15 Tips for Fun Family Activities During Fall Break

1. Make pancakes or stick bread over a campfire

There’s something truly special about cooking food to the sound of a crackling fire while the scent of smoke fills the air. It’s as if a pancake just tastes extra good when you’ve made it from scratch yourself under the open sky.

2. Find amber on the beach

Fall is a particularly good time to find amber on the beaches along the Danish coast, as the frequent windy weather helps wash it ashore. A good tip is to walk along the trail of seaweed on the beach and turn over larger piles with your shoe—that’s where you’ll have the best chance of finding those beautiful pieces of amber.

3. Create a (spooky) cozy atmosphere with homemade jack-o’-lanterns

A classic fall activity is making homemade jack-o’-lanterns. They create a very special atmosphere on dark evenings, which—depending on the design—can be both inviting and scary. Try everything from the well-known Halloween designs to carvings shaped like leaves you’ve found in the garden or on a walk in the woods.

4. Go mushroom hunting in the woods

There’s something special about the forests in Denmark in the fall. The scents, the colors, and—not least—everything that sprouts from the forest floor. Grab a basket and go find chanterelles, Karl Johan mushrooms, or boletes. A good rule of thumb, though, is that if you have even the slightest doubt about whether a mushroom is edible, leave it where it is.

5. Make imaginary creatures out of chestnuts

There’s no limit to what kids can create with a good handful of chestnuts, a set of matches, and a small, pointed screwdriver. They can easily spend hours creating a world of chestnut creatures that can decorate the windows after playtime is over.

6. Fall swimming in the ocean or a wilderness bath

Take a quick dip in the refreshing ocean on a calm fall day and finish with a warm shower. If you’re not into the thrill of the cold, an outdoor wilderness bath can be a wonderful wellness experience for the whole family, where you can enjoy the colors and scents of fall all around you.

7. Sleep in a shelter and get close to nature

Sleeping in a shelter is a very special nature experience for the whole family. Enjoy the starry sky, read bedtime stories by the light of a flashlight, and drift off to sleep to the sounds of nature.

8. Go on an oyster safari

You can find oysters in several places in Denmark, but they’re most abundant in the Wadden Sea and the Limfjord. There’s something special about harvesting such a prized delicacy with your own hands. A good rule of thumb is that it’s best to harvest edible oysters during the months that contain the letter “r” (September through April).

9. Give beach stones a “makeover”

They come in all shapes, colors, and types—which is why beach stones can be transformed into everything from cars, ladybugs, faces, and treasure maps. All it takes is some paint and a little childlike imagination. You might even be lucky enough to find a fossilized sea urchin while you’re out searching.

10. Experience the red deer’s mating bellow

From September through October, you can hear the magnificent red deer’s mating bellow—a truly unique sound to experience. Red deer can be seen in many different wildlife parks across Denmark; just remember to move around carefully and keep a respectful distance from these beautiful animals.

11. Enjoy hot cocoa and play games by the wood-burning stove

After a day out in what might be windy or rainy fall weather, there’s nothing better than cozying up by the wood-burning stove with a blanket wrapped around you, hot cocoa in your cups, and some tasty treats. Put your phones away and find a fun family game.

12. Make posters with leaf prints

From September through late October, the trees change colors every week, and leaves fall to the ground everywhere. Bring the prettiest ones home, paint one side, and create beautiful color prints that can be hung up as posters. You can also place leaves or flowers between the pages of a newspaper and press them in heavy books. After 1–2 weeks, they can be used to decorate the table on top of a white tablecloth.

13. Explore the Starry Sky

In October, the days have become significantly shorter and the evenings darker. Grab a cup of tea and a blanket, head outside late one evening, and see how many constellations you can find. You might even be lucky enough to see a shooting star if the sky is especially clear.

14. Decorate Your Home with Seashells

Danish beaches are teeming with decorative seashells and snail shells. Blue mussels, tower snails, and heart-shaped clams are just a few of the common finds. See how many different kinds you can find and take them home to either display on your windowsill in a glass container or glue them onto a large piece of paper to hang as wall art.

15. Collect natural materials for Christmas decorations

After fall comes winter, and Christmas is just around the corner. Gather forest fruits like acorns, beechnuts, and chestnuts, and save them for when you’ll be making Christmas decorations in December. This will also make your Advent candle decoration extra personal.