Introduction

Autumn is one of the most charming seasons to enjoy nature with family. 🍂 The trees are adorned with vibrant colors, the air becomes cooler, and nature offers a wealth of treasures to discover. On the occasion of Grandparents' Day, why not go out and enjoy these beautiful moments by organizing an outdoor outing? It's the perfect opportunity to create wonderful memories together while celebrating grandpa! Here are 5 unique outing ideas to enjoy autumn with your loved ones, savoring the delights of the season while strengthening family bonds.

1. Wild Blackberry Picking and Homemade Jam Making 🍇

Autumn is the perfect season to go in search of wild blackberries, often hidden along paths and countryside hedgerows. This simple and natural activity will delight children, who will love searching for and picking these juicy little fruits with grandpa’s help.

• Preparing for the outing: Before heading out, equip yourselves with baskets or buckets for collecting the blackberries, as well as gloves to protect little hands from thorns. Blackfox boots will be perfect for this trip, allowing for comfortable walking on sometimes rough or damp terrain.
• Picking together: Once on site, everyone can participate according to their preferences and abilities: children focus on the blackberries within their reach, while adults go for the higher ones. Take the time to explain to the children how to choose ripe blackberries and pick them without damaging the bushes.
• Making the jam: Back at home, turn your harvest into delicious homemade jam. This cooking activity is a great opportunity to teach children the basics of cooking while sharing a fun family moment. Let them participate by weighing the fruit, adding the sugar, and stirring the mixture. Finally, fill the jars together and enjoy the jam on fresh bread or pancakes for a delightful snack!
  

Bonus: Gift jars of jam as a keepsake from the day to family members or friends, to extend the joy of this wonderful outing.

2. Chestnut Gathering and Chestnut Cream Recipe 🍂

Chestnuts are another autumn treasure, and gathering them in the forest is a traditional activity that the whole family will enjoy. Along with the outdoor walk, you’ll return with everything you need to make a delicious chestnut cream, perfect for autumn breakfasts.

• Choosing the right spot: Look for a chestnut forest where gathering is permitted. Make sure the whole family wears comfortable and appropriate clothing, such as sturdy shoes and warm clothes, to fully enjoy the outing.
• Gathering chestnuts: Show the children how to spot good chestnuts and collect them without getting pricked. It’s a great opportunity to teach them to respect nature by taking only what you need and leaving the small chestnuts for the animals.
• Making chestnut cream: Once back home, use the gathered chestnuts to cook a delicious chestnut cream. Boil the chestnuts to soften them, peel them together, then mix them with sugar and vanilla. Let the children join in by mashing the cooked chestnuts or stirring the mixture on the stove.
  

Bonus: Why not organize a little family contest to see who can gather the biggest or the most beautiful chestnut?

3. Bike Ride Under the Autumn Lights 🚴‍♂️

Autumn offers stunning landscapes, with golden forests and paths lined with brightly colored leaves. A family bike ride is a wonderful way to enjoy these views while engaging in a physical activity that everyone can participate in.

• Planning the route: Choose a path suited to everyone’s abilities, with safe and quiet trails. Prepare your gear the night before: make sure the bikes are in good condition, have helmets for everyone, and pack snacks and water for breaks.
• Enjoying the ride: Cycle at your own pace, taking time to stop and admire the scenery, take photos, or even collect leaves and acorns for future crafts. It’s a great opportunity for grandpa to share his memories of bike rides from the past with the grandchildren.
• Ending with an autumn picnic: There's nothing like a good picnic to end the day on a high note. Bring apple pies, sandwiches, or a thermos of hot chocolate for a cozy meal in the heart of nature.
  

Bonus: To make the outing even more memorable, why not bring kites to fly in the fields or on sandy beaches?

4. Apple Picking and Fresh Apple Juice Workshop 🍏

Apple picking is a quintessential autumn activity, and many orchards offer the opportunity to pick your own fruit. This outing is perfect for a day outdoors, where both young and old can have fun while gathering fresh and delicious apples.

• Finding an orchard: Choose an orchard that offers pick-your-own options. Some orchards also provide additional activities like guided tours, juice pressing workshops, or games for children. Don’t forget to bring your baskets and sturdy bags to take your apples home.
• Picking apples together: Teach the children how to select ripe apples and pick them without shaking the branches. Everyone can choose their favorite varieties, whether for making pies, applesauce, or fresh juice.
• Apple juice workshop: Once the picking is done, organize an apple juice pressing workshop at home. The children will love watching the apples turn into juice before their eyes. You can use a traditional juice press or even make juice by hand using graters and cloths.
  

Bonus: Organize a tasting of the different apple varieties and see which one is the children’s favorite!

5. Nature Outing and Creation of an Autumn Herbarium 🍁

Take advantage of autumn to go exploring and collect nature's treasures, such as colorful leaves, dried flowers, acorns, or pine cones. This activity is perfect for raising children’s awareness of biodiversity and connecting them to nature in a fun and engaging way.

• Preparing for the outing: Bring cloth bags to collect your finds, notebooks to jot down observations, and perhaps binoculars for birdwatching. Choose a park, forest, or even a large urban garden for this exploration.
• Gathering leaves and flowers: Teach the children how to identify different species of trees and plants. Collect leaves of various shapes and colors to make the herbarium even more beautiful and diverse.
• Creating the herbarium at home: Once back home, spread out your finds and let the leaves and flowers dry between sheets of newspaper. Once fully dried, glue them into a notebook, adding captions with the plant names, the date, and the location where they were collected. The children can also draw elements they observed or write stories about their day.
  

Bonus: Use the dried leaves to create autumn decorations for the home, such as wreaths, garlands, or greeting cards.

Conclusion

Autumn is full of opportunities for unique family outings. Whether it’s picking blackberries, gathering apples, or cycling under golden leaves, these activities allow you to enjoy nature while creating precious memories with grandpa and the whole family. For Grandparents' Day, take advantage of these moments together to celebrate autumn and strengthen family bonds!