There’s a reason our roads, restaurants and everything else fill up this time of year. South Florida is the best place to be in winter. And as parents, it’s no small privilege that our kids get to play outside year-round.

A few ideas for taking advantage of it:

• The South Florida Fair is running through Jan. 29 in West Palm Beach. Besides all the big rides and the usual pig races and fried Twinkies, there is a long line-up of concerts. Get the full schedule and coupons for tickets at the fair’s website.

• It’s also a great time to head to the local you-pick produce markets. Our favorite is The Girls in Delray Beach. When you’re done picking strawberries from the hydrponic planters, you can tour the grounds and see tropical birds, swans and other creatures. The store is full of unique candy and an ice cream counter. You can hang out in the shady picnic area to savor your treats. Get the details at The Girls website. Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market west of Boynton Beach also has you-pick fields. Call before you head out, though. On busy weekends, the strawberry patches can get picked clean.

• You couldn’t ask for better bike-riding weather. Some of the big county parks have lots of paved trails, including South County Regional Park off Glades Road west of U.S. 441; Quiet Waters on Powerline Road south of Hillsboro Boulevard in Deerfield Beach (you can camp there, too); and Tradewinds Park at Sample Road and Florida’s Turnpike in Coconut Creek.

What are your favorite things to do outside this time of year? Post in the comments.

MORE FAMILY FUN

Find more ideas for classes, events and other activities in Things to Do.

- CHARLENE PACENTI

Bedner's Farm Fresh Market west of Boynton Beach is ready to celebrate fall.

You can barely tell it here in South Florida, but fall has arrived.

Soon the pumpkins (trucked in from up north) will be sprouting at supermarkets and roadside stands. But there may be fewer to choose from this year, as Hurricane Irene destroyed many pumpkin patches in the Northeast.

Meanwhile, there are a few places to experience a touch of fall without fleeing the tropics.

Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market west of Boynton Beach is your best bet. Starting Oct. 1, it will kick off a monthlong Fall Festival. It will have “hayrides”, a corn maze, a haunted house and a pumpkin patch, plus plenty of vendors serving barbecue, homemade ice cream and giant caramel apples.

When you’re done checking out the fields, shopping for produce and eating, you can rest for a bit in one of the big cedar rocking chairs in the shade of the front porch.

Bedner’s is at 10066 Lee Rd., Boynton Beach. Call 561-733-5490.

More ideas for fallish fun:

Green markets

The local green markets open up again.  Boca Raton’s starts Oct. 8 and runs most Saturdays through Dec. 17. 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Royal Palm Place in Downtown Boca. … West Palm Beach has a big one on the waterfront on Saturday mornings, starting Oct. 15. … Delray Beach’s starts Oct. 15 on Saturday mornings along Southeast Fourth Avenue, just south of Atlantic Avenue.

Family hay rides

Quiet Waters Park, 401 S. Powerline Rd., hosts a hay ride and marshmallow roast for the whole family. 7 to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 28. $3.50 a person. Reserve tickets in advance at 954-357-5100.

Halloween

The city is offering several activities for kids of all ages at Sugar Sand Park, including the popular haunted house. Get all the details at BocaBooDays.com.

- CHARLENE PACENTI

October ushers in the season for green markets around South Florida – and we’ve got a new one in the Boca Raton area this year.

Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market, on U.S. 441 west of Boynton Beach, is all decked out for Halloween, with dollar “hay rides” (hay-strewn trolley pulled by a tractor) and giant caramel apples.

The indoor market has fresh corn, peppers, fruits, etc., all cheaper than you would find at the local chain grocery store.

Strawberries, cucumbers and tomatoes are grown in the fields outside the store. They will be open for u-pick on Dec. 1.

The market started its fall festival celebration Oct. 2 with barbecue, gourmet food truck The Rolling Stove, banana ice cream and other treats. A large chickee hut has picnic tables that make for a shady lunch spot. Orchids were for sale, three for $20.

In one field, workers have converted a few rows of cucumbers to a “pumpkin patch,” though the pumpkins were shipped from up north. (Pumpkins do not grow in South Florida). And there are plenty of spots to take that cute fall photo of the kids.

Bedner’s is at 12033 State Road 7.  It’s open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Other green markets:

• The Boca Raton Green Market opens Oct. 9 and runs 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday at Royal Palm Place,  Federal Highway and South Mizner Boulevard. In honor of Columbus Day, Italian food will be featured the first weekend. There will be live music, too.

• The West Palm Beach Green Market opens on the waterfront at 101 N. Flagler Dr. on Oct. 16.

• And a huge one just opened in Hollywood. The Yellow Green Farmers Market will be open year-round with 300 booths.

Hay rides

Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach has monthly hay rides, with a campfire and marshmallow roast. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9, Nov. 13 and Dec. 4. $3 a person includes hayride and the stuff to make smores, plus $1.50 park entrance fee. Make a reservation at 954-357-5100.

Halloween events

Find the listings  on our Things to Do page.