NORTH COAST
Farm Life & Fresh Flavors in Del Norte County
Ocean Air Farms in Del Norte County grows organic produce found at their year-round farm stand and local markets, while Alexandre Family Farm produces regenerative dairy products including milk, yogurt and pastured eggs. Visitors can shop onsite and even stay overnight in a vintage Avion trailer.
Compassionate Donkey Rescue in Mendocino County
Oscar's Place in Mendocino County has become a nationally recognized sanctuary dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating donkeys. Operating two locations with capacity for up to 500 animals, the nonprofit saves donkeys from auctions and provides lifelong care or adoption opportunities. Scheduled visits at the Hopland sanctuary welcome donors, volunteers and prospective adopters to learn about animal welfare firsthand.
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
Farm Life Beyond the Vineyards in Sonoma County
At Sonoma County's Preston Farm and Winery, explore gardens, orchards and livestock while learning how soil health and seasonal growing shape what ends up on the table. Across Sonoma Valley, places like Cassidy Ranch, Beltane Ranch and Sonocaia Estate Winery offer workshops in beekeeping, fermentation and soapmaking, alongside ranch tours, farm stays and ecological education.
Coastal Foraging Meets Luxury Dining in Half Moon Bay
The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay offers guests the opportunity to join chef-guided tours of Brisa Ranch, foraging seasonal ingredients while learning culinary sourcing and sustainability practices. The experience concludes with hand-picked produce and a keepsake cookbook that extends the learning beyond the visit.
Family Farm Adventures Across the Tri-Valley
The Tri-Valley region merges agricultural heritage with modern agritourism. Visitors move easily from gardening workshops and farmers markets to vineyard education and animal encounters, including cow cuddling at Śrī Surabhi Go Kṣetra. Stops at Alden Lane Nursery and The Purple Orchid Resort add wellness and boutique hospitality to the experience.
GOLD COUNTRY
Harvest Trails & Farm Life Shape Placer County
Placer County brings visitors directly into California's agriculture through PlacerGROWN — a network connecting farmers' markets, farm stands, u-pick experiences and more than 1,200 family farms. Twin Peaks Orchards in Newcastle represents the region's regenerative farming roots, growing heirloom produce as a recognized Slow Food Farm while partnering with local chefs and seasonal markets. Experiences like the free Farm & Barn Tour and the Placer County Wine Trail offer behind-the-scenes access to working ranches, boutique wineries and local craftsmanship.
Spring Strawberry Picking Near Elk Grove
Yumm Strawberry U-Pick Farm offers a classic spring experience centered on harvesting berries at peak ripeness. Guests walk orderly rows picking strawberries while learning about cultivation and seasonal farming cycles. Families pair the outing with farmstand shopping and countryside relaxation just outside Sacramento.
Rescued Wildlife & Ranch Stewardship in Coarsegold
Coarsegold offers experiences centered on animal rescue, conservation and education near Yosemite's southern gateway. Patient Feather Ranch Rescue introduces visitors to rescued livestock through guided storytelling tours focused on welfare and rehabilitation. The Nature of Wildworks provides safe encounters with non-releasable native wildlife while teaching ecosystem awareness.
SHASTA CASCADE
California Peony Company in Siskiyou County
In late spring, the California Peony Company opens its fields for a short seasonal bloom window. Walk beneath Mt. Bolivar, learning how specialty flower farming works, from harvest timing to the climate conditions that make peonies thrive here. Limited-time farm visits and occasional u-pick options create a hands-on way to experience Siskiyou County agriculture beyond cattle and traditional crops.
Farm-to-Fork & Hands-On Harvests in Butte County
Taste locally grown Butte County ingredients at restaurants like Grana, Authentic Thai Cuisine of Paradise and Nic’s and explore sustainable production at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.'s environmentally focused brewery and taproom. Farms across the region invite guests to harvest peaches, cherries, apples and more, while Chico State University Farm and local orchards showcase diverse crops. Visit Hodge’s Nursery & Gifts for gardening clinics and agricultural workshops and hands-on learning.
