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Located in Half Moon Bay, Lemos Farm is a working farm and themed family destination home to the bay area's best pony rides , train rides, hay rides, petting zoo, bounce houses, Goat Yoga and more . 

Lemos Farm is also the perfect place to host a kid's birthday party or Goat Yoga private event. We have hosted thousands of birthday parties, private events, and corporate experiences. Plan yours today!

Agriculturally, Lemos Farm produces Christmas Trees, Pumpkins, Corn, and Hay. The Farm also raises and cares for livestock including goats, sheep, chickens, and bunnies. The real farm work is done all year long right here at Lemos Farm. We see "agrotourism" to be an exciting opportunity for the general public to experience and understand what farm life is like by interacting directly with animals and various farm themed activities during their visit.

From unlimited day passes , to birthday parties, goat yoga, and field trips, we’ve got fun for everyone !

Mission Statement

“To inspire, entertain, and cultivate family through unique, fun experiences.”

Expect year round fun at Lemos Farm. Our farm continuously transforms to fit each season, but our most exciting time on the farm is during October. We host an amazing Pumpkin Patch in the Fall each year that brings out thousands of families. We have a live band, halloween themed festivities, and lots of pumpkins.

Farm History

Get to know the lemos family.

Lemos Farm has been around since 1942, but is far different today than when Frank Lemos first moved here from San Francisco. The story goes something like this... Back in the 40’s, a gentleman owed Lemos money, but not having any he gave him a cow instead. That cow had a calf, so Frank decided to buy a few more. This led to him buying some land for the cows, and that friends, is how Lemos Farm was born.

During the ‘60s, the ranch was rented as horse property and in 1979 Arnold Lemos and his son Bob Lemos began planting Christmas Trees. When 1980 hit, the Lemos family decided to get into the Pumpkin Patch business. To stand out, Arnold and Bob brought in ponies and a haunted house. Many other fun attractions have been added to the farm since then. Today, the farm is ran by the Lemos Family and welcomes guests all year-round.

The Painted Horse

Ol’ Paint is our family’s horse statue out front Lemos Farm greeting all who travel the 92 with a welcoming gesture as they drive into Half Moon Bay. We originally started painting him just three different themes - Halloween, Christmas and a year-round theme from January to August, but for the last 15 years Ol’ Paint has changed his theme on a monthly basis to reflect a different holiday or season.

In total, Ol’ Paint has been painted over 230 times to bring joy to all who journey through our little town. He’s a sight for sore eyes that’s loved by many. So the next time you’re driving down the 92, don’t forget to flash a smile at good Ol’ Paint.

Photo Gallery

Our animals.

At Lemos Farm, we raise and take care of all types of animals. You can meet them all when you visit us here on the farm. You'll see ponies, goats, sheep, chickens, bunnies, ducks, and horses. And there's more... Lemos Farm is planning to expand their home to even more animals soon. Check back here for more updates soon!

Animal Care

Feeding and care.

Here on the farm our animals are well taken care of. All our animal friends are fed on a schedule according to their specific needs, typically this means twice a day. Animal specialists are also on staff 24/7 and the Lemos family looks after them every day.

Work Schedule

Lemos Farm is a fun place to be a pony, goat, or sheep. All our animals work about 2 days a week, and enjoy the peaceful sanctitude of the farm on days off. During October, they work on rotations allowing them proper time for rest and relaxation. 

Each animal is thoroughly examined by local veterinarians on a routine basis. They have all necessary shots, vaccines, and health check-ups. In addition, each herd is considered to be an "isolated closed herd," meaning they do not come into contact with any other animals. This is imperative to keep all our animals and guests safe.

The goats, sheep and other petting zoo friends have 3 different large housing areas on the farm. Our horses and ponies have many different corrals and shelters, including pastures the size of our parking lots. 

Body Language

We love our animals and are always listening to them. Ponies, as an example, have a creative manner in which they communicate how they are feeling. When a pony's body language is relaxed, that means they are happy and content. An unhappy pony is nervous and can't stand still. When ponies communicate with us, we listen. They let us know when they aren't having a good day. Typically, our ponies love to give pony rides to kids! When we greet them in the mornings, they run to the gate happy to saddle up and go to work.

Farmstands & Farm Tours in the San Francisco Bay Area

Living in the city, it's easy to forget where our food comes from. More often than not, we buy our food at the grocery store, shrink wrapped in plastic, sourced from some far-off part of the world.

Despite these modern challenges, the Bay Area is an incredibly food-driven city. Locals pride themselves on knowing a lot about food and caring for the source of their ingredients. "Grown locally" is one of the most prized labels on Bay Area menus and food markets. Eating local is increasingly taking this to a new level. New "urban farms" have popped up starting up in the Bay Area, converting unused residential and commercial land into lush gardens for growing food and raising small livestock.

Click through the arrows above to see some of the local farmstands and farms that you can visit in and around Silicon Valley. Some of these farms offer tours and all of them sell fresh, homegrown produce and hand-crafted food. All of these farms are kid-friendly and make a fun day trip for the whole family.

Several of these farms are located along California’s Highway 1 from Half Moon Bay, south to Watsonville so they make a good stop on any Highway 1 road trip.

Looking to incorporate more healthy, local foods into your daily life? Check out this list of weekly farmers markets in San Jose or Silicon Valley. Looking for other food-related outings and experiences? Check out this guide to foodie things to do in San Jose and Silicon Valley.

Know other farms that you we should add to the list?  Send me an email  or connect on Facebook, Twitter, or  Pinterest .

Pie Ranch, Pescadero

Pie Ranch is a working organic farm and farm stand on the San Mateo County coast, south of Pescadero. While they do sell locally baked fruit pies at the farm stand, they are named for the triangular shape of their 14-acre farm property. Pie Rach has a mission to inspire sustainable food production and food system education. They host local high school students to participate in educational activities around cooking, farming, and nutrition. The farm also helps to mentor new farmers through their apprenticeship program. They also host organize volunteer opportunities and social events including a monthly barn dance

You can pick up a variety of seasonal produce and artisan food products and baked good at their farm stand. They will also give you a map and let you do a self-guided walking tour of the fields and grounds -- including their heirloom black pigs and a group of resident goats.

Pie Ranch, 2080 Cabrillo Highway, Pescadero - Farmstand: 560-879-0995 -  Website

Farmstand Hours: Open seven days a week, seasonal hours -- call for more information

Harley Farms Goat Dairy, Pescadero

Harley Farms Goat Dairy produces award-winning goat milk chevre, fromage blanc, ricotta, and feta cheese. They raise a herd of 200 on their historic dairy farm near downtown Pescadero.

The farm and cheese store is open year-round. The dairy organizes one-hour public farm tours that give visitors of all ages the chance to get out into the pasture and visit the animals. The tour takes you through all steps of the cheese making process from the milking room to their working farm kitchen. It’s a fun experience for kids who will get to meet the goats and learn to press and mold the cheeses. To book a tour, check their website for upcoming dates.

Travel tip: The best time to visit the farm is in the spring for the chance to meet the season's baby goats!nce to meet the season's baby goats!

Learn more about Harley Farms in this post: Visiting Harley Farms Goat Dairy .

Harley Farms Goat Dairy, 205 North Street, Pescadero, 650-879-0480 -  Website

Farm & Cheese Shop Hours: Thursday through Monday, 11 am to 4 pm

Swanton Berry Farm, Davenport

This seasonal berry farm offers you-pick strawberries at their Davenport farm and you-pick strawberries, ollaliberries, and blackberries at their site in Pescadero. Both sites have farm stands where they sell ready picked berries and locally made treats. All of their produce is certified organic. The farm prides themselves on their responsible labor practices and hires only union (United Farm Workers) employees.

The Davenport site has lovely views off toward the Pacific Ocean. Both stops are right off of Highway 1 and make great stops on any drive down the San Mateo to Santa Cruz County coast.

Swanton Berry Farm, 25 Swanton Rd, Davenport -  Website

Coastways Ranch U-Pick, 640 Highway 1, Pescadero.

Hours: Davenport Farmstand: Every day, 8 am to 8 pm. Coastways Ranch: Open Friday through Sunday, May to September.

Glaum Egg Ranch, Aptos

This small family-owned egg farm is hidden in the hills above Aptos, California and it's worth stopping here after a trip to the beach. Glaum Ranch is 100% cage free so you can feel good about the chickens that gave your eggs.

The highlight of your visit is the quirky "egg vendor" farm-made vending machine built into the side of the barn. Enter four one dollar bills into the machine and you are treated to a seasonally changing music box style puppet show at the window and a flat of 18 white eggs. Quirky fun for kids and grownups alike.

You can also buy eggs and local food products inside their farmstand.

Glaum Egg Ranch, 3100 Valencia Road, Aptos, 831-688-3898 - Website

Farmstand Hours: Monday thru Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm; Saturday, 8:00 am to 10:30 am; closed on Sunday

Taylor Street Farm, San Jose

Taylor Street Farm grew out of a university project founder Zach Lewis was doing for his urban planning Masters thesis at San Jose State University. He was studying the growth of urban farming and a local developer offered to loan him a small, undeveloped parcel of land to see if he could start a farm on it.

Fast forward a few years and the Taylor Street Farm is a thriving one-acre urban farm at the intersection of Taylor Street and the 87 freeway. The farm is run by Lewis’ nonprofit Garden To Table, a food and farming education and food policy organization that helps neighbors set up community gardens and harvesting surplus fruit from urban fruit trees to donate it to local food banks and nutrition programs.

The farm stand is open every Saturday and you can pick up seasonal fresh produce and some local artisan food products.

Taylor Street Farm, Next to the Citibank at 200 W Taylor St, San Jose -  Website

Farmstand Hours: Saturday, 10 am to 1 pm (spring and summer)

Veggielution, San Jose

Veggielution is a 6-acre urban farm and farmstand in East San Jose’s Emma Prush Farm Park. The farm is an important part of the diverse East San Jose community and offers a pleasant retreat in the shadows of the 101 freeway.

The farm is dedicated to education, community, and leadership building. Executive Director Cayce Hill says, “It’s not about pounds of food produced, but rather, about the connections that are created among people and the leadership that emerges from the community.”

The farm stand is open every Saturday for you to pick up farm fresh produce and locally made foods. The farm also offers cooking classes (in English and Spanish), home gardening workshops, and volunteer experiences for all ages.

Veggielution, Emma Prusch Park, 647 South King Road, San Jose -   Website

Farmstand Hours: Saturday, 10 am to 2 pm.

Other Farms & Farm Experiences

Here are some other local farms that offer farm stands, farm tours, and agricultural experiences.

Andy's Orchard : 1615 Half Road, Morgan Hill. This family-owned stonefruit farm has been growing fruit in the Santa Clara Valley for three generations. The farm runs a Country Store (open 10 am - 6 pm weekends and 10 am - 4 pm weekends) and runs tours on select dates. Check out their  event calendar  for more information. 408-782-7600

Full Circle Farm : 1055 Dunford Way, Sunnyvale. A local urban farm that offers farm tours, volunteer opportunities, a CSA, and a farm stand.  408-475-2531

Blue House Farm : 950 La Honda Road, San Gregorio. This Pescadero-based farm runs a farm stand open every weekend from 10 am to 5 pm. 650-879-0704 

The Agricultural History Project Center & Museum : 2601 East Lake Avenue, Watsonville. This local museum documents the agricultural history of Santa Cruz County. This museum is open every 2nd Saturday of the month (for their "Saturdays on the Farm"), 11 am - 3 pm, and other days by appointment. 831-724-5898

Local agricultural festivals and events:

• The Coyote Valley Family Harvest Feast is a celebration of locally-grown food, local farms, and Silicon Valley’s agricultural roots. The event will feature cooking demonstrations, farm stands, music and entertainment from around the world, guided hikes, and food vendors. This year's theme is urban agriculture and will feature local urban farms (Veggielution and Garden To Table) offering workshops on home gardening and home-crafted food. Find out more and RSVP here:  www.CoyoteValley2016.eventbrite.com .
• The Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival . A California-famous festival celebrating everyone's favorite fall crop, pumpkins. The event features a parade, food and culinary experiences, entertainment, kid-friendly activities, and the famous giant pumpkin weigh-off. Find out more about this popular local event here: Guide to the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival .

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The Best of the San Francisco Bay Area

Discover The San Francisco Peninsula! From fun family events to shopping and outdoor places to explore, you'll find it all here.

The Best Farm Tours on The San Francisco Peninsula

Get ready to learn about farm life here on The San Francisco Peninsula! This area is home to over 50 working farms , and several are embracing agritourism to give visitors a behind-the-scenes look through farm tours, farm stands , u-pick options , and cooking classes. From exploring farms with animals and local produce to learning about sustainable aquaponic farming, bring the whole family out for a day of fun.

1. Harley Farms - Pescadero, California

Near the California coast in Pescadero, Harley Farms Goat Dairy is open every day from 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Visitors to the farm can see the milking goat herd, as well as several other farm animals. While drop-ins are welcomed, tours allow visitors to get closer to the animals and learn more about dairy farm life. The Baby Goat Tours in the spring are an excellent choice for young children. You’ll also enjoy an exclusive discount on any farm shop purchases when you book a tour. Browse from a selection of goat cheeses and specialty items like goat cheese ravioli, honey, olive oil, and lavender lemonade.

