Fall is in full swing and it's time to get ready for some fun with your trick-or-treaters. There are plenty of Halloween activities to enjoy the holiday to the fullest. Plan your family vacation around some of the not-to-miss locations and you're sure to get a Jack-O-Lantern smile from your little pumpkin.
Pumpkin Patches
These days there are pumpkin patches popping up in nearly every strip mall around. Rather than go for the pop-up pumpkin patch, take the time to treat your kids to a farm where your kids can actually see where the pumpkins are grown and pick them straight off the vine. Here are some worth checking out:
- Tanaka Farms, Irvine, CA: This farm, located in the heart of Orange County, offers a "U-Pick" pumpkin patch. Admission and parking are free. Kids can enjoy a wagon ride, petting zoo, corn maze, games, arts and crafts, and pick their own pumpkins. This family-owned 30-acre farm is a welcome retreat in the urban sprawl of Southern California.
- Lemos Farm, Half Moon Bay, CA: Celebrate Halloween on the Farm and visit the Scare Zone. Kids can go on a hayride, train ride, pony ride, visit the petting zoo, haunted house, or play town. Located in scenic Northern California, this farm has been the property of the Lemos family since 1942.
Corn Mazes
Spend an afternoon getting lost in the corn with kids -- a good family bonding experience trying to find your way out. Check out these mazes for some fall fun playing in the cornfields:
- Sever's Corn Maze: Shakopee, Minnesota: Billed as America's Largest Corn Maze, this year's theme for the maze is outer space, with the field shaped like a rocket ship and planets. Visitors search for six pictures of "Astronaut Sever" and read fun facts about Space on the 26 signs throughout the maze. Also available are the pumpkin slinger, corn cannon, pig races, corn pit, petting zoo, straw hay bale maze, and jumping pillow.
- Crazy Corn Maze, West Jordan, Utah: Wind your way through this eight-acre cornfield using a map of true/false trivia. For older kids, check out the Haunted Trail. The trail is open for exploration after dark and is guaranteed to spook participants. There is also a four-acre pumpkin patch.
- The Maize: The world's largest corn maze family. With 1,800 corn mazes across the globe, find a corn maze near you -- even find out how you can own a maze.
Scary Theme Parks
These Southern California theme parks rev up the spookiness with creepy decor, scary activities, and frightful rides.
- Knott's Berry Farm: This kid-friendly theme park turns into Knott's Scary Farm...not for the faint of heart. This outing is for ages 13 and older. Be prepared for lots of gore, hair-raising tricks, and younger kids can get their trick-or-treat fix at Camp Snoopy.
- Disneyland: Mickey's Halloween Party allows kids to trick-or-treat at the happiest place on Earth. The party includes a fireworks spectacular and access to Halloween-themed attractions such as Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy and Haunted Mansion Holiday.
- Six Flags Magic Mountain: During the month of October, this park features "Fright Fest" for ages 13 and older. With mazes, scare zones, and roller coasters galore, visitors will scream with fear and delight during the day and night. Zombies and demons haunt the park, ghouls rock out, and rides take an eerie twist.
Whether you're looking for cute pumpkin to carve into a Jack-O-Lantern or a night of scary fun, venture out to a Halloween event for some memorable family fun.
Sharael Kolberg - With a Bachelor's degree in Journalism from the University of Hawaii, Sharael combines her interest in family travel with her passion for ...
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