The 50 Best Farms to Visit in California, Ranked (Not One Farm Paid to Be on This List)
Andy Mariani has spent most of his life chasing flavour. On about 60 acres in Morgan Hill, his family's orchard grows roughly 280 kinds of cherries, apricots, peaches and plums, many of them varieties you will never see in a supermarket. People drive in from all over the Bay Area for his summer tasting days.
In August 2026, the New York Times and NBC Bay Area reported the news his regulars had dreaded. The family plans to sell the land to a developer for 376 homes, if Santa Clara County approves. Warmer winters had already left the 2026 cherry crop at about 5% of normal. The country store may stay open until around September 2027.
That's why this list exists. California's best farms are working family places. They can disappear in a single season, and you can't tell the real ones from the tourist traps by searching "farms near me."
So here's the answer, up front. These are the 50 best farms to visit in California in 2026. They're ranked on a 100-point scorecard built from real visitor reviews, press coverage, history and things to do. We checked about 200 California farms, orchards, dairies and ranches. Only about 75 passed all our entry tests. The 50 best are below, from No. 1 to No. 50.
And not one farm paid a single cent to be here.
The short answer The best farm to visit in California in 2026 is Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark (81.7 out of 100), followed by Avila Valley Barn near San Luis Obispo and Alisal Ranch in Solvang. For spring flowers, go to The Flower Fields in Carlsbad. For apples, head to Apple Hill or Oak Glen. For a real cattle drive, book V6 Ranch. For a camel ride on a working camel dairy, head to Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona. |
What you'll find in this guide ✅ The top 10 at a glance, plus an interactive Google map of all 50 farms ✅ Every farm ranked, with why it made the list, what not to miss and when to go ✅ The best farms near Los Angeles, San Diego, the Bay Area, Sacramento, Fresno and the North Coast ✅ A month-by-month calendar for blossoms, strawberries, cherries, apples, pumpkins and Christmas trees ✅ Exactly how we scored every farm, so you can check our work ✅ For farm owners: five lessons from the farms at the top |
Why California Is America's Farm Basket (and Its No. 2 State for Agritourism)
No state grows more of what you love to eat. California farms and ranches earned $59.4 billion in 2023, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The state grows nearly two-thirds of America's vegetables, fruits and nuts, and nearly 90% of its strawberries. It leads the nation in almonds, avocados, grapes, lemons, peaches, pistachios, walnuts and many more crops.
Visitors have noticed. The USDA's 2022 Census of Agriculture counted 1,245 California farms earning money from agritourism and recreation. Together they took in $99.1 million, second only to Texas. (We ranked those farms too: here are the 50 best farms to visit in Texas.)
And it's growing. From 2017 to 2022, the number of California farms earning agritourism income rose 10%, and the money they made rose 18% (before inflation). UC researchers estimate that more than 2,000 California farms and ranches now welcome visitors in some way. (Our full roundup of agritourism statistics shows the same boom across the country.)
So you're not short of choices. You're short of a trustworthy way to pick one. That's why we did it the hard way.
The Top 10 Farms to Visit in California at a Glance
Short on time? These are the 10 highest scores on our 100-point scorecard. Every farm on this list has at least 4.3 stars on Google from at least 100 reviews, and a story worth the drive.
No. | Farm | Town | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Underwood Family Farms | Moorpark | U-pick fields, animals and festivals |
2 | Avila Valley Barn | San Luis Obispo | Hayrides, U-pick fruit and pies |
3 | Alisal Ranch | Solvang | A real working cattle ranch stay |
4 | Tanaka Farms | Irvine | Strawberry wagon tours |
5 | The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch | Carlsbad | 50 acres of ranunculus in bloom |
6 | Arata's Pumpkin Farm | Half Moon Bay | A giant hay-bale labyrinth |
7 | Andy's Orchard | Morgan Hill | Rare stone fruit tastings |
8 | Oasis Camel Dairy | Ramona | Camel rides and a camel dairy |
9 | Los Rios Rancho | Oak Glen | U-pick apples and cider |
10 | Swanton Berry Farm | Davenport | Organic strawberries by the sea |
Map of the 50 Best Farms to Visit in California
Tap any pin to see the farm's name and rank, then open it in Google Maps for directions and opening hours.
How We Picked and Ranked These Farms
Every farm had to pass three entry tests before it could be scored:
Open to the public and still operating, with set hours or bookings and recent visitor reviews. Seasonal farms are fine. Farms marked closed were left out. (Andy's Orchard is still open while its land sale awaits county approval, so it stays on the list, with a warning.)
At least 4.3 stars on Google from 100 or more reviews. This one rule knocked out some famous names.
A real working farm or ranch. Visitors must see crops or animals being raised. Fun parks with a farm theme, zoos, plant nurseries and wedding barns didn't count.
Farms that passed were scored out of 100 on eight things. Star ratings and the number of reviews come from Google. Press and awards come from newspapers, magazines and TV. "The experience" measures how much there is to do. We also read recent reviews for rising complaints, and weighed each farm's story, value for money and how easy it is to visit.
Then we balanced the list so every corner of the state is covered. We limited any one apple town (Apple Hill and Oak Glen) to four farms, and kept wineries to five or fewer so it stays a farm list. Ratings were checked on October 26, 2026. Ratings change, so we'll recheck this list every six months.
Reality Check: famous isn't the same as good Some of California's best-known pumpkin patches and U-pick farms didn't make the cut. Several sit below 4.3 stars, with recent reviews about crowds and prices. Others turned out to be mostly bounce houses, or stores with no farm to see. A big name is not a guarantee. Read the last three months of reviews before you drive. |
The 50 Best Farms to Visit in California, Ranked
No. 1: Underwood Family Farms, Moorpark
Score: 81.7/100 · Best for: U-pick fields, farm animals and festivals · When to go: Year-round; best March to June and September to October
This is Southern California's go-to family farm. The Underwood family's farming roots go back to 1867. In 1980, fourth-generation farmer Craig Underwood started the Moorpark farm on just five acres. Today the family farms more than 200 acres across Moorpark and Somis, and about 50 acres at Moorpark are open to the public.
You wander real fields and pick what's ripe. That means strawberries in spring and Roma tomatoes in late summer. In August 2026 the tomatoes were 45 cents a pound, with no field admission. Around 60,000 schoolchildren visit every year, and the Fall Harvest Festival brings wagon rides, corn mazes and pumpkin patches.
Don't miss: Spring strawberry picking, or the late-summer Roma tomato pick if you make your own sauce.
Good to know: Open daily. Check the farm's weekly picking list before you go, wear shoes for dirt fields and arrive early on festival weekends.
No. 2: Avila Valley Barn, San Luis Obispo
Score: 79.4/100 · Best for: Hayrides, U-pick fruit, pies and farm animals · When to go: Year-round; U-pick June to November
It began in the mid-1980s as a roadside stand: one umbrella and a few boxes of produce. The Smith family still runs it, and it has grown into a sprawling Central Coast farm.
