Fall Break Fun :: Get Outside!
Ah Memphis in October. Early October is usually super nice, weather wise. The crazy heat of the summer is usually gone, but it’s definitely not fall yet. Long stretches of rainy days usually don’t start until November. So if you’re hanging around Memphis for the week, we’ve got a few fun ideas for you to do OUTSIDE of the house. Whether you want to stay at home or head out into the city, read on for ways to keep your kids entertained and outside all week long!
Outside fun around the city:
Ride Bikes on the Greenline: The Greenline is a great way to get some outdoor exercise. It’s sunny in some areas, shady in others, and my kids like to look for turtles in the ponds you find along the way.
Visit the Botanic Gardens: “My Big Backyard” may be super busy and crawling with kids, but the actual gardens are beautiful and a great space to wander (During COVID we found another creek that is perfect for wading; try to find it!). Or head over to the Prehistoric Trail and check out the large climbable dinosaurs. There’s a cave and even a sand pit to become a “real” paleontologist.
Memphis Tiger Scavenger Hunt: Did you know there are 50 tiger statues on the University of Memphis campus and 50 tigers located around the Memphis area? Well I do because I just googled it! Try to locate them all and get a picture with each one. You can even turn it into a competition with other families!
Stop by Memorial Park Cemetery: If you’ve never checked out this hidden Memphis gem (ha, see what we did there?), now is the time! Check out the Crystal Shrine Grotto, a hand-built crystal cave depicting biblical scenes. Open every day from 7:30am-5pm, it’s a unique and historic (free) adventure.
Go to the Drive-in: I sometimes forget that the Summer Drive-In exists, but it’s a great fall option because the movies start earlier and it’s cooler in the evenings. Pack up the lawn chairs and snacks!
Playgrounds: In addition to the old faithful that is Shelby Farms, there are tons of great playgrounds in the Memphis area that work to burn off energy and get out of the house. Memphis Moms has a great roundup of playgrounds all over the city. It would be fun to pick one you’ve never been to and go explore!
Outside fun at home:
Rent a Bounce House: How fun would this be one day if a bunch of friends are all staying in town? Ask everyone to chip in and you’ve got a pretty cheap day of fun. We recommend using the locally owned iBounce Rentals. There’s a variety of styles and price ranges. iBounce brings the house, sets it up, and then comes back to collect it. You don’t need to jump through hoops to be the coolest mom of fall break!
Nerf Gun War: Use some of those Amazon boxes you have laying and set them up as blinds. You can divide kids up into teams, set all the guns in the middle of the battlefield, and blow the whistle like a game of dodgeball.
Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt: Make up your own list of items you normally see on an outdoor walk around the neighborhood and turn it into a competition. When we did one, I let the kids get an extra point for every time they point out dog poop (they thought it was hilarious, it was a great tie-breaker, and it helped to make sure no one accidentally stepped in poop). Or if you wanted to give this an educational twist, have them find things in alphabetical order. They get real creative when they hit tricky letters!
Hide Stuff in the Backyard: I know it’s not Easter, but my kids will actually do this year round, especially if I hide little pieces of candy or coins in the plastic eggs we just keep in a box in our attic. Or if you have an obscene amount of Imaginext action figures like me, you can hide them and have your kids dress up like superheroes and “rescue” them. My daughter has always been a little dark so she likes to dress up like a villain to see how many action figures she can steal away from the other superheroes. Or you can always do a good old-fashioned, outdoor “Treasure Hunt” if you are feeling particularly inspired.
Sidewalk Chalk Art Show: There are so many different kinds of chalk options now, not just your standard box of 4 colors. There’s different shapes, rainbow colors, neon colors, stencils, and even liquid chalk — everything your kids need to create their outdoor masterpieces.
Backyard Obstacle Course: Drag out all that junk from your garage and get creative! You can time your kids to see if they can beat their own records or have friends join in and do relay races. If you want to get intense, you can shoot them with nerf guns or spray them with the hose as they compete. It makes it more challenging and it’s a great way to pay them back for all those times they have whined to you about being bored!
Neighborhood Sports: Whether its kickball, baseball, soccer, or whatever sport your kid is probably needing to practice, it’s always more fun with friends. You already have the equipment, everyone knows how to play, and it will get them out of the house long enough for you to hopefully get some work done!
This fall break, since we’re just hanging around Memphis, I’m going to re-create my childhood. It was so different back then. My mom never felt the need to constantly entertain us. She made us go outside to play while she ironed and watched “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” (Did you hear the ironing is another thing millennials “killed”? I say good riddance.) There wasn’t a lot of extra money so we didn’t go out to eat and rarely went to the movies. Our city had a zoo and a children’s museum but the only time I ever went there was on school field trips. We played outside with neighborhood kids until it got dark and we caught fireflies on the way home. The only screen time we had was watching The Cosby Show at 6:00 after we ate dinner. Instead, we invented our own games and actually used our imagination. It was one of the best times of my life. And I think my kids could use a week like that!