Tours are $55 per individual, and private tours are available.

2.  Pie Ranch - Pescadero, California

Also located in Pescadero, Pie Ranch cultivates a healthy and just food system from seed to table through food education, farmer training, and regional partnerships. Tour options include a milling demonstration in the historic Roadside Barn and an introduction to small-farm operations. Other options include cooking lessons with a chef educator and baking pies from scratch!

Contact [email protected] if you are interested in bringing a private group to the farm.

3. Ouroboros Aquaponics Farms - Half Moon Bay, California

Located in popular Half Moon Bay just 40 miles south of San Francisco, Ouroboros Farms is one of the largest commercial aquaponic farms in the United States. Aquaponics is a sustainable farming method that uses less water than traditional soil farming. Public tours of the farm are available on an early Saturday of every month at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Visitors can also book a private tour for a more in-depth look at aquaponics operations. For those who are interested in urban farming at home, classes are available which also include a tour of the farm.

Public tours are $15 per person and children 12 and under are free.

Looking for more ways to explore the rich agriculture here on The San Francisco Peninsula? Learn about the San Mateo County  As Fresh As It Gets program and view our guide to Farmers’ Markets .

Keep Exploring

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5 Family-Friendly Farms and Gardens in the Bay Area

by Stacie Dong

April 24, 2015

Urban farms and gardens offer a wonderful opportunity for young ones to not just get out in nature but to learn about growing their own food. Luckily, the Bay Area has a growing number of urban farms and community gardens to explore. If you’re looking to dig in the dirt or feed a few farm animals, all of these destinations offer family-friendly events and activities.

Alemany Farm

Alemany Farm 700 Alemany Blvd San Francisco, CA

Alemany Farm—a 4.5 acre organic farm located on the Southeastern part of San Francisco—is on a mission to educate local residents about how they can become urban food producers. They host activities throughout the year, including their Annual Harvest Festival in October where you can roll up your sleeves and help with path mulching, compost-building and transplanting winter crops. Check out their calendar for upcoming volunteer workdays to help get involved on a drop in basis.

Garden for the Environment

Garden for the Environment 1590 7th Ave San Francisco, CA

The Garden for the Environment is a one-acre urban demonstration garden located in the Sunset District and is a little piece of paradise. With a mission around teaching the community about gardening and composting, the Garden for the Environment offers a variety of classes, workshops and educational programs for all ages. It’s also a wonderful spot to pop in just for a visit. Wander around with your kids and have them spot veggies they are familiar and learn about new plants and vegetables.

Children’s Garden at the San Francisco Botanical Garden

San Francisco Botanical Garden 1199 9th Avenue San Francisco, CA

The San Francisco Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park is such a magical place—and it's always a joy to wander amongst the mind boggling array of plants from all around the world that are grown there. But there is a very special spot tucked away in a quiet corner that's just for kids and families: The Children's Garden. While the area in mainly a destination for school groups, they do offer events that are open to the public as part of the “Kids Growing in the Garden” program. Activities include docent led tours, hands-on gardening and craft projects as well as garden story times.

RELATED: 5 Spots to Have a Picnic in San Francisco

Slide Ranch, Marin

Slide Ranch 2025 Shoreline Highway Muir Beach, CA

Slide Ranch, located just 30 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin County, offers a fantastic array of family programs throughout the year. This is a wonderful place for kids to try their hand at milking a goat, collecting chicken eggs, harvesting veggies and even exploring farm-to-table cooking. Their public programs, which include Toddler Days, Family Camp Outs and Family Farm Days, are extremely popular so it’s best to plan and get tickets well in advance.

The Little Farm, Oakland

Tilden Regional Park 2501 Grizzly Peak Boulevard Orinda, CA

The Little Farm in Oakland’s Tilden Regional Park is a beautiful spot for a day trip and well worth the journey. If you're an animal lover you’ll love the chance to feed cows, goats, ducks and chickens. This is a “bring your own” place so come armed with plenty of lettuce and celery to feed to the animals. The farm is open year round, entry is free and there are lots of other fun things to do around the park from picnicking, to browsing the nature center next to the farm, to riding the carousel, to taking a ride on the Redwood Valley Railway miniature steam train. Check the Tilden Park website for more info on specific attractions.

Photo credit: Mo Pie/Flickr , A Little Yumminess

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Farm Visits in the Bay Area

We are so fortunate to live in a area where we can receive fresh fruit and produce year round easily and abundantly. There are many farms that are open to the public for farm tours, U-Picks, and produce stands. Below are some of our favorites and be sure to check out our Farm Map to find a farm near you.

Tru2earth Farm

Tru2earth Farm is a local farm growing everything 100% organic. They are passionate about growing seasonal produce with exceptional flavors and sharing the love of farming through offering “Pick your Own” Strawberries, Flowers and Vegetables. They are family owned and have a wide variety of things to pick from. Or buy from their stand if you’re short on time. Makes for a great weekend activity and a delicious fresh meal!

Diablo Cherries

Diablo Cherries is a family owned and operated U-Pick cherry farm in Brentwood. When we visited the trees were fruitful, cherries were delicious, and the kids had a blast. It’s 🐶 dog friendly too, just remember to bring a leash. There is also a chicken coop you can check out. Diablo Cherries is open seasonally based on availability of ripe fruit. e sure to check their Instagram for updates and hours.

The Nest Box

The Nest Box in San Martin is the place to go for a full farm experience. We started off our visit by gathering produce to feed the goats. After we were done creating out “goat salad” we fed them and met the resident ponies. Next up was a light lunch consisting of items made on the farm. Once our bellies were full we fed the chickens and cows. We finished our visit by collecting eggs from the two chicken coops on property. It’s an amazing hands-on experience that kids and adults of all ages will enjoy. You can book a farm visit or farm stay at www.thenestbox.net .

The Urban Edge Farm

We visited The Urban Edge Farm recently and got some sunshine, fresh air, and enjoyed some fresh peaches picked from the tree. U-Pick orchards are open for various fruits throughout the year depending on availability. They also have a farm stand with organic fruit and veggies in addition to CSA boxes and an online shop.

Frog Hollow Farm

Frog Hollow Farm is known for their legendary fruit. Their peaches are especially perfect and ship (nationwide) to your door! With grilling season in full swing, you won’t be disappointed by tossing a few peaches on the grill. We made an amazing salad with prosciutto, burrata, and the star of the show, peaches! Frog Hollow Farm is open to the public for farm visits and events . 

B & R Farms

B & R Farms is home to the endangered Blenheim Apricot. They are located in Hollister and hosted San Benito County’s first-ever Apricot U-Pick event. Every year they have a few select dates for u-pick events. They also hold a holiday market with local small businesses featuring artisanal foods, home decor, arts and crafts, woodwork, clothing, specialty soaps and body products, and more. Enjoy BBQ and warm apricot cider during your visit! Their store is open throughout the year Monday – Saturday and their shop is available online as well.

Three Nunns Farms

Three Nunns Farms in Brentwood has amazing U-Pick cherry orchards. They also have picked fruit available as well as fruit trees so you can grow your own! It’s a great way to spend time outside with your family and get some delicious fruit. We recommend going on the weekdays and/or mornings to avoid crowds. We went in the morning and had a whole row of trees to ourselves! Happy harvest!

Andreotti Family Farms

Andreotti Family Farms is the only place in the state where you can cut your own sunflowers! They are a fourth generation family run farm in Half Moon Bay and sell only what they grow. In addition to flowers they also have a pumpkin patch in the fall and grow produce year round including kale, cabbage, beets, carrots, beans, and more! Definitely worth a trip and great fun for the whole family.

Skyline Chestnut Farm

Have you ever harvested chestnuts? Skyline Chestnuts is a gather-your-own, all natural and pesticide free chestnut orchard high up in the Skyline Open Space Preserve. Many of the trees are over 150 years old and of European variety. Gathering the nuts is lots of fun, but wear sturdy shoes and the gloves they provide or else the burrs will surely poke you! Check their website for specific times and to make sure there are still lots of nuts available to gather. Tip: bring a pair of tongs to make it easier to separate the nuts from the outside burrs.

G & S Farms

G & S Farms has been a family business for three generations, so they certainly know how to grow amazing produce! We visited for U-Pick cherries and learned tips during our visit too; picking with stem on will preserve the cherries for longer, as will refrigerating them. Make sure not to wash or rinse them until you are ready to eat, or they will be quicker to spoil.

High Ground Organics

High Ground Organics in Watsonville is the perfect place to go for U-Pick blueberries. The bushes are low to the ground and the berries come off easily making it ideal for young children. Their produce is available at local farmer’s markets as well.

Tour Sweet Farm ‘s sustainable agriculture fields, meet and hear the amazing stories of their animal ambassadors, and learn how you can be a part of Sweet Farm’s mission to create a more compassionate and sustainable world.

Gilroy Ostrich Farm

For a unique, outdoor and socially distant outing, visit Gilroy Ostrich Farm ! The animals will all put a smile on your face this holiday season. Guests can pet and feed the animals, many of which are rescues. The cuties include alpacas, goats, bunnies, ostriches, horses, rams, pigs, reptiles and more! Open every Friday-Monday from 9am-5pm (weather permitting).

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Friends of Deer Hollow Farm is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports the Farm via fundraising, awareness efforts and fun events for families.

Spring Updates: Celebrating 30 Years

By Shayne Zalameda March 27, 2024

Spring brings exciting news from Deer Hollow Farm! This season, we’re celebrating 30 years of community support. Thanks to you, we’ve sustained our mission of sustainable living and environmental education. In other updates, our iconic Iron Ranger has a fresh new look, thanks to your generous donations. Plus, we’re thrilled to welcome new members and + Read More

Embrace Springtime Fun: Deer Hollow Farm Tours Are Back!

By Shayne Zalameda February 18, 2024

Hey Farm Folks, Guess what? It’s Spring Farm Tours time at Deer Hollow Farm, and we’re gearing up for some serious fun! Circle Saturday, April 6th or April 27th on your calendar, because from 10 AM to 2 PM, we’re throwing open the gates to adventure! Get ready to wander through our charming old farm buildings, + Read More

Winter 2023 Whispers! ☃️

By Shayne Zalameda December 24, 2023

Embrace the frosty touch of winter! The Farm’s winter newsletter is here, showcasing exciting stories on our collaboration with Midpen for the Summer Outreach Event, a delightful Farm and Garden Field Trip, and the latest updates on our Board Members. Dive into these highlights and more in our Winter 2023 newsletter.

Join Our Team as a Bookkeeper/Office Manager at Deer Hollow Farm!

By Shayne Zalameda November 30, 2023

Are you passionate about preserving history, supporting educational initiatives, and contributing to a vibrant community? Look no further! Deer Hollow Farm, a historic ranch nestled within the Rancho San Antonio County Park and Open Space Preserve, is on the hunt for a detail-oriented and dedicated Bookkeeper/Office Manager to join our team. Job Snapshot: Position: Bookkeeper/Office + Read More

Key Deer Hollow Farm Supporters

Directions, hours, the farm is open to the public 8am to 4pm daily except: mondays (closed) and wednesdays, open 8am-1pm..

Friends of Deer Hollow Farm (FODHF) is an all-volunteer, non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization formed in 1994 to preserve and support Deer Hollow Farm, a regional teaching center in the heart of Silicon Valley that promotes environmental education. 

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• Spooky Times - Oct 21, 2023

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Friends of Deer Hollow Farm P.O. Box 4282 Mountain View, CA 94040

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Farm Tours in Bay Area: Forever Bloom Farm

Farm tours in Bay Area is a great educational and fun activity for the entire family. For many kids growing up in apartment buildings of densely populated California counties farm tours in Bay Area is the only real “hands-on” opportunity to learn about agriculture and where the food comes from.

We are very lucky that we have the perfect climate in Northern California for farming and there are lots of great farms nearby that supply fruits, vegetables, nuts and many other products not just to local farmers markets but to the entire country. Potato is probably the only vegetable that does not like California weather.

We are also very lucky because some of the local farms and ranches open their doors for educational farm tours in Bay Area and we are always on the lookout for the next one, especially during the harvest season.

Last weekend we had a chance to visit Forever Bloom Farm in Pescadero and we had a fantastic time! What makes a great farm tour in Bay Area? For me personally, an excellent family farm tour should have several components: lots of educational information provided in kid friendly format, an engaging host, opportunities to taste the produce and/or interactions with farm animals. Forever Bloom Farm tour had all these pieces in place.

Forever Bloom Farm, as the name suggests, grows different varieties of flowers but also berries (strawberries, blackberries), fruit (plums, apples and pears), vegetables (pumpkins, tomatoes, peppers) and eggs.

We started the farm tour with the greenhouse and learnt about how baby flowers grow and when they are ready to be planted outside. We also got introduced to a new concept of “compost tea” – have you heard of it? The plants love it! Overall we learnt about different varieties of flowers and at the end of the tour kids were given scissors to cut as many sweet peas flowers as they wanted to take home – it was a blast!

