Autumn is a beautiful season that brings many changes to nature and offers many opportunities for fun and adventure. Whether you are looking for outdoor activities, cultural events, or cozy indoor experiences, there are plenty of things to do in autumn that will make you fall in love with this time of the year. Here are some ideas to inspire you:
Enjoy the Fall Colours
One of the most prominent and spectacular things to do in autumn is to admire the fall colors that transform the landscape into a palette of red, orange, yellow, and brown. There are many places in Canada where you can witness this natural phenomenon, such as national parks, provincial parks, urban parks, and scenic drives. Some of the best spots to see the fall colors are:
- Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario: This park is one of the most popular destinations for fall foliage viewing in Canada, as it boasts over 2000 kilometers of trails and 2400 lakes that reflect the vibrant colors of the trees.
- Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Nova Scotia: This park is home to the famous Cabot Trail, a scenic road that winds along the coast and through the mountains, offering stunning ocean and forest views.
- Mont Tremblant, Quebec: This resort town is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, as it offers hiking, biking, zip-lining, and gondola rides that allow you to enjoy the fall colors from different perspectives.
Visit a Pumpkin Patch or a Corn Maze
Another fun thing to do in autumn is to visit a pumpkin patch or a corn maze, where you can immerse yourself in a festive and family-friendly atmosphere. You can pick your pumpkins, carve them into jack-o-lanterns, or make them into pies. You can also challenge yourself to navigate through a corn maze, where you can test your sense of direction and have some laughs. Some of the best places to visit a pumpkin patch or a corn maze are:
- Downey’s Farm Market, Ontario: This farm offers a variety of attractions, such as a 10-acre corn maze, a pumpkin patch with over 60 types of pumpkins, a farm animal corral, and a play area for kids.
- Krause Berry Farms & Estate Winery, British Columbia: This farm is a destination for food and wine lovers, as it features a bakery, a market, a winery, and a restaurant that serves delicious products made from fresh berries and other fruits. It also has a pumpkin patch and a corn maze open from late September to October.
- Riverbreeze Farm & Corn Maze, Nova Scotia: This farm is known for its elaborate and themed corn mazes that change yearly. It also has a pumpkin patch, a haunted farm, and other activities such as wagon rides, pig races, and duck races.
Celebrate Halloween
Halloween is one of the most exciting and spooky things to do in autumn, as it allows you to dress up in costumes, go trick-or-treating, watch horror movies, or visit haunted attractions. There are many places in Canada where you can celebrate Halloween in style, such as:
- Niagara Falls, Ontario: This city is famous for its spectacular waterfalls but also has a dark side that comes alive during Halloween. You can experience haunted houses, haunted walks, haunted hayrides, and haunted hotels that will give you goosebumps.
- Vancouver, British Columbia: This city is a hub for Halloween events, such as the Fright Nights at Playland, where you can enjoy rides and attractions with a scary twist; the Stanley Park Ghost Train, where you can ride through a haunted forest; and the VanDusen Glow in the Garden, where you can see illuminated pumpkins and lanterns.
- Montreal, Quebec: This city is rich in history and culture but has a haunted side that you can explore during Halloween. You can join ghost tours that take you to the most haunted places in the city, visit La Ronde amusement park for its Halloween-themed rides and shows, or attend the Montreal Zombie Walk, where you can join thousands of people dressed as zombies.
Try Some Fall Flavours
Autumn is also a great season to try fall flavors that will warm your soul and satisfy your taste buds. Many foods and drinks are associated with autumn, such as apple cider, pumpkin spice latte, maple syrup, cranberries, squash soup, and roasted turkey. You can find these fall flavors at local markets, farms, cafes, and restaurants, or even make them at home. Some of the best places to try some fall flavors are:
- Applewood Farm Winery & Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival: This farm produces award-winning wines from apples, other fruits, and maple syrup harvested and boiled on-site. You can taste their products, pick apples, or enjoy a pancake breakfast with maple syrup.
- Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery: This farm is the largest cranberry farm in Canada, and it offers tours, tastings, and festivals that celebrate this tart and tasty fruit. You can learn how cranberries are grown and harvested, sample cranberry wine and cider, or attend the Cranberry Harvest Festival in October.
- The Keg Steakhouse + Bar: This restaurant chain is famous for its steaks, but it also has a seasonal menu that features dishes made with fresh and local ingredients. Enjoy roasted butternut squash soup, maple-glazed salmon, or pumpkin cheesecake.
Autumn is a season that offers many things to do that will make you appreciate the beauty and diversity of Canada. Whether you want to enjoy nature, culture, or cuisine, plenty of things to do in autumn will suit your preferences and budget. So, don’t let the cooler weather stop you from exploring and having fun in this beautiful season.
