Top 10 Michigan Fall Activities: Best Places to Visit and Things to Do in the Fall | Cider Mills, Color Tours, Wine Tasting, Pumpkin Patches (Warm Donuts=Happy Kids!) 


Inspiring Michigan Fall Activities | By Sherry Trautman | Travel-Mi.com | Updated September 1, 2022

Let's pick pumpkins, visit apple orchards and cider mills, explore corn mazes, sip delicious wine, photograph sunflower fields and hike scenic trails as we explore Michigan this fall! 

  • Experiencing fall and Autumn in Michigan is an explosion of color, fun fall family activities and color tours. Below are some of the best places to visit in Michigan in the fall and tons of fun things to do!



What is paradise, but, a garden, an orchard of trees and herbs, full of pleasure and nothing there but delights."

William Lawson

1. Visit Michigan Cider Mills and Apple Orchards! Great Michigan Fall Activities for the Whole Family!

Red barn at a cider millMichigan's Best Apple Cider Mills and Orchards Worth Visiting This Fall
People walking with a bucket of freshly picked applesSee Where to go Apple Picking in Michigan!


NOTHING says fall like Michigan cider mills, apple orchards for apple picking, warm donuts and visiting Michigan Best Apple Cider Mills and Orchards! Such fun fall things to do in Michigan!

Click the links above for:

  • Interactive Maps!
  • Tons of ideas, pictures and locations to inspire your Michigan fall activities! Such fun fall things to do in Michigan!


2. Let's Pick Some Michigan Pumpkins...From a Patch, Not the Store!


One of my favorite Michigan fall activities growing up was running along the pumpkin patches trying to find the best one before my brother snatched it up! 

Making memories in a pumpkin patch is so much more beneficial than buying a pumpkin at the grocery store. 

I absolutely adore picking out my pumpkins and wandering cute farm stores during SeptemberOctober and November each fall!


3. Visit Gorgeous Sunflower Fields for Awesome Photography: One of Our Favorite Fall Things to Do in Michigan!

Field filled with Michigan SunflowersWhere to Find Michigan Sunflowers!


Michigan Sunflowers! Michigan is ablaze with cheery yellow faces throughout the months of August and September


4.  Visit Michigan Wineries! What Better Way To Stay Warm!

People wine tasting, water views and a lovely red barn with a horse looking out the doorVisit Old Mission and Leelanau Peninsula's in Traverse City Michigan


My friends, if you haven't visited Old Mission Peninsula or Leelanau Peninsula's wineries yet this summer, be sure to visit in the fall.  The views of the grape orchards are stunning, the energy is buzzing and the drive is incredibly scenic.  

Traverse City is one of the best places to visit in Michigan in the fall!


5. Let's Go Camping!

Blue tents in a campgroundBest KOA Campgrounds in Michigan


If you are like me, the idea of "sleeping" inside a tent with stifling heat in the middle of July is no bueno. Instead, I like to camp in the fall when I can cuddle up with a blanket after an evening sitting around the fire making smores.

Where should you go camping? Michigan KOA's are great places to camp for sure.  



Speaking of smores, a few avid campers and I created an AMAZING list of camping food ideas (with recipes and photos) and a camping food hacks checklist to make your planning easier.


6. Explore Sleeping Bear Dunes This Fall


If you love to explore Michigan's wonders but hate the crowds, September and October are great months to explore Sleeping Bear Dunes. Less crowds mean much closer (and easier) parking, more peaceful experiences and great photography as the trees change color. 

  • Check out our Sleeping Bear Dunes guide for several days of things to see and do! It's one of the best places to visit in Michigan in the fall and perfect for Michigan fall activities with the whole family.

7.  Check Out Our Michigan September and October Events, Festivals and Things To Do!

There are tons of car shows, monster truck events, rib festivals, parade of homes and tons of Halloween events like haunted houses and haunted places to visit in Michigan!! 

As for festivals, there's apple, bourbon, wine, pumpkin, alpaca, harvest and scarecrow festivals!!


8. Ride a Ski Lift to See the Fall Colors!


You need to head to Boyne Mountain to ride their ski lift this fall or harvest season! 

For a small fee, you can glide to the top of the ski hill for a magnificent view of the changing trees and lovely resort. You don't need to buy tickets ahead of time but you may stand in line for a few minutes.  Plus, plan to stay for lunch or dinner as there is a cute restaurant right near the chair lift. 

It's definitely a highly anticipated fall activity fit for the whole family!


Sherry and Chris enjoying a hot chocolate at the top of the ski lift in the chaletBoyne Mountain Ski Lift is Fantastic in the Fall as the trees change color!

9.  See If You Can Find Your Way Out of Michigan Corn Mazes and Jump on a Hay Ride!


Fall is such a fun time to play outside!  There are so many things to do including CORN MAZES!  It's one of our favorite things to do in September and October as it seems to be a fall tradition with many families.


10. Go On a Color Tour to See the Fall Colors!


We created a special guide with our favorite spots for seeing Michigan in Fall and Fall Colors in Michigan for more ideas! There's an interactive map to help you find your locations as you drive, lots of photos for inspiration and plenty of locations across Michigan. 

Wondering when the Michigan Fall Colors will arrive? 

The leaves begin to change in late September in Michigan's upper peninsula and continue through October in the lower peninsula.


Pin This Michigan Fall Activities Page!

Be sure to check out my other articles about Michigan's fabulous harvest time!



Need More Inspiration? Check out my posts about the following Michigan destinations:


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