When we came to the fruits and berries area, we were allowed to taste as many strawberries as we wished and they were the SWEETEST strawberries that I have ever tried in my entire life, honestly, and I tried them in over two dozen U.S. States and 20+ countries. The owner of the farm, Tammy, attributes it to the unique chemical composition of the water on the farm with lots of salts. Kids were also offered to try some apples and even though they were not entirely ripe yet, my boys liked them more than the ones we buy in store.

We also stopped by the pumpkin patch, which will be a hit in October when Forever Bloom Farm starts creating its succulent pumpkins, i.e. pumpkins with succulent decorations on top. Coincidentally, their next farm tour is scheduled for October 1 😉

One of the most popular parts of the farm tour for kids was visiting the chicken coop and looking for eggs. The chickens were friendly and a little funny.

The whole farm tour lasted a little more than an hour and for the most part of the tour we were accompanied by the owner’s dog Poppy who loves kids and not surprisingly kids love him back.

We ended the farm tour at Forever Bloom Farm with a visit to the farm stand. The stand is open every day and it works on the honor system. You can buy potted plants, berries, fruits and veggies that are in season plus jams and a couple of backed goodies. The brownies were great and we also bought a ton of strawberries for the obvious reason.

I have to say a special thank you to Tammy, our guide and Forever Bloom Farm owner for the great time we had. She managed to make it interesting for both adults and kids. She made it especially engaging for kids, which comes easy to her since she used to be a teacher.

Forever Bloom Farm not only offers one of the most interesting farm tours in Bay area but also floral arrangements classes – check their website for details.

I have created a detailed Forever Bloom Farm tour video which you can watch here:

Other farms in Bay Area that we like

Ardenwood Historic Farm : for all the details, please check my article about Things to do in Fremont, CA .

Swanton Berry Farm : check out information about this farm in my Scenic CA-1 Road Trip Itinerary

If you found this information about farm tours in Bay Area and Forever Bloom Farm useful, please, share it with others because there is a high chance it will help them plan their road trip too. To stay up-dated on all the news and get access to lots of cool videos and photos, please, subscribe to my social media channels.

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About Food & Farm Tours

Since 2012, Food & Farm Tours has created authentic, artisanal experiences connecting Bay Area locals and out-of-town guests to the leading purveyors in Northern California’s sustainable and regenerative agriculture scene. As a female and locally owned small business, we are committed to building a stronger local economy, supporting family farmers, and raising awareness about the importance of sustainable agricultural practices for the health and viability of our planet and future generations. By taking a tour with us you are contributing to the preservation of the local agrarian economy to ensure we have a healthy food system and a vibrant farming community here in Marin and Sonoma counties. Come join us to taste artisan food and drink directly from the land and water sources here along the Northern California coastal corridor, just an hour north of San Francisco.

Meet Our Team

Alexandra Fox, Owner

Alex is a 3rd generation San Franciscan and Marin County native passionate about connecting people to the land and their food source. After working for a decade in the organic food industry, including stints at Straus Family Creamery and CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers), Alex has fostered intimate connections with top purveyors making renowned artisanal products here in Marin and Sonoma counties, from cheese and oysters to wine and spirits. These relationships, as well as her extensive knowledge of sustainable, organic, and regenerative agricultural practices (she holds an MBA in Sustainable Enterprise from Dominican University, and BA in Environmental Studies/ Sustainable Agriculture from UC Santa Cruz), make every Food & Farm Tours experience unique and educational. Alex is a true foodie and agricultural enthusiast, always hungry to check out the newest spots in town. She believes wholeheartedly that restoring people’s connection to food can change the world.

Casey Selden, Tour Guide

Before joining the Food & Farm Tours team, Casey spent over a decade helping people feel comfortable in the outdoors. She guided backpacking trips, designed outdoor rock climbing routes, and worked as a teacher/naturalist in the redwoods of Northern California. In 2013, she moved to San Francisco and parlayed her passion for guiding into a career leading tours around the city. In addition to running food tours , she designed neighborhood   walking tours to explore the history, culture and culinary scene of the Bay Area. Food & Farm tours is an ideal combination of her deep appreciation for the outdoors, her passion for food, and her fascination with the stories behind both.

Kim La Vere, Culinary Specialist & Tour Guide

Kim is a natural foods chef and trained in Ayurveda, herbalism, and wellness coaching. She decided to move to Sonoma County four years ago and shift focus from ten years in corporate retail in NYC to connecting to food, the land, and community. She is energetic about building further awareness on the interdependency of health & resilience to that of land & soil health. For the past five years, Kim’s work has revolved around creating experiences that help foster community, promote well-being, and facilitate connection back to the land. In addition to leading our cooking class tours, she does pop-up dinners, is a lead cook at the Occidental Arts & Ecology Center, and ran the Occidental Community Farmers’ Market this past year. When she is not on the land or in the kitchen, you can find Kim lacing up her boots on the soccer field.

Kaya Halpern, Tour Guide

Kaya grew up frolicking in the redwoods of Sonoma County where she fell in love with both exploring nature and having close access to delicious local food. After graduating from UC Berkeley, with a degree in Conservation and Resource Studies, she worked with kids doing habitat restoration and teaching watershed science at Point Blue Conservation Science. In addition to leading Food & Farm Tours, she works as a Naturalist on the outdoor education team at Walker Creek Ranch in West Marin. She loves cooking with the bounty from our foodshed, listening to podcasts, and heading out on backpacking adventures.

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• Field Trips

We are open for field trips and tours. 

Our field trip program is open to the general public and appropriate for audiences of all ages.  We provide hands-on, interactive trips that teach about local and organic agriculture, life sciences, sustainability, and nutrition for visitors of all ages from public and private schools, youth groups, and other area organizations.  Attendees get to participate in all the major steps of farming, including taking home a potted plant and harvesting a fresh, organic salad for lunch.  Please  contact us   for more details and to schedule a field trip.

Field trips are offered at the farm year-round, Tuesday through Friday with other time slots based on availability. Please  contact us  for detailed program information, current fees, and to schedule your trip.  Our Education Program Director will be happy to assist you.

In addition to home-schooled groups, Cub Scouts/Girl Scouts, and private groups, we also had a record number of public and private schools that visited us last season.  Some of our visitors included:

Martinez Middle School, Suncoast Waldorf School, Town n’ Country Elementary, Forest Hills Elementary, Plato Academy, Anderson Elementary, Forest Lake Elementary, Trinity School for Children, Mango Elementary, Country Day School, Pinellas County Jewish Day School, Academy at the Lakes, North Bay Christian Academy, Canterbury School, Sunset Hills Elementary, Eisenhower Elementary, West Gate Christian Prep, and Nature’s Academy.

CONTACT US TO BOOK YOUR FIELD TRIP!

• Volunteer Opportunities

"Why did you put that carrot in the dirt?"

That's what one of our curious 3rd graders asked us on his first visit to a farm.  Before his field trip to Sweetwater, he was utterly convinced that vegetables were "made" at the grocery store.

We think knowing where your food comes from and what "real" food looks like are some of the most important things a growing child should know and experience for themselves.  Do your part, and contact us today about booking a field trip for your students, family, friends, or community group.

Sweetwater Organic Farm 6942 West Comanche Ave. Tampa, Florida 33634

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WILD EXPLORERS FIELD TRIPS

Bringing the classroom to life

PLAN YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE WITH WILD EXPLORERS FIELD TRIPS

Our mission is to inspire curiosity through interactive hands-on educational experiences. 

WHAT WE OFFER

DAY FIELD TRIPS

We offer all ages field trips as well as age specific opportunities - all led by knowledgeable

 well-trained staff, guides and venue docents

Some of our favorite tours have included Tahoe Tree Top Adventures, Alcatraz, California Gold Rush, The Crocker Art Museum, Monterey Bay Aquarium, The California Museum, Monterey Bay Whale Watch, The California State Capitol, Six Flags Great America Education Days, Placer Nature Center, Sacramento State Planetarium, Long Dream Farm, B Street Theatre, Aerospace Museum and Moaning Caverns to name a few

OVERNIGHT NATIONAL AND STATE PARK TOURS

We offer group camping trips to California's State and National Parks. Included in this package is a guided tour led by a park ranger - explaining the history, ecology and geology in an age specific environment. Each child has the opportunity to become a Junior Ranger and earn a Junior Ranger badge. In addition, we offer short hiking excursions to some of the park's most popular destinations as well as exploring the Visitor's Center and park Museums

Some of our popular destinations include:

Angel Island, Yosemite, Mackerricher State Park, Bodega Bay, Indian Grinding Rock State Park, Mount Diablo, Lassen National Park, Death Valley National Park, Redwood National Park and Joshua Tree ​ ​

Check out our Upcoming Field Trips page to see current field trip offerings. 

Can't make a field trip but want to visit a venue or museum on your own time? Check out our A La Carte options.

Do you have a group that you would like us to plan a field trip for? Contact us and let us know how we can help.

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Parks to People

Bringing our parks into homes, classrooms, and communities. Learn about the natural resources, wildlife, and history of the Regional Parks. Take virtual reality tours of selected parks. Watch cool videos of storytelling and singing by park naturalists. Start learning now!  Digital Learning   |   Educator Resources   |   Interpretive Brochures & Panels   |   Living With...Series

In-Person & Virtual Programs

Field Trips : Our visitor centers offer a variety of in-person and live virtual field trips designed for educators. Hosted by naturalists, they cover a variety of environmental topics related to our parks. Programs are free to public school teachers and community organizations in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Apply here .

Public Programs: Join our naturalists for a variety of in-person or live virtual programs to have fun while learning about your Regional Parks. View Calendar of Events or  Search here and register for programs.

• Hikes & Strolls in the Regional Parks - March-April (PDF)

2950 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland, CA 94605 1-888-EBPARKS, 1-888-327-2757 (Deaf or Hearing Impaired, use the TRS at 711)

Field Trips

Bring your group out to the farm for a tour and engaging discovery lessons and activities., 2023-24 school year field trips.

Zenger Farm Field Trip Inquiries are currently full for the 2023-24 school year. If you would like to join our field trip waitlist in case of last minute openings, please fill out our Field Trip Interest Form below.

Field trips for the 2024-2025 school year will begin being scheduled in early fall 2024.

Thank you for your interest in visiting Zenger Farm! Zenger Farm field trips are for education-based programs. If you are interested in scheduling a field trip, please fill out the following form.

Field trips are for educational groups. If you are interested in corporate or organizational volunteering, teambuilding, or tours, please visit our volunteer page.

Please expect to schedule your field trip date at least two (2) weeks in advance.

Email [email protected] for more information.

When: Field trips are offered Monday through Thursday, from September- Early June.

Group Size: We can generally accommodate up to 60 participants at a time, depending on the type of field trip you are interested in.  If you are hoping to bring out a larger group, we may be able to schedule multiple trips to accommodate you. Field trips will always be a 12:1 ratio with our farm educators. 

Cost: For   student/child groups we offer a sliding scale payment of $5.00-$15.00 per participant, for a typical Farm Tour Field Trip, which includes a check in, game, a farm tour, stewardship project and a closing. Cooking, Herbalism, Nature Craft, & Native Tree field trips are sliding scale $8.00-$20.00. All work and activities will be accessible for the age group and need s.

* One chaperone for every four students is free of charge. Additional chaperones are asked to pay the participant fee.  Exceptions made for participants that need one-to-one support.

Note:  All field trips can include a stewardship component which gives youth a chance to connect with and give back to the land. For field trips that are 2.5-3 hours in length, we like to include an optional 30 minute lunch. We also welcome mixed groups of multiple grade levels.

Year Round Field Trips

Farm tour field trip (preschool - 1st grade).

Our Pre-K through 1st grade farm field trip begins with a farm tour which focuses on connecting kids to the land and helping them to enjoy all the sensory experiences the farm has to offer. This includes feeding our chickens, digging for worms in our worm bins, watching the birds, smelling the herbs, and tasting what delicious things are growing on the farm. We walk around the urban farm fields, explore the wetland and enjoy the children’s garden. We like to include a short break following the tour for groups who wish to bring a snack and take a break at our picnic tables. For the last portion of the trip we will work on a land stewardship project around the farm.

Our all ages farm field trip includes a farm tour in which we dive a little deeper into the science of the farm. We talk about compost and decomposers while playing with red wiggler worms, introduce plant parts while tasting what's growing on the farm, explore the importance of wetlands while playing with the cattails and learn about plant medicine in our First Foods garden full of native plant species. For upper grade levels we also make sure to discuss our various programs at Zenger and how we can all participate in a healthier food system. We make sure to tailor the information, discussion, and tour to include the information that is most relevant to that group. For the last portion of the trip we focus on a land stewardship project that allows students to build a relationship with the land and become involved in the health of the farm ecosystem.

Cooking Field Trip (All ages)

Cooking is such a valuable and important skill for young people to build! This is a hands-on cooking field trip where groups will rotate between stewardship and cooking projects. Half of the group will begin their day in the kitchen making a recipe together using ingredients harvested from the farm. We aim to incorporate culturally relevant foods into our recipes.This is a hands-on opportunity to learn knife skills, build connection, and share stories from the kitchen. The other half will spend the first hour of the day performing a stewardship project as a way to thank the land for the food it’s providing us to cook with. The groups then switch and the other half cooks while those who cooked during the first half work on a stewardship project. We then all eat together and clean up as a team.

