🔑 Quick Answer: The best family trips in California combine iconic attractions with hands-on agricultural experiences. From picking seasonal fruit and meeting farm animals to exploring working farms and farmers markets, these nine regions offer a delicious way to discover what makes California unique.
Family trips in California often start with a wish list our clients’ kids put together: national parks, famous landmarks, and, of course, one or two amusement parks. All worthy stops. But the California experiences that tend to surprise families most? They’re often on a farm.
Think picking strawberries still warm from the sun, meeting the farmer behind your favorite cheese, or tasting a date shake where the dates actually grow. These aren’t just fun detours. They’re a way for kids (and adults!) to understand what makes California different.
California leads the country in agriculture, so if you cook it, we likely grow it. That means visiting California without experiencing its agriculture is a bit like going to Rome and skipping the Colosseum.
Why Trust Us on Family Trips in California
I’m a born-and-raised Californian with 13 nieces and nephews, ages one to 18. Yes, you read that right—we’re a big family. That’s a lot of littles to entertain, and farm outings, farmers’ markets, and hands-on food experiences are a big part of it.
I grew up visiting u-pick farms across Southern California and still go with family. I’m also a cookbook author and recipe developer who writes for California Grown about California farms. That means over the years, I’ve interviewed farmers across the state and learned about the people and crops behind many of the experiences featured here.
Our Salt & Wind Travel advisors specialize in family trips in California. We know how to plan around the realities of traveling here, including distances, traffic, and balancing major attractions with local experiences.
Our approach is to pair the California attractions families come for with the local experiences they might otherwise miss. That might mean picking strawberries on the way to the beach, visiting a cheesemaker between sightseeing stops, or spending a morning on a working farm before heading into Yosemite. The goal isn’t to pack more into a vacation. It’s to give families a better sense of the places they’re visiting.
Why Agritourism Belongs on Family Trips in California
Agritourism means visiting a working farm to do anything from picking fruit and touring the fields to feeding the animals and buying straight from the farmer.
With more than 400 agricultural commodities and a wide range of growing regions, California is an exceptional place for families to learn about farming. The state produces nearly half of all U.S.-grown fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Explore our guide to what is grown in California to learn more.
More than 90% of California farms are family-owned, according to a December 2025 analysis of USDA census data. A farm visit lets families meet the people behind the crops and learn how they grow their food.
I attended the 2026 California Agritourism Summit in Paso Robles, organized by UC Agriculture and Natural Resources and co-hosted by California Grown, which also sponsored this article. A recurring topic was how few people know about the farm visits open to them, and how much those visits help small family farms stay in business. They also make for some of the most memorable stops on a family trip, which is why we’ve gathered our favorites here.
Find the Right Farm Stop for Your Kid
Every kid connects with farms differently, so start with what yours already loves. The table below matches seven kid types to the ages and stops that suit them, and each stop below notes which kids it suits best.
If you’re traveling with a wide age range, the various farmers markets, Avila Valley Barn, Oxbow Public Market, The Barlow, Shields Date Garden, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium work for everyone from toddlers to teens.
For little kids, roughly toddlers to eight, Underwood Family Farms, Tanaka Farms, Prancer’s Farm, Hillcrest, Dutch Hollow’s Baby Animal Days, and Soil Born’s Lil’ Sprouts classes are hits. For tweens and teens, Apricot Lane Farms, Chino Farm, the Lotus Pond night market, Point Reyes cheese tasting, kayaking, and climbing lessons hold their interest best.
| Kid Type | Best Ages | Top Stops in This Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Little explorers | Toddlers to six | Underwood Family Farms, Tanaka Farms, Prancer's Farm, Avila Valley Barn, Hillcrest, Soil Born Farms |
| Animal lovers | All ages | Underwood's animal center, Sweet Thistle Farms, Avila Valley Barn, the elephant seals, the Monterey Bay Aquarium |
| Budding gardeners | Four to teens | The Ecology Center, The Flower Fields, Moorten Botanical Garden, The Farm in Salinas, Dutch Hollow Farms |
| Science lovers | Six to teens | Mission Beekeeping, Apricot Lane Farms, The Farm in Salinas, the California Science Center, Joshua Tree stargazing |
| History buffs | Eight to 12 | California Citrus State Historic Park, Mission San Juan Capistrano, Old Sacramento, Hearst Castle |
| Adventurous eaters | Tweens and teens | Chino Farm, Roan Mills, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese, the Lotus Pond night market, the Hangtown Fry |
| Outdoor adventurers | Eight to teens | La Jolla kayaking, Joshua Tree, Yosemite climbing lessons, the Lake Tahoe trails |
Family Trips in California: Farm Stops by Region
These nine regions run from south to north, and each opens with the big attraction your kids are likely asking for (ahem, Disneyland or Yosemite). Treat each trip idea like a menu, not a single day, and if you want expert help planning your trip, reach out to our team.
