The Friday Fives: Fall Activities

We all want to make the most of the fall season, but that doesn’t mean you have to break the bank to do so. The Messenger made a list of five fall activities to do on a budget:

1. Go apple picking

Visit a local orchard and pick some fresh fruit. At Eckert’s Belleville Country Store and Farms about an hour away from MHS, an all-day pass is only $2 per person, and apples are only $2.99 per pound. Afterwards, you can enjoy the apples by themselves or make them into pies, cobblers, applesauce or even apple cider. It’s a great, cost-effective, way to spend a fall afternoon. 

2. Have a bonfire with friends

Because the weather is colder and it gets darker earlier, a bonfire is the perfect way to spend a Friday night. All you need is wood, fuel and a fire pit, but for even more fun, add marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers to make the perfect s’mores!

3. Go on a hike

Fall is the perfect time to get outdoors; the weather is great and the leaves are gorgeous. There are many free hiking trails in parks around the St. Louis area like Rockwoods Reservation, Castlewood State Park and Dr. Edmund A. Babler State Park. If you want to take a trip, Elephant Rocks State Park is a fun-filled park located about an hour and a half away from MHS.  

4. Play football

You don’t need to be on a team (or to be any good) to play a game of touch football. Get a group of friends together and find a space in your backyard. If you don’t already own a football, you can get one from Target for about $15. 

5. Try random pumpkin spice flavored foods

During the fall months, every aisle in each grocery store is packed with new pumpkin spice-flavored treats. From pumpkin flavored soda to pumpkin spice Cheerios, there’s plenty of new things to try.