Falling into Fall in Leelanau

It is that time of year when, dare it be mentioned, the yearly debate over when pumpkin spice should make its debut and in how many forms –- but with that, the familiar warm and cozy feelings that come when the air cools and the first leaves begin to turn. M22 winds you through autumn splendor and many unexpected treasures await in Leelanau’s interior, so grab that pumpkin spice or locally pressed cider and head out to find your autumnal adventures. To get you started, here are some of the locals’ favorite activities and haunts…

Grab your new Up North logo hoodie and travel mug or saunter around town to scoop yours up during Glen Arbor’s SHOPtober, October 1-31. Shoppers can collect receipts from purchases made at local stores and restaurants and be entered to win $100 in “Glen Arbor Bucks.” Shop local and, fingers crossed, win local!

Nothing says fall more than Jacob’s Farm Corn Maze and their “A-MAZE-ING” adventure carved out (pun intended), complete with cider and fresh donuts made on site. They are open daily, fun for kids of all ages with a playground next to the maze, and also have a full bar and food menu in the barn restaurant. Their season culminates with “Thriller Night” - one night only during the final weekend - with scare actors placed around the maze to amp up Halloween vibes. Tickets go on sale starting in October so keep an eye out before they sell out! 

How about checking out the fall foliage from above? Head to the Leelanau Outdoor Center’s Fall Festival on October 5 and view the colors by zipline! To mark their 30^th anniversary, the Center is bringing the community a ton o’ fall fun on top of the ziplining – rock wall climbing, hayrides, pumpkin carving, bow and arrow shooting, and more. Concessions will be on site, as well, and all proceeds go towards the LOC Endowment Matching Program, which provides Tuition Assistance for students who otherwise might not be able to attend LOC.

For the wine lovers, it’s time for the hunt! The Hunt For the Reds, that is - Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail’s annual month-long event. The vineyards afford spectacular views and outdoor seating, many with firepits, and red wine warms the cockles in the autumn air! Ticket holders will receive a pour of red wine hand-selected by the winemakers, along with $10 in ‘cork cash’ which can be used at any of the participating wineries – good all month, so meander around the vineyards all month long and watch the change in colors.