5 Fall family activities in Melbourne, FL
Florida Fall hits different - we have a less dramatic drop in temperature, sunnier days, and overall less seasonal activities available for families than other cooler climate states - but there's still plenty of fun to be had on Florida's Space Coast this fall! Here's a few of our favorites as a family of 6, with 4 kids ages 2-10:
- Family nature walks - While we don't quite get the dramatic cool down that you might experience in the north, our weather still becomes much more tolerable to walk outdoors around October. One of our favorite spots is the Turkey Creek Sanctuary, that has elevated boardwalk trails (so I don't have to worry about my toddlers running too wild - it's pretty contained), lots of shade, and a fun, free nature center at the start of the trails that will even give your kids a scavenger hunt printout and pencils to look for and check off different animals and plants along the way. They even have a ranger led tour on the first and third Sunday of most months.
- Evening beach trips - Skip the umbrella, packed lunch, and pounds of sunscreen with a fall beach evening! Going to the beach after dinner is one of our favorite family activities, because it's so much less stressful than those morning summer beach trips where the prep takes as long as the beach outing itself. Arriving after dinner means everyone has room to get those evening sillies out while having full tummies and not having to worry about high noon sun exposure. A win-win-win if you ask me! We get home and take quick baths and head to bed (usually with much less of a fuss than other nights!)
- The pumpkin patch - We may not grow them locally, but I still can't resist the fun of a family pumpkin patch day. There's plenty to choose from, and Fun 4 Space Coast Kids usually keeps a running list each year. Some of them even host free activities like family movies and pumpkin smash nights.
- Boo at the Zoo - An absolute hit with my kids each and every year, the Brevard Zoo hosts Boo at the Zoo every October and we love attending! The schedule varies from year to year, but they usually have a daytime option for littler kids and sometimes offer an after dark option for older kids. Admission has typically been included with our annual pass, and if you live on the Space Coast and don't have an annual zoo pass - go grab one! It's truly such a gem of Brevard county.
- Fall festivals and u-pick - While we don't have apple picking and cider mills, we do have some lovely Fall festivals and u-pick flowers and fruits during the later fall months! We've done u-pick flowers at Countryside Citrus and Harris Establishment Farms, and Strawberry picking later in the year as well. Farm availability is always changing based on weather, so it's best to check with the specific farm's site before going!
What does your family like to do in Fall in Florida? With a little creativity, we always enjoy a very festive Fall season with our kids, even in South Florida!
