Baby's First Fall: a bucket list for Iowa City and Coralville

It's baby's first fall - hooray! I love the change in seasons, and try to savor it with my little ones. Here's a short bucket list for your first fall with a little one in the Corridor. If baby is a wee one, most of these may be enjoyed with babe snugged in a carrier. If babe sits independently, swings, slides, and exploring with natural materials can add a new level of fun to your time together.  As always, do those activities that work best for you and babe at this particular stage with your little family!

Visit a Pumpkin Patch
We are lucky to have so many fabulous options for pumpkin patch-ing in our area! If you enjoy a good old-fashioned corn-maze with babe in a carrier, Colony Pumpkin Patch in North Liberty is a great option. My little ones really enjoy Kroul Farms in Mount Vernon with their short corn maze and animals - all for free! If you are looking for a full morning adventure, Bass Farms in Mount Vernon is conveniently located across highway 30 from Palisades-Kepler State Park - a gorgeous fall location for a hike or picnic. If you are looking for a pumpkin patch visit with lots for older siblings to do, Sass Farms in Riverside is a fun location for a day-trip.

 Visit an Apple Orchard
The apple orchard is another great way to spend a fall morning or afternoon. Wilson's Orchard in Iowa City has lots of fun events throughout the fall and you can end your visit with a trip to Rapid Creek Cidery for a meal. If you prefer to head north, Allen's Orchard in Marion is another great U-Pick option!

Hike a Trail
The Corridor is home to some really lovely dirt, grass, and crushed stone trails to get you out in nature. From the Cedar Cliff Trail in Mount Vernon to Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City to Morgan Creek Park in Palo, we really have wonderful options close by no matter where in the Corridor you live. Want to get hiking with other families? Check out Hike it Baby Iowa City and Hike it Baby Cedar Rapids, both local branches of the national nonprofit Hike it Baby.

​Take a Fall Stroll
Want to keep it stroller-friendly? You're in luck because the Corridor has some lovely paved paths, too! For a simple stroll, you can enjoy a walk around the neighborhood.  For more more Fall colors, head to Clear Creek Trail in Coralville or Tiffin, Terry Trueblood in Iowa City, or Prairie Park Fishery in Cedar Rapids.

Fall Sensory Play
The crunch of leaves, sticks, and grass are all new and fascinating for baby. Once sitting solidly or crawling, a pile of leaves can bring delight to even the littlest of explorers.

Have a Picnic
Enjoy your meal while baby lounges on the blanket. If old enough to enjoy solid food, pack a booster seat and share your meal. This is the perfect way to finish off a trip to an orchard, pumpkin patch, or trail.

Explore a Playground
If baby is sitting solidly or mobile, fall is a great time to begin exploring some playgrounds. If weather is temperate and surfaces aren't too hot, crawlers may really enjoy a chance to climb on equipment. Swings and slides can be fun, too. And, the fall is a great time to find some playgrounds that will surely be on your bucket list next year! Check out this list for some fabulous options in the Corridor.

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What is your favorite part of baby's first fall? Share in the comments below!

​​Johanna Tomlinson is a mother to three little ones and a doula, childbirth educator, and sleep educator with Nested Mama Prenatal & Postpartum Doula Support. Read more of Johanna’s writing on pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and parenting here.