Ride Through Fields of Ranunculus in San Diego County
Best for: Spring break, kids ages 4–12, first-time California visitors
Most families visit San Diego County for Legoland, the San Diego Zoo, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Balboa Park, and the USS Midway Museum, plus a beach day in Coronado or La Jolla. San Diego may not look like farm country at first glance, but tucked in its hills are strawberry fields, flower farms, and avocado groves.
Between amusement park days, kids can ride a tractor through blooming ranunculus, pick their own strawberries, and paddle to the sea caves on a La Jolla kayak tour. Go over spring break, when the flowers and strawberries peak, or in summer, when the coast stays cool.
- Farm stop: The ranunculus at The Flower Fields in Carlsbad bloom only from about March to May and sell tickets online only, so book ahead. The crowds are worth it for the tractor ride through ranunculus hillsides, and we like it for budding gardeners of all ages. Fourth-generation farmer Lizbeth Ecke told California Grown it’s “like going to a big garden center, except it’s really a working farm.”
- U-pick: Carlsbad Strawberry Company is arguably the county’s most convenient u-pick, set right off Interstate 5. It has strawberries in spring and a pumpkin patch and corn maze in fall, and it’s ideal for little explorers from toddlers to 10. “We never sell a day-old strawberry,” third-generation farmer Jimmy Ukegawa told California Grown.
- Farm stand: Chino Farm in Rancho Santa Fe grows unusual produce that California chefs covet. It’s a bit off the beaten path, but a great stop for adventurous tweens, teens, or budding cooks.
- Taste the region: Don’t miss apple pie in Julian.
- Get active: Of all the ways to get active in San Diego, our families love kayaking in La Jolla most. Kids five and up paddle in a tandem kayak with an adult, and it’s just as great for ocean adventurers from tweens to teens.
- Main attractions: We give parks like Legoland California, the San Diego Zoo, and San Diego Zoo Safari Park a full day each. Then split a few more days between La Jolla, Balboa Park, Coronado, and the USS Midway Museum.
Tour a Teaching Farm and Eat Boysenberry Pie in Orange County
Best for: Families with younger kids, hands-on farm experiences and seasonal harvests; visit spring through fall
Most families come to Orange County for Disneyland, and it’s worth a full day (if not up to three days!) any time of year. Before there were theme parks, the county was covered in orange groves, and Knott’s Berry Farm made boysenberries famous, starting at a roadside stand in Buena Park.
Between time at the local beaches and Disney, kids can take a tractor tour, pick strawberries, plant microgreens at a learning farm, and then visit a California mission right next door. Spring break is strawberry season, fall break brings pumpkin patches, and winter break brings a festival of lights. I’ve taken my own nieces and nephews around Orange County and visited Tanaka Farms multiple times.
- U-pick: Tanaka Farms in Irvine is a favorite among Southern Californians. It runs guided tractor tours with u-pick through the fields, plus a fall pumpkin patch and a holiday festival of lights, making it ideal for little explorers ages three to 10. “The joy is seeing the kids eat the strawberries,” farmer Kenny Tanaka told California Grown.
- A taste of the region: Try boysenberry pie at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, which grew from the Knott family’s 1920s roadside berry stand.
- Farm stop: The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano is one of the state’s best one-stop shops. This south county gem has a cafe, an education center, a community farm, and a farm stand. Its Microgreens series offers parent-and-child classes for little ones and a great option for budding gardeners of all ages.
- History stop: Mission San Juan Capistrano is steps from the Ecology Center, so you get California history and a lesson in where food comes from in one stop.
- Main attractions: We treat Disneyland as a full anchor day, though some families spend up to three days there.
