Midwest travel: Kids can 'Run! Jump! Fly!' at Kohl
Chicago
Born to run
It's what kids want to do most — “Run! Jump! Fly! Adventures in Action” opens at Kohl Children's Museum this week. This new exhibit shows kids that getting exercise is cool and exciting through five different exercise simulation components. Little gymsters can engage in rousing activities including surfing, a climbing canyon, snowboarding, kung fu, dance and yoga in an immersive environment. 9:30 a.m. to noon Mondays; 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays Sept. 29 through Jan. 10 at Kohl Children's Museum, 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview. Admission is $11 for children and adults, $10 for seniors and free for children 1 and younger. (847) 832-6600 or kohlchildrensmuseum.org.
Apple watch
The 28th annual Apple Fest in Chicago's lovely Lincoln Square neighborhood should be crawling with kids and fans of the fruity fall treat. Giddings Plaza turns into an urban apple orchard with cider, caramel apples, apple cider doughnuts, apple pies and bushels of apples to take home. The Kids Zone offers storytelling, magic, yoga, games, a bounce house and Wiggleworms musical activities. For adults, there's hard apple cider, craft beer and live tunes. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, on the 4700 block of N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. Free. lincolnsquareravenswood.org.
Art to your heart's content
Experience historic neighborhoods, and oodles of art, during the second annual Beverly Art Walk. The free event takes place in Chicago's Beverly/Morgan Park area and features 155 local artists and artisans displayed in more than 50 businesses and organizations. The self-guided walking tour takes you through an eclectic mix of painting, photography, pottery, sculpture, jewelry and textile art. Plan on artist studio tours, live music, dance, puppetry, art demonstrations, children's activities, food trucks, an artisan craft fair and the live creation of public art. Free trolleys will guide visitors on the route. Noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, from 91st Street to West 113th Street and from South Western Avenue to South Wood Street, Chicago. Free. beverlyarts.org.
Midwest
Bogged down
The drive up to Eagle River, Wisconsin, during its 36th annual Cranberry Festival is worth it: There are sales, demos and samples of all types of cranberry foods; a cranberry cook-off; a huge arts and crafts show; cranberry marsh and winery tours; and an antiques and flea market. Don't miss the world's largest cranberry cheesecake and all the tasty food and drink, cranberry-based and otherwise. Bring the kids for family entertainment and activities and stop at the fiber arts and weavers show and farmers market to bring home goodies and gifts. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 3-4, at the Vilas County Fairgrounds, Eagle River, Wisconsin. (715) 479-6400 or eagleriver.org.
Get into Dodge
A Drive-It-Yourself Dodge County Fall Farm and Foliage Tour shines a light on the history of the area as well as offering a variety of agricultural activities and beautiful autumn landscapes along the tour route in central Wisconsin. Stop at a pumpkin farm, take a hayride, visit a beekeeper and a sheep farm, stop at a historical limestone museum, and end up at the Audubon Days Festival in Mayville. Dodge County is also home to the famous Horicon Marsh and newly opened Horicon Marsh Explorium. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, in Dodge County, Wisconsin. Go to discoverdodgecounty.com for event details and accommodations. For information about the Audubon Days Festival, go to audubondays.com.
East coast, West coast, Blue Coast
Ever want to chuck it all, move to the country and buy a potter's wheel? Experience the creative process for a weekend at the 26th Blue Coast Artists annual Studio Tour when you can see a piece of pottery form, watch glass beads take shape in the torch, and see a landscape come alive through brush strokes. The 2015 tour includes 11 working artists' studios located between South Haven and Fennville, Michigan, and each site offers demonstrations, original artwork and refreshments. In addition, there will be hands-on art-making projects and, of course, fabulous fall color. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 3-4, from South Haven to Fennville, Michigan. (269) 236-9260 or bluecoastartists.com.