All field trips include a stewardship component which gives youth a chance to connect with and give back to the land. For field trips that are 2 hours in length, the stewardship component is one hour. For three hour long field trips the stewardship project is an hour and a half and includes a 30 minute lunch. We also welcome mixed groups of multiple grade levels.

Herbalism Field Trip

This field trip will offer students an entry point into the magical and healing world of plant medicine and herbalism! Students will start their time on the farm with an herb and plant medicine walk/scavenger hunt. They will later harvest herbs from the farm to prepare an herbal product as a group. Trip organizers can choose which herbal product their students will make- either a salve, herbal syrup, tea blend, candles, burning bundles, or kid-friendly tinctures.

Nature Craft Field Trip

This field trip offers students a chance to get creative and comfortable with nature crafting. Nature crafting is the practice of building relationships with nature through crafting! Students begin their time on the farm with a farm tour and scavenger hunt for fallen and/or bountiful beings on the farm to craft with. The group will later spend time crafting. Crafts can range from basket weaving, printmaking, flower pounding, and so much more. Trip organizers can choose ahead of time which nature craft they would like their students to create.

Macrocatch Investigation Field Trip

This field trip offers students a chance to immerse themselves in the wetland at Zenger Farm, and learn the ins and outs of water health and wetland landscapes. Students will begin their time on the farm taking a farm tour, with a focus on the wetland and their relationship to the farm. Later in their day, students will have the opportunity to practice macrocatch in the wetland. Macrocatch is an investigative activity that introduces students to water and ecosystem health, as well as resource preservation. Students will spend time in the wetland doing a critter catch and recording their observations in order to test a hypothesis about the health of the wetland here at Zenger Farm.

Native Trees Field Trip

Here at the farm we are super lucky to work with land that hosts many native trees! From Firs to Cedars to Maples, the farm is home to plenty of amazing elder trees, who have so much to teach us. This field trip introduces students to plant identification, the role of trees in the natural environment, and the different relationships trees have formed with humans and other plant beings. Students will start their time taking a farm tour, with a focus on native and evergreen trees and their relationship to the farm. Later in the day, students will have the opportunity to create their own nature craft inspired by the tree they took most interest in that day.

Pollinator Field Trip

This field trip offers students a chance to learn about how and why to support pollinators. Students will spend time observing pollinators in our farm fields, including honeybee hives and mason bee homes. Students will start their time on the farm taking a farm tour, with a focus on pollinators and their relationship with the farm. Later in their day, students will have the opportunity to inspect an empty beehive and beekeeping equipment, taste local honey and/or honeycomb, and make seed bombs with pollinator-friendly flowers.

15 Best Farms for Strawberry Picking in the Bay Area 2024 [+ Map]

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• There are several spots to go strawberry picking in the Bay Area, including farms near Gilroy, Watsonville, and along Highway 1 between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz.
• The best time to pick strawberries is from April to July , with the best-tasting varieties available in the early summer, costing around $4 to $10 per pound.
• Our favorite spot is Swanton Berry Farm , as they have some of the best organic strawberries we’ve tried in the region, plus their pies are delicious!

Do you want to go strawberry picking in the Bay Area?

Strawberry picking in the Bay Area is a wholesome and fun activity that is perfect for friends, couples, and families. 

We have you covered with where to pick strawberries and the best farms in the Bay Area where you can get your hands dirty and learn about the region’s agriculture.

Whether you plan to go strawberry picking in Half Moon Bay, the East Bay, or San Francisco , there are plenty of options nearby.

You will find everything you need below to plan an epic trip to pick your own strawberries from the best organic farm to what you need to pack for your trip.

Now let’s check out the best farms for strawberry picking in the Bay Area!

Strawberry Picking in the Bay Area

Did you know that 91% of US-produced strawberries come from California ? 

And because the Bay Area has the perfect climate for all kinds of berries to thrive in, you’ll find many U Pick strawberry farms across Contra Costa, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, and San Mateo counties. 

Why visit just one organic strawberry farm when you can use this list of the Bay Area’s best pick-your-own berries for a perfect day of visiting multiple farms with friends or your family? 

1. Swanton Berry Farm (Davenport)

• Season : Strawberry season from April and May, Olallieberry u-picks in June/July, and Kiwi u-picks in November to January
• Hours: 8 am to 5 pm
• Fees : $8 per pound 
• Google Map | Website | Facebook | 831-889-0850

Founded in 1983 by Jim Cochran, Swanton Berry Farm was the first organic strawberry farm in California. 

Today, the farm is a prime spot for strawberry picking in Half Moon Bay . 

It remains a beloved producer of farm-fresh goods distributed to local farmers’ markets throughout the central and northern California coast. 

Swanton Berry Farm is open year-round, but u-picking is only available from April or May until around August . Visitors can buy already-packed strawberries or pick their own at the farm.

After the strawberry season, you can still enjoy the farm’s produce with their yummy jam, strawberry shortcake, and organic pies baked right on the property.

Kids can check out the vintage toys while the grown-ups can relax on the picnic tables and chairs.

Swanton Berry Farm takes cash, credit cards, and Apple pay.

• 🍓U-Pick Fruits: Strawberries, blackberries, olallieberries, loganberries, kiwis
• 💎Other Offerings: The farm sells baked goods, jams, hot strawberry-apple cider, strawberry lemonade, pumpkins (seasonal) 

Local Tip : After visiting this strawberry farm, stop by Shark Fin cove to see one of the unique beaches along the coast .

2. Coastways Ranch (Pescadero)

• Season : April-May
• Hours: 10 am to 5 pm, Friday to Sunday
• Fees : $5 per pound
• Google Map | Facebook | 650-879-0414

If you’re visiting Swanton Berry Farm, you can also visit their co-owned Coastways Ranch just down the road. 

Coastways Ranch, located in Pescadero, is one of the best stops when you’re driving along the scenic Highway 1 . 

You can reach the farm by driving south from Half Moon Bay, then stopping just past Ano Nuevo State Park, and the farm’s entrance is on the left side.

During the organic strawberry picking season (from April to May), the farm operates only on the weekends. 

Many guests swear by the size of the strawberries here as they are supposedly bigger than the berries at their sister farm stand in Davenport. 

Call before visiting to ensure u-pick is available, as they adapt the open days to the amount of ripe fruit in the field. 

• 🍓U-Pick Fruits: Strawberries
• 💎Other Offerings: Artichokes, pumpkins, and kiwis

Local Tip: This U Pick strawberry farm is a great road trip stop from San Francisco .

3. R&R Fresh Farms (Pescadero)

• Season : May to August
• Hours: 10 am to 6 pm daily, except on Monday (they open at noon and close at six pm)
• Fees : $3 to $6 per pound
• Google Map | Instagram | Facebook | 650-954-0055

R&R Fresh Farms , also known as R&R Fresh Herbs , is an adorable small farm located in the coastal town of Pescadero . 

It offers a relaxing mountain view as the backdrop of the u-pick olallieberry, blueberry, and strawberry fields.

R&R Fresh Farms is known for producing the area’s best organic berries . 

Its strawberry field is a hit with young kids, but this farm is more famous for its olallieberries , which can be plentiful around mid-June. 

If available, make sure to try their freshly-based pies . They’re scrumptious!

R&R Fresh Farms update guests about which type of berry is currently available for u-picking, so make sure to call before visiting. 

R&R Fresh Farms keep a healthy number of hens and sell fresh chicken and duck eggs. 

• 🍓U-Pick Fruits: olallieberries, blackberries, and strawberries
• 💎Other Offerings: jams, jellies, fruit butter, honey, herbs, eggs, vegetables, and succulents

Local Tip : If you’re visiting this farm with kids, consider stopping by Pescadero beach for a picnic and you can even check out some tidepools . 

4. Blue House Farm (San Gregorio)

• Season : April to October, closed in the winter
• Hours: Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm or until they sell out.
• Fees : $7 per pound
• Google Map | Website | Facebook | [email protected]

The Blue House Farm is a 5-acre certified organic farm established in 2005 by first-generation farmer Ryan Casey. 

This farm is busy year-round, and when the berry season is over, it continues selling many fresh vegetables at its farmstand and various markets nearby. 

Anyone looking for flowers for their rustic wedding should check out Blue House Farm’s flower garden.

The farm grows 3 acres of sunflowers, dahlias, delphinium, and other bulbs and annuals from May through October. 

Of course, the u-pick is still the star of the farm. Their fresh strawberries are sweet and addicting . 

If you visit during the season, you must try one of Blue House Farm’s berry popsicles. 

• 🍓U-Pick Fruits: Albion and San Andres strawberries
• 💎Other Offerings: pumpkin patch, organically-grown veggies, fruit, flowers, dry beans, and preserve

Local Tip : After picking up your fruits, visit San Gregorio State Beach, one of the beautiful beaches along the California coast , for a picnic. 

5. Three Nunns Farm (Brentwood)

• Season : Strawberries (Mid-May to April), Cherries and Peaches (May to June), Apricots and nectarines (June to August), Melons, Pumpkins, and tomatoes (September to October)
• Hours: 9 am to 6 pm daily
• Fees : $4 to $8 per pound, Reservations are required for group visits or field trips.
• Google Map | Website | Facebook | 925-550-0870  

If you’re after a memorable strawberry and cherry picking experience, you have to visit Three Nunns Farm .

The story of Three Nunns Farm began over 100 years ago with George Nunn, who first built this family farm.

Today, the farm is run by third, fourth, and fifth-generation Nunn family members, most notably the three Nunn siblings Jake, Sam & Hailey. 

Three Nunns Farm produces high-quality fruits and vegetables year-round, with pumpkins in the fall, strawberries and cherries in the spring , and peaches in the summer.

Kids will love Three Nunns Farm for the u-picking programs and fun activities like tractor rides and corn mazes .

Three Nunns Farm accepts cash or card and sells their produce by the pound.

• 🍓U-Pick Fruits: strawberries, cherries, blueberries, peaches, and pumpkins
• 💎Other Offerings: watermelons, pomegranates, cucumbers, cantaloupes, bell peppers, garlic

6. Berry Best Family Farm (Brentwood)

• Season : From May to June
• Hours: 9 am to 5 pm daily
• Fees : $3.50 per pound with a 2-pound minimum, entrance fee of $1/person, cash only
• Google Map | Website | Facebook | Instagram | 209-323-9364

Berry Best Family Farm is one of the best strawberry picking farms in the Bay Area. 

They take pride in their annual harvest of sweet strawberries, boysenberries, olallieberries, and blackberries. 

They also grow various vegetables, figs, peaches, plums, apricots, and more throughout the year that also can be purchased at their farmstand. 

Berry Best Family Farm is known for its medium-sized, super-sweet, and juicy strawberries, which they claim to be the sweetest in the county . 

When berries are in season, you can visit to pick your own strawberries on set days that they release on their social media pages. 

If you just want to stop by, you can purchase pre-picked strawberries from their farm stand seven days a week from 9 am to 5 pm. 

If you’re visiting to u-pick strawberries, bring your bucket if you don’t want to pay for a box.

• 💎Other Offerings: Pre-picked boysenberries,  olallieberries, blueberries, and corn are also available

7. Bacchini’s Fruit Tree (Brentwood)

• Season : May to June
• Hours: U-pick is open from 9 am to 4 pm daily when the fruit is in season. They sometimes close on Mondays after a busy weekend of picking, so check their socials or give them a call . 
• Fees : Only pay for what you pick ($8 to $10 per pound). Accepts cash and cards
• Google Map | Website | Facebook | 925-634-3645 

Bacchini’s Fruit Tree is a family-operated Picked and U-Pick fruit stand that has been providing deliciously fresh fruit since 1945. 

Located in Brentwood, about 60 miles from San Francisco, Bacchini’s Fruit Tree is popular for offering all the seasonal fruits of California in one place. 

So if you’re looking for blackberries, apricots, white peaches, cherries, nectarines, and more, you can’t go wrong with this farm.

The price of Bacchini’s Fruit Tree’s produce is higher than supermarket prices, but you’re paying for top-notch quality fruit that you can pick at the peak of ripeness.

• 🍓U-Pick Fruits: cherries, peaches, and walnuts
• 💎Other Offerings: plouts, loquats, Kiowa blackberries, raw honey (by preorder)

8. Berry Island Farms (Gilroy)

• Season : April to October
• Hours: Weekends from 9 am to 1 pm (during fruit season), offseason the farm is open Saturdays. Double-check the schedule on Facebook; they post updates there.
• Fees : $5 per pound, cash only
• Google Map | Website | Facebook | 831-710-7407

Berry Island Farms is a small family-run farm with a selection of berries for a u-pick harvest during the late spring and early summer. 

This is the place to go if you’re a fan of blackberries since the farm has some of the largest and juiciest blackberries throughout the Bay Area.

The farm has a range of containers (1-pound and other sizes) for visitors, making it easy to separate between berries and keep them from bruising.  

If they are selling their famous habanero salsa, buy a jar or two, or you will miss out on one of their best products. 

If you can’t visit in person, Berry Island Farms also sells its products online . 