A tractor-pulled hay wagon takes you out to the fields. Olallieberries ripen in June, peaches in July, and apples and pumpkins come in the fall. Kids feed goats, llamas and ponies with a bag of lettuce, while parents load up on fresh pies, turnovers and smoky roasted corn.
Don't miss: A bag of lettuce for the animals, then a fresh pie and an ear of roasted corn.
Good to know: Open daily. Hayrides and pony rides run Friday to Sunday. U-pick crops change by month, so call ahead.
No. 3: Alisal Ranch, Solvang
Score: 78.0/100 · Best for: A working cattle ranch stay · When to go: Year-round; greenest in spring
This is the real Old West. Alisal is a 10,500-acre working cattle ranch in the oak-dotted hills of the Santa Ynez Valley. It opened as a guest ranch in July 1946 and celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2026. The Jackson family has owned it since 1943.
Clark Gable married Lady Sylvia Ashley in the ranch library, and the 1925 Kentucky Derby winner, Flying Ebony, was born here. Guests ride about 50 miles of trails, fish a 100-acre lake and pet the goats and pigs. In peak season there are rodeo barbecues on Wednesday nights.
Don't miss: A morning trail ride, followed by the ranch breakfast.
Good to know: Overnight guests only, and mostly all-inclusive. Afar quoted rates from about $450 a night in 2025, so this is a special-occasion trip.
No. 4: Tanaka Farms, Irvine
Score: 76.3/100 · Best for: Strawberry wagon tours · When to go: Year-round; strawberries about February to May, melons in summer, pumpkins in October
Takeo Tanaka came to California from Hiroshima in the early 1900s. During World War II the family moved to Utah to avoid internment, then came back to farm. Today the third and fourth generations run one of the last family farms in Irvine, about 30 acres surrounded by suburbs.
By 1998 the farm was already hosting school groups. Today about half its revenue comes from weekend families and the pumpkin patch, and it no longer sells wholesale. The spring strawberry tour includes a wagon ride, the barnyard animals and a basket of berries to take home.
Don't miss: A spring strawberry wagon tour, where you leave with berries and a vegetable you picked yourself.
Good to know: Book U-pick tours online. Parking and some activities cost extra, so budget for add-ons.
No. 5: The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch, Carlsbad
Score: 75.5/100 · Best for: 50 acres of ranunculus in bloom · When to go: March to early May; peak bloom usually in April
Every spring, a hillside above the Pacific turns into stripes of red, gold, pink and purple. About 50 acres of Giant Tecolote ranunculus bloom here, more than 70 million flowers in a season. Flowers have been grown in the area since the 1920s, and the fields moved to this spot in 1965.
It's a working flower farm, run since 1993 by grower Mellano & Company. Ride the tractor wagon to the top, walk the sweet pea maze and look out over the blooms to the ocean. Adult admission was $27 in 2025.
Don't miss: The tractor wagon ride for the view of rainbow stripes and ocean together.
Good to know: Open only from about March to Mother's Day. Buy timed tickets online and go at opening on a weekday.
No. 6: Arata's Pumpkin Farm, Half Moon Bay
Score: 73.7/100 · Best for: A giant hay-bale labyrinth · When to go: July to October 31; best in October
Bay Area families drive an hour for one thing: the Labyrinth. It's a two-acre hay-bale maze inspired by Greek myth. A Minotaur waits in the middle and hands out little golden pumpkins to kids.
Owner Chris Gounalakis grew up in Crete. He has worked the farm since 1991, and he spends about three months building the maze from thousands of hay bales every year. There are also pony rides, a petting zoo, a train, hayrides and a haunted barn.
Don't miss: The Minotaur's Labyrinth. Allow at least an hour to find your way out.
Good to know: Each activity is paid separately, from about $8 to $20 in 2026. October weekends sell out, so buy tickets online.
No. 7: Andy's Orchard, Morgan Hill
Score: 72.7/100 · Best for: Rare stone fruit tastings · When to go: May to August; cherries in May and June
This is the orchard from our opening story. The Mariani family bought the land in 1957. Andy Mariani has travelled the world hunting new varieties, and today he grows about 280 kinds of stone fruit on some 7,000 trees, chosen for flavour, not shelf life.
His summer tasting days let you sample fruit most Americans never get to try. Visitors report cherry tastings with more than 20 kinds to sample, for about $25 a person (check this year's price). Coverage in the New York Times, on NBC Bay Area and on KQED gave it one of the highest press scores on our list.
Don't miss: A ticketed summer tasting day, and a box of chocolate-dipped dried apricots.
Good to know: The land sale awaits county approval, and the store may close around September 2027. Tasting tickets sell out fast. Go while you still can.
No. 8: Oasis Camel Dairy, Ramona
Score: 72.4/100 · Best for: Camel rides and a real camel dairy · When to go: Year-round, on open days or by booking
How often do you get to hand-feed a camel, meet her calf and then climb on for a ride? PBS SoCal called it the only camel farm in Southern California. Nancy and Gil Riegler have run this dairy on 34 acres of San Diego's backcountry for about 25 years, and kept 23 camels in 2024.
California law doesn't let them sell camel milk to drink. So it goes into soaps and lotions, sold in the farm shop. In 2024 entry was $15 and camel rides were $15. A few times a year, "Camel Camp" lets you sleep over and make s'mores with camel-milk chocolate.
Don't miss: Add a camel ride to your visit.
Good to know: Visits are on public open-farm days or by booked private tour only, so check the calendar first.
No. 9: Los Rios Rancho, Oak Glen
Score: 72.1/100 · Best for: U-pick apples, fresh cider and nature trails · When to go: August to November
This is the old heart of Oak Glen apple country. The Rivers brothers planted apples here between 1906 and 1909, and it grew into Southern California's largest apple ranch. In the 1990s, The Wildlands Conservancy bought the ranch to stop a housing development of about 300 homes.
The Riley family runs the orchards, cider press, store and barbecue restaurant. A 2020 fire destroyed the bakery, the store and a 114-year-old packing house, but the ranch has rebuilt. You can pick apples, then walk the free preserve trails next to the orchard.
Don't miss: Apple picking, a walk on the free preserve trail, then tri-tip and a cup of cider.
Good to know: Open daily. Late in the season the picking thins out, and fall weekends get busy.
No. 10: Swanton Berry Farm, Davenport
Score: 71.9/100 · Best for: Organic U-pick strawberries by the sea · When to go: April to November; peak May to July
Jim Cochran founded Swanton in 1983, on the coast about ten miles north of Santa Cruz. In 1987 it became California's first certified organic strawberry farm. In 1998 it became the first organic farm to sign a contract with the United Farm Workers. National Geographic has told its story.
You pick berries in fields within sight of the Pacific. Then you warm up in the farm stand with strawberry shortcake, pie and hot strawberry-apple cider.
Don't miss: Strawberry shortcake and a warm cider after picking.
Good to know: Go early on weekends for the best berries. Treats are on the pricey side.
