Embracing Autumn's Delights: A Guide to Fun Fall Activities
Celebrate the Season's Beauty!
- Apple Picking: Visit a local orchard and pick fresh apples. Take the whole family or go with a friend; then treat yourself after by baking up a sweet treat. You can find local orchards here.
- Pumpkin Patch: Pick out the perfect pumpkin for carving, painting, or for decoration! Don’t get lost in the corn maze!
- Leaf Peeping: Take a scenic drive or walk around town and find all different types of leaves! Try and collect fallen leaves and make a fall scrapbook!
- Haunted Houses or Hayrides: Get into the Halloween spirit and visit a haunted house. See who can “survive” the longest! Find one in Kansas here.
- Fall Festivals: Check out a local fall festival. Find some tasty treats, explore local crafts, and enjoy some live music! Find Kansas fall festivals here.
- Outdoor Movie Night: Find a nice, cool night and set up a sheet and projector in your backyard. Make the night complete with blankets, popcorn, and some Halloween classics.
- Fall Arts and Crafts: Engage in some autumn-themed crafts such as creating vibrant wreaths, painting pumpkins, or designing leaf art!
- Football Tailgating: Organize a tailgate party with friends and family before a game.
- Local Halloween Events: Whether it’s a Trunk or Treat with your kids or a costume contest at your local gathering place, Kansas has tons of Halloween themed events!
- Autumn-Inspired Scavenger Hunt: Organize a fun scavenger hunt for your friends or family, featuring items like acorns, pinecones, or specific leaf varieties to discover and collect!

The Summer Go Bag: A Tiny Kit That Saves the Day Summer has a way of making “quick little outings” turn into full-blown adventures. A trip to the pool becomes dinner on the way home. A Saturday errand turns into a stop at the park. A lake day somehow requires 47 items, three snacks, and at least one person asking, “Did anyone bring sunscreen?” Enter: The Summer Go Bag . It doesn’t have to be fancy. It doesn’t have to be perfectly organized. It’s just a small tote, backpack, bin, or canvas bag you keep stocked with the little things that make summer life easier. Think of it as your warm-weather backup plan. What to put in your Summer Go Bag: Sunscreen + bug spray Because nothing ruins a good day faster than realizing you needed both about two hours ago. Reusable water bottles Keep one or two empty bottles in the bag, or toss in a couple of bottles of water before you leave. A small first-aid kit Bandages, antiseptic wipes, pain reliever, allergy medicine, and any must-have family basics. Phone charger or power bank Especially helpful for road trips, long days out, or those “I swear my phone was at 42% five minutes ago” moments. Wet wipes + tissues For sticky hands, spilled drinks, mystery car messes, and every parent/grandparent/aunt/uncle who has learned the hard way. A lightweight towel or blanket Great for parks, wet seats, surprise splash pads, outdoor concerts, or impromptu picnics. A few snacks Granola bars, crackers, trail mix, fruit snacks — anything that can survive a little heat and prevent a hunger-related family incident. Plastic bags or a small trash bag For wet swimsuits, muddy shoes, snack wrappers, or anything you don’t want touching the rest of your car. Spare sunglasses or a hat Simple, useful, and always appreciated when someone forgets theirs. Pet basics, if applicable A leash, collapsible water bowl, waste bags, and a small towel can make pet-friendly outings much easier. Where to keep it: Your car is usually the easiest spot, especially if you’re often on the go. If your vehicle gets too hot, keep heat-sensitive items like sunscreen, medicine, and snacks inside the house and toss them in before you leave. You can also make a smaller version for: Pool bags Lake bags Sports practices Road trips Grandkid days Dog park visits The real trick: Restock when you get home The Go Bag only works if it’s ready when you need it. After a busy weekend, take two minutes to replace what you used: snacks, wipes, sunscreen, bandages, water bottles, or plastic bags. That tiny reset makes the next outing so much easier. Summer should feel a little more spontaneous — and a little less like you’re packing for an expedition every time you leave the house. A simple Go Bag won’t solve everything, but it might just save the day.











