s not actually fall yet!) and you’ll find a few happening every weekend until the Canadian Thanksgiving, which is in early October.
Fall fairs are so much fun for kids – the midway, rides, events, animals and of course, the cotton candy! Rockton World’s Fair is a popular fall fair, held on Thanksgiving weekend and it’s just an hour from Toronto.
If you’re not up for a fall fair, there are also plenty of fall festivals. If you like crafts, these fall festivals are for you!
Filled with craft stalls, including fun toys and crafts for kids, there’s also food and snack stands and usually a kids play area too. They’re definitely a must-do if you’re in Ontario this fall!
What are your favourite things to do in Ontario with kids in the fall?
I’d love to hear what fall activities you do in other places too!
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For more ideas and inspiration on travelling in Ontario with kids, be sure to check out these posts:
Fall up here in the Northwest Territories starts early and is short, but some lovely leaf colours. We too like a good hike or a drive around to see the colours. Planning on a fall foliage hike this weekend to the waterfalls.
I’d love to visit the NWT one day! I’m sure it’s a bit chilly but enjoy your hike to the waterfalls!
I’ve done apple picking in Ontario last fall and it was so much fun! Definitely a top activity!
It’s one of our favourite activities too!
I love this, and I have never been up that way. In Florida, we don’t have much color change in the leaves. I would love to see how beautiful this is in person. One of these days we’ll travel again, and I will head on up to check it out. Love your ideas, they are perfect for families.
It’s definitely nice to see in person! Let me know when you plan to take up a trip up this way!