Field-Tested Play: Visit several farms in one day California's best farms come in clusters. Pair Swanton Berry Farm (No. 10) with Harley Farms (No. 11) and Arata's (No. 6) on one coastal drive. Do Apple Hill's four farms on a single fall Sunday, Monday, Thursday or Friday (Larsen is closed on Saturdays). Or, in July, combine Oak Glen's orchards with 123 Farm's lavender evening in Cherry Valley. The regional lists further down make planning easy. |
No. 11: Harley Farms Goat Dairy, Pescadero
Score: 71.7/100 · Best for: Baby goats and award-winning cheese · When to go: Year-round; baby goats in spring
Dee Harley grew up in Yorkshire, England, the daughter of a coal miner. In 1988 she and her husband moved onto a nine-acre farm outside Pescadero. She started with six goats on a run-down farm from 1910.
Today the herd is about 200 goats. Her chevre, ricotta and feta have won first places at the American Cheese Society and a gold medal at the World Cheese Show. In spring, a guide may put a baby goat in your arms before the cheese tasting. Farm dinners in the old hayloft have sold out within minutes.
Don't miss: The spring baby goat tour, and a tub of fresh ricotta to take home.
Good to know: Tours are paid and must be booked ahead.
No. 12: V6 Ranch, Parkfield
Score: 70.2/100 · Best for: Real cattle drives · When to go: Spring to fall
At V6 you don't just watch cowboys. You saddle up and help move about 1,000 head of cattle across 20,000 acres of open hills. The Varian family has run this working ranch since the 1960s, with more than 100 horses for riders of every level.
There are four multi-day cattle drives a year, plus ranch weekends and a cowboy school. You sleep in the little lodge in Parkfield, a cow town that sits right on the San Andreas Fault. Some rooms are in a 1920s water tower. In 2001 the family protected 17,000 acres from development forever.
Don't miss: A multi-day cattle drive with nights under dark skies.
Good to know: Book ahead. Parkfield is remote, about half a day's drive from Los Angeles or San Francisco.
No. 13: Mar Vista Farm + Cottages, Gualala
Score: 70.2/100 · Best for: A peaceful farm stay on the coast · When to go: Year-round; gardens fullest in summer and early fall
The eleven cottages were built in the 1930s for visiting fishermen. They sit on nine acres across Highway 1 from the Pacific, on the southern Mendocino coast.
Leave a basket outside your door at night, and fresh eggs from the farm's hens arrive in the morning. You can pick vegetables and herbs from the gardens for supper. You can also meet the goats, then walk a private trail to a hidden beach. Sunset magazine has featured it.
Don't miss: Pick salad greens for a cottage supper, then sit by the fire pit.
Good to know: Overnight stays only. It's about three hours north of San Francisco, so book early for summer weekends.
No. 14: Bates Nut Farm, Valley Center
Score: 69.7/100 · Best for: A classic San Diego County farm day · When to go: Year-round; best September and October
In 1921, Gilbert and Beatrice Bates arrived in Valley Center by wagon with their five sons and planted walnuts. By its 90th year in 2011, the fourth generation was running the 40-acre farm.
Nuts are still roasted and packed on site. There's a farm zoo where you can feed the goats, sheep and llamas. In fall it becomes one of the county's favourite pumpkin patches, with a scarecrow contest and weekend music.
Don't miss: Fresh-roasted nuts and fudge from the farm store, then feeding the goats.
Good to know: Entry is free, but a parking charge applies in pumpkin season ($10 per vehicle in 2024). Go early or midweek in October.
No. 15: Jack Creek Farms, Templeton
Score: 69.2/100 · Best for: Small-farm U-pick in wine country · When to go: June to November
Five generations of one family farm this hillside on Highway 46 West, on the way into Paso Robles wine country. Kids pick apples, peaches and pumpkins, run the hay maze and play in a barnyard with bunnies, chickens and goats.
Inside the country store, parents taste the local honey and vinegars. There's also a display of antique farm equipment and a bakery making caramel apples and apple cider slushies.
Don't miss: An apple cider slushie and a turn in the kids' barnyard.
Good to know: Closed Wednesdays.
No. 16: Murray Family Farms (The Big Red Barn), Bakersfield
Score: 67.3/100 · Best for: Early cherries and a fall pumpkin festival · When to go: Year-round; cherries in May, pumpkins in October
Steve and Vickie Murray started with a 20-acre grape and cherry farm. Today it covers more than 300 acres with hundreds of fruit varieties, and the farm claims the world's earliest cherry harvest. The Big Red Barn, built in 1994, sells pies, jams and pickles.
U-pick runs almost all year, mostly Friday to Sunday. Every October, the Great Bakersfield Pumpkin Patch draws more than 70,000 visitors.
Don't miss: U-pick cherries in late spring, then a slice of fruit pie from the barn bakery.
Good to know: The barn shop is free. The U-pick orchard charges entry, and you pay for fruit by the pound.
No. 17: Ardenwood Historic Farm, Fremont
Score: 67.1/100 · Best for: Living history with draft horses · When to go: Spring to fall, Tuesday to Sunday
George Washington Patterson came west for the 1849 Gold Rush. He turned to farming instead and built up nearly 6,000 acres. Today 205 acres of his farm are a park, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Volunteers in period dress do late-1800s chores, and draft horses still do farm work. Kids feed sheep, goats and chickens and help thresh and mill wheat by hand. You enter through an old railway depot.
Don't miss: The threshing and milling demonstration, then a tour of the Patterson House.
Good to know: Closed Mondays. The train and house tours are seasonal, and the cafe has closed, so bring a picnic.
No. 18: High Hill Ranch, Placerville (Apple Hill)
Score: 66.3/100 · Best for: The full Apple Hill experience · When to go: September to December
Apple Hill began in 1964, when 16 ranches formed a growers' association after pear blight pushed them into apples. Today it has more than 50 member farms. At about 155 acres, High Hill is its biggest stop.
The Visman family has farmed in Placerville since 1917, after coming from Holland. Pick apples, fish the stocked trout pond and let the kids ride ponies. Then finish on the deck with warm apple donuts and caramel apple pie.
Don't miss: Apple donuts and pie on the deck overlooking the pond.
Good to know: Fall weekends are packed. Go on a weekday or right at opening. Pony rides may be cash only.
No. 19: Hambly Lavender Farm, San Miguel
Score: 66.0/100 · Best for: Cutting your own lavender bouquet · When to go: Mid-May to early September; peak bloom in June
At this small family farm north of Paso Robles, farmer Milton Hambly walks you through the rows himself. He explains how the plants become oil. In 2026, U-pick lavender cost $20 a person, and the one-hour guided walk was $30.
New for 2026, "Sunset on the Farm" Saturday evenings pair the lavender fields with Paso Robles wines.
Don't miss: Milton Hambly's guided farm walk, then cutting your own bouquet.
Good to know: Open Friday to Sunday in season. Tours and sunset evenings sell out. Near the end, ignore your GPS and follow the farm signs.
