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September 3, 2015
Best of fallThe chase is on as autumn colors start to coat the countryside.
We always get a little frantic in fall, trying to make the most of a too-brief window of opportunity. Fall is the best time for a lot of things: hiking, after frost has knocked off the bugs; road trips, when the countryside is at its loveliest; and wildlife-watching, when birds and beasts are on the move. Plus, it's gorgeous. Most people try to catch the reds and oranges of maples at peak, but tamaracks, tallgrass and oaks keep things glowing through October. Here are our picks for the best things to see and do this fall. Best bets for the weekendHead north or hide from the holiday hordes in a city.
You know what we always say about holiday weekends: If you don't like sitting in traffic, be a contrarian and go east, west or south. In southern Wisconsin, ride the Sugar River State Trail and sample Old World pageantry in New Glarus, where arrows will fly during the Wilhelm Tell Festival. South of Chicago, Frankfort skips ahead with its Fall Festival, which includes a Sunday parade. Or go to a big city, where you can find great deals on hotel rooms because business travelers are home with their families. We love spending Labor Day weekend in downtown Chicago, which has 26 miles of sand beaches. Rent a Divvy Bike and use the Lakefront Trail to get to them, or ride over to the free Jazz Festival at Millennium Park. Then keep going to the new Northerly Island Park, a nature preserve on the same peninsula that houses the Museum Campus. Formerly Meigs Field, it now features a lagoon, paved trail and rolling hills with views of the city. In Madison, taste dishes from more than 80 restaurants at Taste of Madison. In Minneapolis, watch a world-class pole vault competition on the roof of Brit's Pub. All kinds of things will be flying through the air in Wisconsin: cow chips in Prairie du Sac and, at the Highland Games in Waukesha, stones, logs, hammers, axes, knives, sacks of hay, haggis and a 141-pound, 16½-foot "badger stick,'' or caber. If you don't mind the traffic, this is a great time to visit the Great Lakes, even Lake Superior, where the water is actually warm enough to swim around Bayfield and the Apostle Islands. Over on Lake Michigan, join the Suttons Bay Floatilla on Grand Traverse Bay and help reclaim the Guinness World Record for largest raft of canoes and kayaks, now held by Inlet, N.Y., with 3,150. Or head for one of Lake Michigan's gorgeous beaches. We hope you have a wonderful weekend! — Beth and Torsten Next weekendSee hounds racing and frontier folks chasing.
Defeat of Jesse James Days in Northfield, Minn. There's a fine-arts festival, tractor pulls, reenactments of the famous bank raid and a 2 p.m. Sunday parade. Sept. 9-13. James J. Hill Days in Wayzata, Minn. This Minneapolis suburb features a street market and carnival; dachshund races, a craft-beer fest, water-ski show and fireworks on Saturday; and a parade at 2 p.m. Sunday. Sept. 11-13. Laura Ingalls Wilder Days in Pepin, Wis. The famous author's birthplace celebrates with kids' pioneer games, a spelling bee and traditional music and crafts; pie-eating, fiddle and Laura contests; and a 1 p.m. Sunday parade. Sept. 12-13. Sandwich Fair in Sandwich, Ill. This northeast Illinois fair, held since 1888, features exhibits, entertainment and music plus harness racing, tractor pulls and demolition derbies. Sept. 9-13. For more events, see our Events Calendar.
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