The guys were talking about going to a pumpkin patch next Monday. Since I just researched this topic this past weekend, I'll post a summary to hopefully save you guys some time.
The real pumpkin patches all require some driving. By "real", I mean farms where they grow pumpkins.
- The big Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival is the clear leader. It was this past weekend. There are a bunch of farms down there, but the Arata Pumpkin Farm gets recommended the most. It has a hay maze, haunted barn, hay ride, playground, train ride, petting zoo, pony ride, and gladiator battle?!
- Petaluma also has the Tolay Fall Festival going until this weekend. There are also a bunch of farms up there, and Peterson's Farm gets recommended the most. No rides, but it has farm animals.
- Marin likes the Nicasio Valley Farms Pumpkin Patch (which apparently doesn't have a website). It has organic pumpkins, inflatables, hay rides, farm animals, and hay mazes.
- Down in Fremont, J. E. Perry Farms has a pumpkin patch inside the Ardenwood Historic Farm. Perry Farms has tractor rides, while Ardenwood has a horse-drawn train, farm animals, and various educational activities.
- Out east, there is the Clayton Valley Pumpkin Farm. It has play areas, a train, and farm animals.
- Out farther east, there are a couple farms in Livermore. G & M Farms seems to be recommended more. It has a cornfield maze, farm animals, a hay maze, pony rides, pedal carts, and a cow train.
Then there are all the instant pumpkin patches that pop up in empty lots. They usually have bounce houses and inflatable slides. There are tons, so I'm only going to list a few of the closer ones.
Disclaimer: I haven't been to any of these. Expect to shell out the cash. Check times carefully because not all activities are offered every day.
