• Where: Columbiana, Ohio.

• How far: About an hour west of Pittsburgh, just over the state line.

• What to do: Enjoy a day in the country. Start the morning off with picking vegetables or fruit at Catalpa Grove Farm (41473 State Route 14; 1-330-482-4064). It's more fun than you might think and a lot cheaper than the grocery store. Tomatoes (no blight!) cost $10/bushel, raspberries are $4.25/quart and bell peppers run $14/peck. It's open from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sunday.

Work done, head down the road to the annual Columbiana Maze Craze (corner of state routes 7 and 14; 1-330-727-0172), where 12 acres of corn have been transformed into 5 miles of trails. 2009's design includes three mazes that take anywhere from 11/2 to 3 hours to complete; you can also pick up a Halloween pumpkin. The Maze Craze is open Friday 5 to 10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Nov. 1. Admission is $8/adults and $6/seniors and children 5 to 11. Ages 4 and under and military personnel are free. Info: www.columbianamazecraze.com.

Another big town event is the annual Columbiana Street Fair on Main Street. Enjoy amusement rides, bingo, a wide selection of concessions, local crafters and live music. The fair runs from 5 to 11 p.m. today and noon to midnight tomorrow.

• Fun factor: 8, because there's nothing sweeter than the smell of fall.