• 🍓U-Pick Fruits: strawberries, raspberries, boysenberries, and blackberries 
• 💎Other Offerings: fresh tomatoes, peppers, root vegetables, cabbages, summer/winter squash, and local honey

9. Gilroy U-Pick (Gilroy)

• Season : April to July
• Hours: Call for accurate hours
• Fees : $7.99 per pound, cash, walk-in and mini-tour reservations available
• Google Map | Website | (408) 607-1417

Gilroy U-Pick is a small, family-operated farm located in the heart of Gilroy’s farming community. 

The farm offers u-pick during the season and other freshly-picked fruits and vegetables throughout the summer. 

Owners of GilroyUpick are true to their mission of producing no-spray fruits or veggies. 

They’re also legends in the local scene for giving personal, VIP-style mini-tours to visitors .  

If you’re looking for a spot to bring your mom on Mother’s Day, GilroyUpick makes this event extra special. 

When you visit for strawberry and cherry picking, try the farm’s unique pluerries (an interspecific cross between sweet cherries and plums). 

Note that Gilroy U-Pick has no bathroom on the premises and parking is limited.

• 🍓U-Pick Fruits: cherries, strawberries, blackberries, pluerries
• 💎Other Offerings: plums/pluots, watermelons, cantaloupes, string beans, corn, and other vegetables

10. Gizdich Ranch (Watsonville)

• Season : The strawberry season is from May to July
• Hours: The pie shop and deli are open every day from 9 am to 5 pm; check the schedule for u-pick or call since weather conditions could affect u-pick opening hours in the summer.
• Fees : Varies by season 
• Google Map | Website | Facebook | 831-722-1056

The Gizdich Ranch is located deep in Watsonville’s apple country, but their pie shop is worth the trip on its own.

It has been a landmark attraction on the picturesque Peckham Road since Croatian immigrant Vincent John Gizdich purchased the farm in 1937. 

Today, the farm has expanded to over 50 acres dedicated to growing the best-tasting fruits. 

The Pick-Your-Self program at Gizdich Ranch began in 1965 and continues to be a favorite summer activity for locals and tourists alike. 

Unlike other farms that close shop after the strawberry season, Gizdich Ranch still attracts thousands of people to their pie shop (opened in 1980). 

They originally baked only apple and berry pies. Now they have over 16 different types of pies and baked goods options , including fruit pastries, apple dumplings, strawberry shortcakes, and other goodies made from the farm’s produce. 

• 🍓U-Pick Fruits: strawberries, boysenberries, olallieberries, and apples
• 💎Other Offerings: frozen pies, pastries, sandwiches, and desserts available for dine-in and takeout

11. Live Earth Farm (Watsonville)

• Season : Strawberries (starts mid-June), blackberries (September), tomatoes (mid-August), apples and pumpkins (October)
• Hours: U-pick is open weekends from 10 am to 3 pm during fruit season , the Farm Stand is open from late May to October. Check here for Farmer’s market schedules.
• Fees : $3 to $5 per pound
• Google Map | Website | Facebook | 831-763-2448

Established as a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm in 1995, Live Earth Farm is a perfect destination for field trips, farm education, and a family day of learning about farming fruits and vegetables.

Aside from being at the forefront of organic farming education, Live Earth Farm also sells a weekly box of organic produce similar to subscription boxes. 

The only downside is that they only have drop sites for Santa Cruz, Monterey, Santa Clara, and San Mateo counties.

The best part is that you can just visit Live Earth Farm and experience picking your own fruit and vegetables from one of the best Bay Area farms.

• 🍓U-Pick Fruits: Strawberries, blackberries, apples and pumpkins 
• 💎Other Offerings: seasonal vegetables and preserves

12. Cloverfield Organic Farm (El Sobrante)

• Season : Year-round
• Hours: U-pick visitors are welcome on Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays from 12 pm to 5 pm
• Fees : $8 per pound; accept cash, cards, PayPal & Venmo
• Google Map | Website | Facebook | 510-253-8859

If you’re looking for a place to go berry picking in San Francisco, check out Cloverfield Organic Farm , as it is the closest option on this list to the city. 

Cloverfield Organic Farm has weekly u-picks on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in the afternoon. 

No reservations are needed if you are visiting with a small group.

If the open sign is out, the owners will welcome you with a mini tour of their certified organic farm and an opportunity to pick your own fruits and vegetables . 

Call the farmer to schedule your visit for bigger groups and arrange a picnic or a chance to hang out with Magic Ben, the horse. 

Aside from u-picks, visitors could also check out the farm’s nursery and plant organic edibles with the in-house farmer. 

• 🍓U-Pick Fruits: plums, citruses, cherries, wild berries
• 💎Other Offerings: kale, herbs, squash, edible flowers, branded merch

13. Webb Ranch (Portola Valley)

• Season : June to July
• Hours: 9 am to 6 pm
• Fees : $8 per pound
• Google Map | Website | Facebook | 650-854-6334

This is the only farm on this list without strawberries, but if you’re open to trying other berries, you should visit Webb Ranch in Portola Valley.

Webb Ranch is a 100-year-old ranch with a horse riding program and an organic blackberry u-pick farm . 

Aside from the u-picking season, people also visit Webb Ranch for its pumpkin patch in October and its vibrant Santa’s Village , which opens on Thanksgiving and lasts for several weeks.

• 🍓U-Pick Fruits: blackberries, boysenberries, olallieberries, and marionberries
• 💎Other Offerings: horse-riding camp for kids, organic compost, and other produce such as bush berries, tomatoes, stone fruits, sweet corn, pumpkins

More Bay Area Berry Picking Farms

• JSM Organics (Royal Oaks) – Website | Facebook
• Dwelley Family Farms (Oakley) – Facebook

Strawberry Picking Bay Area Map

Strawberry Picking Season in the Bay Area

What season is strawberry season in California?

The strawberry season in California is slightly different in Northern and Southern California. 

Northern California (Santa Carla, Monterey, Santa Cruz, and other areas) harvest strawberries from April to July . 

While the strawberry picking season in Southern California (Los Angeles, San Diego, Oxnard, etc.) is from January until May .

Be aware of this schedule and check with the farms if you plan to do some strawberry picking in San Jose or other bay area farming areas.

What month is best for strawberry picking?

U pick strawberries in the Bay Area begins its season in April and extends throughout July . 

These late spring or early summer months produce the best-tasting strawberry varieties . 

Locals know it’s time to start strawberry picking when the Bay Area starts to warm up for the season.

Bay Area Strawberry Picking: What you need to know

Once you’ve picked the farm to visit, here’s what you need to know about entrance fees, cost of u-pick berries, parking, and other amenities: 

• COST: Strawberry u-picking is charged by the pound, ranging from $4 to $10 per pound . Some farms have a nominal entrance fee and a required purchase of 2 pounds of strawberries per person. 
• PARKING: Most farms do not charge for parking. You also wouldn’t have trouble finding a spot, even with crowds in most cases. 
• ON-SITE AMENITIES: Some farms have in-house cafes where you can sample their baked goods and drinks.

Other farms partner with food trucks or host events during the berry-picking season. 

Almost all the farms have public bathrooms, but a few don’t so call before you arrive. 

What to Bring for Strawberry Picking in the Bay Area

Bring cash when you visit any farm. Some might accept credit cards, but bringing some cash with you is always a safe bet. 

Farms also have other items available for sale, including homemade strawberry jams to other farm-fresh goods like honey, eggs, or herbs you might also like buying. 

After all, purchasing products is the best way to support these amazing local farmers.

Your entire stay at the farm will most likely be under the sun, so make sure to lather up with plenty of this sunscreen before visiting the farm. 

You may experience some of the famous Bay Area fog during your visit, but you will most likely spend the day under the sun. 

Sunscreen might not be enough, especially if you are scheduled to pick strawberries in the heat of the summer. 

Wear a sun hat to keep the sun out of your face while picking fruit. 

• BUCKET OR BASKET

Some farms sell buckets, while others charge for plastic bags. To save money, check the farm to see if you can bring your own bucket. Using your basket or bucket is also eco-friendly.

Some farms require that you use their containers for the purpose of weighing the fruit accurately.

If the You Pick Strawberry Farm you decide to visit is far from your home, pack an ice chest or cooler with you. 

The ice chest can serve as your strawberry storage so that the fruits of your labor don’t bake in the car if you make a second stop at a farm.

Practical Tips for Strawberry Picking in the Bay Area

• Red means ripe

Unlike bananas and other fruits that still ripen after harvest, berries don’t ripen after they’ve been picked .

Fortunately, it’s super easy to find ripe strawberries. Just skip the yellow and green ones, and look for red strawberries.

You’d be surprised how busy farms can be, especially during strawberry season. 

If you want to pick strawberries, go to the farm early, as it will have fewer crowds as soon as the farm opens its gates. 

Note that some farms only allow a limited amount of berries to harvest daily. Getting to the farm early also means you will enjoy first dibs on the ripest fruit. 

• Call to check in case reservations are needed

Some farms may require visitors to make reservations to ensure their strawberries are spread out to guests. 

Check the farm websites for reservation forms and fill them out. If there’s no online reservation, simply call the farm and ask about reservations.

• Dress appropriately

When visiting any farm, wear closed-toe shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty as you will be walking in the soil-covered rows between the strawberry plants.

You should also wear comfortable clothes as you will need to be able to squat down to pick the berries. 

Strawberry farms in the Bay Area can get a little chilly in the early morning and windy in the afternoon, so bring a layer just in case. 

• Dogs are not allowed on the fields

Most farms do not allow dogs to go fruit picking with you as people eat the strawberries right from the plants, and our four-legged friends are not the most hygienic. 

Dogs LOVE strawberries but are also unaware of where they step, and they can damage the crops.

• Be respectful of the property

Farm owners and crew are friendly and welcoming to guests. 

There aren’t too many rules to follow, but basic etiquette dictates limiting your sampling of berries while on the field. If you touch a piece of fruit, take it. Also, don’t smoke while in the fields.

FAQs: Berry Picking Bay Area

What month is strawberry picking in california.

Northern California strawberry farms harvest from April to July, with the peak falling between May and June. 

Southern and Central California’s strawberry picking season starts in January until September, but peak season falls between April and June. 

How much is the entrance fee at a strawberry farm?

The entrance fees for a strawberry farm can range from as low as $2 to $10, depending on whether the admission includes the fruit.

Many strawberry farms charge a nominal fee to enter, but each visitor must buy a set amount of berries, usually around two pounds.

Be prepared to spend between $5 to $30 per visitor, usually including the entrance fee and two buckets. 

Is it better to pick strawberries in the morning or afternoon?

The best time of day to pick strawberries is in the afternoon, during the warmest portion of the day.

This is when strawberries are their tastiest and juiciest and are best consumed as soon as possible.

Strawberries bruise easily, so if you plan to store them for a day or so, harvest them when they are still cool in the mornings. 

What city in California grows the most strawberries?

Oxnard, California, is the most popular strawberry farming city, and this growing region is known as the Strawberry Capital of the World.  

Oxnard’s location offers the ideal strawberry-growing conditions with its coastal climate and early Spring, which provides a long growing season.

Where can I pick strawberries in the Bay Area?

The top area for picking strawberries in the Bay Area are Brentwood, Half Moon Bay, and Watsonville. 

The majority of the u-pick strawberry farms are located in these farming communities.

Fruit picking in the Bay Area not only includes strawberries, but you can also pick cherries, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, olallieberries, and boysenberries.

Wrap-Up: Strawberry Picking in the Bay Area

Now that you know everything you need to know to plan a day of strawberry picking in the Bay Area , all you have to do is pack your sunscreen, a sun hat, and your favorite bucket before hitting the road.

With so many options of where to go strawberry picking, maybe consider selecting a few options and making a full-day adventure.

Gather your family and friends and have a fun day immersing yourselves in this unique opportunity to connect with your local farms and farmers.

Gabriel is the head writer for Chef Travel Guide and has been featured in the Huffington Post, Martha Stewart, Eat This, Not That, Real Simple, Muscle and Health, and many more. He was born and raised in California and has worked as a professional restaurant chef for over 20 years. After escaping the “kitchen life”, he is now focused on his passion for the outdoors and world travel. Gabriel’s passions include trail running and hiking on California's incredible trails, camping in the redwoods, and exploring the golden state from the Eastern Sierras to the rugged North Coast.

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Living History Field Trips

Revolutionary war, colonial farm life, old joe homestead tour, revolutionary war overnight, gold rush overnight.

“Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it!”

A living history adventure tour is much more than a field trip, it’s a chance to experience a first-hand glimpse of America’s past. Riley’s Farm offers a diverse variety of tours ranging from the beginning of America’s revolution to the Gold Rush of 1848! History comes to life, whether you taking up arms to defend the freedom of the American Colonies, debating the the choice of succession on the brink of the Civil War, or prospecting for gold as a 49er, you, your family, students, and friends will be inspired by the sights and sounds of history in the re-making!

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Already have your Tour booked and need to make a Deposit? Here’s your destination !

