Wednesday Weekend Windup: {Holiday Craft Fairs, National Bison Day, Open Art Studios and More}

This weekend, I highly recommend checking out the fall colors. They will not last long -- here is my list for 10 Places to Look for Fall Colors in the Chicago Suburbs. Also, this is the LAST year for The Grove Arts & Crafts Faire -- so definitely fit that in this weekend or next. Here are my picks:

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Double B Farm Country Store & Cafe in Beloit, Wisconsin

Hearty Farm Fresh Fare at Double B Farm Country Store & Cafe

Traveling to Beloit, Wisconsin, opens you up to a range of farm fresh experiences. I cannot think of a better way to start our day exploring Beloit than with a fresh breakfast on the farm. There just is something about waking up with the farm. So, we headed to Double B Farm Country Store & Cafe for a hearty and delicious meal whipped up using farm fresh items from the farm.

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Peeking Inside of October's Degusta Box

Fall is certainly in the air and this month's Degusta Box certainly had a bit of a sweet flavor to it. What a great box for Halloween! The October Degusta Box delivered to our home so many treats including both the sweet and savory kind. What a tempting box!

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Admiring Nature in Fall at Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville, Wisconsin

Admiring Nature in Fall at Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville, Wisconsin

**Disclosure: Thank you to Janesville CVB for hosting my family's visit to Janesville.

Wandering through the collection of gardens at the Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville, Wisconsin beckons contemplation. While the temperatures were a tad chilly during our October visit, we did encounter a number of visitors slowly strolling though taking in the change of seasons. Of the 24 gardens at the Rotary Botanical Gardens, the Japanese Garden perhaps was the most striking:

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Harvest Fun at Skelly's Farm Market in Janesville, Wisconsin

Harvest Fun, Two Corn Mazes and More at Skelly's Farm Market in Janesville, Wisconsin

**Disclosure: Thank you to Janesville CVB for hosting my family's visit to Janesville.

Skelly's Farm Market is home to not  just one but TWO corn mazes. So, of course, a visit was necessary for our family. Families with children of all ages will be happy to note that Skelly's is full of plenty of harvest fun in addition to the mazes making it a fabulous destination for a day trip. Skelly's Farm Market is all about fall fun and it is glorious:

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Wednesday Weekend Windup: {Halloween Fun, Glass Pumpkins, Frankenfest and More}

A spooky weekend is ahead! Here are my picks for Halloween family fun in the Chicago suburbs this weekend. Please be sure to get in your pumpkin and corn maze fun in as well!

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Apples, Fall Flavors and Local Goods at Apple Hut

Apples, fall flavors and locally made goods at Apple Hut in Beloit, Wisconsin:

Fall visits to Beloit, Wisconsin mean a trip to the Apple Hut is necessary! The Apple Hut has long been a fall staple to the Beloit area celebrating its 39th year this season. Inside the adorable hut, you will find all of the apple items you crave every fall including a wide variety of freshly picked apples, apple pie, apple turnovers, apple cider and, of course, apple cider donuts!

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Discovering Beloit and Janesville, Wisconsin: Fabulous Fall Family Weekend

Fall Harvest, Corn Mazes, Local Fare and More Fall Fun in Beloit and Janesville, Wisconsin

**Disclosure: Thank you to Visit Beloit and Janesville CVB for hosting my family's visit to Beloit and Janesville.

A family weekend exploring fall flavors, sites and sounds of Beloit and Janesville, Wisconsin and becoming familiar with each city's unique local charm was just what we needed to get away from our busy school and work schedule. We quickly found that Beloit and Janesville provide the perfect combination for fun family weekend in the fall and also encourage more exploration throughout the year.  We had a fabulous weekend and I hope that you follow along on my new series to learn about all of the truly local experiences we discovered. Of course, this time of year is all about the harvest so we began our journey exploring the Beloit Farmers' Market as well as interesting small businesses in downtown Beloit:

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Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville, Illinois: The Beginnings of Fall

Exploring nature at Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville, Illinois

We visited Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville for the first time last week in hopes of seeing a few fall colors. Fall colors have just started popping here, so we did see a few. While we did not see as many as I had hoped, we did notice that the area is perfect for birding. Here is a little cardinal that was being a bit shy:

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A Comfort Feast, Royal Pageantry and Horses at Medieval Times

A Comfort Feast, Royal Pageantry and Horses at Medieval Times in Schaumburg, Illinois

**Disclosure: I did receive a complimentary experience to bring this review to you. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

Medieval Times in Schaumburg, Illinois entertained us this weekend with an evening full of pageantry, fun, excitement and a feast of comfort food. While this was our second visit to Chicago's Medieval Times Castle, I can say that the show, food and atmosphere melded an magical evening that was just as special as our first visit. Medieval Times creates a grand adventure not far from home that I think will come in handy for families in the winter months.

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10 Places to Look for Fall Colors in the Chicago Suburbs

Fall Colors in the Chicago Suburbs:

Chicago suburban nature preserves are magnificent treasures year round treating us with a wide range of outdoor activities. Fall is particularly spectacular because we benefit from a cascade of changing colors. If you are looking for a fall color adventure, these 10 Chicago suburban preserves provide a selection of natural spaces to enjoy the season:

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Camp 18 Restaurant in Elsie, Oregon: Logging, Bigfoot and a Cinnamon Roll

Enjoying a Bit of Logger History and Hearty Fare at Camp 18

Camp 18 on US 26 between Portland and the coast in Oregon is a must stop. The cabin structure gives you that backwoods feel like you are at an oasis for loggers. The menu is full of comfort food, just as you would expect after a long day of logging. However, the food is not the only reason to stop at Camp 18. Camp 18 warrants a longer stop to check out some of the old logging equipment and other items on the grounds as part of the Logging Museum. Of particular note are the woodcarved loggers, bears and even Bigfoot:

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Wednesday Weekend Windup {Glass Pumpkin Patch, Scarecrows and Fall Fests}

Another fall weekend ahead with plenty of festivals in the Chicago suburbs! Here are my picks for the weekend ahead:

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Richardson Corn Maze: Festive Fall Challenge

Tackling the World's Largest Corn Maze and Enjoying Fall Farm Fun at the Richardson Corn Maze in Spring Grove, Illinois

Richardson Corn Maze provides a festive fall challenge for families every year. As a mother of a teen, it can take quite a bit of brainstorming to find a fall activity my daughter is still interested in. However, Richardson Corn Maze makes for a challenging yet fun fall family outing in the Chicago suburban area that appeals to all ages. We look forward to a corn maze adventure every year and were excited to embark on this year's outing this past weekend.

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Andersonville Brewing in Chicago

Andersonville Brewing Company for Brews and Burgers:

During a weekend visit to the Andersonville neighborhood, we stopped in for lunch at Andersonville Brewing. Andersonville Brewing is nanobrewery and pub. We had to do our due diligence and try some beer made in the area, right?

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Wednesday Weekend Windup {Jack-O-Lanterns, Folk Fest, Autumn Harvest, Owl Visit and More}

The weekend is almost here! Things are starting to get a little spooky around here as we move towards Halloween! Of course, there still are the warm hues of autumn and plenty of autumn fun ahead. Here are my local picks for family fun this weekend:

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12 Midwest Corn Mazes Not To Miss

Nothing says fall in the Midwest like navigating through a corn maze! Since wandering through our first corn maze several years ago, we have been hooked. Now, a good old corn maze challenge is a harvest season tradition. Looking for a corn maze challenge? Here are 12 in the Midwest not to miss suggested by Midwest travel experts:

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