Pumpkin patches and fall farms with kids around Los Angeles

October in Los Angeles is still in the 80s, but the pumpkin patches take it seriously anyway: corn mazes, hay rides, tractors, farm animals and fields of orange. These are chosen at toddler scale: patches that aren't too big, with shade and restrooms, and activities you can pay for one at a time instead of a $40 wristband at the gate.

Closest to Arcadia and cheapest is the Cal Poly Pomona Pumpkin Festival, run by agriculture students every October weekend, with an insect fair that makes big kids scream. Orange County's liveliest is the Irvine Park Railroad patch inside Irvine Regional Park: train, panning for gold, hay rides, free entry and pay-per-activity; Tanaka Farms' October patch comes with wagon rides and the farm stand. For a whole day, drive to Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark, whose Fall Harvest Festival weekends have pig races and a pumpkin cannon; Amy's Farm in Ontario has pumpkins and free animals in fall too.

• 5 places
• 1 free
• 5 stroller-friendly
• closest is 20 min away