Field Trips for Students in Kindergarten through 8th Grade

Annual PTSA donations partially or fully support student participation in a variety of field trips. Field trips enrich and expand classroom curriculum, strengthen student’s observation skills with hands-on experiences, increase student’s understanding of particular subject areas, and expand student’s awareness of their own community.

In-House and Day Field Trips

Our youngest students experience a variety of field trips on campus or during the school day.  Past field trips have included: Safety-town for our kindergarteners, 1st and 2nd grade trips to Redwood Regional Park, 3rd grade trips to the California Academy of Sciences and the Alameda Amazing Race, exploring the Exploratorium with the 5th graders, and much more.

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Bay Area Animal Camps

Spending a summer taking care of animals, learning about their habitats or having regular encounters with a variety of creatures can change a child’s life. Research shows that kids’ exposure to animals helps them develop a sense of compassion, environmental awareness and responsibility, among other things. Furthermore, animal encounters may also spark an interest in fields like veterinary medicine, zoology and marine biology. Fortunately, the Bay Area is thriving with summer camps where kids can learn about, watch and sometimes touch animals. Zoo Camps If your child can’t get enough of animals from around the world like elephants, tigers and giraffes, a zoo camp may be a great option. Both the Oakland and San Francisco zoos offer weeklong day camps featuring such activities as zoo tours, animal encounters, arts and crafts, games, animal shows and zookeeper talks and feedings. At the Oakland Zoo, the camps throughout the summer are tailored for ages 4 through teen with a variety of different themes like animal families, predators and prey, and jobs at the zoo, says Zoo Camp Director Liz Low. “The thing that makes it special is each class gets animal close-ups,” she says. “They get to be in a room with an animal that they are not going to be able to get this close to otherwise. They get a behind-the-scenes tour with the zookeepers.” The camps cost $206-359 with discounts for members and those who sign up for multiple weeks. Registration begins March 6 for members and March 13 for non-members. At the San Francisco Zoo, there are weeklong day camps throughout the summer for ages 4-13. Zoo officials hadn’t decided at press time whether there would be a teen camp. What’s exciting this year, says Sarah Riemer, director of education, is that the zoo has two new animal exhibits – wolves and Coquerel’s sifaka, a type of lemur from Madagascar. Campers will get a behind-the-scenes look at these animals and others each week and enjoy a variety of other activities such as games and crafts, says Riemer. Camps cost $250-400 per week and $575-675 if you sign up for two weeks. There are member discounts. Going to zoo camp can be beneficial for children in a variety of ways, says Riemer. “Children and animals have a natural connection,” she says. “It’s comfortable for children to be in the same space with animals.” The Oakland Zoo’s Low agrees.  “Kids interact with these animals and are more inclined to help protect them later in life,” she says. “It’s creating stewards who are going to care for wildlife in the future.”  Wildlife Camps Learning about local wildlife is another way kids can enjoy animal connections. At WildCare in San Rafael, campers get up close with mostly native animals that can no longer live in the wild. The hospital and education center typically has 20 to 24 animals living there that cannot be released back into the wild because of injuries usually caused by humans. Some of the activities campers may experience include touching and learning about the animals at the center, going for hikes to search for animal tracks, wildlife-themed games, preparing meals for animals and nature crafts. The camps are separated by age groups in kindergarten through sixth grades, and they have themes like “Animal Neighbors,” “Feathers, Fur and Scales,” “Secrets of Survival,” “Conservation Camp” and “Watery World of Wildlife.” Prices for half-day camps range $170-190 for half day and $320-340 for full day, and there are scholarships. This kind of exposure to animals is so important for kids, says Eileen Jones, education program manager at WildCare. “You don’t care about things you don’t know about. Most of the animals are here because of interaction with humans,” she says. “It’s important that children have empathy for animals.” Similar to WildCare is Sulphur Creek, a wild animal hospital and education center in Hayward that offers a variety of camps for ages 3½ to 14 years old. Campers get close to animals like owls, opossums and snakes at its serene location next to a creek in the Hayward hills. Each week has a special theme, packed with games, crafts, hikes and animals. There’s also the Kids and Critter Care camp where kids ages 7 to 11 get a behind-the-scenes look at how to care for injured animals, a leadership camp where 9- to 12-year olds can help younger campers and Junior Biologist Camp (ages 10-14) where campers get to do things like dissect plants and animals. Farm Camps Spending time at a farm can be a very unique way for kids to interact with animals. At Hidden Villa, a working farm in the Los Altos Hills, the camp experience goes beyond farming. It was founded in 1945 by Frank and Josephine Duveneck specifically to address racism and foster cross-cultural understanding. Today, it still continues its mission of social justice and environmental stewardship with a diverse group of campers and staff. In the midst of taking care of farm animals and learning about organic farming, campers learn what it means to live in a community, develop better multicultural understanding and appreciation, resolve conflicts peacefully, develop independence and overcome personal challenges. “Being a program dedicated to social justice, working with farm animals is an opportunity to have shared experiences,” says Niki Bryant, director of youth programs at Hidden Villa. Campers do such chores as milk cows and goats, feed chickens, take goats for walks, bathe animals and take care of the garden. There are camps for kids in preschool through 12th grade with day programs, overnight programs, backpacking trips, youth leadership opportunities and teen apprenticeships. The camps cost between $395 per week for a day program and $2,525 for overnight trips, and scholarships are offered. “To create a diverse group of campers we offer a lot of spaces for people coming on scholarships,” Bryant says. At Slide Ranch along the beautiful Marin coast, campers milk goats, care for chickens, hike, explore tide pools, do crafts, work in the organic garden, make fresh food, learn about plant and animal ecosystems, and more. There are camps throughout the summer for ages 5 to 13 as well as a junior counselor program for teens. It costs $400-500 per week and scholarships are available. The camp focuses on teaching respect for animals, plants, the earth and each other, says Ethan Zatko, Slide Ranch’s program director. “What we’re trying to teach is that there’s an interconnected mutuality and that all things originate from plants and animals,” he says. Marine Life Camps For kids who can’t get enough of sea life, a marine camp may be a good fit. At Camp Sea Quest run through the Marine Mammal Center in the Marin Headlands, campers in kindergarten through sixth grades learn about marine science and ocean conservation. The Marine Mammal Center is a veterinary hospital and education center so campers get a look at sick and injured sea life like elephant seals, sea lions, otters and dolphins. “We always collect an excited group of campers who want to be veterinarians or marine biologists someday,” says Sara Smith, school and extended learning program coordinator at the Marine Mammal Center. “We do science experiments in the classrooms and go out every day and explore the Headlands.” But it’s not just for budding veterinarians, she says. “It’s a great environment for any camper who wants to meet new people, learn about animals and be in the outdoors,” Smith says. The camp costs $400 per week for members and $450 for non-members. Scholarships are available. The Marine Science Institute in Redwood City also has some great camps for children to learn about ocean animals. The camps for kids in kindergarten through 12th grades feature interactions with live animals, field trips across the bay aboard the institute’s research vessel as well as other activities such as crafts and games. There’s also an overnight camp for older campers where they get to do more detailed exploration and volunteer opportunities. Depending on age, the camps range in price from $440 per week to $1,300 for the overnight camps, and scholarships are offered. Animal Shelter Camps Children wanting to focus on pet care can find some great camps through an animal shelter. At the East Bay SPCA, there are weeklong day camps for kids in first through 12th grades. Whether kids just want a little education and experience before adopting a pet or they want to be a veterinarian someday, the center offers programs tailored for each age group. For example, kids in younger grades may learn about caring for animals, their needs, and spaying and neutering, while also having interactions with animals at the center, says Justin Kurup, humane education manager at the East Bay SPCA. High school-age campers may have the opportunity to practice basic veterinary skills, view a surgery, help with training animals and complete a service-learning project on animal activism. Located in Dublin and Oakland, the camps cost $375-395 per week, and there are scholarships. Registration starts March 1. It’s so important for kids to have interaction with animals, Kurup says. “We inhabit this earth and share this earth with animals. Kids have to learn how to have respect and empathy for animals,” he says. “There’s a link between how we treat animals and how we treat people.” Teresa Mills-Faraudo is an associate editor at Bay Area Parent . Animal Camps East Bay SPCA: eastbayspca.org/what-we-do/humane-education/animal-camp/ . Hidden Villa: www.hiddenvilla.org/programs/summer-camps . Marine Mammal Center: Camp Sea Quest: www.marinemammalcenter.org/education/camps/ . Marine Science Institute: www.sfbaymsi.org/marinecamp . Oakland Zoo: www.oaklandzoo.org/zoocamp.php . San Francisco Zoo: www.sfzoo.org/learn/zoo-camp.htm . Slide Ranch: slideranch.org/upcoming-summer-camps-2017/ . Sulphur Creek: www.haywardrec.org/181/wildlife-camp . WildCare: www.wildcarebayarea.org/programs/naturecamp/ .  

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The 21+ Best Gardens and Flower Fields in the San Francisco Bay Area (Where to Go and When)

last Updated: September 12, 2023 california Northern California san francisco

FYI: Affiliate links may be sprinkled throughout the awesome, free content you see below. I’ll receive a small commission when you purchase from my links (at no extra cost to you), which I’ll totally blow on adult things like boba tea and avocado toast. As always, thanks for the support.

Looking for the best flower fields in the Bay Area? Keep on reading, because I’m highlighting 20 places to go for pretty flowers in and near San Francisco!

Bright yellow rows of sunflowers. The sweet, sweet smell of lavender. Manicured gardens full of colorful tulips, magnolias, and roses. Wildflower fields of stately calla lilies and yellow mustard. We’ve got it all here in Northern California ! 

I promise, even if you can’t make it down to the Carlsbad Flower Fields in Southern California (my all-time favorite), you’ll still have your pick of gorgeous flower fields in the Bay Area.

Whenever spring rolls around, I make it my mission to visit a few of these patches and gardens in San Francisco. And I haven’t missed a season yet! I keep learning about more and more flower fields in the Bay Area, so I’ll be sure to update this list periodically.

Technically, all these flower fields are not necessarily in the Bay Area themselves. BUT you can easily make a day trip to them, which is why I included them in this post of flower fields in the Bay Area. The furthest one is roughly 2 hours from San Francisco, meaning it’s easily doable in just a day!

Psst – Here’s another THIRTY day trip ideas from the San Francisco Bay Area! 

In this post, I’ve not only included my favorite flower fields in the Bay Area, but a bunch of gardens in San Francisco as well! If you don’t have the time for a day trip, we’ve got lots of pretty blooms right here in the city itself!

I’ve organized this list of gardens and flower fields in the Bay Area by season making it super easy to plan what blooms you can see and when! Mark your calendars – a lot of the flowers only stay picture perfect for a few months or so, and some even a few weeks! You don’t wanna start planning your visit once the season has ended!

Bay Area Flower Fields Etiquette 

We’re lucky to have so many gardens and flower fields near San Francisco, but please oh please do your part. We want these flower fields in the Bay Area to stay super pretty and healthy for everyone, in years to come. A few things to keep in mind:

• Some fields may have a “No Trespassing” sign . If that’s the case, don’t trespass – it’s that simple. Respect the wishes of the farm owners. It’s as easy as that.
• I can’t believe I have to say this, but DO NOT STEP ON THE FLOWERS . Even to get your pictures. Stepping directly on a flower (in a garden, flower field, farm, anywhere), means it most likely won’t be growing back next year. If there’s a trail, stay on the trail. And yes, the rules apply to you, too!
• There’s also no picking of flowers , unless specifically directed by the farm owners, like at the U-Pick Sunflower Field in Half Moon Bay or the Metzger Family Zinnia Patch in Woodland. This goes for wildflowers as well – they are not your property. Keep them wild.

• Wanna fly a drone? Find out if it’s allowed ahead of time (before you attempt to fly it…) and get a permit if need be. Psst – it’s illegal to fly a drone on other people’s property, as well as in all state and national parks.
• Some farms/fields allow dogs, some don’t. Always be mindful of this before heading over – no dog should have to stay in a hot car. That’s just cruel. And if you are allowed to bring your dog, be sure to clean up after them and watch where they step. Some fields have uneven ground, sharp thorns, or can be extra muddy.
• Surprise, surprise. Bees love flowers just as much as we do , if not more! And they’re a necessity to help pollinate the fields. Leave them alone and they’ll probably pay no attention to you. I’m such a baby and hate bees, and have never had an issue in both the gardens in San Francisco or flower fields in the greater Bay Area.

Basically, be a good human being. Please and thank you.

Alright, let’s get to it – all my favorite gardens in San Francisco and flower fields in the Bay Area, coming right up!

Spring Flower Fields in the Bay Area

Various almond blossom farms.

• What You’ll See: almond blossoms
• Where : Along Highway 16 and Hwy 505 near Dixon and Woodland
• When to Go: mid-February to mid-March
• Cost: FREE!

What are almond blossoms, you ask?! Good question. They’re kinda like cherry blossoms – super delicate and tiny, but instead of being a pale pink, they’re typically white like snow! Fun Fact: California produces 80% of the world’s almonds (I really had no clue it was that high). Makes sense there’s so many almond orchards in California. And their tiny petals are oh so pretty!