No. 20: Larsen Apple Barn, Camino (Apple Hill)
Score: 65.2/100 · Best for: Heirloom apples and pioneer history · When to go: September to November
The Larsen family has farmed this ground since the 1860s, and Visit El Dorado bills it as Apple Hill's longest family-owned farm. Raymond Larsen is a fifth-generation apple grower. One of his trees, a Rhode Island Greening, is believed to be the oldest apple tree in El Dorado County.
He grows more than 20 apple varieties. The bake shop sells hot apple pies and dumplings. The family's pioneer farm museum shows old wagons and machines, including a covered wagon.
Don't miss: The apple tasting and a cup of fresh-pressed apple or pear juice.
Good to know: Closed Saturdays.
No. 21: Snow-Line Orchard, Oak Glen
Score: 64.9/100 · Best for: Mini cider donuts and berry picking · When to go: July to November
Isaac Ford moved up to Oak Glen in 1898 and bought 100 acres. Today Snow-Line is a family-owned orchard and winery that still uses its original packing shed and cider mill.
People line up to watch mini cider donuts drop into the fryer behind glass. You can pick raspberries, taste heirloom apples side by side, and finish with a cider slush or a glass from the orchard's own winery.
Don't miss: A bag of hot mini cider donuts.
Good to know: U-pick here is berries, not apples; apples are sold already picked. Weekend lines can be long.
No. 22: Julian Farm and Orchard, Julian
Score: 64.7/100 · Best for: Something to pick in every season · When to go: March to December, Friday to Sunday
Julian's apple story goes back to the 1870s, and the town held its first Apple Day in 1909. This 25-acre farm just outside town has about 1,400 apple trees. In 2022 it planted more than 50,000 daffodil bulbs for spring picking.
Pick daffodils in spring, berries and flowers in summer, and apples and pumpkins in fall. Kids feed the goats and fire an apple cannon. Grown-ups can try axe throwing.
Don't miss: The apple cannon, then an apple-cider slushie.
Good to know: Open Friday to Sunday, and dog-friendly. Julian apple crops vary from year to year, so check before you drive up.
No. 23: Smith Family Farm, Brentwood
Score: 64.4/100 · Best for: A farm for every season · When to go: June to December
Brentwood's Harvest Time farm trail, recognised as the "U-Pick Capital of the World," celebrated 50 years in 2026. Smith Family Farm shows why. It has seasonal fruit to pick, a heirloom Tomato Day in September, a corn maze and pumpkin patch in October, and Christmas trees in December.
In 2025 one $16 fall ticket covered the corn maze, the animals and a pumpkin to take home.
Don't miss: Tomato Day in late September, to taste heirlooms you'll never find in a store.
Good to know: No reservations needed in fall. Weekends are busy with young families.
No. 24: Shields Date Garden, Indio
Score: 64.0/100 · Best for: A desert date garden and the famous date shake · When to go: Year-round; best October to April
Floyd and Bess Shields founded this Coachella Valley date garden in 1924. Floyd developed and patented a "blonde date." Crystals made from it still flavour the shake that made Shields famous. In 2022, the City of Indio, Riverside County and the State of California honoured it as Riverside County's official date shake.
Walk among the palms and learn how desert dates are grown. Then taste varieties you won't find in a supermarket.
Don't miss: The original date shake.
Good to know: Open daily, with free parking. Summer heat is brutal. The garden walk includes religious statues.
No. 25: Gizdich Ranch, Watsonville
Score: 63.9/100 · Best for: U-pick berries and legendary pies · When to go: May to November
Gizdich dates back to 1937. You pick strawberries in late spring, olallieberries in June, boysenberries in July and apples in September, all paid by the pound.
The pie crust uses a Croatian family recipe about 100 years old. Olallieberry is the best-selling berry pie. The family still presses fresh apple juice every week.
Don't miss: An olallieberry pie and a jug of fresh-pressed apple juice.
Good to know: The pie shop is open daily. U-pick days depend on the crop, so check first.
No. 26: Bishop's Pumpkin Farm, Wheatland
Score: 63.9/100 · Best for: Picking pumpkins straight off the vine · When to go: Early September to early November
In 1973, schoolteacher Sandy Bishop and her husband Bill opened their farm so city children could see where food comes from. Their son Wayne now runs it. About 90 acres of pumpkins grow roughly 1.5 million pounds a year, and about 60% are picked by visitors themselves.
There's a petting zoo, pony rides, an eight-car train, bakeries and cider tasting. About 20,000 children come on fall field trips.
Don't miss: Walk the open fields and pick your own pumpkin, then try an apple cider shake.
Good to know: Entry is free, but rides and food cost extra and weekend parking is charged. Arrive at opening.
No. 27: Pennyroyal Farm, Boonville
Score: 63.3/100 · Best for: Goats, sheep and cheese among the vines · When to go: Year-round; baby goats in spring
Sarah Cahn Bennett founded Pennyroyal in 2006, in the Anderson Valley. Her goats and sheep graze between the vines, and their milk becomes small-batch cheese. Its Boont Corners Reserve won Best of Show at the 2025 California State Fair.
The barn tour shows how the animals and vineyard work together. It ends with a tasting of the farm's cheeses and wines, and kids get grape juice.
Don't miss: The Boont Corners cheese.
Good to know: Book farm tours ahead. It's an easy stop on Highway 128 between the Bay Area and the Mendocino coast.
No. 28: Round Pond Estate, Rutherford
Score: 62.7/100 · Best for: A Napa farm that presses its own olive oil · When to go: Year-round; olive harvest in late fall
Bob and Jan MacDonnell started Round Pond in 1983, with a 28.5-acre vineyard. Their children went on to run an estate of about 460 acres, including 12 acres of olive trees. The olives have been crushed at the family's own mill since 2003.
In a valley full of wine-only stops, the olive mill tour makes this a working farm visit.
Don't miss: The olive mill tour and oil tasting.
Good to know: Closed Monday and Tuesday. Tours and tastings are by reservation, and wine tasting is for adults 21 and over.
No. 29: Apple Ridge Farms, Camino (Apple Hill)
Score: 62.0/100 · Best for: U-pick apples and gold panning · When to go: September to November
The Tuso family bought this farm in 2008 and opened it to U-pick in 2023. They grow nine apple varieties, from Gala in September to Pink Lady and Arkansas Black in late November.
Walk the three-quarter-mile nature trail lined with zinnias and butterflies. Kids pan for gold and dig for gems and fossils.
Don't miss: The zinnia trail in September, then a warm apple cider donut.
Good to know: October weekends are very crowded, with long lines to park.
No. 30: Mike's Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze, Galt
Score: 61.6/100 · Best for: Great value for young families · When to go: Late September to October
This small, friendly patch between Galt and Lodi keeps things simple. In 2024 one $15 ticket covered a hayride, the corn maze, gem mining, the petting zoo, face painting and more. Families say it beats bigger, pricier patches.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture has named it among the Central Valley's best pumpkin patches.
Don't miss: Gem mining and the corn pit, before choosing a pumpkin.
Good to know: Open October weekends and Friday afternoons. Pumpkins are paid for separately.
