Ultimate Autumn Bucket List

Break out your best flannel: fall is here! Autumn can be gone in the blink of an eye. Make the most of your trip to…

Break out your best flannel: fall is here! Autumn can be gone in the blink of an eye. Make the most of your trip to Middleton with the ultimate bucket list of the seasons offerings.

Start your morning pumpkin spiced

Decorative wagon with pumpkins and flowers in front of a "Middleton" sign, next to corn stalks and a hay bale.
Middleton Visitor Center

It’s that time of the year: pumpkin spice season. Kick-start your day in downtown Middleton with a pumpkin spice latte from Grace Coffee, and add some extra energy with their seasonal cinnamon apple overnight oats. Another option is to stop by Barriques for their spicy maple apple cooler paired with a fresh pumpkin scone.

While in town, venture over to the Middleton Visitor Center, located in the historic train depot, to learn about all the local charm. Most importantly, snap a photo in front of the beautifully decorated fall-themed train wagon!

A pumpkin patch with numerous orange pumpkins foreground and stacked on hay bales in the background.
Heise Pumpkin Patch, Middleton

Pumpkins, apples & more

There are numerous pumpkin farms and apple orchards within driving distance of Middleton (this is Wisconsin, after all!) but here are a few that are less than a 30 minute drive from downtown.

  • The Bruce Company: this award-winning outdoor garden center is a great place to pick up anything needed to perfect your lawn or decorate your front porch. They also have a large variety of pumpkins, gourds and mums this time of year. Located at 2830 Parmenter Street in Middleton from downtown
  • Kalscheuers Family Pumpkin Patch: less than 10 minutes from downtown
  • Enchanted Valley: Just 15 minutes from downtown, this hot spot for fall family fun and entertainment offers activities, a corn maze, and pumpkin picking.

Find their hours, location and offerings here.

Fall shopping

Sweater season is here! Check out stylish fall offerings at Greenway Station, a 46-acre lifestyle and shopping center located 7 minutes from Downtown Middleton. The open-air center is home to a variety of popular retailers. The shopping spree doesn’t have to end there. Head downtown to the historic district to discover a charming mix of local stores offering items you won’t find anywhere else. Plan out your pitstops with our Fall Shopping Guide.

Take in the fall colors

a man riding a bike down a dirt road
Pheasant Branch Conservancy

Fall is one of the most beautiful times to visit Middleton, as colors peak in mid to late October. With 30 miles of trails, 30 parks, and numerous outdoor spaces, there’s no shortage of places to watch the leaves change. Enjoy a panoramic view while teeing off at the award-winning Pleasant View Golf Course, zip through the vibrant colors at the Middleton Bike Park, or take a leisurely hike through the 682 acres of Pheasant Branch Conservancy. Check out our in-depth article for a variety of fall color hotspots, and keep an eye out for the fall color report here.

Mustard for every season

In Wisconsin, the smell of charcoal is in the air — peak bratwurst grilling season is here. No matter where you’re tailgating, it’s no time to let up on your grilling game. Stop at the National Mustard Museum to stock up on mustards that will be the perfect topping to your favorite brat. While there, you can learn about the fascinating history of this storied condiment and ponder why anyone would want to “hold the mustard.”

Wind down with a drink

Flight of four types of Capital Brewery beers with cheese pairings
Capital Brewery

End the perfect fall day with a locally made beverage. Toast the season at Capital Brewery, home to a special seasonal brew that’s available now. If you haven’t tried Capital Oktoberfest, you’re in for a treat— taste it and you’ll see why this beer has won a trophy case full of awards, including a coveted gold at the Beverage Testing Institute’s World Beer Championships. On nice days, you can enjoy this and other seasonal on tap in the brewery’s Bier Garten. The Bier Garten is open and dog-friendly during non-events.

While in town, check out Hidden Cave Cidery and its dog-friendly patio to enjoy a Wisconsin- brewed hard cider, or have a glass of wine at Grape Water Wine Bar or Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant.

Relaxing lodging

Middleton’s nine comfortable lodging properties offer all of today’s modern amenities and ideal locations within arm’s reach of Middleton’s trails, stores, attractions and restaurants. Spend your fall enjoying quality, affordability and superior service.

Modified October 18, 2024