October 2016 – Travel Smart With Jodie

Botanic Garden hosts “Jack-o-Lanterns” now and “Trains, Tricks, Treats, next weekend

Go to the Chicago Botanic Garden for a really unusual night time path walk, this weekend or go next weekend to see the Model Railroad Garden turn ghostly for its seasonal farewell.

Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns

For a different Halloween experience you can still snag a ticket to the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Jack-o’-Lantern celebration. That is if you and your kids don’t mind going late. Tickets still available tonight, Oct. 22, from 10 to 11 p.m. and Sunday Oct. 23 from 9:30 to 11 p.m.

Celebrate Halloween this weekend and next at the Chicago Botanic Garden. CBG Photo

More than a thousand pumpkins, all hand-carved as Chicago places, Halloween characters and garden “oh, ohs” (think Willis tower, Dracula and Venus flytrap) plus Day of the Dead-style artwork, will line a festival path. The path also passes Halloween dressed characters and goes through the Model Railroad garden where there are ghostly trains. Goodies can be bought on the Esplanade before taking the path. More food is available at the Fruit and Vegetable Garden.

Best plan is to buy tickets online ahead of time and bring the confirmation with you. The website says “sold out” but a call to the garden revealed that some tickets were still available at this printing. But tickets may be purchased at the Garden’s Information desk if still available.

Tickets are $14 adult members, $16 nonmembers, children ages three to 12 are $12 and $14, free to children age 2 and under. Parking is free to members. Nonmember parking can be bought in advance. Visit Night for 1000 Jack-o’-Lantern for more info.

Trains, Tricks and Treats

Or celebrate Halloween at the Botanic Garden next weekend, Oct. 29-30. The event marks the last chance to visit the Model Railroad Garden this year. Expect more than the usual trains. It will be decked out with spider webs, ghosts and goblins. Look for tiny trick-or-treaters and even bats in the scenery. Families can dress for trick or treat and find treats and treasures along the way.

Adults $ 6, seniors $5, children 3–12 yrs $4 age 2 and under, free. Members get $1 discount. For other information visit Trains. The Chicago Botanic Garden is at 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe, IL 60022. For other information call (847) 835-5440 and visit CBG

Enjoy fall color as a day trip from Chicago

Stroll among paths of gold. Hike where every turn reveals another photo op. See the countryside on an old train or find a new scenic vista. Just go. Get out there where the leaves are still changing color and the weather isn’t too frosty.

Elegant Farmer

Maybe you have seen and tasted delicious apple pies in your grocery store from the Elegant Farmer. But the farm and its bakery, about 90 miles north of Chicago in Mukwonago, WI, is also a fun destination during its Autumn Harvest Festival. Festival hours are Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. now through Oct. 23, 2016. Along with picking up yummy treats from its store, apples and pumpkins from its fields or taking a hay ride, the Elegant Farmer is one end of the turn-of–the-century’s East Troy Electric Railroad. The train is a remnant of Wisconsin’s Interurban rail system. Train tickets are $12.50 adults, $10.50 seniors, $8 children age 3-11 and free to under 3. The Elegant Farmer is at 1545 Main Street · Mukwonago, WI 53149 at the crossroad of County Highways ES and J. For other information visit Elegant Farmer and call (262) 363-6770.

Lake Geneva

Cruise Geneva Lake or float over its town of Lake Geneva and the surrounding area in a hot-air balloon. Hike the path around the lake or do the zip line across a colorful tree canopy. There are so many ways to see fall color in Lake Geneva, WI you might decide to stay overnight. However, if you go, you might want to tie it in to the Canopy Tours Fall Festival, Oct. 22 or 23 where you get music, food, pumpkin painting and other activities and can watch the Pumpkin Drop from zip liners (or participate if you do the zip line event). Lake Geneva is about 90 minutes north west of Chicago. For other information visit Lake Geneva or call (262) 248-9271.

Morton Arboretum

The Arboretum in west suburban Lisle is coming alive with color. Maples and oaks near parking lots 7 and 8 began changing two weeks ago as have the maples near parking lots 14 and 15. To find out more about the color changes and what’s blooming click on Fall Color Report. Or ask when you arrive. For fun take the Scarecrow Trail on the Meadow Lake Trail. The Morton Arboretum is at 4100 Illinois Highway 53, Lisle, IL 60532. For other information visit Morton Arb and call (630) 968-0074.

Join the fun at Bank of America Chicago Marathon

More than 40,000 runners and thousands of supporters will be in Chicago this weekend for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon Oct. 9, 2016. So, if you haven’t already made a dinner reservation downtown Chicago Friday or Saturday, consider eating out in the suburbs or waiting until late Sunday. But do join the fun downtown or in Chicago’s neighborhoods along the course. All you have to do is cheer on the runners to their best times or to merely finish the 26 mile 385 yard (42.195 kilometer) race.

Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Bank of America photo

If a friend or relative is running in the Chicago Marathon you have likely discussed where to watch and know that you can meet in Butler Field between Columbus Drive and Lake Shore Drive north of Jackson Drive.

However, part of the fun of the race for spectators is to cheer runners with encourage signs, bells and words as they speed by. Bank of America, US Trust and Merrill Lynch have Cheer Zones with items you can use to give runners an extra lift.

The race starts at 7:30 a.m. The following times used here are for when runners pass are estimates.

Bank of America’s Zones are at Mile 13 at Monroe and Jefferson where runners are likely to go past after 8:27 a.m. and Mile 26 at Michigan Avenue and Roosevelt Road near the finish line where runners will pass after 9:30 a.m.

US Trust’s Zone is about the halfway point (Miles 13-14) on Jefferson Street between Monroe and Adams Streets where runners will be seen after 8:28 a.m. Merrill Lynch’s zone is at Mile 16.5 at Halsted Street and Jackson to see runners after 8:47 a.m.

Spectators can also go to the Post-Race Party in Butler Field after 9 a.m. (There is security screening).

Just leave your car at home. Put on your walking/ running shoes or use Chicago’s CTGA system. Crowds will be jamming streets and sidewalks. In addition, some street closures such as Columbus Drive around Grant Park have already happened. Other streets on the course close at 7 a.m. Sunday (race day). Most will reopen by 2:30 p.m.

Maybe the race will inspire you to participate next year.

For other information visit Bank of America Chicago Marathon

Home