No. 31: McEvoy Ranch, Petaluma
Score: 61.6/100 · Best for: An organic olive ranch tour · When to go: Year-round; olive harvest in November
Nan Tucker McEvoy, from the family that founded the San Francisco Chronicle, bought a 550-acre former dairy in 1990. She planted 1,000 olive trees brought from Italy. All the orchards are certified organic, and the olives are milled on site.
Sunset magazine named it one of the best tasting experiences in the West. Ride a cart through the orchards, taste the oil and stay for a seasonal lunch.
Don't miss: The orchard cart tour and olive oil tasting.
Good to know: Everything is by reservation. Recent visitors say the retail shop is in downtown Petaluma, so plan to shop there.
No. 32: Frog's Leap Winery, Rutherford
Score: 61.4/100 · Best for: Learning how organic, dry-farmed grapes grow · When to go: Year-round; best late August to October
Frog's Leap was certified organic in 1989, one of the first farms in Napa Valley to go organic. Its grapes are dry-farmed, without irrigation, so the vines grow deep roots.
Visiting is more of a farm walk than a fancy tasting. Stroll the gardens, see the restored red barn, meet the chickens and taste grapes off the vine at harvest time.
Don't miss: The vineyard tour, tasting grapes straight off the vine in season.
Good to know: Book tastings and tours ahead. Wine tasting is for adults 21 and over.
No. 33: Riley's Farm, Oak Glen
Score: 60.5/100 · Best for: Colonial living history and heirloom apples · When to go: Year-round; best September to November
The Riley family started here in 1978 with 12 acres of heirloom apple trees. Today about 55 acres are used for U-pick, hayrides and living-history programs. The farm grows more than 30 apple varieties, including old types colonists grew, like Roxbury Russet.
On Saturdays, costumed staff run tomahawk throwing, archery, candle dipping, blacksmithing and cider pressing. There's also dinner theatre and overnight stays.
Don't miss: A Saturday "Adventures in the Old World" day.
Good to know: Open Thursday to Saturday for general visits. Many programs need reservations.
No. 34: Dutch Hollow Farms, Modesto
Score: 60.3/100 · Best for: U-pick tulips and fall pumpkins · When to go: Late winter for tulips; October for pumpkins
John Bos plants more than 160,000 tulip bulbs on an old Modesto dairy, with over 100 varieties you can pick yourself. Come back in fall for more than 45 kinds of pumpkins, a corn maze and a petting zoo.
It's popular. In March 2026, viral TikTok videos brought about 4,000 people in one day, and the tulip field was picked bare and closed early.
Don't miss: Photos by the giant clogs and mini windmill, after picking your tulips.
Good to know: Tulip picking opens in late winter and can close within days. Follow the farm online for dates and go early on a weekday.
No. 35: Greenspot Farms, Mentone
Score: 60.2/100 · Best for: Cut-your-own Christmas trees near Los Angeles · When to go: October; late November to December
This is one of the few places near Los Angeles where you can still saw down your own tree. Choose from Monterey pines, cedars and redwoods, from tabletop size up to 16 feet. You can reserve a tree from October 1, and cutting starts the day after Thanksgiving.
In December, a lighted hayride ends with Santa, s'mores and a Christmas movie. In 2025 it cost $10 for children and $15 for adults. In fall, the pumpkin patch is free to wander.
Don't miss: The lighted Christmas hayride.
Good to know: Entry is free, but rides are ticketed.
No. 36: Harris Family Farm, Pollock Pines (Apple Hill)
Score: 59.8/100 · Best for: Berries and pie in the pines · When to go: July to November
Matthew Blair started here in 1853, first as a timber operation, so the family has held this land for more than 170 years. His great-great-granddaughters and their brother run it today, among towering pines.
Pick blackberries and marionberries in late summer, then apples and flowers in fall. The pies are made from scratch with whole fresh fruit.
Don't miss: Blackberry picking in August, and a whole apple crumble pie to take home.
Good to know: Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
No. 37: 123 Farm, Cherry Valley
Score: 59.6/100 · Best for: Lavender fields under the lights · When to go: May to July; peak mid-June to mid-July
Twenty acres of organic lavender bloom in the hills of Cherry Valley. The Lavender Festival runs on summer evenings, with tractor-wagon tours, live music and about 100,000 tiny lights. In 2025 the festival turned 21.
Watch lavender being distilled into oil, or book a perfume-blending workshop. In 2025, adult tickets were about $17.50 to $20.50, plus $22.50 for parking.
Don't miss: The wagon tour before sunset, then stay as the lights come on.
Good to know: Evenings only on set dates. Buy tickets ahead, because door prices are higher. No pets.
No. 38: Benziger Family Winery, Glen Ellen
Score: 59.5/100 · Best for: A tractor-tram ride through biodynamic vines · When to go: Year-round; tram tours mainly April to October
This 86-acre ranch on Sonoma Mountain, next to Jack London's old ranch, switched to biodynamic farming in 1995. Its tractor-tram tour rolls through the vineyards and an insectary garden that draws helpful bugs. It ends in a hillside wine cave.
Don't miss: The tram tour through the insectary garden.
Good to know: Tours run mainly in warmer months, so book ahead. Wine tasting is for adults 21 and over.
No. 39: Pasolivo, Paso Robles
Score: 59.0/100 · Best for: Olive oil fresh from the mill · When to go: Year-round; milling in late fall
Swap wine for olive oil on a ranch with more than 7,000 olive trees of 12 varieties. Hollywood director King Vidor once owned the estate. The olives are milled on site, usually within two to four hours of harvest.
Don't miss: Taste at the ranch, not the downtown shop, so you see the trees and the mill.
Good to know: Open daily. Reservations are recommended.
No. 40: Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co., Point Reyes Station
Score: 58.8/100 · Best for: Blue cheese from the cows outside the window · When to go: Year-round
Bob and Dean Giacomini bought this dairy above Tomales Bay in 1959. Their four daughters started making cheese in 1998, and their Original Blue came out in 2000. It's still made from the farm's own milk.
The farm's cheeses have won Good Food Awards and a California State Fair Best Cheese of the Year. Book a tasting at The Fork, the farm's education center, to learn how the milk becomes cheese.
Don't miss: The Original Blue, tasted where it's made.
Good to know: Tastings must be booked ahead. Closed Sundays.
No. 41: Ojai Olive Oil, Ojai
Score: 58.6/100 · Best for: A calm olive grove tasting · When to go: Year-round; new oil in late fall
On this 36-acre ranch, about 130 olive trees were planted in the late 1800s. The Asquith family brought the old grove back to life and planted about 1,000 more.
Taste the oils and flavoured balsamic vinegars beside the grove, ringed by mountains.
Don't miss: The flavoured balsamics.
Good to know: The tasting room is open daily. Ask ahead whether grove tours are running.
No. 42: Clendenen's Cider Works, Fortuna
Score: 58.5/100 · Best for: Fresh cider on the redwood coast · When to go: August to December
The family farm dates back to 1908. They still press cider on a machine the family bought in 1916. More than 50 tons of apples are picked here every year, and the cider is sold only at the Fortuna store.
