5 favorite Fall activities for families in North Carolina
Fall in North Carolina may just be my favorite season. Do I say that every season? Maybe. But this one is most likely my actual favorite. Especially once we get past our million “false falls” and truly out of the 80’s and into crisp mornings and upper-60-degree highs. Yes, please!
There are so many fun fall activities to do as a family in North Carolina. Read on for 5 of our favorites!
Apple Picking
I adore apple picking. Of all the fruit picking, it’s the most kid friendly, in my opinion. Great weather, beautiful mountains, plenty of space to run, and a large fruit size that makes the picking not take insanely long (sometimes it goes too quickly or you end up with way too many apples!). As a photographer, it’s also the most fun to photograph, in my opinion.
our favorite orchards
Our favorite (and annual tradition) is Apple Hill Orchard. It’s an easy drive & quick stop off of I-40. As in literally 7 minutes off the exit. It’s right under 2.5 hours from us in Hillsborough, but we often circle (triangle?) back through Charlotte for our annual stop at Ikea, too. Don’t ask why we started doing those things together, but our kids now think apple picking and Ikea go together like apple crisp & ice cream.
Apple Hill is a beautiful orchard full of different varieties of apples. You can see which apple types are open for u-pick or available in the market here. Note that you do have to purchase an apple orchard pass before you go, but it’s only $3.50 per person and kids 2&under are free!
They also have a market store with delicious goods and plenty of picnic tables for lunch or snacking. We love to pack a lunch from home and then we leave after breakfast and morning traffic, arrive in time to pick and enjoy the orchards before eating our picnic lunch (and maybe some treats from the market).
Speaking of treats, their apple cider donuts are good, but the absolute best apple cider donuts in the ENTIRE WORLD are from Barber Orchards in Waynesville, NC. We’ve tried hundreds, tried to make our own, and I swear nothing tops these. If you find yourself near Waynesville this fall, definitely stop. Better yet, order yours the day before to avoid the hour+ line. That’s a pro tip from the pro of all pros (our beloved Ms. Jean).
a closer option?
Also, people around Raleigh talk a lot about Millstone Creek Orchard and while I LOVE Millstone for their peach blossoms, flower picking, playground & activities, and apple cider slushies (DELISH!), they’re not my favorite spot for picking apples. I’d rather drive further into the foothills where the weather is better for full apple orchards. It’s 100% worth it, in my opinion.
Pumpkin Patch
Everyone loves a fall pumpkin patch! Not much to say about these other than in my experience kids love the hayride, swings, slides, animals, and corn pits as much as they love the actual pumpkin patch.
Our favorite local favorites are Page Farms, Phillips Farm, or Hill Ridge Farms. They all have so much more than a pumpkin patch, but offer unbeatable day-of-fall-fun vibes.
We’ve done it all – some years just picking pumpkins at a local farm, and others going all out and spending a day at Phillips Farm. You know what your family will do best with this year, and can always switch it up next year! My kids (currently ages 7-11) still love going each year, and I love looking back on years past.
NC State Fair
The State Fair is a North Carolina institution. We grew up going to the fair as kids, always planned a college fair night with all of our best NC State + Carolina (& sometimes beyond!) friends, and still like to take our kids on years it allows.
Fair food can’t be beat, and it’s just so quintessentially NC fall to walk around the fair in a cozy sweatshirt, sharing bites of all the best things to taste, and saying no to spending a gazillion dollars on games to win a goldfish or giant stuffy.
I know some people adore the fair and others couldn’t be paid to go, but if you can stand the crowds and the money, it’s a really fun fall activity as a family.
Our can’t miss foods include: the foot long corndog, Howling Cow ice cream, Kiwanis club “world’s greatest” country ham biscuit, frozen chocolate banana with sprinkles, roasted corn, the Italian wedgie, and whatever new food must be sampled!
Hiking at our gorgeous state parks
North Carolina has so many beautiful state parks, and fall is such a perfect time for hiking & exploring. We have a whole post on our favorite state parks near Raleigh, but wanted to shout out a few of our favorite fall hiking spots here.
Closest to Raleigh: Umstead State Park.
We also love hiking around Blue Jay Point, Falls Lake, and Annie Wilkerson Nature Preserve.
Closest to Hillsborough / Chapel Hill / Durham: Eno River State Park & Occoneechee Mountain State Park
We also love these Hillsborough hikes – especially this season!
Best mountain views: Pilot Mountain & Hanging Rock
Spend a weekend in the NC Mountains
If this doesn’t sound like enough fall for you, try to sneak away to our beautiful mountains for a weekend! Gorgeous leaves, chilly hikes, cozy mornings & evenings spent by the fire pit under the stars. It’s just as magical as it sounds.
Between camping & VRBO, there’s something for everyone. We’ll share more details in another post, but reach out if you have questions about camping or travel specifics this fall/winter!
We have too many favorite mountain towns to choose just a top 3, but the first ones I’d search are Hendersonville, Maggie Valley, Blowing Rock, or the bigger towns of Asheville or Boone.
Bonus points for apple picking and gem mining while you’re there! Happy camping / glamping!
