Looking for a midsummer’s day activity for the kids while savoring a little antioxidant delight? Given that the blueberry season is so short lived, get your fix in before it’s too late. From blueberry breakfast bites to tasty blueberry treats, here are four berry best, family-friendly blueberry must-haves and must-dos to indulge summertime’s most palatable fruit.
Wildberry Cafe
- Address: 130 E. Randolph St., Chicago; 196 E. Pearson St., Chicago; 1383 N. Meacham Road, Schaumburg; 1783 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville
Start your family’s summer day at Wildberry Cafe with a scrumptious blueberry danish. This specialty pancake has cream filling, blueberries, almond streusel, cream cheese frosting and blueberry anglaise that will be sure to energize the whole family. Sit outdoors at Prudential Plaza overlooking the skyline, or visit other locations including Water Tower, Libertyville and Schaumburg. Arrive early with bellies ready as reservations are not accepted at some locations and on certain days.
Do-Rite Donuts
- Where: Seven locations in Chicagoland
Do-Rite Donuts do blueberries right with its famous blueberry crumb cake doughnut. Dubbed as a game changer, this breakfast — or dessert, depending on what time of day it is — will surely satisfy your blueberry cravings. Chef-Partner and recipe creator, Francis Brennan, mixed the perfect ingredients together: blueberry jam-filled cake doughnut, tossed in blueberry crumb streusel. And Do-Rite Donuts has several locations with outdoor seating throughout the Chicagoland area, including Tinley Park, where there is a convenient drive thru.
Molly’s Cupcakes
- Where: Five locations in Chicagoland
Celebrating a summer birthday? Just celebrating life? Molly’s Cupcakes has the perfect summer treat: a blueberry cheesecake cake. Yes, you read that right. This delectable vanilla cake with cheesecake baked in is topped with cinnamon graham cracker pieces, a pastry cream and glazed blueberries. It’s also available in cupcake form. Feeling a pie instead? Molly’s Cupcakes has a blueberry-apple pie to try. And Molly’s Cupcakes has several locations within the Chicagoland area, including the family-friendly West Loop and Naperville.
Tammen Treeberry Farm
- Address: 37131 Essex Road, Wilmington
A berry fantastic way to prevent the summertime blues is getting your blueberry fill on at Tammen Treeberry Farm, a family-owned and operated farm in Wilmington, about two hours from the city. From July to mid-August, the farm provides lined buckets for you and the kids to handpick. The best part? There’s no cover charge, the parking is free and you only pay for the weight of blueberries picked. The farm provides a picnic area and a little play zone for the kids, too.
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