If you want fall fun activities for the family, look no further than the Van Osdol fall guide to the best apple picking, pumpkin patch and fall fun activities.
Fall Color: Find a bank of deciduous trees in the area and watch carefully in October for the change of color in the foliage as cold weather creeps in. One of the best examples is the Missouri River bank near Columbia during football season.
Louisburg Cider Mill & Pumpkin Patch: Located just 45 miles Southwest of downtown Kansas City is historical Louisburg Cider Mill. Activities include picking your own pumpkin from a 10-acre patch, exploring a 10-acre ghost corn maze, a children’s play area, for Appleton a tricycle track, petting zoo, a giant jump pillow, and tours of the cider mill. Additionally, during select evenings Louisburg Cider Mill & Pumpkin Patch has free live music and bonfires! Don’t forget to pick up their famous apple cider donuts!
Grinter Farm: In Lawrence, Kansas you can take the family to a massive field full of large sunflowers. You and your family can take photos in the sunflower fields. See tremendous fields of gigantic sunflowers in full bloom – perfect for unforgettable memories and photos.
Alldredge Orchards: In the hills beside the Missouri River you will find the Alldredge Orchards. This century old barn has apples galore, beautiful mums, fresh fruit and autumn treats. You can also pick up a pumpkin or two. Children will enjoy riding pedal go-karts and feeding the chickens and ducks that roam the farm.
Cider Hill Family Orchard: Located right in Kansas City, Kansas, your family can have a picnic, go fishing, pick apples and drink apple cider slushes at Cider Hills.
Schweizer Orchards: In St. Joseph, Missouri you will find one of the largest u-pick apple orchards in the area. The orchard features Early Jonathan, Jonathan, Jonagold, Gala, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Fuji, HoneyCrisp and Winesap Apples.
West Red Barn Farm: Take the family up to Weston Missouri for a day at a farm! Take a hayride through the pumpkin patch and pick the perfect pumpkin, visit the petting zoo, get lost in the corn maze, enjoy a pony ride, a tractor-drawn hayride, or even a horse-drawn hayride. Don’t forget to stop at the country store on your way out.
Spanish Garden Berry Farm. If apples and pumpkins are not your thing, head to the Spanish Garden Berry Farm and pick blackberries, blueberries, corn (sweet), cucumbers, melons, onions, other berries, peppers, raspberries (red), raspberries (black), strawberries, and tomatoes.
Also look up U-Pick farms in the area for a variety of opportunities.
Migration: The grand migration of birds of many species also occurs in the Fall. Waterfowl and shorebirds may be the most notable and easily watched at the various refuges in Eastern Missouri and Western Kansas. Along with the ducks and geese come pelicans, seagulls and many Bald Eagles!
As you can see, there are plenty of opportunities for you and your family to have lots of fun this fall in the outdoors around Kansas City.