Almond blossoms are one of the first of all the flower trees to bloom, and it’s a sign that spring is coming to the Bay Area! Yes, we get spring as early as February/March because we’re lucky over here. The almond blossoms unfortunately only bloom for a short period of time (typically mid-February to mid-March), so you’ll need to plan ahead if you wanna visit them in all their glory! 

Where to see almond flower fields in the Bay Area? There’s a few different spots, but along Highway 16, between Dixon and Woodland (near the Sacramento area), is where you’ll find the most! There’s also some near Los Banos as well if you find yourself in that area instead.

Remember – most orchards are private property. See a “no trespassing” sign? Stay out of the orchard and respect their wishes. There’ll be more to see down the highway!

San Francisco Botanical Garden

• What You’ll See: So much! Including magnolias in early spring!
• Where: Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
• When to Go: Year round (early to mid February for magnolias)
• Cost: $10-$13 (depending on season), free for SF residents

The San Francisco Botanical Garden is in my opinion one of the most peaceful spots in all of San Francisco. A true urban oasis right in the middle of the city!

There’s gardens from Australia, Chile, the Mediterranean, + New Zealand, an impressive succulent garden, a small redwood grove, and even a cloud forest (yes, you don’t even need to leave the city to feel like you’re kiiiiinda in Costa Rica). It’s one of the most diverse gardens in the world, and you could easily spend all day there! 

While it’s wonderful all year round, I especially LOVE visiting when the magnolias are in full bloom (early to mid February). It’s such a sight to see the bright pink blooms against a clear blue sky. 

You don’t even have to get a ticket if you really don’t want to pay — there’s usually a few magnolia trees blooming right outside the entrance! But really though, go on in! 

Wild Mustard Fields of Iacopi Farms

• What You’ll See: Wild Mustard
• Where: Iacopi Farms, Half Moon Bay
• When to Go: February and March
• Cost : $10 per person

You’re driving by and then BAM — huge fields of tiny yellow flowers. Those are the wild mustard fields, popping up every February in Half Moon Bay. You can freely wander throughout the fields and even make your own paths (yes, I asked the owners), unlike all the other flower fields in the Bay Area.

Why? Because wild mustard is actually a weed — a very pretty one indeed! Take lots of photos, have a picnic, and have fun frolicking! One of my favorite things to do in Half Moon Bay in early spring.

Wandering throughout the wild mustard super bloom kinda felt like I was swimming in a sea of yellow happiness. I mean, how could you be anything less than ecstatic running through bright yellow flower fields? I swear, go on a bright blue day and you’ll feel like you’re frolicking through computer wallpaper. The contrast of the blue sky and yellow blooms is absolutely gorgeous!

• I actually have an entire post about everything you need to know to visit the wild mustard fields in Half Moon Bay . Make sure to check that out!

And while you’re over here, head to one of the best beaches in Half Moon Bay – late winter/early spring is known to have the clearest weather on the coast!

Calla Lily Valley 

• What You’ll See : Tall, white calla lilies
• Where : Garrapata State Park, Big Sur /Carmel-by-the-Sea
• When to Go : mid-February to mid-March (peak bloom)
• Cost : FREE!

Thousands upon thousands of tall white calla lilies. That cool California breeze. A leisurely walk down to the valley. This is Calla Lily Valley in Big Sur, California ! It’s basically an annual oasis that comes to life every spring.

And get this – the calla lilies you’ll see over here are technically wildflowers! Since no one planted them and all. Mother Nature sure is sensational sometimes!

The calla lilies in Calla Lily Valley are in bloom from late January to mid-April. But visit too early and there won’t be many flowers in the valley yet, and visit too late, they’ll all be gone or heavily wilted and browning.

While the season obviously changes a bit from year to year (these flowers bloom in nature after all!), your best bet will be to go from mid-February to mid-March, as this is typically when peak bloom occurs.

To reach Calla Lily Valley, you’ll need to walk about ¼ mile on a dirt trail and down a few steps. To get as close to the trailhead as possible, you’ll wanna park near Gate 18 (or Gate 19 if you can’t find anything closer). While technically in Garrapata State Park, don’t park over there – you’ll be too far away from the lilies!

Read Next: Exactly How to Find the Secret Calla Lily Valley in Big Sur (plus lots of other tips)

Japanese Tea Garden

• What You ’ll See: cherry blossoms
• Where : Golden Gate Park, San Francisco 
• When to Go : early to mid-April
• Cost : $12 (free for SF residents)

Cherry blossoms!!! These delicate tiny blooms are the main draw of the Japanese Tea Garden here in Golden Gate Park . While you can visit any time of year, plan to visit in the spring when the Japanese cherry blossoms are in bloom! Just know you can see bamboo, dwarf trees, and irises year round if you’re looking to visit one of the best gardens in San Francisco ASAP.

We were lucky enough to visit Japan a few years ago during sakura (cherry blossom) season – what an amazing trip that was! While the Japanese Tea Garden here in San Francisco is not quite the same thing, it’s still super fun to get a taste of the culture and see the pretty pale pink blooms.

Whether you’re craving some hot tea or just wanna say hello to the koi fish, head on in. There’s a bunch of pagodas resembling the real stuff in Japan, all nestled between lush gardens and manicured horticulture. It’s not huge, but so well maintained you really feel the traditional Japanese culture here. 

Expect wooden Buddha statues, a Shinto Shrine, porcelain lanterns, and glistening ponds with stones to walk on. And of course the cherry blossom trees in early spring! My favorite time of year to visit.

Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden 

• What You’ll See: Tulips
• Where : Dutch Windmill at Golden Gate Park (San Francisco)
• When to Go : April

Visiting San Francisco in early Spring? You NEED to make your way to the Dutch Windmill on the very edge of Golden Gate Park ! I mean, you can visit any time of year, but I love it most when the tulips are in full bloom (obviously). It’s like a tiny piece of Holland in the Bay Area (although I’m dying to visit the Keukenhof Tulip Gardens in The Netherlands). One day, one day.

Hundreds, if not thousands of delicate tulips take over the surrounding area and fill it with vivid color – it’s a sight that will leave you searching for tickets to the Tulip Festival in Amsterdam ! The area does get pretty crowded, so work those angles (shoot from down below) to help get some photobombers outta the shot. A visit during the week will be far less crowded, but I was surprised just how many people there were on a random Tuesday when I went.

Berkeley Rose Garden 

• What You’ll See: Roses
• Where : North Berkeley
• When to Go: April – May

Yay – more roses! You can expect lots of rose gardens in the Bay Area come springtime. And I’m a-okay with that!

The Berkeley Rose Garden is a city-owned park in North Berkeley, and actually was one of the first Civil Works Progress Projects built in 1937. Yes, it’s pretty old! And is even said to be one of the finest rose gardens in all of Northern California !

Y ou’ll find 1,500 rose bushes and 250 varieties under and alongside a terraced amphitheater and 220-foot-long redwood pergola. It’s smaller than it looks in pictures, but I promise it’s still worth a visit!

The garden also features 4 tennis courts, a picnic area, hiking trails, foot bridges, a semi-circular terraced amphitheater, and an ornamental pool. There’s even breathtaking views of the San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge from the rose garden! Yes, you don’t need to travel far for all this! 

You could easily spend all day here (but we usually just wander the rose garden for half an hour or so and then spend the rest of the day eating, haha)! Don’t miss out on Sliver Pizza and Gregories potato puffs before leaving Berkeley – my two gluttonous favorites over there!

Pink Magic Carpet Flowers in Montara 

• What You’ll See: pink sea fig flowers
• Where : south side of Montara Beach, Half Moon Bay
• When to Go: April through June

A completely natural pink superbloom! How often do you see that?! One of the most unique flower fields in the Bay Area, that’s for sure! These wildflowers pop up every April and last until about June or so, so head on over to Half Moon Bay to scope them out!

You may have already seen these beautiful fuchsia blooms on IG, but now it’s time for you to go! Getting here is super easy, just park at Montara State Beach, walk down the steps, walk towards the southern part of the beach, and climb up the narrow trail on the bluffs.

It’ll probably be foggy (the weather is super temperamental this time of year), but those pink flowers will really add a lot of color to your photos. Psst — I’m not sure exactly what they’re called (some people say they’re Pink sea fig flowers, others say redondo creepers, ice plants, or dew-flowers), but everyone I know calls them the pink magic carpet Montara flowers!

Psst – the super bloom is on PUBLIC property. There’s a private house nearby, so just don’t wander too far or make too much loud noise. We don’t want them complaining. 🙂

Magic Carpet Ice Plant s in Pacific Grove

• What You’ll See: Pink Ice Plants
• Where : Perkins Park, Pacific Grove (Monterey Peninsula)
• When to Go: mid April to June

More ice plants! Every time we head down to the Monterey Peninsula (for say, Calla Lily Valley or the 17 Mile Drive ), it was never the right time to see the pink ice plants of Pacific Grove ! Thankfully, after living in the Bay Area for almost a decade (damn!), we finally made it down to see the famous Pacific Grove magic carpet!

And after visiting, I have to say it’s now one of my favorite flower fields in the Bay Area! 

Imagine a mile long trail of fuschia, fluorescent blooms! Kinda my dream come true. The entire coastline is covered in popping pink hues, contrasting beautifully with the blues of the Pacific Ocean. It’s a site to see for sure! 

Unfortunately the pinky-purplely ice plants of Pacific Grove are only seen for a short period of time, from early-mid May to sometime in June. It’s hard to predict exactly when they’ll be in bloom, but come in mid May and you’ll have the best luck.

Read Next: Everything you need to know to visit the Pacific Grove magic carpet !

Where did these plants even come from?! In 1943, longtime Pacific Grove resident Hayes Perkins (a super smart gardener) wanted to clear out an ocean bluff covered in poison oak. In order to do so, he planted a mix of shrubs and the South African drosanthemum floribundum, a succulent of the ice plant variety, and alas – the pink magic carpet was born! 

Summer Gardens in San Francisco and Nearby

Elizabeth f. gamble garden .

• What You’ll See: tulips, wisteria, and cherry blossoms
• Where : Palo Alto
• When to Go: April – September

Gamble Garden is one of my favorite places to check out as it’s right near me in the heart of Old Palo Alto. This charming little garden is truly an oasis in the middle of town, with its cherry blossom trees, small tulip garden, and their dreamy wisterias (which bloom around April).

Here at Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden you’ll find a rose garden, a cutting garden, and a formal herb garden! Plus a historic home, a carriage house, and yes, a tearoom! Feels kinda like a mini Filoli, and it’s completely free to the public !Couples even get married here – it’s that beautiful! 

I wanna go back for Yoga in the Garden (select Saturdays from May through October) and a Garden Fresh Luncheon (the perfect time to wear your straw hat and floral dress)! Check out all the fun activities at Gamble Garden over here – they’ve even got cocktails and watercolor nights! My kinda fun!

Araceli Farms 

• What You’ll See: Lavender
• Where : outskirts of Dixon
• When to Go: May through July
• Cost: $5-10

Lavender lovers, I gotchu! Nope — you don’t need to go all the way to Provence, France to smell the lavender (although of course I’m dying to go). Because thankfully, we’ve got a bunch of lavender farms right here in California , including a few not far from the Bay Area. My favorite – Araceli Farms on the outskirts of Dixon.

Imagine getting lost in the intoxicating scent of lavender. Frolicking throughout the lavender farms. Sipping lavender lemonade and even lavender champagne. Indulging in honey lavender ice cream and/or a lavender lemon bar. Sniffing the lavender until you can’t smell any more. Sounds like my kinda summertime dream.

When to Visit? Summer time, baby! June is peak lavender season, although anytime between May and July is a great time to visit Araceli Farms in Dixon .

San Jose Municipal Rose Garden

• What You’ll See: roses!
• Where : San Jose
• When to Go: late May to September

Imagine 11-acres and more than 4,000 roses. Breathe in that intoxifying floral scent. Feel the wind on your hair… ok scratch that… this is San Jose we’re talking about – it’s typically stifling hot, haha. But that’s the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden I’m talking about! It’s even been dubbed , “America’s Best Rose Garden”, and I can totally see why.

Colorful showy blooms and rolling green lawns. This historic rose garden in the Rose Garden District of San Jose (hey, how fitting!) has more than 189 rose varieties, along with a gorgeous fountain in the middle and a grassy lawn with benches.

One of the most gorgeous rose gardens I’ve seen, and get this – it’s completely free! Most other gardens like this cost at least something, so if you’re in the San Jose area come summertime, there’s no reason not to go! It’s the perfect spot for photoshoots, although I recommend coming on a weekday for the least crowds.

It’s also a fantastic place for picnics – we love bringing along a blanket and some snacks and sitting amongst the rose bushes. One bummer is that dogs are not allowed, so we need to leave little Kona at home. Sad face!

Bougainvillea House in San Francisco

• What You’ll See : bougainvillea
• Where: Cow Hollow, San Francisco 

Okay, fine, you caught me! This isn’t a flower field in the Bay Area (or even a garden in San Francisco) in the least bit. It’s a house in the Cow Hollow neighborhood of San Francisco. BUT it’s by far one of the most gorgeous houses I’ve ever seen. And it’s right in the city. So how could I leave it off this list?!

