Your ultimate fall family-fun trip starts and ends in Tosa! With plenty of fall-inspired eats and cozy hotel accommodations within Wauwatosa, it’s the perfect anchor for all of your fall activities. Start your day with local Tosa caffeine and treats, head right out of town to pick your own apples or pumpkins, drive back into Tosa for dinner, and cozy up in your hotel room (at a great price!) just minutes away. While ‘spooky season’ is officially heating up in Wauwatosa, we’ve rounded up your complete guide for family-fun filled with plenty of fall eats and Halloween-esque festivities to last you an entire weekend (or longer!). Take your family from morning to night with these local spots!
Coffee at Café Blue
Start your day with caffeine or a sweet treat (or both -- no judgment!) at Café Blue with their seasonal pumpkin latte and pumpkin-cran muffins. Trust us, you’ll need the fuel for the day ahead!
Brunch at Cranky Al’s
Stop by Cranky Al’s for an easy, tasty treat for the kids before you head out for a day of fall festivities! You’ll see smiles all around when you present them with this hidden gem’s candy-topped donuts from the Reese’s Pieces Donut to the Gummy Yummy Donut to the M&M Donut. Of course, Cranky Al’s also features their seasonal Pumpkin Cake Donut and Pumpkin Cruller, too!
Dinner at Il Mito Trattoria e Enoteca
In the spirit of a true fall-inspired weekend, Il Mito’s homemade, roasted pumpkin-filled ravioli is a must-eat during your stay in Tosa! Pasta stuffed with ricotta cheese, fall herbs and seasonings, and then tossed in a sage cream sauce and topped with toasted walnuts, Parmesan cheese, and fresh parsley—yum! Taste the flavors of the season all wrapped up in one creamy bite!
Dessert at Black Twig Bakery
Black Twig Bakery is known for its full menu of tasty treats, as well as its exclusive menu featuring flavors of the month. This month, the delicious dessert shop is featuring everything from pumpkin cheesecake cupcakes to candy corn macarons to apple pie sandwich cookies and more!
Apple Picking at Peck & Bushel Fruit Company
Peck & Bushel is a family-owned-and-operated certified organic apple orchard located about a 30-minute drive from Wauwatosa. They encourage you to tour the orchard and pick your own fruit most weekends from mid-August through early October. Don’t forget to try their fresh organic cider and homemade pies — made with their own apples, of course!
Autumn Harvest Fest at The Elegant Farmer
When we think of fall, we think of The Elegant Farmer. Situated less than 30 minutes away from Wauwatosa, the Farm Kitchen Bakery, Deli & Market offers pies, baked goods, and specialty foods that feature autumn-inspired flavors. Don’t miss the Autumn Harvest Fest on Saturdays and Sundays from September 9, 2023 to October 22, 2023 for apple picking, a pumpkin patch, a corn maze, hayrides, train rides, cider donuts, and more. Fun fact: The Apple Pie Baked in a Bag beat Food Network’s Bobby Flay!
Fall Activities for All Ages at Barthel Fruit Farm
Complete with a bakery, corn maze, and pick-your-own fruit farm, Barthel Fruit Farm is a one-stop shop for fall fun. For the ultimate fall getaway, take the 25-minute drive from Wauwatosa, spend the day checking off all of your favorite fall-inspired festivities, then return to our charming city to recharge.
Orchard Tour at Weston’s Antique Apple Orchard
For a unique addition to your fall-inspired festivities, check out Weston’s Antique Apple Orchard. A family-owned orchard located less than 20 minutes from Tosa, Weston’s is the oldest active orchard in Waukesha County and is on the National Register of Historic Landscapes. Take a tour of the orchard to see more than 100 varieties of over 600 trees.
Haunted House at Wisconsin Feargrounds
The Wisconsin Feargrounds has won so many awards, it’s pretty scary! Check it out on Friday and Saturday in October to see why it was ranked the #1 Must-See Haunted House in Wisconsin by the Scare Factor and the #1 Haunted House in America by Haunted Attraction Magazine and HauntedHouseRatings.com. Get ready to be seriously spooked. Learn more about where to stay, where to eat, and things to do while you’re here in Wauwatosa. *Operations at the above locations may vary. We recommend calling each location for the most up-to-date information about operations.