Don't miss: A cider slushie, and a bag of Gravensteins if you come early in the season.
Good to know: It's a farm stand, not a U-pick, so don't expect orchard tours.
No. 43: Davis Ranch, Sloughhouse
Score: 57.9/100 · Best for: Cheap, hands-on vegetable picking · When to go: July to mid-November
Since 1940, this family farm has grown the sweet corn Sacramento calls "Sloughhouse Corn." It now covers more than 500 acres.
On U-pick days, your car is weighed on a scale on the way in and again on the way out. You pay by the pound for the corn, tomatoes, peppers, melons and pumpkins you picked. In recent reviews, visitors report paying under 50 cents a pound, a little less with cash. Check current prices before you go.
Don't miss: Sweet corn picked at sunrise. Bring your own boxes.
Good to know: U-pick runs on set days, from sunrise to 1 pm, with a minimum spend. Arrive early.
No. 44: Tapia Brothers Farm, Encino
Score: 57.6/100 · Best for: A real farm inside Los Angeles · When to go: Year-round; best in October
Primo Tapia came from Michoacán, Mexico, and began farming in the San Fernando Valley in the 1930s. His family now farms about 100 acres in the Sepulveda Basin, land leased from the Army Corps of Engineers. It was described in 2011 as the last produce farm in Encino.
In October it fills with pumpkins, a corn maze, hayrides and farm animals. Visitors say entry costs only a few dollars.
Don't miss: A bag of their own sweet corn from the farm stand.
Good to know: Extras are charged separately, and Saturday mornings in October are busy.
No. 45: Cool Patch Pumpkins, Dixon
Score: 56.0/100 · Best for: A world-famous corn maze · When to go: Late September to October 31
The Cooley family has twice been certified by Guinness World Records for the world's largest corn maze. The first record maze, in 2007, covered 40.489 acres. (A farm in Quebec took the title in 2023.) The Los Angeles Times has written it up.
It scores low on Google stars, but its press and its story carry it onto the list.
Don't miss: The maze after dark with a flashlight. Take the map.
Good to know: Allow 1.5 to 2 hours for the full maze. Admission was $22 in 2024.
No. 46: Temecula Berry Co., Temecula
Score: 55.0/100 · Best for: U-pick blueberries · When to go: May to June
Father and son Ray and Mike Graesser planted 10 acres of southern highbush blueberries. The bushes are so loaded you barely need to bend down. You pay by the container: in 2023, $6 for small, $12 for medium and $20 for large.
Don't miss: A loaf of blueberry bread from the farm shop.
Good to know: The berries usually run out by late June. Bring cash or a check.
No. 47: Simonian Farms, Fresno
Score: 54.5/100 · Best for: A farm market and antique tractor museum · When to go: Year-round; Blossom Trail in February and March
Baghdasar Simonian planted grapevines in Fresno County in 1901, and the fifth generation still farms here. The market doubles as an open-air museum, with more than 30 antique tractors, old gas pumps and vintage bicycles. Sun-dried raisins are its best-known product.
Don't miss: The rows of antique tractors.
Good to know: It's a market, not a U-pick. Pair it with the Fresno County Blossom Trail, nearly 70 miles of blooming orchards from mid-February to mid-March.
No. 48: Organic Matters Ranch, Eureka
Score: 54.0/100 · Best for: Humboldt's favourite pumpkin patch · When to go: Late September to October 31
Founded in 2002, this 102-acre ranch sits between Humboldt Bay and the redwoods. In fall you can walk in free and choose from more than 60 kinds of pumpkins and squash.
Kids meet the pigs, chickens, bunnies and alpacas, then run the corn and hay mazes. On October weekends there's a harvest fair with about 40 local vendors.
Don't miss: The October weekend harvest fair.
Good to know: Entry is free, and you pay for pumpkins. No dogs.
No. 49: TJ Farms Estates, Chico
Score: 53.5/100 · Best for: An old-fashioned family pumpkin patch · When to go: October
The Moss family's 15-acre farm has a 1937 farmhouse. Since 1987 they've turned their crops into jams, vinegars and pickles. Entry and parking are free.
Kids crack corn to feed the animals, and an 1800s-era blacksmith shop shows how farming used to work.
Don't miss: The old blacksmith shop and historic tools in action.
Good to know: Open Thursday to Sunday through October. Call ahead, because the patch once closed early after a small crop.
No. 50: Hillcrest Tree Farm, Reedley
Score: 52.1/100 · Best for: A steam train to your Christmas tree · When to go: October for pumpkins; late November to December for trees
Hillcrest has been a Christmas tree farm since 1960. Owners Melissa and Randy Bautista bought it in 1992. Randy, a former fighter pilot and airline pilot, built the railroad. Today their shop builds and restores miniature railroad equipment for clients across the US.
Ride the steam train, then cut your own fir or pine.
Don't miss: The steam train, and Pajama Night if you can get tickets.
Good to know: Open weekends only. Pajama Night sells out soon after tickets go on sale on October 1. Bring cash for parking and vendors.
The Best Farms Near You, by Region
California is big, so here are the 50 farms grouped by where you'll be driving from.
Near Los Angeles and Orange County: No. 1 Underwood Family Farms, No. 4 Tanaka Farms, No. 41 Ojai Olive Oil, No. 44 Tapia Brothers Farm
Inland Empire and Palm Springs: No. 9 Los Rios Rancho, No. 21 Snow-Line Orchard, No. 24 Shields Date Garden, No. 33 Riley's Farm, No. 35 Greenspot Farms, No. 37 123 Farm, No. 46 Temecula Berry Co.
San Diego County: No. 5 The Flower Fields, No. 8 Oasis Camel Dairy, No. 14 Bates Nut Farm, No. 22 Julian Farm and Orchard
Santa Barbara and the Central Coast: No. 2 Avila Valley Barn, No. 3 Alisal Ranch, No. 12 V6 Ranch, No. 15 Jack Creek Farms, No. 19 Hambly Lavender Farm, No. 39 Pasolivo
San Francisco Bay Area and Santa Cruz: No. 6 Arata's Pumpkin Farm, No. 7 Andy's Orchard, No. 10 Swanton Berry Farm, No. 11 Harley Farms, No. 17 Ardenwood Historic Farm, No. 23 Smith Family Farm, No. 25 Gizdich Ranch
Napa, Sonoma and Marin: No. 28 Round Pond Estate, No. 31 McEvoy Ranch, No. 32 Frog's Leap, No. 38 Benziger, No. 40 Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese
Sacramento, Gold Country and Apple Hill: No. 18 High Hill Ranch, No. 20 Larsen Apple Barn, No. 26 Bishop's Pumpkin Farm, No. 29 Apple Ridge Farms, No. 30 Mike's Pumpkin Patch, No. 36 Harris Family Farm, No. 43 Davis Ranch, No. 45 Cool Patch Pumpkins
Central Valley (Fresno, Modesto, Bakersfield): No. 16 Murray Family Farms, No. 34 Dutch Hollow Farms, No. 47 Simonian Farms, No. 50 Hillcrest Tree Farm
North Coast and the far north: No. 13 Mar Vista Farm + Cottages, No. 27 Pennyroyal Farm, No. 42 Clendenen's Cider Works, No. 48 Organic Matters Ranch, No. 49 TJ Farms Estates
When to Visit California Farms: A Season-by-Season Calendar
California farms are open all year, but each one has its moment. Strawberries peak statewide from April to June. Cherries start in late April around Bakersfield and Fresno. Lavender blooms in June and July. Navel oranges arrive at the end of October.
