3-Days of Fall MemoriesEnjoy a leisurely drive on the prairie plains where the fall season unfolds the remarkable beauty of nature at harvest time.  Day 1: On the slow drive to The Great Pumpkin Patch you will pass several Amish farms and will most likely see a few buggies on the road. The Great Pumpkin Patch has been televised on the Martha Stuart show because the expert owners grow many kinds of squash, gourds, and several varieties of pumpkins. They also grow several rows of colorful mums. You get a wagon to pull around the farm lot to gather up your fall-harvest treasures and gifts from the gift shop. The kids can play in the straw bale maze. You might consider taking home some of the outstanding cinnamon rolls from the Amish bakery on site. Next try lunch at Yoder's Country Kitchen at the east edge of Arthur, IL, or at the Rockome Gardens Restaurant. After lunch, visit Rockome Gardens. It has several attractions and a variety of events depending on the weekend. If you have some time left, visit Beachy's Bulk Food Store. It isn't far from Rockome Gardens; it's an Amish store; and there's nothing quite like it. Day 2: Two delightful events will capture your imagination. Only 49 minutes from the Flower Patch Bed and Breakfast you will find one of the Seven Wonders of Illinois, the Allerton Mansion and gardens. After lunch in Monticello at either the local deli, The Brown Bag, or Filippo's Pizza and Italian Food restaurant, drive east on the Monticello road, cross the interstate and turn north on "Duncan Road" which leads you to Curtis's Orchards, which features both an apple orchard and a pumpkin patch. It's another fascinating memory machine with several activities created by prairie farmers.  Day 3: You will get a chance to visit the Country Bumpkin Pumpkin Farm south and east of Kansas, Illinois. See The Map for directions. The 57-minute drive will take you through the flat-lands--the extraordinary Midwest grain-belt--at harvest time to visit with Cathy and Thad Brimner who have collected a variety of pumpkins, gourds, and squash that will give you neighborhood bragging rights. Take an easy going wagon ride down an old country road. Stop by the Hillbilly Gift Shop and pick up some Amish made jams and jellies. If you want a challenge, lace up your shoes and go on a hike through one of three uniquely designed corn mazes--a truly one of a kind experience. Or, for something unique, grab a homemade wooden putter and head out on the 18 holes of Hillbilly Golf. Food is available. Sometimes they feature music. Fun happens all the time. After collecting the Hillbilly pumpkins, you will see the World's Largest (and ugliest) Lincoln Statue. It's three miles east of Charleston on Route 16, just over the river and exit north at the top of the hill. It's not that this is a great statue. Rather, it's huge. Visitors write about it frequently. It's one of a kind. If you didn't eat at the pumpkin farm, you can have lunch at the Lincoln Springs Resort which includes the big statue. Or you can go into Charleston and dien at AJ's, a good steak house just off Lincoln Avenue on 4th street. After lunch, go South on 4th street and follow it for 8 or 9 miles south as it becomes the Lincoln Trail Highway leading to theLincoln Log Cabin State Park. It's a thoughtfully preserved "living history" site with a modern museum and theatre. It was the home of Lincoln's parents who are buried about two miles away at on the Lincoln Trail Highway at the Shiloh Church Cemetery. Return to the Great Pumpkin Patch Click here. Return to 3-day Fall Package Click here. Return to Abraham Lincoln Events Click here. |
