I really, really miss Fall. I am jonesing for some real autumn weather, and where better to reminisce about than Boston? For many years, Boston was just a four hour drive to amazing foliage, apple picking and general fun in this historically-rich, gorgeous for walking and touring city. If you can make it there within the next few weeks while the leaves are at their peak, enjoy and think of us Floridians who are still melting down here!

Boston Children’s Museum - This innovative museum is one of the greenest in the country! Your kids will be having too much fun inside to notice the new green roofs, energy efficiency and eco-building materials. And isn’t it amazing to know there’s a space just for kids that practices what it preaches? Don’t forget to head over to their Recycle Shop to stock up on recycled supplies for art projects and general craftiness.

If you Google “apple picking Boston,” you’ll be overwhelmed with the amount of working orchards to visit! Apple picking has been one of my favorite activities since I was a kid, from carrying around the too-large bushel to wandering around in the cool air looking for the perfect apples, and eventually going home with way more apples than you can eat or bake with. (Can you tell that I miss it?) Check out Apple Picking Boston for listings and maps by orchard name or county. Right now there are 76 apple picking goodness to choose from! There are even reviews of orchards in counties in and around Boston.

The EcoTarium in Worcester has a Great Pumpkin Festival not to be missed. This is a totally family-friendly, non-scary event from Noon to 9:00PM on Saturday, October 25th. Hundreds of hand-carved, lit pumpkins will be on display, with hayrides and planetarium shows to entertain kids of all ages. Tickets are required, so don’t forget to purchase them before you go!

If you’re looking for other autumn activities with your kids throughout New England, this great article from the Boston Globe will point you in the right direction. Boston Central is also a wonderful New England resource guide, as well as goCityKids (now owned by Nickelodeon). Any way you look at it, this is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy nature’s autumn rituals.

*Sigh* I think I’m going to bake an apple crisp this weekend…