Well if it comes beer, Düsseldorf offers a brewery tour. Details could be found here: https://www.guiders.de/tour/656-brau...orfer-altstadt or here https://www.duesseldorfer-kompass.de...redirect=en_US A similar tour is offered in Cologne as well. And yes, Zeche Zollverein in Essen or Landschaftspark Nord in Duisburg are well worth a visit if you are into the history of this former heart of the German montan industry. A car would be useful, but not necessary.

Not sure, what is available to the public in October give the state of play in regard to this crazy little thing called coronavirus.