Sip Date Shakes and Walk Citrus Groves in the Inland Empire and Palm Springs
Best for: Families with school-age kids, date farms and desert agriculture; visit fall through spring
Families head to Palm Springs to ride the Aerial Tramway up the mountain, then head to Joshua Tree National Park for desert hikes and stargazing. On the drive from Los Angeles, you’ll pass through Riverside, where California’s citrus industry took root, before heading into the Coachella Valley, which grows most of the country’s dates.
Kids can walk the trails of a historic citrus grove, try a date shake, or wander past thousands of cacti at a family-run garden. Plan it for winter break or spring break, since the desert is too hot for farm stops in summer and spring brings wildflowers to Joshua Tree. I’ve visited every stop in this section myself.
- Farm stop: California Citrus State Historic Park in Riverside is a working citrus grove and museum with flat, easy trails. During the spring bloom, the whole park smells like citrus perfume, and it’s a great place for a picnic.
- A taste of the region: Shields Date Garden in Indio is a Palm Springs favorite of our team. Its date shake is a must for kids with a sweet tooth.
- Garden stop: Moorten Botanical Garden in Palm Springs is a family-run garden with more than 3,000 kinds of cacti and succulents. Owner Clark Moorten, who grew up there, told me his favorite plant “changes about every ten feet.”
- Main attractions: Joshua Tree National Park makes an easy day trip from Palm Springs or Twentynine Palms, and pack layers for the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, since it’s much colder at the top.
Open a Beehive and Taste Pixie Tangerines in Los Angeles and Ventura County
Best for: Families with kids of all ages, berry picking, farm stands, and urban agriculture; visit from spring through fall.
Universal Studios Hollywood, the WB lot, the California Science Center, the Santa Monica Pier, and a boat ride to Channel Islands National Park are major draws for families visiting Los Angeles and Ventura County.
But beneath the Tinseltown glitz and sunny beaches lies a long agricultural history. Los Angeles County is the birthplace of the Hass avocado, and Ventura County next door is filled with strawberry fields, lemon orchards, and flower farms. Kids can pick berries, feed goats, or open a live beehive. Spring break is the sweet spot, with strawberries and Ojai Pixie tangerines in season, and fall break brings the pumpkin patches.
- Farm stop: Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark is where I take my nieces and nephews, because it has everything a kid could want. Kids can pick strawberries and blackberries, feed goats and alpacas, and enjoy seasonal events and festivals, making it ideal for animal lovers and little kids, toddlers through about eight.
- Farm tour: Apricot Lane Farms, the star of The Biggest Little Farm, shows kids animals, orchards, and crops working together. Tickets are released only a few times a year, so we plan ahead for clients and make a day of it, because the drive to Moorpark is a pretty slice of small-town Southern California.
- Santa Clara River Valley: Highway 126 gets proper California traffic, but Prancer’s Farm in Santa Paula rewards the drive with a petting zoo, hayrides, and seasonal u-pick. It’s a bit folksy, but that is exactly why kids under eight love it.
- Ojai: A day trip to Ojai is an easy adventure from Los Angeles or even Ventura. The famous Ojai Pixie tangerines peak from March to May, and Mission Beekeeping opens hives for a honey tasting on its beehive tour.
- Markets: You can find a farmers market in Los Angeles or Ventura County every day. Our favorites are the Downtown Ventura Farmers’ Market on Saturdays, the Santa Monica Farmers Market on Wednesdays, and The Original Farmers Market, open since 1934.
- Main attractions: At Universal Studios Hollywood, book the VIP Experience for ages five and up if your kid has one must-see. The California Science Center is free, and for a boat day to Channel Islands National Park, reach out, and we’ll fit it around your farm days.
Stop for Farm-Stand Strawberries in Santa Barbara and the Central Coast
Best for: Multigenerational families, farm animals, and berry picking; visit spring through fall
Hearst Castle and the elephant seals at Piedras Blancas anchor this stretch of California’s Central Coast. To the south, Santa Barbara draws families with its mission history and bikeable waterfront.
The Central Coast’s “refrigerated sunshine,” warm days cooled by ocean fog, makes it ideal for wine grapes, walnuts, almonds, blueberries, and lavender.
Kids can pick strawberries at a family farm stand, ride a hayride, harvest flowers, or take a surf lesson or ocean kayak tour. Summer break is prime time, since the farm stands run through Labor Day. My family has explored Santa Barbara together, and we’ve sent various travel clients to these stops on their California Highway 1 road trip.
