Southern Oregon Fall Must Do's - A Fall Bucket List

Fall is awesome in Southern Oregon!   Perfect weather, lots of food, beer and wine festivals, pumpkin patches, and family fun.  We usually have to plan every weekend out, so that we can make the most of it all.  We wanted to help you out, so we've created a bucket list, so that you don’t miss a thing!  We have also included a printable so that you can take it all along with you.

Jacksonville fall walk.

Take a Fall Foliage Drive or Walk

Fall in Southern Oregon is fabulous and our area’s landscape is so diverse that you can get a good three weeks of color changing. 

Some of our favorite spots: 

Jacksonville – Take a walk through town or take any of the many hikes in the area and you will be overwhelmed with the beauty surrounding you.  You can also drive out to the Applegate and be overcome with awe because of all of the magnificent color.  MAP

Wagner Creek Rd in Talent – A beautiful drive up to the hiking trail, you don’t even have to get out of the car to experience the wonder.  You are surrounded by amazing fall color the whole way up.  If you are feeling adventurous there is a nine mile hike you can take to top of Wagner Butte, which I have heard is well worth the view (we plan on making it up there soon, stay tuned).  MAP

Lithia Park in the fall.

Lithia Park in Ashland – Somehow Lithia Park always makes it to the top of our list when it comes to the best of Southern Oregon walks and hikes.  If you just walk through the park the trees are changing with gold and red, and when you head up past the dam you will be overcome with its fantastic fall colors!  MAP

One place that we haven’t been to, but fully intend on experiencing is the North Umpqua Hwy in Roseburg.  I’ve heard we will be blown away by the colors.  What are some of your favorite spots to enjoy the fall colors?

Pumpkins at Talent Harvest Festival

Visit a Fall Festival

We love kicking of fall by visiting the Southern Oregon Harvest Festival in Central Point.  It has so many fun fall traditions wrapped up in one place.  Food tasting, beer tasting, and lots of fun for the family!  Another festival that was an immediate hit with us is the Talent Harvest Festival.  It is a true community gathering of local vendors, live music, farmers, and it has an amazing kids area!  For a complete list of Fall Festivities in Southern Oregon go here.

Go to a Pumpkin Patch

There is no lack of pumpkin patches in southern Oregon and we usually visit two or three; or at least that is our goal. Each one has their own character with a long list of things to do.  For a complete list of pumpkin patches in southern Oregon go here.

Get lost in a Corn Maze

What’s funny is that unless I am with Gary, I would get lost.  I have such a horrible sense of direction in corn mazes.  Ilias is our 10 year old expert on corn mazes and his favorite one is at Pheasant Fields Farm in Medford.   We have also heard that Fort Vannoy Farm in Grants Pass is awesome and we plan on definitely going this year! Our pumpkin patch spotlight page has all the details on which ones have corn mazes.

Go on a Hayride

There is something about going on a hayride that is so much fun, that brings up childhood nostalgia for me.  One of my favorite fall memories was when I was a preteen.   We went camping in southern California and we went on a hayride.  My mom and my best friends’ parents were walking down the road singing follow the yellow brick road with their arms around each other.  I can smell the crisp fall air as we speak.  Our favorite place to take a hayride is at Hanley Farm in Central Point.  The volunteers are always sweet and hilarious, and you learn a lot about the history of the farm.

Go to a Haunted House or House’s

Southern Oregon seems to have a healthy interest in all that is scary.  We have a lot of haunted houses throughout southern Oregon and since I am a big scaredy cat I have only been to one.  We went to the Randall Theatre's, Nightmare Chamber and it was absolutley terrifying.  I got so scared, I screamed enough to frighten anyone within ten feet of me.  Since Gary likes to go to Haunted Houses, I will once again do my obligatory visit to one this year, we just don’t know which one yet!

For a list of Haunted House’s in Southern Oregon go here.

Go Apple Picking!

Another favorite childhood memory of mine, is apple-picking with my best friend’s family in the fall.  We have carried on that tradition with our children, getting out to pick whatever seasonal fruit may be coming on.  Where should you go apple picking?  Some of our favorite spots are Valley View Orchards in Ashland and Leonard’s Apples in Medford.  The owners are friendly and helpful, and they love children.  Read our blog "Fall is for Apple Picking" here.

For a complete list of u-pick farms go here.

Have a Fall Canning Party

What do you do with all of those apples you picked?  Well, I don’t know any better way of preserving the bounty that our awesome Growers and Farmers offer than canning some of that sweet goodness.  If you don’t know how to can, Ball has complete directions on their website here.  If you read my apple picking blog post I have a great, easy recipe on No-Peel Slow-Cooker Applesauce.

Make a Scarecrow for Your Front Yard

Something new we did last year was the Scarecrow Festival at Hanley Farm!  The kids had such a blast and it is really affordable for an afternoon of fun.  Read our blog post "Hanley Farm Fall Scarecrow Festival" for all of the details.

We hope you get out to fully enjoy the amazing fall that only Southern Oregon can offer, and we hope this must-do list helps you on your way to getting there.  What do you think we should add to our list?  Comment below, we love hearing how others enjoy Southern Oregon falls!  And don't forget our FREE printable to take along with you.  HAPPY FALL!!

For a full event caledar of events head over to our website www.whattodoinsouthernoregon.com

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