It's the favorite time of year for many Texans! The weather is just about perfect; crunchy leaves are beginning to cover the sidewalks, and the hint of winter holidays is in the air. The only thing is... you have a TEENAGER at home! It was so easy to find fun fall activities when the kids were younger. There were festivals around every corner, plus simply going outside and jumping into a pile of foliage was its own adventure. But as children step into the world of junior and high school, they might be less easy to please, and not as impressed with the daily wonders of everyday living! What gives?
If you're wondering how to keep your teen having a great time this season, I have all the ideas you need to win “Parent of the Year.” During these months of cooler temperatures and apple cider, you just need a bit of planning and patience, and you can give your child - no matter the age - an autumn to remember! Here are some of my personal favorites that you should definitely put on your fall bucket list:
1. Corn Maze
Finding one's way through a corn maize (pun intended) is a stimulating activity for kids of all ages. Teens, especially, will appreciate racing through a stalky labyrinth with a group of friends. Not many years ago, my entire family had a pretty interesting time trying to navigate the corn maze at Dewberry Farm in Brookshire. It was more challenging than we had expected, so my tip is to make sure everyone uses the bathroom first! Froberg's Farm is another exciting place that offers a corn maze. It's all the way in Alvin but may be a delighting day trip for you and your teen. But seriously, why venture out too far when we have a maze right in our backyard - CLICK HERE to check out P-6 Farms in Montgomery.
2. Amusement Park
While younger kids still get a kick out of local farms that have fall activities this time of year, teens are looking for all the thrills! At this age, they're old enough to explore a theme park with siblings or companions, without mom having to watch their every move. My family enjoys going to Fiesta Texas in San Antonio once every one or two years, but for a larger landscape and more rides, heading north on Interstate 45 to Six Flags in Arlington could be the best move. If you prefer to stay closer to home, try out the Kemah Boardwalk or Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier for exhilarating attractions.
3. Fire Ring Fun
Help your teen plan an evening with his friends in your own backyard, roasting hot dogs and s’mores. Set up an outdoor chill spot with hammock chairs, a portable speaker to play tunes, or put out a joke book and some traditional board games that teens love, like Scrabble and Apples to Apples. For extra points, invest in a large outdoor projector, and throw up one of his favorite films when the sun goes down.
4. Apple-Picking at an apple orchard
One aspect I love about autumn is that it’s the official season for harvesting apples! However, there's not a local orchard for picking apples in The Woodlands. In fact, you'll be hard-pressed to find one in all of Texas, since we've had this crazy weather in recent years. But I've added this to the list, because I would totally get on an airplane to take my teens to a gorgeous orchard to enjoy this experience at least once, and I suspect YOU would too. Of course, apple-picking is something for the whole family to do, even little kids. But for planning a weekend apple-picking excursion, you might only bring the older kids along. Travel and Leisure has this article on the best places to do apple-picking in the USA. If you're not up for a full-on vacay, gather your own apples from the grocery store and spend a night with your teen making treats such as candied apples, apple tarts, and apple dumplings. Mmm!
5. Try our local bike trails
Some teens prefer to stay cooped up indoors, as do mine, but my 14-year-old has really taken a liking to bike-riding. We throw on our comfy bike-riding gear, pack water and a snack, and explore the cycling trails throughout the Panther Creek area of The Woodlands. I've even invested in this bike rack that makes it easy to load up our wheels (up to 4 bikes total) on the back of my minivan and start riding at any location (affiliate link). This autumn, we'll spend more time pedaling in the Waterway Square / Hughes Landing area, and I'm also hoping to go hit the trails up at Huntsville State Park. A bike ride on a crisp fall night is the perfect way for your teen to get exercise while satisfying his need for adventure.
6. Escape Rooms
Will your teen be able to solve the puzzles and escape the room before time runs out? A lot of the teens I know admire the challenge of an escape room that often requires problem solving, complex math, and logic skills. Claimed to have the most advanced spaces in the nation, Escape the Room at The Woodlands Mall is a prime hangout for anybody who’s seeking to exercise his mind. Also, Old Town Spring is home to Armadillo Escape the Room Adventures, well-known for its creative themes and immersive puzzles.