- Farm stand: Okui’s Strawberry n Fruit Stand in Grover Beach sells strawberries from the field right behind it, from late March to Labor Day. If you’re driving by in season, stop for a basket, and let the kids eat the first few in the car.
- Farm stop: Avila Valley Barn near San Luis Obispo is a family favorite for its petting zoo, hayrides, u-pick flowers, and ice cream. I’ve been multiple times, and our planners include it in itineraries for many families because it works for every age, from toddlers to teens.
- More farms: Jack Creek Farms in Templeton has antique farm equipment, apple cider slushes, and seasonal u-pick, and I’ve sent families there with curious kids ages four to 12.
- Market: The Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market fills Higuera Street every Thursday evening with produce, barbecue, and street performers, and kids can graze on Santa Maria-style tri-tip and whatever fruit is at its peak.
- Garden stop: Ganna Walska Lotusland in Santa Barbara welcomes all ages, with youth pricing for kids three to 12. Reservations often sell out months in advance, so book early, especially if you have a tween or teen with a green thumb.
- Main attractions: The elephant seals at Piedras Blancas are there year-round, so we pair them with Hearst Castle and lunch in Cambria. For an evening of art, we send families to Sensorio in Paso Robles.
Taste Fresh-Grown Mushrooms in the Salad Bowl of Monterey and the Salinas Valley
Best for: Elementary-age kids, berry farms and coastal agriculture; visit spring through summer
The Monterey Bay Aquarium draws most kids, and the bay lives up to the hype. Offshore, an underwater canyon rivals the Grand Canyon, and Big Sur’s redwoods rise just to the south.
In between, the Salinas Valley grows so much lettuce that locals call it the Salad Bowl, and the bay supplies some of the state’s best seafood. Kids can pick flowers and learn about pollinators, harvest their own produce, and paddle near Lovers Point. Summer break is best, when the u-pick fields are open, the coast stays cool, and whale watching peaks. I’ve visited every farm in this section, and I always stop for the flower stands and the lettuce.
- Farm stop: The Farm in Salinas has a u-pick flower field, a petting zoo, and guided tours about pollinators and soil, so it suits budding gardeners and science lovers alike.
- U-pick: Live Earth Farm near Watsonville opens its fields on weekends from May through November, an easy first u-pick for kids ages four to 12.
- Mushroom farm: Far West Fungi has grown organic specialty mushrooms on a bluff above the Pajaro River in Moss Landing for more than 40 years. The farm opens to visitors only on occasional tour days, so most families taste its harvest at the Far West Fungi shop in Santa Cruz. It’s a fun stop for science lovers and adventurous eaters alike.
- Carmel Valley stop: Hacienda Hay & Feed is a revived ranch feed store with a market and hands-on workshops, and it’s great for curious kids of all ages. It’s also between Carmel-by-the-Sea village and the area’s wineries, so it’s a nice stop on an exploration day.
- Market: The Old Monterey Farmers Market takes over Alvarado Street every Tuesday afternoon, year-round, and I count it among the best markets in the state.
- Get active: Kayak or paddleboard near Lovers Point, or go whale watching in the summer. Reach out, and we’ll book a family-friendly outing on the water.
- Main attractions: We booked the Monterey Bay Aquarium for family clients in 2024 and 2025, and our tip is to reserve timed entry well ahead.
Meet Goats and Pick Pumpkins From Fresno to Yosemite
Best for: Outdoorsy families, stone fruit orchards, farm stands, and agricultural experiences en route to Yosemite; visit late spring through early fall.
Yosemite is the Sierra’s big draw, with waterfalls at full flow in late spring and quieter trails in fall. To get there, you’ll drive through the Central Valley, one of the world’s most productive farming regions. Something is growing there all year, from table grapes and sweet potatoes to pumpkins and olive oil.
Kids can meet goats and pick pumpkins, ride a steam train, or take a horseback ride near the park’s south entrance. Fall break is our favorite, with pumpkin season in the valley, though spring break works too, when the valley’s flower farms open. I took a research trip through these farms for our Fresno food guide, and I live on the other side of the Sierra and visit Yosemite 15 to 20 times a year.
- Fall farm stop: Sweet Thistle Farms in Clovis shares its land with Rocky Oaks Goat Creamery, so animal lovers can enjoy goats and farmstead cheese alongside flowers and pumpkins. We send family clients here for pumpkin picking on October weekends. “Goat cheese and flowers really go together,” owner Sarah Shoffner told California Grown.
