Pumpkin patches and fall farms around Houston

Houston doesn't really cool off until October, which is exactly pumpkin season: the farms run weekends from late September to Halloween with giant tube slides, hayrides, little trains, corn mazes and goats to feed. The pumpkin is the last thing you pick.

For Sugar Land and Katy families, the two farms to the west are the easy ones: Blessington Farms in Simonton is small, complete and uncrowded, and Dewberry Farm in Brookshire is the biggest fall farm in the region with dozens of attractions for a full day. To the south, Froberg's in Alvin runs a Fall Festival with a corn maze in October. To the north, Oil Ranch in Hockley and Old MacDonald's Farm in Humble add pony rides and cow milking, and 7 Acre Wood in Conroe is almost entirely in the shade.

• 6 places
• 3 stroller-friendly
• closest is 30 min away