Ideas for a Fun Family Weekend in Nature

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

01 Nov 2008 12:30 PM

You couldn't pick a better weekend to spend outdoors with your family. In many parts of the country the weather is ideal and the leaves are peaking. What's more because of Daylight Savings you have an extra hour to spend exploring the great outdoors together. Make the most of the season by bonding with your loved ones in the following picturesque destinations:

Great Smoky Mountains

This time of year the Great Smoky Mountains are breathtakingly beautiful. The mountain foliage has exploded into brilliant crimsons, oranges, yellows and purples, for a view that's nothing short of awe-inspiring. The popular national park, which is nestled between North Carolina and Tennessee, is home to more than 500,000 acres of pristine forest and valleys laced with spectacular rivers, streams, and waterfalls. You can camp, traverse the park's 800 miles of hiking trails, go horseback riding, or mountain bike while viewing the abundant wildlife.

New England

New England epitomizes the very essence of the fall season. It is ground zero for leaf peepers looking to soak in the picture-postcard images of expansive green pastures, and whitewashed steeples set against a stunning palette of red, orange and yellow leaves. If you have the opportunity to visit Vermont, New Hampshire or Maine in the next few weeks you will not regret it. Take your family on a stroll through the leafy towns and along quiet country roads, then head to the numerous apple orchards that draw hordes of city folk to the area. You could easily spend an entire autumn day driving through Vermont's many covered bridges. Or take a hayride around Applecrest Farm Orchards - New Hampshire's oldest and largest orchard.

New York

If you have older children, who would rather have their teeth pulled than stroll through a national forest on a bright fall day, consider participating in more adventurous fun in New York's Hudson River Valley. You and your children can dangle from a rock face on the Shawangunks. The rock-climbing mecca is a magnet for adrenaline junkies, and caters to first-timers and expert climbers alike.

Related Articles:

Leaf Peeping and Other Fun Fall Family Weekend Activities

Ways to go Wild with Your Family in Nature this Fall

Hands-On Fall Fun for Families

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger