I love a cool autumn day with the smell of hay in the air. It makes me think of hot apple cider and hay rides! When fall comes to Michigan, the orchards are brimming with crisp, juicy apples ready for apple picking, and the pumpkin fields are awash in orange. One of the great things about living in Grand Rapids is that there are so many exciting and fun things to do with children during this time of year. Here are a few of my favorites.

1. Orchard Hill Farm Market

This little gem offers hayrides and a big petting zoo. Orchard Hill Farm Market also has stuff-your-own scarecrows, a children’s haunted house, a corn maze, and apples!

2. Koetsier’s

This delightful greenhouse on Spaulding Avenue has many kids’ activities. At Koetsier’s, you can bounce in the inflatables, tour a not-so-scary haunted house, pick and paint pumpkins, and ride the tiny trains of the Bumblebee Express. Keep in mind that Koetsier’s is targeted to younger children, so I would suggest ages 8 and under for this adventure. And if you work up a hunger while you’re there, try their cider and homemade hot donuts.

3. Klackle Orchards

Located in Greenville (approximately 45 minutes from Grand Rapids), Klackle Orchards is my absolute favorite! You can take a ride on the enchanted pumpkins to the pumpkin fields and ride on a hayride to go apple picking. Klackle grows four varieties of apples in their orchards; with admission, each person gets their own bag to stuff. The hayrides run about every five minutes, so you can pick what you want in one section and then hop a ride to the next. You can also eat as many apples as you want! Klackle offers a great little restaurant/snack bar as well. We spend the day and have lunch (and we make sure to pick up a take-home bag of their cinnamon sugar donuts). They also have face painting, pony rides, corn mazes, an awesome playground, inflatables, and a petting zoo. The one-price admission includes everything except the pony rides. My girls beg to go to Klackle every year!

4. Zoo Goes Boo!

Every year, Grand Rapids’ John Ball Zoo goes all-out for its Halloween festivities. The kids get to trick-or-treat for candy and other goodies all around the zoo, which the staff decorates for Halloween. Kids can also play games and win prizes. Another big plus about visiting the zoo in the fall is that the animals are more active in the cooler weather. The big cats, like the mountain lions, are usually out and about instead of sleeping. You can complete the whole experience in about three hours, making it a great trip for younger kids. It’s also cute to see all the little ones dressed up in their Halloween costumes.

Now that you’ve gotten a taste of the family-friendly activities available in Grand Rapids this seasons, I hope you take the time this fall to make memories with those you love — and have fun!

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