- Spring farm stop: Dutch Hollow Farms in Modesto sits on the northern route into Yosemite. It opens for u-pick tulips from late January to March and Baby Animal Days from mid-March to mid-April, so it suits young gardeners and animal lovers alike.
- More farms: Little explorers love Hillcrest in Reedley, which runs a fall pumpkin patch with rides on its own steam train. Budding gardeners can visit the Sunflower Farm Stand in Sanger, open February to October, for u-pick sunflowers and zinnias, goats, and an October pumpkin patch.
- Night market: The Lotus Pond in Sanger is a lotus garden that hosts Friday and Saturday night markets with Southeast Asian food, and it’s a hit with tweens and teens.
- Get active: Older kids love a rock-climbing lesson or a guided trail ride near the park’s south entrance, and we can set up either one for your family.
- Main attractions: For younger siblings in Yosemite National Park, we’ve booked the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad near the park’s south entrance, an easy hit with kids.
Pick Apples From Sacramento to Gold Country and Lake Tahoe
Best for: Outdoor-loving families, apple picking and harvest festivals; visit late summer through fall
Lake Tahoe draws families for its summer beaches and fall trails, and most of our clients drive from Sacramento, running straight through Gold Rush country. Sacramento is nicknamed America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital, and the region’s modern gold rush is its produce, from prunes and wine grapes to flowers and Apple Hill’s orchards.
Kids can pick apples and eat caramel apples, take a garden class, and walk through Old Sacramento’s Gold Rush history. Fall break is best for the apple harvest and quieter Tahoe trails, spring break for baby animals, and summer break for the lake. My family has explored Lake Tahoe together, and fall is our favorite season there.
- Farm stop: Soil Born Farms runs the American River Ranch in Rancho Cordova, where its Lil’ Sprouts garden classes welcome budding gardeners ages three to five with a parent.
- U-pick: The Apple Hill growers outside Placerville open orchards, pie shops, and cider stands each fall. Our clients’ favorite is 24 Carrot Farm, a certified organic farm, and we adore the caramel apples at Apple Ridge Farms, a must for any kid with a sweet tooth.
- A taste of the region: The Hangtown Fry in Placerville is a Gold Rush omelet of eggs, bacon, and fried oysters, best for adventurous tweens and teens.
- Market and history day: On Wednesdays from late April through October, start at the Capitol Mall Farmers Market, which sets up between 5th and 6th Streets from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Let the kids pick a fruit they’ve never tried, then walk east to the California State Capitol for a free guided tour. Tours run weekdays on the hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and you sign up at the rotunda information desk.
From there, head west along Capitol Mall to Old Sacramento and the Sacramento History Museum, where most Californians first come on a fourth-grade field trip. The whole loop is about a mile on foot, and it shows kids how the Gold Rush and the region’s farms built the state capital. - Main attractions: At Lake Tahoe, start early as the roads get busy and parking fills up fast in the high season. Whether you boat on the lake or hike at Emerald Bay, leave time for a local farmers’ market on the way home.
Taste Farmstead Cheese and Sourdough From San Francisco to Sonoma and Napa
Best for: Food-loving families, farm tours and orchard harvests; visit summer through fall
Families come for the Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard Street’s hairpin turns, and the view back to the city from Marin. The Bay Area is famous for Napa and Sonoma wine, but it’s also home to great seafood, farmstead cheeses, apples, pears, and the city’s signature sourdough.
Kids can taste cheese at a fourth-generation dairy in Point Reyes, pick apples in Petaluma, and bike across the bridge. Fall break is apple season, and spring break brings Marin’s green hills and wildflowers.
- Food hall: Oxbow Public Market sits on the Napa River in downtown Napa, with more than 20 local vendors under one roof. Everyone can pick their own lunch, making it an easy, family-friendly way to taste Napa Valley without a winery stop.
- Makers market: The Barlow in Sebastopol fills a former apple cannery with food makers, cideries, and artisans who work in full view of shoppers. Kids can watch things being made in a town that was once famous for its Gravenstein apples.
- Farm stop: The fourth generation of the Giacomini family runs Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese, and we’ve had numerous clients do their tastings. The self-guided cheese board on the patio, overlooking the farm, is a great pick for tweens and teens who like to try new foods.
