Treasure the delights of autumn in the Midwest [PHOTO ESSAY]

I’m a born and bred Midwesterner and though I no longer live in the Heartland, it will always hold very special memories for me. Particularly, in the fall, which is when I typically choose to make a return visit.

I know New Englanders might feel they have a corner on this season, but in my opinion the Midwest offers an autumnal display that is equally as swoon-worthy.

This region of the country comes alive with color each October when Mother Nature struts her stuff. The bold hues of the foliage create dramatic tapestries within small towns and rural areas. Add in all the delightful tastes and smells of harvest time and it’s a veritable feast for the senses.

Locals and visitors celebrate the season at orchards and farms, where they can pick apples and pumpkins, enjoy a scenic hayride, see a cider mill in action and “take a walk in the stalks” through a corn maze. And of course, munch on classic favorites, like apple cider doughnuts, caramel apples, pumpkin bread and other delectable baked goods. If you go, make sure to take home a jar of apple or pumpkin butter for later to savor the tastes of fall.