Fall is one of the best times to get outside and explore all Novi has to offer. The kids are back in school, some virtually, and we wanted to share some ideas for family-friendly fun in the fresh air. If you do give one of our suggestions a try, we would love to have you share a photo with us on our social media pages. You can find us on Facebook (Novi Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services), Twitter (@noviparks) or Instagram (@novi_parks). Tag us and use #NoviParks.

Picnic on the grass at Pavilion Shore Park
It’s hard to top the views of Walled Lake from any vantage point you choose at the 11-acre Pavilion Shore Park. Bustling with activity, this park has greenspace galore for you to spread out with family and friends on a beautiful fall weekend. Pack your own food, some chairs and a blanket and enjoy an escape from busy city life. The park includes walking paths, a fishing pier, picnic plaza, public bathrooms and waterfront seating. If you haven’t visited Pavilion Shore Park yet, there’s no better time than fall!

Play in a park you don't normally visit
We all have our favorite parks to visit and for good reason. Sometimes it’s the closest or has the best playground or is the quietest. That’s one of the perks of living in Novi – so many options to choose from to meet your needs. This fall make it a goal to visit a new park with the family or your exercise partner. We have over 1,400 acres of parkland and 12 developed parks to choose from. Have you ran through the new Tim Pope Memorial Play Structure at ITC Community Sports Park, checked out the sculptures at Villa Barr Art Park, walked the nature trails at Rotary Park or escaped to Village Wood Lake Park to sit in the grass next to the lake and enjoy the sounds of nature? Visit cityofnovi.org to find a full list of the parks and start checking them off your list. Who knows, you might find a new favorite!

Go for a walk and collect colorful fall leaves
Novi is home to nearly 16 miles of hiking trails, most notably inside Lakeshore Park. These dirt trails are always in pristine shape, winding through woods that are home to a variety of flora and fauna. As the trees lose their leaves in the fall, pick some up and bring them home for the kids to use as their next art project. Some other great spots for quick visits and leaf collection are Fuerst Park, Rotary Park, and Brookfarm Park to name a few.

Ride bikes as a family down the ITC Trail
The ITC Trail gives you a little bit of everything…a place to exercise, a place to connect with nature, a place to get away. The 4.66-mile trail is absolutely stunning, winding through Novi from ITC Community Sports Park to the Ascension Providence Hospital campus. Along the route you will hear frogs croaking, see a variety of birds watching from above and greet friendly neighbors out on a journey of their own. You can ride bikes or walk to the trail from your home or park at ITC Community Sports Park and start there. The ITC Trail is truly one of Novi’s jewels!

Map out a scavenger hunt using unique Novi spots
Learn about some of Novi’s unique history by going on a family scavenger hunt. Check out the Old Township Hall, built in 1914, that now sits at Fuerst Park, find the Baseline Monument on Eight Mile that that highlights the significance of surveying to the early settlement of Novi or enjoy a meal at Shiro, which was owned by early Novi settler Sally Thornton and some say is haunted. There’s also the Novi Cemetery, which was donated in 1844 and is where many veterans from the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War and World War I & II are buried. You can information about all these historical landmarks and more at cityofnovi.org or call the Novi Public Library at 248.349.0720.