The Great Pumpkin Patch

The Great Pumpkin Patch, just south of Arthur, Illinois, grows about 300 varieties of pumpkins, squash, and gourds from more than 20 countries on the family farm. More than 5,000 hardy mums are set into giant quilts, with a children's garden, a conifer garden, the Pumpkin Tree, and a Noah's Ark of salvaged barn board among the displays. Llamas, goats, pigs, exotic chickens, rabbits, sheep, turkeys, and geese are on the grounds, including a Three Little Pigs and Billy Goats Gruff set, and guests may not feed them. The Cucurbit Market leans on heirloom and stackable squash, and the Homestead Bakery is known for made-from-scratch Amish goods. The one-acre Great Maize Maze and the TGPP Express wagon run on weekends and Indigenous People's Day; smaller mazes come with admission.

Our take: Save the Great Maize Maze and TGPP Express wagon for a weekend or Indigenous People's Day, and stop at the Homestead Bakery on the way out.