- U-pick: Chileno Valley Ranch in Petaluma grows more than a dozen apple varieties, and fall picking is by reservation, an easy outing for kids of any age.
- Market: Our team considers the Ferry Building Marketplace in San Francisco an easy family food stop, with bay views and enough variety for picky and adventurous eaters alike.
- A taste of the region: San Francisco sourdough, made with wild yeast, is kitchen science that young chefs can taste.
- Main attractions: If your kids are 8 and up, bike across the Golden Gate Bridge; if not, walk part of it or drive to the Marin side for a view back at the city. Then eat at Cavallo Point for a sit-down view.
Things to Consider When Visiting California Farms With Kids
Visiting California farms with kids is easy once you plan a few details. These are the things we tell every family before they go.
Best Time of Year for Farm Visits
California’s harvest calendar decides which farm fits your dates. The table below shows when each crop is ready and where to find it in this guide. Spring break aligns with strawberry, tulip, ranunculus, and citrus season, making it the easiest time to add a farm day to a family trip.
| Crop | Season | Where to Find It in This Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Tulips | Late January to March | Dutch Hollow Farms in Modesto |
| Strawberries | Spring to early summer | Carlsbad Strawberry Company, Underwood Family Farms, Okui's |
| Flowers | Spring to fall | The Flower Fields, The Farm in Salinas, Sunflower Farm Stand |
| Apples | August to November | Julian, Apple Hill, Chileno Valley Ranch |
| Pumpkins | October | Underwood, Tanaka, Sweet Thistle, Hillcrest, Carlsbad Strawberry Company |
| Citrus | Winter to spring | California Citrus State Historic Park, Ojai Pixie tangerines |
Book Ahead and Call First
Farm tours, u-pick days, and seasonal events often sell out, and hours change week to week as the harvest progresses. A field that was open on Saturday can be picked clean by Sunday, so call before you drive. California Grown’s what’s in season guide is a handy cheat sheet.
If you’re used to the u-pick back home, expect the same basics with a few California twists. Some farms charge by the pound, some by the basket, and some add an entry or parking fee on weekends, so check before you go. Ask whether strollers work in the rows, and eat the most fragile fruit on the road, since ripe strawberries rarely survive a long drive home.
Pack and Time It Right
Inland valleys from Simi to Napa to the Central Valley get hot by midday, so pick early. Coastal farms in Ventura and Santa Barbara can stay cool under the marine layer all morning. Bring layers, closed-toe shoes, some cash for small farm stands, and a cooler for what the kids pick. Two regions and a few farm stops per trip give kids time to actually enjoy each one.
How We Plan Farm Days for Families
The best farm experiences, like private tours, harvest days, or lunch with the farmer, often aren’t bookable online. California farms are small family businesses, so the special access comes from relationships, not booking sites.
Unlike theme parks and museums, farms run on nature’s schedule, so always confirm what’s in season, whether reservations are required, and which experiences are available during your visit.
We’ve spent years building relationships with growers across the state, and we use them to plan California family trips with farm days built around your kids’ ages and travel dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best family vacation in California pairs a big attraction with a hands-on farm day. San Diego with Legoland and Orange County with Disneyland are the easiest first trips for young kids, while Yosemite and the Bay Area suit tweens and teens.
You can add agritourism to a Disneyland or Legoland trip with a nearby half-day farm stop. Tanaka Farms and the Ecology Center are close to Disneyland, and Carlsbad Strawberry Company and The Flower Fields are minutes from Legoland.
U-pick season in California runs nearly year-round. Tulips bloom in late winter, strawberries start in spring, and apples and pumpkins arrive from August through October.
California farm tours are good for toddlers when the farm has animals and short walks. Our favorite picks for little ones are Underwood Family Farms, Avila Valley Barn, Tanaka Farms, and Soil Born Farms' Lil' Sprouts classes.
Kids can taste fresh dates in the Coachella Valley, Pixie tangerines in Ojai, boysenberry pie where the berry got famous, and lettuce straight from the Salad Bowl in the Salinas Valley. Most of these are hard to find fresh anywhere else.
California grows more than 400 crops, and our guide explains where each one comes from. For more, see our guides to farm tours in California, farms in California, and California farmers markets.
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Photos courtesy of California Grown, by Hilary Rance, James Collier of Paprika Studios, and Salt & Wind Travel
