Trips to a pumpkin patch are a fall-favorite activity for many. At Goebbert's Pumpkin Patch, you can find many activities in October including a seasonal farm market with produce, pony rides, a cafe & petting zoo.
As the largest park in Chicago, Lincoln Park has no shortage of trees bursting with fall colors. Maple, ash, birch, and elm trees paint the park’s picturesque grounds with a palette of fall reds, oranges, and yellows. After your stroll, you can check out some more exotic flora and fauna at the Lincoln Park Conservatory and the Lincoln Park Zoo. This was one of Trina and Jason's favorite areas to take walks through hand-in-hand.
If you want to see some trees, heading to an arboretum makes tons of sense. This public garden, has an outdoor museum with a library, herbarium, and program in tree research. Plus, with rotating exhibits, there is definitely something for everyone to enjoy at the Morton Arboretum this fall.
Portillo's is one of many Illinois-based restaurants known for their famous Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, chopped salad, cheese fries, homemade chocolate cake, and chocolate cake shake. If you fly in/out of O'Hare, consider taking a detour to try one.
Starved Rock State Park is a wilderness area on the Illinois River in the U.S. state of Illinois. It’s known for its steep sandstone canyons formed by glacial meltwater. Several, including the St. Louis, French and Wildcat canyons, have waterfalls. A wooded trail leads to Lover’s Leap Overlook, with views of the river and Starved Rock Dam. Keep an eye out for white-tailed deer, bald eagles, and migratory birds.