Bates Nut Farm
Valley Center, CA
By Simir Shah
★★★★★4.6(2,733 Google reviews)
What parents say
AI summary of 5 Google reviews — not a first-hand visit. How we write these
Free to enter with a charge to park, a big lot, and animals children can feed, including geese, pigs, alpacas and a miniature cow. There is a farm shop. Autumn weekends bring the pumpkin patch, craft fairs and food and get busy, while weekdays stay calm. Seating runs short, so take a chair and water.
A working farm store with a farm zoo of goats, sheep, alpacas and ducks, a fudge counter and big shaded picnic lawns — a San Diego County tradition for generations and genuinely good year-round, not just in October. Bring a picnic and quarters for feed; October brings the county's largest pumpkin patch and enormous crowds, so go on a weekday if you can.
Good for
- Ages 0–2
Happening near here
- Welk Resort Certified Farmers' MarketEscondido · 11 mi · 3pm–7pmFree
- Escondido Certified Farmers' MarketEscondido · 11 mi · 2:30pm–sunsetFree
- San Marcos Certified Farmers MarketSan Marcos · 12 mi · 3pm–7pmFree
- Vista Farmers MarketVista · 14 mi · Sat 8am–noonFree
15954 Woods Valley Rd, Valley Center, CA 92082, USA
Hours via Google — confirm before a special trip.
Free entry; animal feed ~$1
Map
What visitors say
- TC Freebird★★★★★
Oh my gravy where do I start? Maybe with the gigantic oak tree that you see when you first pull into the driveway? Anyways you have your choice between the farmers daughter and the Bates nut farm store, and I recommend you go to both. There’s a zoo to the side that you can go feed the animals from geese to a peacock pigs a miniature cow alpaca. The nut farm store has so much to choose from from candy and nuts, to home decor, and signs and towels, and stationary and lotions and soaps, and all kinds of stuff. So much I can’t even list it. I can share some photos though. Maybe zoom in. And then some videos to add for the farm area. We went on July 18, 2026 and they were having the overnight event where people can camp under the stars on the large land. Add on that particular day they had food trucks and plenty of booths with artisans and local vendors from selling bread to selling purses and walking sticks and stationary and watercolor and temporary, tattoos and so much more. I highly recommend that you try this place at least once because we did and we’re certainly gonna return.
a month ago
- Alex★★★★★
A little late, but we went here in the fall and fully FALLED out. Hate to say it, but yes — I’m obsessed with all things fall. It’s truly my happiest time of year. Right off the bat, here’s what I loved about this day: Big parking lot Dog friendly Live music A small‑business market Food We came on a weekend in October, so definitely check their website to see what events are happening when you go. Admission is free, but you do pay for parking. You can easily spend a whole day here, so I recommend bringing comfortable shoes, a hat, sunscreen, water, and even a blanket or chair. We arrived during a live band set, but seating was limited — still such a fun vibe. You can also go in and out if you need to grab something from your car. They were grilling up backyard‑style burgers with sides, and it honestly felt like being at a neighborhood BBQ — grab your drink from the cooler, pick your chips, add your toppings, and enjoy. I loved it. The pumpkin patch is huge and has every type of pumpkin you can imagine. I’d never seen white or black gourds before, but they had them here. There’s a lot to walk around and explore, and make sure to stop by the farm shop for packaged nuts, seasonings, honey, and other goodies to take home. My pup Enzo had the best time — enjoy these pics of him living his best fall life.
6 months ago
Showing 2 of 5 Google reviews · Read them all on Google Maps
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