It might be tempting to settle indoors as the weather gets cooler, but you won't regret staying away from those screens and getting out and enjoying Lancaster County this fall! There are SO MANY fall family fun events to participate in! Here are 5 ideas of things to do with your family in Lancaster County this fall.

1. Take a Family Bike Ride
Our family loves to visit the various rails to trails in the area. Riding with kids can feel like a nuisance or too difficult to attempt, but if you take the leap, you'll create memories that will last! Last year we rode the Lebanon Valley Rails to Trails, starting at the Root Beer Barrel. We started the ride strong and I was astonished at how well my four-year-old even kept up with us on her training wheels. 

2. Attend a Fair or Festival
In Lancaster County you'll find a fair happening every week from August through mid-October, whether its in Ephrata, Manheim, Elizabethtown, Denver, York or Solanco! Check out this list of all the Lancaster County's fairs and many fall festivals. If you missed the fairs this year, there is still plenty of farm-related fun to be had to celebrate the harvest season, from the quintessential pumpkin patch to corn mazes. Check out this list for ideas!

3. Visit a National Park
Did you know that National Parks offer several FREE entry days each year? Go on a family adventure and explore the Eisenhower National Historic Site, Gettysburg, Philadelphia, Harpers Ferry in Maryland or Antietam National Battlefield in Maryland.

4. Paint a Pumpkin with Friends
Stop at a local roadside stand and buy a few pumpkins to paint. Invite your neighbors over and enjoy some hot cider while you paint. Or if you're not a super-crafty person and don't like messes, head on over to Oregon Dairy this weekend or next for their Kids' Pumpkin Pickin' Days where they can decorate one for free (as well as participate in a lot of other fun fall activities)!

5. Pick Your Own Apples
You can find almost a dozen orchards within an hour's drive of Lancaster County, where you can pick your own apples. And many of them feature weekend festivals, special hay rides, corn mazes and other fun events for your family to enjoy! This Pick Your Own Apples Map and Pricing Guide will help you choose which is best for your family.

And don't forget, Veritas Academy's favorite fun fall event is coming up this weekend - the Great Pumpkin Chase on Saturday morning, October 21! A one-mile run for the kiddos, as well as inflatables, fall games, and food. If you haven't registered yet, you can still pre-register through Thursday afternoon or register at the event (and feel free to bring a friend). We're looking forward to seeing lots of you there!

So there you have it—no excuse for keeping your family's weekends unplugged this fall! Which fall family fun ideas will your family enjoy the most?