Fall into the Fun with Family and Friends

Fall is the season of all things pumpkin and apple flavored. What kind of list rounding off fun fall activities for families would leave out apple picking and pumpkin patches? Chicago is close to many countryside and suburban spots that are home to pumpkin farms and sprawling apple orchards where the entire family can join in the fun. The pick-it-yourself apple orchards and pumpkin farms usually offer a ton of fun activities to engage children in, too. You know—the good old hayrides, corn stalk mazes, and petting zoo farms that make the season fun for kids and adults alike. You can even pick up some local honey and seasonal décor while you’re out there. Don’t forget the cider.

Apple Picking

All Seasons Orchard
www.allseasonsorchard.com
14510 Rt. 176 / Woodstock, IL 60098 (815-338-5637)

Apple Holler
www.appleholler.com
5006 S. Sylvania Ave. / Stertevant, WI 53177

Pumpkin Patches

All Seasons Orchard
www.allseasonsorchard.com
14510 Rt. 176 / Woodstock, IL 60098 (815-338-5637)

Goebbert’s Farm & Garden Center
www.pumpkinfarms.com
40 W Higgins Rd. / South Barrington, IL 60010 (847-428-6727)

Vana’s Pumpkin Land
Vanaspumpkinland.com
7705 W State Rt. 17 / Kankakee, IL 60901

Abbey Farms
www.abbeyfarms.org
850 Butterfield Rd. / Aurora, IL 60502

Harvest Days

Celebrate the harvest with crafts, music, pumpkins, and animals at the Lincoln Park Zoo or take a short trip to Saint Charles for their FREE annual Scarecrow Festival.

Lincoln Park Zoo Harvest Days
www.lpzoo.org
2200 N. Cannon Dr. / Chicago, IL. 60614
(312) 742-2000

Saint Charles Scarecrow Fest
www.scarecrowfest.com, 800-777-4373
www.visitstcharles.com – info@visitstcharles.com

Host a neighborhood bake-off or an autumn-themed potluck

Now that you’ve gathered your arsenal of apples and pumpkins, why not bring your family and neighbors together for a bake-off or an autumn-themed potluck? We all know it’s pie season, and you don’t want to keep all that baked goodness to yourself…do you? Try getting the kids involved in a baking contest and host a neighborhood taste testing session in your home. Or, host a fall-themed potluck lunch or dinner; invite everyone to bring over one of their favorite autumn dishes.

Fall-themed dinner recipes: www.familyfun.go.com/autumn/fall-recipes/fall-dinner-ideas/

Fall vegetable recipes: www.delish.com/recipes/cooking-recipes/fall-vegetarian-recipes#slide-1

Fall dessert recipes: www.midwestliving.com/food/fruits-veggies/irresistible-apple-dessert-recipes/

Fantastic Foliage

Fall’s inimitable canvas of colors graces the leaves of our trees for just a few weeks. If your favorite weather is crisp and cool leaf crunching weather, you might want to traipse through the tree-lined trails at the Morton Arboretum or burn off calories from your bake-off with a thirteen mile hike through the well-marked paths of Starved Rock State Park. The Chicago Botanic Garden offers a fall bulb festival, a farmer’s market, Sukkot family activities, Halloween festivities, and a seasonal beer tasting (better not tell the kids about that one).

Starved Rock State Park
dnr.state.il.us‎
Oglesby, Ill. 61348 / (815) 667-4726

Morton Arboretum
www.mortonarb.org
4100 Lincoln Ave. / Lisle, IL 60532

The Cook County Forest Preserve Call the National Forest Service Fall Color Hotline at 1-800-354-4595.

Chicago Botanic Garden
www.chicagobotanic.org
1000 Lake Cook R. / Glencoe, IL 60022 – See more at: http://www.adonsolutions.com/blog_Fall_into_the_Fun_with_Family_and_Friends.html#sthash.zmlcCDU8.dpuf