School is back in session but that doesn’t mean that you still can’t have some fun. Whether you are a California local looking for a weekend getaway or planning a vacation to the Golden State, here are a list of things to do or see that should be on your bucket list this fall. We couldn’t help but keep some of the items that were also on our summer fun guide.
1. Walk through a local haunted house or decorate your own spooky yard
2. Attend a local fall festival
3. Hire a photographer for the afternoon for your family holiday photoshoot
4. Make a fall treat from Pinterest
5. Carve a pumpkin and decorate your front porch
6. Go out with some friends and sing karaoke
7. Support small businesses and visit your local craft fair
8. Get a group of friends together to participate in The Color Run
9. Visit the Big Bear Oktoberfest
10. Get a jump start on your holiday shopping and host your own home boutique
11. Plan a spa day at Burke Williams
12. Go whale watching
13. Spend a day at a local car show
14. Take a road trip to Julian and have a slice of Mom’s Pie
15. Take the Catalina Express to Catalina Island
Things to do in Los Angeles
16. Visit Rodeo Drive
17. See a Disney movie at El Capitan
18. Walk along the Hollywood Walk of Fame
19. Play a round of miniature golf at Golf n Stuff
20. People watch at Venice Beach
21. Spend the day at Six Flags Magic Mountain Fright Fest
22. Explore Dark Harbor at RSM Queen Mary in Long Beach
23. Dress up and visit Alpine Village’s Oktoberfest
24. Visit the Santa Monica Pier for Front Porch Cinema
25. See a live performance of A Bronx Tail at the Hollywood Pantages Theater
26. Visit Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios
27. Take a haunted hayride at the Griffith Park
28. Visit The Huntington Library
29. Be part of a live studio audience
Things to do in Orange County
30. Spend a day at Disneyland
31. Spend a day at California Adventure
32. Visit Heisler Park in Laguna Beach
33. Get a pumpkin at the Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch
34. Take the ferry at Balboa Island
35. Take a train to San Diego from San Juan Capistrano.
36. Spend an afternoon by the fireplace at the Grand California Hotel
37. Ride a bike along the beach from Huntington Beach to Newport Beach
38. Visit Knott’s Scary Farm
39. Visit Old World Huntington Beach Oktoberfest
40. Take your littles to the Orange County Children’s Book Festival
41. Attend the Doheny State Beach Halloween Haunt
42. Dress up your pooch for Yappy Howl-O-Ween at The Ritz-Carlton in Dana Point
43. Attend the 2018 Historic Home Tour in Old Towne Orange
44. Have dinner at Medieval Times
45. Attend the Taste of San Clemente
46. Enjoy a Friday Fall Flick under the stars at your local park
47. Attend Beach Brews and BBQ at Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort
48. Spend Thanksgiving morning at the Dana Point Turkey Trot
49. Attend the San Clemente Seafest
Things to do in Central California
50. Take an evening tour of Hearst Castle
51. Spend the day in Solvang
52. Go grape stomping in Napa, California
53. Take a tour of the Winchester Mystery House
54. Attend the Annual California Avocado Festival in Carpinteria
55. Go for a hot air balloon ride in Napa Valley
56. Camp on the beach at Pismo Beach
57. Visit Santa Barbara Mission
58. Have lunch at Schooner’s Wharf in Cayucos
59. Wine Tasting in Carmel
60. Enjoy live Music in Beringer’s backyard in Napa Valley
61. Visit Sand Dollar Beach in Big Sur
62. Go glamping at the Costanoa Resort on the San Mateo Coast
63. Visit a local farmer’s market
64. Visit Monterey Bay Aquarium
65. Visit the California State Railroad Museum
66. Visit the Aqua Adventure Water Park in Fremont
67. Enjoy Sunday Brunch at Bella Vista, a restaurant inside the Biltmore hotel in Montecito
68. Step up to the keys and play a spontaneous tune on a vibrantly designed piano along Santa Barbara’s famed State Street
69. Celebrate Carmel-by-the Sea’s 101th City Birthday Party & Parade
Things to do in San Diego
70. Take a road trip to Julian and have a piece of Mom’s pie
71. Walk along the Haunted Trail of Balboa Park
72. Attend Boomont Park Fall Festival and Haunt in Belmont Park
73. Visit Hotel Del Coronado
74. Dress up in your cowboy boots and hat and attend the Annual Poway PRCA Rodeo
75. Bring your passport and drive to Puerto Nuevo for lobster village
76. Spend the day at Legoland Brick or Treat
77. Visit the Balboa Park Museum
78. Experience San Diego Restaurant Week
79. Attend the Annual Pacific Beachfest
80. Visit Old Town San Diego
81. See a concert at Harrahs Rincon in Funner
82. Visit Sea World’s Halloween Spectacular
83. Go wine tasting in Temecula
84. Experience the Escondido Tamale Festival
85. Visit San Diego Zoo
86. Visit the fall festival at Swami’s State Beach in Encinitas
88. Attend the San Diego Maker Faire
89. Get there early and feed the lorakeets at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Things to do in San Francisco/Northern California
90. Stop by Apple Hill and pick fresh apples, nuts and Halloween pumpkins.
91. Take a walk across the Golden Gate Bridge
92. Visit the Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival
93. Ride the cable car from Fisherman’s Wharf to Union Square
94. Walk down Lombard Street
95. Explore Yosemite National Park
96. Visit Ukiah’s Redwoods
97. Visit Sequoia National Park
98. Visit the Victorian Village of Ferndale
99. Enjoy the fall activities in Mammoth Lakes
100. Attend the Annual Tahoe Fall Fest Masquerade Bash
What are your plans this fall? Did we forget any of your favorite things to do in California?
Last Updated September 16, 2018
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