Pumpkin Patches

I’m no expert on pumpkin patches but I have been to a few in the last few weeks so here’s my summary & I will add one or two more at the end of the week...

🎃Pastorino Farms: 12391 San Mateo Rd. Hwy 1 in Half Moon Bay. Open 9:30-5:30 until Oct. 31st. ✨Highlights: this farm has everything on your pumpkin patch check list! They feature: train rides, giant inflatable slides & obstacle course, hay rides, pony rides, petting zoo, & lots of photo opts. It’s in HMB so beach afterwards! ✨Things to consider- nothing, go to this one- it’s the best lol!

How I really feel about this first one:

Stop what you are doing! No need to look any further, I have found the BEST pumpkin patch in the Bay Area for you! They say three times the charm and as far as pumpkin patches go, that was right. We found the best one on the third try. The first patch we went to was Arata's Farm in Half Moon Bay, I felt it was a little bit overpriced and the animal pens were not as clean as they could have been, the train ride was super short for what we paid for it, it definitely could stand to get some updates. The next patch we went to was Spina Farms in San Jose. This one was better. Brighter, more welcoming, very clean, the rides were new looking, beautiful sunflower field, a live DJ, and lots of snacks including icees which was great because it was a very hot day. The only downside was no petting zoo which is my family's favorite part. Like Goldilocks the first one was too cold, the second too hot, and the third one was just right! For our third patch we went to Pastorino Farms in Half Moon Bay. It is located on that winding road into Half Moon Bay at 12391 San Mateo Road (also known as hwy 92). The farm is super cute, clean, inviting, and the staff is very friendly. Pastorino features an inflatable playground with a huge slide and obstacle course, hay rides, train rides, pony rides, lots of photo opportunities, plus a petting zoo with the cutest piglets ever! The animals looked well taken care of and most were happy to get petted including their chickens and alpaca. The train ride goes through their greenhouses where they have set up a haunted house in one of them. We went with my daycare on a field trip there and they only charged $12 a child for all of the above plus gave decent sized pumpkins for each kid to take home. We had such a great time, all of my children went home raving about it to their parents. As for my family we will definitely be back before the season is over!!!!

🎃Arata’s Farms: 185 Verde Rd. in Half Moon Bay. Open daily: Mon- Fri 9am-6pm, Sat & Sun 9-7pm. ✨Highlights: They have a cute petting zoo, large variety of pumpkins & sizes, & pony rides. Other activities include: hay rides, hay maze, & a train. It’s in Half Moon Bay so beach afterwards is a good way to finish the day. ✨Things to consider: its a little pricier than the others, Farm could use some updates, animal pen could be a little cleaner, train ride is too short for the $.

🎃Spina Farms: St. Theresa Blvd. at Bailey Ave. in San Jose. Open every day with varying hours throughout the month, check their website for complete list. ✨Highlights: Super clean!!!! Lots of room to spread out, really nice rides that look newish, snack bars with good variety of options, live DJ, & lots of cute photo opts. My favorite part was the hay ride that drove through the sunflower field- so pretty! ✨Things to consider: parking is $10 on weekends only. There is no petting zoo at this one.

🎃Swank Farms: 4751 Pacheco Pass Hwy in Hollister. Open: Thursday-Sunday 10am-sunset. ✨Highlights: BEAUTIFUL SUNFLOWER PATCH! Feeding goats was fun- they leave so much food out for you to feed them including over ripe veggies from the farm. My kids had a ball doing that! Other activities include: corn maze & photo opts. ✨Things to consider: all the kids activities are closed due to covid except the ones above. It’s a loooong ride if you’re coming from the East Bay. If you’re not going specifically for the flowers I’d say don’t go. But if you are it’s worth it!