7. Country Drive
Take a scenic drive through the countryside with your teen. Hit the road to the Hill Country, and devour the beautiful scenery along Interstate 35 on the road to Austin, TX. If your teen is into football, head up north to watch a Texas A&M game. For something quicker, drive west into Old Magnolia towards Plantersville. I love going down that stretch of FM 1488 and just taking my time to check out the small businesses.
8. Bake an apple pie
Yes, I already mentioned baking treats with apples, but I’ve since then realized that apple pie deserves its own paragraph. If the whole family’s craving dessert, don't have just your teen bake an apple pie. Have a BAKE-OFF! Everyone in the house (or include friends) can find his own recipe - apple pie style - and bake something to impress the "judges" (and feel free to give me a call if you need a judge)! I fondly remember making my first apple pie. I was a teen, and it was such a memorable experience to peel and cut apple after apple and pile the slices up in a bowl with sugar and nutmeg and cinnamon. If your teen is already an apple-pie-baking pro, try a different recipe that's great to savor during the fall, like peach cobbler or pumpkin pie. Does he prefer to make something savory instead of sweet? King Ranch Chicken is a good dish to learn to make at this age.
9.Visit the Riva Row Boat House
Row, row, row your boat, gently down Lake Woodlands. Fall weather is ideal for your teen to get out on the lake and enjoy kayaking or swan boats. To be in a rented kayak solo, children need to be a minimum of 10 years old with parental supervision (ages 16+ can ride without parental supervision). Can you see your teen and 2 of her friends in separate kayaks, racing down to Waterway Square and back? What fun!
10. Pumpkin-Carving Contest
Actually, this doesn't have to be competitive, so don't make it a "contest" if your teen is not that type. But an evening with pizza delivery and jack-o-lanterns to carve is an idea hard to beat. As your child gets older, his dexterity enables him to take on more intricate pumpkin carving designs, so challenge him to do something more advanced than he did last year. Don't forget to roast pumpkin seeds for a healthy snack the next day!
11. Volunteer at a soup kitchen
Here's another activity that allows your teen to spend quality time helping others in need. Volunteer at a shelter, or partner with a local church to participate in a food drive or "feed the homeless" mission day. Visit volunteermatch.org for options on where to serve, or you can look into the Montgomery County and Houston Food Banks.
12. Go for a nature walk
My teens generally appreciate taking a walk through the woods, but they're not fans of having to endure the summer heat (or the spring allergies). Thank goodness it’s finally autumn! This season of color-changing foliage and chilly breezes makes for a rewarding forest trek. Pack a thermos of hot chocolate, and scavenge for leaves to come home and do leaf rubbings.
13.Visit a spooky haunted house
The Haunting at Bear Branch is unfortunately not scheduled for 2023, but you can Google for some scary, teen-appopriate options nearby. Haunted houses are thrilling to brave with friends, so let your teen invite his BFFs along.
14. Selfies at a pumpkin patch
Teens won't care a whole lot about visiting a pumpkin patch if they've done it every year since they were two, but have them call up some friends, and suddenly, they've got the perfect backdrop for photos to post on Instagram! Task them each with finding the best pumpkin, and bring a few home for some short-lived decorations. Here’s some advice: make sure to throw them out before they get moldy. My family has had our share of rotting pumpkins, and it’s not our most cherished experience.
15. Have a scary movie marathon
I think the scariest movie my kids have watched as "kids" has been Coraline. When my oldest daughter turned 13, I finally let her step it up a notch and introduced her to The Others. We're not fans of super scary movies for any age, but if your family is okay with it, horror movies can be a lot of fun for teens to watch. If you want something non-violent and non-gory and just more on the "spooky" side, try movies like The Other, The Sixth Sense, on Panic Room.