I mean, look – lush purpley-pink flowers are practically engulfing the entire house! And that my friends, is the power of bougainvillea. These tiny flowers bloom in dramatic and dense clusters, climbing up walls and structures like a vine.

I’m semi-obsessed with bougainvillea, and I just decided one of my dreams in life is to own a house with at least a little bit of these pretty blooms. Preferably in Greece or Portugal … we’ll see!

Psst — for the full effect, you’ll wanna go when the bougainvillea is actually in bloom! Come in summer for the prettiest blooms (they usually start blooming in May/June and last until September or so)! It’s literally covered from top to bottom in the prettiest pink flowers — any floral lovers dream! 

Find it on Baker and Lyon in Cow Hollow. The house next door is really pretty to shoot at too, with its own branches of bougainvillea! 

Central Pa rk Rose Garden 

• What You’ll See: roses
• Where: Downtown San Mateo

The Central Park Rose Garden is definitely more of a locals spot, but felt it was worthy enough of this list if you’re already in the Bay Area! We love coming here a bit before sunset, grabbing a tea on the main street, and wandering the garden. It’s typically not very crowded and you really don’t need more than 20 minutes here, but it’s a great spot for photos if you’re looking for some peace and quiet.

With over 100 rose bushes in 12 beds, you can bet the whole area smells just wonderful! The roses here are in every single color imaginable – from pink and red to yellow and orange and everything in between. And plenty are multi-colored!  

The gazebo is a great place for photos. And there’s a bunch of benches if you wanna bring a book and read/rest for a bit.

Before you leave the park, stop by the nearby Japanese Garden – it’s one of my favorite spots to go for a quick wander. And completely free!

Metzger Family Zinnia Patch

• What You’ll See : zinnias
• Where: Woodland
• When to Go: late June to early September

This flower field in the Bay Area is extra special. Why? Since 2013, Mark Mezger (the owner of the farm), has planted two acres of zinnias on his property – for the public to enjoy (and take home!) for free! And what a gorgeous zinnia patch it is! 

The Mezger family plants an entire field of flowers for anyone and everyone to pick! Yes, this is one of the only flower fields in the Bay Area where you can actually pick the flowers! How generous, right? You really don’t hear stories like that anymore. What a wonderful gift this family has given to the Woodland neighborhood and beyond.

I promise you – there’s no catch! Just pure generosity. Bring a few vases for others to use in the future if you plan on picking your own bouquets. The community donates clippers, vases, and buckets of water for anyone to use. And yes, the flowers are completely free! Bless that man’s heart.

Look out for butterflies, dragonflies, and hummingbirds – there’s lots over in the zinnia patch. Also, bees, lots of bees – but that’s to be expected.

I love the “rule” over here – if you pick a bouquet for yourself, you have to pick a bouquet for someone else who can’t get to the farm. How sweet is that?! Easily one of the most joyful places in Northern California . This is one of the flower fields in the Bay Area still on my to-visit list! Hopefully next year!

Monte-Bellaria di California

• Where : Sebastopol (West Sonoma County)
• When to Go: late June to end of July for peak bloom season
• Cost : FREE – $20 (depending on season)

Monte-Bellaria di California, located on the coastal hills of Sebastopol, is one of the largest lavender fields in Northern California . This place looks like a lavender-scented dream, with the rolling hills covered in acres and acres of deliciously purple lavender. After seeing some photos, I’m dying to go here — it honestly looks like you’ve traveled all the way to Provence, France! 

The farm is open on weekends from mid-April to December, but not all months are created equal! If you’re looking to experience the peak lavender season (when it’s at its most vibrant purple), visit late June to the end of July. 

August to September is another nice time to visit; it’s known as fragrance season. Expect lots of lovely lavender aromas, although the bright purple color fades to a bluish-gray. Green Spring occurs in late April to mid-June, which is before the lavender actually blooms, so you won’t see any purple flowers then! 

Visits to Monte-Bellaria are reservation-only, so make sure to reserve your ticket in advance on their website! I recommend visiting from late June to July for the full lavender experience!

Before you leave, be sure to check out the farm store! It sells homemade lavender honey (yum!), homemade olive and essential oils, and tons of other lavender-scented products (like soaps, fragrances and culinary products). While you’re over here in Sebastopol, check out Patrick Amiot’s Junk Art (super quirky and free!) and The Barlow for lunch (industrial-style marketplace).

Conservatory of Flowers

• What You’ll See: rare and exotic plants inside, dahlias outside
• Where : Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
• When to Go: outside – July to October, inside – anytime
• Cost : FREE (outside) – $10 (inside)

The Conservatory of Flowers is kinda a double whammy – it’s technically two separate gardens in San Francisco within a 2 minute walk. There’s bright blooms outside the greenhouse in neatly organized beds, and an entire atrium filled with tropical flowers and plants inside! A real-life flowerful oasis, inside and out! 

Outside, you’ll see the unofficial exhibit – the dahlia garden! They tend to change up the colors and designs every season, but I can promise you one thing, it’s always gorgeous! While you can come anytime of year to see the plants inside the conservatory, plan to come July to early November to see the dahlias at their brightest.

But don’t just admire the flowers outside – the Conservatory of Flowers houses a huge collection of rare and exotic plants in its tropical greenhouse. The greenery is so lush; you completely forget you’re within the actual city! 

Expect to see orchids, water lilies, lotus, hibiscus, and even carnivorous plants like Venus flytraps (aren’t those just ridiculously cool? Only me?). Plus Corpse Flowers (although they don’t open up very much so it’s unlikely you’ll get to see them in all its glory).

I love snapping photos outside the historical (and beautiful) Victorian-style greenhouse – with hundreds of windows is just so cool and unique! It’s actually the oldest building in the park, completed in 1879.

Happy Dahli a Farm

• What Flowers You’ll See: Dahlias
• Where: Petaluma
• When to Go: July to early October (peak bloom in August)
• Cost : Free to enter, plus build your own bouquet ($)

Flower farmer Meagan Major took over the farm a few seasons ago, and she completely transformed the space (previously Aztec Dahlias). The farm now grows over 100 varieties of dahlias, blooming in late Summer to early Fall. Definitely add this to your Bay Area bucket list – can you even imagine being surrounded by 10,000 Dahlia plants in rainbow order?! Any dahlia lover’s dream destination! Their slogan is even “All you need is love and flowers”. Super fitting!

The dahlias have such fun names, with Café Au Lait (with its large, ruffled, pale peachy-pink blooms) being one of the most popular! Break Out is more a soft, romantic pale pink, while Ivanetti sports a vibrant, dark purple hue. You’ll probably smell some basil within the dahlia flower fields as well; this helps attract cute little critters like ladybugs (important for a healthy farm).

You can even build your own bouquet and bring home some of the flower-power magic. It’s really a hidden gem in Petaluma, and I can’t wait to get there myself! The dahlias begin blooming in July, peak in August, and continue through early October, although I’d get there latest September (to make sure there’s still lots to pick from)!

Fall Flower Fields in the Bay Area

Andreotti family farms.

• What You’ll See: Sunflowers  
• Where: Andreotti Family Farms, Half Moon Bay
• When to Go: September and October
• Cost : $20 per person

Always wanted to wander throughout a bright yellow sunflower field? Now’s your chance at this flower field in the Bay Area — at Andreotti Family Farms! This is one of my favorite fall activities on the coast, and I can guarantee you’ll have oh so much fun. 

It honestly feels like you’re walking through a jungle, just with pops of sunflowers to brighten the day! Andreotti Family Farms is actually the only farm in California that lets you pick your own sunflowers (included in the per-person admission fee), so you can bring home a few blooms to show off in your kitchen. 

If you missed the summer sunflowers in other parts of California, you’re in luck! Since Half Moon Bay is on the coast, this means that the weather is pretty foggy and cool. MEANING peak sunflower season is later than others in California!!! Perfect for us slackers, whoops!

Plan to come in September or October before all the sunflowers have been picked through. You’ll wanna follow Andreotti Family Farms on IG to check for sunflower opening updates. And make sure to visit a few pumpkin patches in Half Moon Bay afterwards — this is the perfect time for them as well!

Read Next: Everything You Need to Know About the U-Pick Sunflower Field in Half Moon Bay  

Year Round Bay Area Flower Fields and Gardens!

Filoli historic house and gardens .

• What You’ll See: Tons! Come for tulips and wisteria in April, roses in the summer
• Where: Woodside
• When to Go: Year Round! 
• Cost : $20-$25

It took me 7 years of living in the Bay Area to visit Filoli, and I have no clue why! It’s honestly super impressive and one of my new favorite places!

These gardens are all beautifully manicured, unlike wildflower fields you’ll see on this list of flower fields in the Bay Area. The hedges are perfectly cut, the flowers are bright and happy, and there’s even a beautiful country house surrounded by a 654-acre estate! It’s nothing like I’ve ever seen before and kinda feels like you’ve just stepped into the most gorgeous French garden (despite being here in the Bay Area)!

So wear your cutest summer dress, throw on a straw hat, and wander along the gardens in the sunshine! Sounds like the perfect day to me! Stroll around with a parasol in hand and you’ll feel just like a character in a classic English novel. Plus, there’s major Bridgerton vibes over here (if you’re into the show and all).

And unlike other gardens and flower fields in the Bay Area, there’s no perfect time to visit! Filoli has different blooms depending on the season, so you can head back time and time again and there’ll always be different flowers to see! When we visited there was a gorgeous rose garden, tons of dahlias, and even a vegetable garden. I really wanna visit in April to see the purple wisteria and stunning arrangement of tulips (a whopping 86,000-plus bulbs are typically planted)!

Whatever month you visit, you can tour the historic mansion, check out the reflecting pool in the sunken garden, and gaze up at the wrought-iron gates. While you’re over here, make a short pit stop at the nearby Pulgas Water Temple, one of my favorite photo spots near San Francisco !

Ruth Bancroft Garden & Nursery

• What You’ll See: cacti and other drought-tolerant plants
• Where : Walnut Creek
• When to Go: Year round, but steer clear of the sweltering summer months

This flower garden in Walnut Creek is a bit different from the other gardens and flower fields in the Bay Area. Ruth Bancroft Garden is considered a dry garden – meaning the bulk of the flora over here are drought-tolerant plants (from around the world I might add).

You’ll see more than 2,000 cacti, succulents, trees, and shrubs native to California, Mexico, Chile, South Africa, and Australia. To be honest, there’s not tons and tons of color over here, and it kinda reminded me a tad of the deserts of Arizona and even Los Cabos, Mexico ! But I promise it’s still absolutely gorgeous and still worth a visit! Think blue-gray agave, single-stemmed aloe, orange poppies, light green ice plants, acacias, and blooming cacti.

I was amazed to learn that the garden’s founder, Ruth Bancroft, lived to be 109! She was actually a pioneer in drought-tolerant gardening, and her masterpiece is truly a work of art.

We visited on a scorching hot day (which wasn’t too pleasant because there’s hardly any shade in here). Check the weather ahead of time and plan better than we did if you don’t wanna be sweating profusely the entire time!

Hakone Estate and Gardens

• What You’ll See: iris, azalea, bamboo 
• Where : Saratoga
• When to Go: Year Round

If you’re into Japanese gardens, you’ll absolutely love Hakone Estate and Gardens! I took my parents here on their last visit to the Bay Area, and we loved touring the grounds – tons of koi fish, giant bamboo stalks, and traditional Japanese architecture. Plus multi-tiered waterfalls, strolling gardens, unique lanterns, and even unique Japanese stonework.

While you’re probably here for the gardens (this is a post on my favorite gardens and flower fields in the Bay Area), don’t miss the Upper House and Lower House – we loved them! And get this, the The Cultural Exchange Center (another building in Hakone Estate), was actually constructed in Japan, disassembled, shipped to Saratoga (California), and then reassembled right on site. Can’t get more authentic than that!

This 18-acre traditional Japanese garden is more than 100 years old, and it’s even recognized as one of the oldest Japanese-style residential gardens in the Western Hemisphere. Don’t miss the bamboo garden – it totally feels like you’re in Kyoto, Japan!

Arizona Cactus Garden

• What You’ll See : cacti and succulents
• When to Go : Year Round, but it gets extremely hot it in the summer
• Cost : free!

A nice unexpected surprise in Northern California ! Another drought-resistant garden, and one of my favorite gardens in the Bay Area! It’s home to over 500 species of cacti and succulents from all over the world, and we loved all the interesting shapes and textures. It kinda reminded me of a cactus garden we went to in Palm Springs , and a MUCH smaller version of the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix .

The garden itself is in full sun, but there’s a lot of shady trees around. It’s a great spot for a photoshoot, and we even saw some people in beautiful Mexican dresses taking pictures, I think for a quinceañera or graduation.

This small botanical garden is located on the campus of Stanford University — so be sure to check out the rest of the campus afterwards (the architecture is stunning, especially near Memorial Court and Hoover Tower). There’s also a Rodin Sculpture garden here!

Which of these flower fields in the Bay Area are you planning to visit soon?! Hope this helps you find some fun spring and summer activities in San Francisco and beyond!

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May 13, 2023 at 3:22 am

Thank you for this amazing post!! This is the perfect bucket list for flower lovers 😍 I’m a huge fan now and can’t wait to see more of your content!

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