Travel #2 – Pumpkin Patch

How far do you travel for that good pumpkin patch experience?

Many pumpkin patches are travel experiences in and of themselves – complete with hot cider and sweet treats, corn mazes to explore, arts & crafts, pumpkin carving classes and other events that all fall into the reasons we love the season!  

Even in Southern California (80 degree weather this time of year) kids enjoy gathering autumn leaves, picking their own pumpkins, and enjoy those feel-good warm comfort foods.

With all our new annual excursions to these variety of patches, we created a Pumpkin Patch tradition!  To celebrate these wonderful venues, our family picks a new patch to visit annually.

Here are a few of our favorites…stop by if you are in town to enjoy!

Zoomars

We love “Pumpkin Palooza” at Zoomars, this is a hometown pumpkin patch located at Zoomars Petting Zoo in the old historic part of San Juan Capistrano California. There is a craft section, games, pumpkins, gourds, cornstalks, a Hay Maze, a train table and sand box – Kettle Corn and much more.  Then pop over to ZOOMARS where you can pet and feed over 100 animals!

“Mr. Bones”

The well known “Mr. Bones” Pumpkin Patch in West Hollywood is a fun LA experience- this is your celebrity sighting pumpkin patch.  Every year this family travels from Oregon to bring their spirit of the farm to the heart of Los Angeles.

Tanaka Farms

Want to enjoy a Wagon Ride around a 30 acre farm to pick your own pumpkin right off the vine?  Visit Tanaka Farms “U-Pick” Pumpkin Patch…you can also wander around their corn maze, pick your own vegetables, jump on the wagon, and visit the petting zoo (sheep, goats and alpacas).  They have great photo sites to take pictures by “Tanaka’s Pile of Pumpkins” and on the weekends they host a “Fall Harvest Festival” where they have food, games, ATV rides and more. 

Pumpkin City’s Annual Patch

Despite being in a parking lot asphalt location, it’s a fun atmosphere for families with carnival rides, game booths, and live music. There is a petting zoo throughout October. Bring your own snacks.

DISNEYLAND

A Disneyland Halloween is in a category all by itself…its the pumpkin patch of dreams, with so many harvest experiences to explore.

Whether you are an annual passholder or in town visiting, Halloween time at Disneyland is a real treat.  What was already a fun time to go is now even more busy, but tips for planning ahead will help you make the most of it.  Decorations are wonderfully put together for the ultimate harvest picture, so bring you camera and give yourself time to capture all the festive spirit.  

Characters are in costume, Haunted Mansion Holiday is based on Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas-  Disneyland’s best Halloween spot. You may want to ride it twice to take it all in and be sure to stop by after dark when candles flicker outside. Other parts of the park to enjoy are Space Mountains Ghost Galaxy, Halloween Scream Fireworks, Mickeys Trick or Treat Party and Disneys Happiest Haunts Tour.  

They also have fun lil project areas where you can stop and decorate a mini-bundt cake or cookie for a nominal fee….all while enjoying “Woody’s Round Up” show of course!