On a whim, last Friday Ivy and I found ourselves at the County Line Orchard. We were out that way and I was in the mood to get some apples and walk around with my best girl. Usually we’ve made it there a couple times already but just haven’t yet gotten the chance this season.

It was a gorgeous day and the main parking lot was not even totally full. TONS of buses and field trips were abound but it really wasn’t that crowded. It was just right.

For $6 we wandered around the little farm. Ivy loved the cows and pigs most of all. And the goats always put on a good show. We took our time shopping in the big red barn - you can find just about any type of gift as well as some amazing culinary treats in there. We got an apple cider to go and a bag of the homemade cheese popcorn (as well as a peck of Honey Crisp!)

Ivy danced around the pumpkins for a while but I decided that they were a bit too pricey for the amount and size we wanted to buy, so we headed on over to Johnson’s on Rt 6 in Hobart. Their huge carts made it easy to browse around and pick the pumpkins we wanted, and this is where we also discovered fairy gardens… Ivy now has a few pieces to start her own. (It was all on sale.)

Next door at Marilyn’s bakery we got some delicious black bean soup and fresh croissants for lunch. Delish!

Everywhere we drive, my breath is just taken away by the colors and leaves! They are possibly the most beautiful I’ve ever seen this time of year.

The other morning we drove 49 north up to Rt 12 and over to Beverly Shores. The beach is amaaaaaaaaazing right now. Do not miss it! Leaves falling onto the sand, and the waves so still. I am hoping to head up there again tomorrow.

And I still hope to get some good hiking in with the kids- Coffee Creek, Deep River, and Bailly Homestead and Chellburg Farm are some of our faves.

Where do you go to enjoy this gorgeous fall?

Stephanie is Mom to three boys & a girl in Valparaiso, IN and blogs daily at Adventures In Babywearing . Follow her on Twitter- she’s babysteph .