HIGH SIERRA
Bishop's Food Revival in the Eastern Sierra
Bishop is redefining its local food identity through collaboration that blends Indigenous knowledge with regenerative farming practices. Experience the movement firsthand at Blue Heron Farm with U-pick fruit and farm dinners, or savor longtime favorites like Schat's and Great Basin Bakery. Sip craft cider at Mountain Rambler Brewery and browse Thursday “Market Days” hosted by Eastern Sierra Farm Fresh. The Bishop Paiute Tribe's Food Sovereignty Program safeguards ancestral crops, while Farm@School is cultivating the next generation of soil stewards.
CENTRAL VALLEY
Almond Blossom Season in Modesto
Modesto's almond blossoms peak from February through mid-March, with stretches of pink-and-white blooms across the Central Valley. The Almond Blossom Cruise turns it into an easy road trip, with stops at Knights Ferry Bridge, Oakdale, public almond orchards and Sciabica Olive Oil — one of the oldest olive producers in the U.S. Grab themed treats like an Almond Blossom shake or Sciabica's Almond Husk Brew.
Wine, River Days & Goat Yoga Energy in Lodi
Lodi mixes legacy farming with approachable wine country and farm-to-table dining using harvested ingredients. Spenker Family Farm offers goat yoga and seasonal events plus U-pick opportunities. For a more elevated stay, Appellation Lodi - Wine & Roses Resort & Spa pair garden settings with a destination spa and ag-forward dining.
Citrus Picking at Sumner Peck Ranch in Fresno County
Sumner Peck Ranch brings U-pick citrus back on weekends from February through April, or until the fruit runs out, with oranges, lemons and mandarins priced at $1.50 per pound. The ranch sits along the San Joaquin River near Friant Dam and within an ecologically rich area that includes floodplain habitat and mature riparian forest.
CENTRAL COAST
U-Pick, Goat Yoga & Underwood Farms Days in Camarillo
Camarillo’s Gerry Ranch runs blueberry U-pick from spring to early summer, while One Acre Farm focuses on organic strawberries and sustainable growing education. Oats & Ivy Farm adds goat yoga and goat snuggles to farmstays and educational workshops, and nearby Underwood Farms in Somis has a full day-trip package with produce picking and an Animal Farm Center. McGrath Farm's partnership with the Rodale Institute adds a regenerative agriculture angle plus a farm market for seasonal produce.
Regenerative Farming at City Farm SLO
City Farm SLO grows over 19 acres of organic produce right in San Luis Obispo, using regenerative methods that prioritize soil health. Youth programs and field trips give kids and teens hands-on farming experiences, while monthly community tours let visitors meet animals, sample crops and try seasonal projects. A Saturday pay-what-you-can farm stand offers local produce and goods with accessibility baked in.
New 2026 Farm Tours Put Santa Ynez Valley’s Solvang on the Map
This year, Solvang's Heritage Farmland Touring Company is launching new Santa Ynez Valley farm and ranch tour experiences for small groups and big flavors. Tours start at Old Mission Santa Inés and visit working farms, ranches, orchards and groves with farm-to-table moments built in, including charcuterie picnics. Options include a ranch-to-walnut-and-olive-groves route and a sunset version featuring interactive sheep encounters, olive oil tasting and local wine.
Coffee Farming at Dewlson Family Farms in Santa Maria Valley
Dewlson Family Farms adds a surprising twist to Santa Maria Valley with a family-run coffee farm rooted in hospitality and hands-on learning. Tour the farm (around $25), learn how coffee is grown and processed, and explore five varieties of Arabica beans alongside exotic fruits often guided by Judy Paulson.
