The term "sugar rush" originally referred to the era when gritty prospectors went panning in rivers for Hershey's Kisses and digging in ditches for burlap bags full of cupcakes. Acquire candy the easy way with today's Groupon: for $7, you get $15 worth of candy at Candy Bear Lane in Downers Grove.

Candy Bear Lane's 120-year-old building houses hundreds of varieties of sweet-teeth-cosseting confections. Specialty 8” Candy Bears— plush teddy sentinels stuffed with 30 pieces of saccharine goodness such as Tootsie Rolls, Jolly Ranchers, and crystallized pieces of Shirley Temple's laughter ($12.95)— guard sweet treasures and come with a bag of stuffing that can be used to repack droopy ursine companions after their sugary fillings have been devoured. Line a shelf with bags, boxes, or bars of candy ($1.00—$1.50 each), slow down chewing speed with saltwater taffy ($0.10 each), or acquire a Technicolor tongue with 21 colors of M&Ms ($9.99/lb.), which pour out of a towering multitube dispenser.

The charming shop's abundant track lighting bounces off wood floors and hurls photons at barrels overflowing with nectarous delights and every possible color of candy. The friendly staff points patrons in the direction of favorite flavors, and a traffic light in the front window signals to nearby cars when it's appropriate to drive through the front door.