Underwood Family Farms

Location: 3370 Sunset Valley Road, Moorpark, CA 93021 map
Website: www.underwoodfamilyfarms.com
Type of Activity: Working Farm
Hours: March - November: open 7 days a week, December: open weekends.
9:00am - 6:00pm (closes at 5:00pm beginning on 10/29/06)
Cost: Varies depending of the activity.


We went here last week for their Harvest Festival and had a GREAT time! It takes about 45min-1 hr to get there from Pasadena. Activities on the farm depend on the time of year but can include: a visit to the animal center (lots of animals), playing on the outdoor train and kids playground, wagon rides, corn maze, u-pick crops, farmers market, etc. They really cater to children which is great. There are huge wagons and wheelbarrows to use during the Harvest Festival to collect the famiy pumpkins.

Check out their other yearly activities like Easter on the Farm, the Harvest Festival, Christmas on the Farm, and A Civil War Reenactment.

Click here for the Pick-your-own crop calendar.

Outdoors_, Nature_, Babies_, Toddlers_, Kids_, Shopping_

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

Location: 900 Exposition Blvd., L.A. 90007; across the street from USC
Website: http://www.nhm.org/
Type of Activity: Museum
Hours: M-F 9:30a-5:00p, Sa-Su 10:00a-5:00p
Cost: Adults $9, Kids (5-12) $2; FREE on the 1st Tuesday of each Month; Parking $6


We also call this "the Dinosaur Museum" because they have a lot of dinosaur skeletons and huge dinosaur statues in front. They also have many skeletons of other animals, as well as replicas of various mammals in their 2 huge "habitat halls" -- it's almost better than the zoo because you get to see all the animals and they look so real! Another favorite is the Discovery Center for kids, where "children of all ages take fossil rubbings from a realistic-looking rock wall; look at water drops under a microscope; check out "discovery boxes" full of educational activities; observe live animals such as snakes, fish and lizards; or get a closer look at a stuffed lion, tiger and bear" -- lots of hands-on fun, and there's an Insect Zoo upstairs. There's lots to see and do here, not to mention gaze at the incredible architecture of the building. There's also a playground to the west of the building and a rose garden east of the building. And you can also check out the Science Center next door -- always free, though they do accept donations. It's a full day of fun!

Indoors_, Nature_, Toddlers_, Kids_, Museums_