16. Make pumpkin spice lattes
Are your teens coffee drinkers? Treating mine to Starbucks's every time I go for myself is really starting to break the bank. I found a recipe for a Pumpkin Spice Latte that my 18-year-old and I love! It's easy to make and tastes better than any pumpkin spice latte that I've purchased elsewhere. Spend time with your teen in the kitchen practicing a fall-inspired beverage recipe that you’ll both enjoy.
17. Fall Crafts
What crafts will your teen take pleasure in this season? Certainly not making a fingerprint tree they did when they were younger! It's time to step up the fall handicrafts, so try one of these: tie dye t-shirts, wreath-making, mason jar lanterns, or even crocheting scarves.
18.Backyard Camping
Your teen might not be up for a camping trip with the entire family, especially if there are younger siblings around, but allow him to invite pals over and pitch a tent in the backyard, and it might be just his jam (or his jelly, LOL)! See idea #3 (Fire Ring Fun) for additional tips on what to do. They can tell ghost stories, chat, or simply relish in each other's company. Of course, if pitching a tent seems too "babyish", let them camp out in the living room instead.
19. Halloween Party
I love it when teens don't feel too grown to celebrate Halloween! Your child might revel in decorating, making themed snacks, dressing up, and throwing a Halloween shindig for teen friends and neighbors. When teens celebrate Halloween, there should be entertaining music, scary costumes, and strobe lights to make it the best party on the block!
20. Fall Sports
Encourage your teen to make plans to attend one of the football games at her school. Or, turn on the big screen and let your teen watch his favorite team on the telly! If she's not a sports-watching fanatic, maybe she'll be interested in rounding up the troops and organizing a game of kickball at a local park. It's a great way to keep her busy on a cool fall evening.
21. Visit Old Town Spring
I know what you're saying. Teens are fond of the MALL, not going to some village-like, old-fashioned shopping neighborhood. Guess what – you could be wrong! My teens get a kick out of going into shop after shop to see so many intriguing things to buy (often hand-made items). There are clothing stores, fudge and ice cream shops, places to buy toys, books, candles, the escape room spot I mentioned earlier, and more. And the fact that you'll have to walk outdoors to get to each store makes it easy to enjoy the lovely fall weather. Your teen might especially like going to Ellen's Cafe for lunch or pigging out on BBQ sandwiches and junk food at The Loose Caboose.
22. Decorate the house
Your teen who's into home décor and design will appreciate an opportunity to help with the Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations this year. Give her a budget and let her work her magic! I did this with my kids a few years ago, and they had a blast running into all sorts of stores to find their favorite décor.
23. Visit the State Fair
The State Fair of Texas is HUGE, and spending a day on the grounds can be a fun activity for your teen. There's a car show, lots of food (who likes funnel cake?), midway games, carnival rides, dance shows, and live music concerts, among other events! Plan a trip to Dallas to enjoy this annual autumn activity with your teen during the first 3 weekends of October.
24. Make a fall movie, podcast, or commercial
Encourage your teen and his friends to get together to record some form of entertainment. They can do a short movie, a radio show, a commercial, etc. and put it out for the world to see. There’s nothing better than a little bit of teamwork and imagination, and you might be surprised at how creative your teen can be.
25. Spend time touring college campuses
It’s only the beginning of the semester, but if you have a teen in high school, taking her on college tours might be a wise way to spend this season. Autumn is a great time for visiting campuses, especially those up north. I plan to take my senior (and maybe even my freshman) on some college tours this season.
26.Build a scarecrow
You don’t need a cornfield to build your own scarecrow! While younger kids might be grateful for the hands-on experience, this activity is better suited for older ones because of the amount of work required. Allow your teens to go on a shopping excursion to collect hay bundles, buttons, farmers’ clothes, and a couple of poles, and then let the party begin! Making a scarecrow is really an outdoor activity, but if you have a patio TV, The Wizard of Oz is a fitting movie for them to watch while working. Once their straw guy (or girl) is complete, prop him in the front yard for neighbors to see their masterpiece. And trust me, when teens have something to share that they’re proud of, it can’t get much cooler than that.
