All the fall things

Fall is the time to pick apples at an orchard, hike at a local park, and soak up the colorful sights and tastes before winter. It’s quite possibly the most beautiful time of year in Wisconsin, and with nearly endless activities (and endless beauty), there’s no reason not to get out and explore. The TCD Photo Team visited a few local favorites and captured some of the adventure.

Apple Holler is only 30 minutes south of Milwaukee and offers most things that you’d want to celebrate the season. Pick your own apples, choose a pumpkin from hundreds, get your fill of apple everything (apple cider, apple cider donuts, caramel apples, apple pie), and enjoy lots of activities for the little ones including hayrides and a petting farm. Don’t let the long line of cars parked on the road fool you – one can still easily move around the grounds even on busy weekends. Leave enough time to eat at the restaurant, especially during their breakfast buffet on the weekends.

Great Lakes Distillery will be celebrating fall with the official release of their seasonal Pumpkin Spirit next Saturday, October 19. There will be special Pumpkin Spirit drinks available, a pumpkin pie eating contest, a carved pumpkin contest, and you can wax dip your own bottle of Pumpkin Spirit if you choose to take a bottle home with you. This seasonal spirit is distilled from Lakefront Brewery’s Pumpkin Lager. Popular cocktails include a pumpkin Old Fashioned or an Autumn Harvest made with Pumpkin Spirit, apple cider and Bittercube Blackstrap Bitters. Thanks to Great Lakes for this wonderful recipe.

It’s prime viewing time of the fabulous fall colors, so grab a jacket and head to one of our local county or state parks. One to consider is hidden gem Grobschmidt Park, located on Milwaukee’s south side. You could also take a day trip to the Holy Hill area, where the curves of Holy Hill Road take you to The Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary. It’s a short climb up the towering spires for a spectacular view of the entire southeastern Wisconsin area. The grounds are open daily and the scenic tower is open daily until October 31. There is a cafe onsite (open Monday-Saturday) for a snack during your visit.

Storefronts are decorated with autumn themes and coffee shops offer drinkable pumpkin treats. Farmer’s Markets are wrapping for the season, so double check our market guide to see what is still open. Get out and enjoy the crisp air, Wisconsin!

all the Fall Things: a photo gallery by Angela Morgan and Sophia Steck