By: Nola Sommer

Have you ever wished you could pet a reindeer? Have you been looking for a new hiking spot? As the leaves turn and the air begins to cool off, Illinois opens itself to the various fall activities. 

Hardy’s Reindeer Ranch gives you the ability to make your Christmas wishes come true, letting you pet a real Alaskan reindeer. Located at 1356 CR 2900N, Rantoul, Ill. 61866, this reindeer ranch turned Christmas wonderland is open from November through December. It features a 6+ acre corn maze, a Grand Prix-style race track, a gift shop, reindeer and you can even pick a pumpkin or Christmas tree depending on the time of year. (Photo: Hardy’s Reindeer Ranch website)

If you’re looking for kid-inclusive activities, the Richardson Adventure Farm and Corn Maze, located at 909 English Prairie Road, Spring Grove, Ill. 60081, houses the world’s largest corn maze. With its 10-mile-long tangled trails covering land the size of 21 football fields, participants are sure to have a new challenge every time they go, with the maze changing each year so no two mazes are alike. But if mazes are not your thing, maybe you would want to visit the 100-foot slide, pedal carts, jumping pillows, carousel, wagon rides, pig races or 50’ tall observation tower. Also, the 700’ zip line is sure to catch some eyes, as well as the ORBiting, which involves putting yourself in a giant, 11’ ball and rolling down a slope. (Photo: Richardson Adventure Farm and Corn Maze website)

Filled to the brim with history, the Great Pumpkin Patch is one of the most renowned pumpkin patches in Illinois. This patch, located at 1749 CR 1900 N, Arthur, Ill. 61911, began in 1977 when farmers Bruce and Mary Beth planted pumpkin seeds in their children’s garden. After a while, these seeds grew and evolved into acres of pumpkin growth. The 63-acre pumpkin patch houses 400 varieties, ensuring you pick your perfect pumpkin! But if the idea of pumpkins is too cliche for you, maybe the wagon rides or haunted barn tours would call your name. Afterward, you can grab some fresh pumpkin and non-pumpkin-flavored desserts at the Homestead Bakery located near the patch. (Photo: Great Pumpkin Patch website)

For the adventurers out there, Grafton Zipline Adventures provides nine zip lines that total 1.75 miles, taking approximately two hours to complete. Not only do the zip lines range over multiple lengths, they all have fun names. The first zip line, named Baby Bear, 

is the shortest measuring 300 feet; the Soaring Eagle spans 2,000 feet, featuring breathtaking views of its 250-foot descent. Other zip lines include the River Run (1,200 feet), the Gobblers Knob (1,000 feet), the Limestone Leap (1,300 feet) and the Barn Burner (1,500 feet). This spot is located at 600 Timber Ridge Lane, Grafton, Ill. 62037. (Photo: Grafton Zipline Adventures website)

So next time you are looking for a fun fall weekend activity or need to fill some time during Thanksgiving break, check out some of these super cool fall activities!