1. Hit up Umi Sushi and try their smoked margarita, ideally paired with $1.75 sashimi and nigiri on Thursdays or the out-of-this-world Dragon’s Roll.

2. Get a jumpstart on holiday shopping with the cutest finds at Indie Indie Bang Bang in Gary, IN, and Valparaiso, IN.

3. With a unique decor that celebrates the spirit and history of the American worker, watch trains chug by overhead, dig into juicy burgers, and enjoy Black Magic Sangria at Industrial Revolution in Valparaiso, Indiana.

4. Delight kids with a trip through the pumpkin glow trail at Harvest Tyme in Lowell, Indiana, open every weekend through October 29.

5. The perfect place for indoor fun when the weather turns cooler, Team Combat in Hobart is ideal for kids of all ages and adults too. (Note: The promotional text appears to be separate from this entry.)

6. Wander through downtown Valpo and enjoy various events throughout the season, like the Halloween howl fest and run (10/21), followed by the Winterfest and tree lighting featuring ice-skating and more in late November.

7. Take your Taco Tuesday celebration to Riviera Maya in Highland, Indiana, where imaginative cocktails meet classic Mexican fare. Sip $7 margaritas on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

8. Register for classes and events at the Outward Olive in Crown Point, Indiana. Learn how to make charcuterie or even stop by for light bites and wine flights, such as flatbread pizzas. (Note: The promotional text appears to be separate from this entry.)

9. Head to any of Northwest Indiana’s many apple orchards, including one of our faves, Garwood Orchard in LaPorte, Indiana.

10. Some of us are going short for fall. Others are going red — Cowboy Copper, anyone? Either way, check out the new fall look at Lumi in Schererville and Valpo, Indiana.

11. Simulation screens pair with loads of real-life gaming and classic favorites like ping-pong at Public Bar and Rec in Crown Point, Indiana.

12. Upscale Mexican food is always on the menu at the fairly new Mi Sueno, not too far from Lake Central High School in Schererville, Indiana. Head in on Tuesdays for half off tacos and enjoy half off margaritas on Wednesdays!

13. When the fall weather is too cold or too wet to head outdoors, check out Sky Zone in Schererville, Indiana. Every Friday is hoppy hour with $15 sixty-minute jumps from 3 PM to 5 PM.

14. Sip local wine while enjoying ambiance galore at Shady Creek Winery in Michigan City, Indiana. Enjoy live music on Sundays throughout October and November, or book a charcuterie or wreath-making class.

15. Enjoy a cool fall breeze with alfresco dining at one of the prettiest spots in Northwest Indiana, Lighthouse Restaurant on Cedar Lake.

16. Take in dinner and a show, like Aaron Lewis on October 27 and 28, at Hard Rock Casino NWI and try their scrumptious on-site steakhouse, Council Oak.

17. Don’t miss your chance to dig into all the yumminess of the new Parlor Doughnuts location in Munster, Indiana. (There’s one in Valpo, too!)

18. Shop small at the ultra-adorable Toluka Paperie in Munster, Indiana, which may focus on paper goods but has an abundance of unique gift items, perfect for the hard-to-shop-for.

19. Wing it at True BBQ in Griffith, Indiana, and pair it with a half-off whiskey pour on Wednesdays.

20. But first, brunch. Head to Avgo in St. John, Indiana, whose recently reimagined brunch room is the perfect Insta-worthy spot, no matter the season.