Season | Where to go |
|---|---|
Spring (Feb–May) | Fresno County Blossom Trail, The Flower Fields (No. 5), Dutch Hollow tulips (No. 34), Tanaka strawberries (No. 4), Harley Farms baby goats (No. 11), Murray cherries (No. 16) |
Summer (Jun–Aug) | Andy's Orchard tastings (No. 7), Hambly Lavender (No. 19), 123 Farm lavender nights (No. 37), Temecula blueberries (No. 46), Swanton strawberries (No. 10), Davis Ranch sweet corn (No. 43) |
Fall (Sep–Nov) | Apple Hill (Nos. 18, 20, 29, 36), Oak Glen (Nos. 9, 21, 33), Arata's Labyrinth (No. 6), Cool Patch maze (No. 45), Bishop's pumpkins (No. 26) |
Winter (Dec–Jan) | Hillcrest steam train (No. 50), Greenspot Christmas trees (No. 35), Shields date shakes (No. 24), Simonian citrus (No. 47) |
Farm Stays, Free Days Out and Other Quick Picks
Sleep on a farm: Alisal Ranch (No. 3), V6 Ranch (No. 12), Mar Vista Farm + Cottages (No. 13), Riley's Farm (No. 33) and Camel Camp at Oasis Camel Dairy (No. 8). If you're a farmer thinking of hosting guests, read how to start a farm stay.
Free or nearly free: Organic Matters Ranch and TJ Farms have free entry in fall. Bates Nut Farm and Bishop's are free to walk in, though parking is charged in pumpkin season. Underwood's Roma tomato field had no admission fee in August 2026.
Animals up close: Oasis Camel Dairy, Harley Farms, Pennyroyal, Ardenwood and Mar Vista.
Award-winning food: Point Reyes and Pennyroyal cheeses, Harley Farms goat cheese, and the Shields date shake.
Best for history lovers: Ardenwood (1849 gold rush settler), Larsen Apple Barn (1860s), Harris Family Farm (1853), Shields (1924) and Alisal's 80 years as a guest ranch.
For Farm Owners: 5 Lessons From the Farms at the Top
If you farm, this list is more than a road trip. It's a free study of what visitors will drive for, and pay for. Here's what the top-scoring farms have in common.
Lesson 1: Your story is worth points
Story counts for 10 points on our scorecard, and it shows. Swanton has its "firsts," Larsen has its 1860s roots, and Alisal has Clark Gable's wedding. Shields has its 1924 roots and a date shake the state has honoured. None of these stories cost a cent, but every one of them gets told again and again.
Write your farm's story on your website, your Google listing and a sign by the parking lot. Our guide to how reviews turn small farms into tourist destinations shows how to get visitors telling it for you.
Lesson 2: Give people one thing they can't get anywhere else
Arata's has a Minotaur in a hay maze. Cool Patch has twice held a Guinness world record. Oasis has camels, and Hillcrest has a steam train. Each farm is famous for one signature thing, and that is what people talk about.
You don't need a big budget. A corn maze, a pumpkin patch or a U-pick flower field can become your signature if you make it yours.
Lesson 3: The farm shop pays the bills
Avila Valley Barn sells pies and roasted corn, and Gizdich sells pies made with a 100-year-old crust recipe. Murray has a barn full of jams. Tanaka Farms now makes about half its revenue from visitors and no longer sells wholesale.
Applecrest in New Hampshire made the same switch. Read how Applecrest flipped from 90% wholesale to 80% retail. Then check your ticket and entry pricing.
Lesson 4: A short season needs a plan for crowds
Dutch Hollow's tulips went viral on TikTok in March 2026. About 4,000 people came in one day, and the field was picked bare. Temecula Berry Co. sells out of blueberries by late June. Hambly's sunset evenings and 123 Farm's light-up nights sell out too. Timed tickets, online booking and a waiting list turn a rush into money in the bank.
I know this from my own farm. At Bloopy Durians in Malaysia, our durian seasons add up to only four to five months a year, in two short windows around December to February and June to August. So we keep a WhatsApp list of loyal customers who buy whenever the fruit is ready. When the season is short, the people who already love you are your best customers.
Lesson 5: Protect the land, and protect yourself
Andy's Orchard is our warning. The families at V6 Ranch and Point Reyes went the other way. They placed conservation easements on their land so it can stay farmland forever. Los Rios Rancho survived because a conservancy bought it. Think about succession before you're forced to.
Protect your business too. California has no agritourism liability law. UC researchers say it's one of only 17 states with no legal liability protection for agritourism operations. A 2024 bill, the California Agritourism Liability Act (AB 2635), stalled in committee after its author cancelled a hearing, and it failed. In UC's survey, 87% of California agritourism operators named liability and insurance as a challenge.
Reality Check: questions to ask before you open your gate in California This isn't legal advice. Take these questions to a California agricultural lawyer and your insurance agent. ✅ Does my farm policy cover paying visitors, or do I need a separate agritourism or commercial liability policy? ✅ Does my county allow farm tours, events or farm stays on my zoning, and on Williamson Act land? (Each county decides.) ✅ Will a written waiver hold up for my activities, given California has no agritourism statute? ✅ If I have animals, what do I need for handwashing, signs and health rules? |
Our guides to agritourism insurance and liability waivers explain your options. So do our state-by-state agritourism laws and our petting zoo handwashing system.
Field-Tested Play: copy the Underwood model Start small. Craig Underwood began the Moorpark farm on five acres in 1980. Open one field to U-pick, invite school groups and add one festival a year. Around 60,000 schoolchildren now visit Underwood every year. Our guide to partnering with schools shows how to start. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best farm to visit in California?
On our 2026 scorecard, Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark scored highest, at 81.7 out of 100. Avila Valley Barn near San Luis Obispo and Alisal Ranch in Solvang came next. The best farm for you depends on what you want: U-pick fruit, flowers, animals, a ranch stay or history.
Where can I pick my own strawberries in California?
Underwood Family Farms (Moorpark), Tanaka Farms (Irvine), Swanton Berry Farm (Davenport) and Gizdich Ranch (Watsonville) are top picks. Strawberries peak from April to June, but some farms start earlier, so check each farm's picking report.
When is apple season in California?
Most U-pick apples run from late August to November. Apple Hill in El Dorado County, Oak Glen near Yucaipa, and Julian in San Diego County are the three best-known apple regions.
