Four year old approved: four things to do this fall with your kids in Central Pa.

As a mother who likes to stay active in the fall, I am constantly seeking activities to engage my 4.5 year old daughter. Central PA provides us with a myriad of options to create unforgettable memories together for any budget imaginable!

Below I have listed my favorite places to visit and things to do during the season, ensuring endless fun and bonding for families like ours.

1. Paulus Farm

Our fall adventures always begin at Paulus Farm, a magical place nestled amidst the rolling hills of Central Pennsylvania. With its vibrant pumpkin patches, hayrides, amazing pumpkin chunkin’ cannon, and giant corn bins, Paula’s Farm embodies the essence of family fun in autumn. We love spending hours here, playing on the swings, burying ourselves under the sand tent, pouring corn on our heads, feeding the animals, and chunkin’ more than one pumpkin.

A season pass is only $135 for a family of four, but we usually just drop in a few times each season. Since we like to do so many different things and are always on a budget, we just pay as we go here. (But we do LOVE it!)

2. Fall Drives

Witnessing the breathtaking transformation of the trees in Central PA is one of my favorite things! From vibrant greens to rich reds, oranges, and yellows – it feels like a special kind of magic. Taking scenic drives through the countryside or along the Susquehanna River is free-ish (minus costs of gas and a kid’s hot chocolate) and wildly relaxing. Our favorite route is 15 or 22 from Harrisburg to Marysville/Duncannon. We turn on some upbeat indie rock, crack the windows if it’s nice, and take a drive. We oftentimes end up at Fort Hunter after the drive to run around before we head back home.

3. Fall Festivals

Local communities come alive with vibrant harvest festivals during fall. These festivals feature farmers’ markets, artisanal crafts, live music, and a variety of seasonal foods. It’s a perfect opportunity for families to immerse themselves in the spirit of fall while also supporting local businesses.

Even though I love going everywhere and doing everything, my two favorites right now are:

– Fall Harvest Fest in Carlisle. A hundred vendors, a kid’s area, trick or treating, and food trucks. It’s at the Expo center, and they fill the entire thing up with fun!

– Trick or Trek at Fort Hunter. I have a slight obsession with Fort Hunter, if that’s not obvious by now! It’s a free event, but you *do* need a ticket to participate. Stories, songs, creepy crawlers, and several stations with candy, toys, and/or trinkets.

4. Central PA Libraries!

From weekly story times to special events, our local libraries are scheduled full of fun seasonal stories and activities. Almost all of the programming is free to the public! My daughter regularly visits every library in a 15 mile radius from Camp Hill, and we sometimes even trek to Carlisle or (if you can believe it) over the bridge to the East Shore! We love both library systems equally, so we visit them all!

Do you have your own favorite fall or winter activities? Let me know so I can take the kid to go exploring!