“Salad Bowl of the World" & Goat Encounters in Monterey County
Monterey County invites travelers to experience Salinas Valley agriculture from hayrides and animal encounters at The Farm in Salinas to honeybee and garden goat experiences at Carmel Valley Ranch. Earthbound Farm Stand has a walkable garden where visitors can cut herbs at the birthplace of organic salad culture, while Pezzini Farms spotlights Castroville's artichoke heritage.
Family-Friendly Farm Days in Paso Robles
Paso Robles’ ED connects visitors to tours and workshops like soap making, plus a pop-up mercantile for take-home projects. Jack Creek Farms near Templeton offers seasonal U-pick produce, farm animals, kid activities and baked goods. Hambly Lavender Farm adds fragrant fields, U-pick moments, tours and golden-hour evenings.
ORANGE COUNTY
Boysenberry Origins at Knott's in Buena Park
Buena Park is the birthplace of the boysenberry, and Knott's Berry Farm keeps that legacy alive with original vines still grown on-site. Each spring, the Boysenberry Festival spotlights the berry with plant sales and creative dishes plus broader Food & Wine programming. A historical sign near the vines ties back to the origin story.
Farm Tours and Market Finds in Laguna Beach
The Ranch at Laguna Beach runs daily farm tours at Harvest Farm, a half-acre working biodynamic garden that supplies the property's restaurant and showcases sustainable growing practices. The year-round Laguna Beach Farmers’ Market adds more than 40 vendors and longtime producers like Sunny Cal Farms, known for specialty pluots.
Organic Farming Education & Family Traditions in Irvine
The Farm + Food Lab at Irvine’s Great Park focuses urban gardening, composting and food insecurity solutions through a solar-powered teaching kitchen, aquaponics demos, pollinator gardens and free-range chickens. Nearby, Tanaka Farms grows more than 60 varieties of fruits and vegetables with U-pick and educational experiences. Ride a tractor through the farm with stops to pick seasonal produce like strawberries, melons, sunflowers and pumpkins to take home.
INLAND EMPIRE
Experience Farm Life in Murrieta
Longshadow Ranch pairs wine for adults with animal encounters for kids, while U-Pick Murrieta highlights the payoff of harvesting your own produce. Hawk Ranch offers educational animal tours and Farm by Primal Pastures showcases regenerative farming practices up close.
Zero Waste at Temecula Olive Oil Company
Temecula Olive Oil Company pairs premium extra-virgin olive oil with a sustainability-first operation built around Kai-Zen soil techniques. Its farming avoids harsh chemicals by using naturally acidic olive-press water for weed control, while running zero-waste systems and powering farm equipment powered by olive oil. Every other Saturday, guided tours and tastings at Olive View Ranch in Aguanga take visitors through the groves and the full grow-to-press process.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY
Regenerative Farming in Encinitas
Coastal Roots Farm runs guided tours, volunteer opportunities, seasonal harvests and programs tied to organic growing and food justice. Nearby, Fox Point Farms combines gardens, orchards, animals, dining, markets and events in a coastal "agrihood" setting.
Flower Fields & Tropical Harvests in Oceanside
Mellano Farms anchors the city with seasonal flower fields, U-pick strawberries, watermelons and pumpkins, plus a working farmstand and weekly Certified Farmers Market. Nearby, La Villa Sulla Collina brings tropical fruit harvesting with guava, mango and cherimoya, while The Plot's urban garden highlights regenerative farming. Beach House Winery has tastings that showcase local grapes and Oceanside's distinct coastal microclimates.
Spring Blooms & Hands-On Farming in Carlsbad
The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch transform 55 acres into a display of nearly 80 million giant tecolote ranunculus blooms each spring (March 1-May 10, 2026), where visitors can ride tractor wagons, explore themed gardens and join hands-on learning activities focused on planting and sustainability. Beyond the blooms, pick berries at Carlsbad Strawberry Company and explore local ecosystems through interactive programs at Agua Hedionda Discovery Campus.