Where can I stay on a working farm or ranch in California?
Alisal Ranch in Solvang and V6 Ranch in Parkfield are working cattle ranches with guest stays. Mar Vista Farm + Cottages in Gualala is a small coastal farm stay, where eggs from the hens arrive at your door. Riley's Farm and Oasis Camel Dairy also offer overnight stays.
Which California farms are free to visit?
Organic Matters Ranch in Eureka and TJ Farms Estates in Chico have free entry in pumpkin season. Bates Nut Farm and Bishop's Pumpkin Farm are free to walk in, though parking is charged in October. At most farms you pay only for what you pick or the activities you choose.
How did you rank these farms?
Every farm had to pass three entry tests: open to the public, at least 4.3 Google stars from 100 or more reviews, and a real working farm. Each was then scored out of 100 on star ratings, number of reviews, press and awards, things to do, recent reviews, story, value and ease of visiting. No farm paid to be listed.
Got a Farm? Find Out If It's Ready for Visitors
Every farm on this list started where you are. They had land, a crop, and a question: would people pay to come here? Take our free quiz to see how ready your farm is. Then grab the 21-Point Agritourism Blueprint to plan your first season.
P.S. Andy Mariani's orchard may have one more summer left. If there's a farm on this list you've always meant to visit, don't wait for "someday." If you're a farmer, remember that every farm on this list chose to open its gate. The Kuipers family turned a weekend pumpkin patch into 150,000+ visitors a year. Farmer Copley's went from "not making a lot of money" to 8,000 visitors a day. Your farm's story could be next.
By Stephen Loke of AgritourismSuccess.com, whose farm is featured in Bloomberg News and Asahi Shimbun. Rankings use Google ratings checked on October 26, 2026, plus published press and farm information. Prices, seasons and hours change, so always confirm with the farm before you visit. No farm paid to be included.
Sources
Google ratings and review counts were checked on October 26, 2026 (not reproduced here). Statistics and farm facts come from these sources:
UC ANR / UC SAREP, Diversifying Revenue through Agritourism (Apr 2026)
CalMatters Digital Democracy, AB 2635 California Agritourism Liability Act
California Department of Conservation, Williamson Act compatibility
California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom, strawberries
Business Wire / California Cherry Board, cherry season (May 2020)
Contra Costa News, Harvest Time in Brentwood at 50 (Aug 2026)
No. 2 Avila Valley Barn: Highway 1 Road Trip (Highway 1 Discovery Route) (2026)
No. 5 The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch: San Diego Magazine (2015-04)
No. 5 The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch: NBC Los Angeles (2025-03)
No. 6 Arata's Pumpkin Farm: The San Francisco Standard (2022-10)
No. 7 Andy's Orchard: The New York Times (via The Boston Globe) (2026-08)
No. 8 Oasis Camel Dairy: Creators Syndicate (Travel and Adventure) (2024-06)
No. 9 Los Rios Rancho: Coachella Valley Independent (2026-05)
No. 11 Harley Farms Goat Dairy: Redwood City Pulse (2018-03)
No. 11 Harley Farms Goat Dairy: UC Santa Cruz Library Regional History Project
No. 13 Mar Vista Farm + Cottages: Boutique Hotels of California (2023-07)
No. 16 Murray Family Farms – The Big Red Barn: California Grown (2026-08)
No. 16 Murray Family Farms – The Big Red Barn: BakersfieldNow (Eyewitness Mornings)
No. 16 Murray Family Farms – The Big Red Barn: The Loop Newspaper (2020-06)
No. 17 Ardenwood Historic Farm: Historical Marker Database (HMdb)
No. 17 Ardenwood Historic Farm: Cable Car Guy (rail history site) (2023-11)
No. 22 Julian Farm and Orchard: East County Magazine (2022-03)
No. 22 Julian Farm and Orchard: CDFA Planting Seeds blog (2026-06)
No. 24 Shields Date Garden: Coachella Valley Independent (2023-11)
No. 25 Gizdich Ranch: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
No. 26 Bishop's Pumpkin Farm: CDFA Planting Seeds blog (2025-10)
No. 27 Pennyroyal Farm: Mendocino Winegrowers (mendowine.com)
No. 28 Round Pond Estate: Associated Press (via Daily Herald) (2014-03)
No. 30 Mike's Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze: Patch (Elk Grove) (2024-09)
No. 30 Mike's Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze: Macaroni Kid Stockton (2024)
No. 35 Greenspot Farms: Macaroni Kid (Upland-Claremont-La Verne) (2025-11)
No. 36 Harris Family Farm: Apple Hill Growers Association (2021-10)
No. 40 Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co.: culture: the word on cheese (2023-05)
No. 40 Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co.: Cheese Connoisseur (2017-04)
No. 41 Ojai Olive Oil: Los Angeles Times (archived at horthistoria.com) (2002-12)
No. 42 Clendenen's Cider Works: North Coast Co-op News (2017)
No. 42 Clendenen's Cider Works: Humboldt County Office of Education
No. 42 Clendenen's Cider Works: Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF)
No. 45 Cool Patch Pumpkins: Los Angeles Times (via Stars and Stripes) (2024-10)
No. 46 Temecula Berry Co.: Friday Flyer (Canyon Lake) (2023-06)
No. 48 Organic Matters Ranch: North Coast Journal (events) (2025)
No. 48 Organic Matters Ranch: Veritable Vegetable (grower profile)
Farm photos are from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licence shown in each caption:
No. 2: Avila Valley Barn, San Luis Obispo, United States (Unsplash) (Tim Mossholder, CC0)
No. 5: Wide Shot of Carlsbad Flower Fields (Pink Floyd Fan 101, CC BY-SA 4.0)
No. 9: Oak Glen, Los Rios Rancho 6-2012 (7408770578) (inkknife_2000, CC BY-SA 2.0)
No. 10: Swanton Berry Farm, Davenport, United States (Unsplash) (Farsai C., CC0)
No. 16: Murray Family Farms Big Red Barn - March 2022 - Sarah Stierch 04 (Sarah Stierch, CC BY 4.0)
No. 17: Patterson House at Ardenwood Historic Farm (Osalpekar, CC BY-SA 3.0)
No. 21: Oak Glen Snow-Line Orchard 6-2012 (7408755356) (inkknife_2000, CC BY-SA 2.0)
No. 27: Pennyroyal Farm - April 2024 - Sarah Stierch 02 (Sarah Stierch, CC BY 4.0)
No. 32: Frogs Leap Winery (16294742311) (Clay Gilliland, CC BY-SA 2.0)
No. 33: Riley's Farm, Oak Glen 11-10-12 (8199790845) (inkknife_2000, CC BY-SA 2.0)
No. 35: Greenspot Farms, Menton, CA 6-24-12 (7455165064) (inkknife_2000, CC BY-SA 2.0)
No. 40: Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company-4200 (Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0)
No. 42: Clendenen's Cider Works - December 2024 - Sarah Stierch 09 (Sarah Stierch, CC0)
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