What a beautiful little zoo!  The kids and I ventured there with some good friends for the first time this summer and had a great time!   The Folsom Zoo is not a “mainstream” zoo.  This unique zoo provides sanctuary to some very special animals.  Many were raised and rejected as wild pets.  Others were injured or orphaned in the wild.  All have names and personalities, and their individual stories are posted at the exhibits, along with factual, up-to-date information about their species.  The zoo teaches about common and uncommon animals, both wild and domestic, while promoting responsible and appropriate behavior toward all animals.

After visiting all of the animals in the zoo, which took us about an hour, we enjoyed our picnic lunch in the shaded area right outside the entrance.  There is also a playground for the kids to finish wearing themselves out before going home!  We did not happen to be there when the train was running but apparently The Folsom Valley Railway (located between the zoo and the library) can be a real highlight of the Folsom Zoo experience.

Another plus for this zoo is that admission is so inexpensive.  Kids ages 2 - 12 are $3.00 and Adults are just $4.00.  I only spent $10.00…what a deal!  You can get in for even cheaper if you go on the first Tuesday of the month (September through February) on their Half-off Admission days.

I recommend checking the zoo out on one of these cooler fall days as you’re more likely to find the animals playing or eating.  The crowds are likely to be smaller when summer’s done and you’ll be able to spend more time walking and enjoying eachother’s company.  So go visit the animals while the weather is still great!

Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary
403, Stafford Street, Folsom, CA 95630
(916) 351-3527

Normal Hours (Sept through May): Tues - Sun 10am - 4pm
Closed Mondays for animal rest days
Summer Hours (June 1 - Aug 31): Tues - Sun 9am - 3pm

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We have been lucky with such great weather this year.  I can’t believe that I am still wearing my flip-flops!  So before it gets too cold to do anything outside, take advantage and do some of these fun things with your kids.  Some of these activities are even more enjoyable without the sun beating down on you!

1.  Play at Fairytale Town.

2.  Visit the animals at Sacramento Zoo or Folsom Zoo.

3.  Hike at Cosumnes River Preserve or Effie Yeaw Nature Center.

4.  Learn something new at Sutter’s Fort and the California State Indian Museum.

5.  Go Miniature Golfing at Golfland Sunsplash or Scandia Family Fun Center.

6.  Try horseback riding at Gibson Ranch.

7.  Take a picnic to Mckinley Park and feed the ducks.

8.  Go bike riding in Discovery Park.

9.  Taste holiday pies on Apple Hill.

10.  Visit the Sea Lions at Pier 39 in San Francisco.

One of the most fun and memorable things to do with kids in October is to go to a Pumpkin Patch!  Whether you simply want to pick out that perfect pumpkin to carve or make a day of it by enjoying the other attractions, there are many wonderful patches in the Sacramento area.  We’ve enjoyed Dave’s Pumpkin Patch and the Silverbend Pumpkin Patch with our kids in past years.  This year we are excited to try out The Pumpkin Farm, Dave’s Pumpkin Patch or Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm.  They have great pictures on their websites, lots of attractions and look  like a ton of fun!  We will also try to get to Fog Willow Pumpkin Farm.  It looks like it could be the best value around.

Remember to bring something to hold your pumpkin/s in, small bills for admission, attractions and snacks.  Leave your flip-flops and sandals at home and be prepared to walk in dirt.  Don’t forget your camera…there are great photo opportunities at pumpkin patches!

CITRUS HEIGHTS

The Pumpkin Farm
7736 Old Auburn Road, Citrus Heights, CA
(916) 726-1137
Open Daily, 9am to 6pm
Hayrides, pony rides, haunted barn, petting zoo, jumping castle, tower slides, go-kart train rides, scarecrows, and giant pumpkins.

CLARKSBURG

Silver Bend Pumpkin Patch
34600 South River RD, Clarksburg
916-744-1409
Open Monday - Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday - Sunday 10am-6pm, closed Tuesday.
Train rides, hay maze,hay rides, indian village.

DAVIS

Impossible Acres
26565 Road 97D, Davis, CA
530-750-0451
Call for hours
Pick-your-own produce: boysenberries, blackberries, raspberries, cherries, peaches, apples, pumpkins, corn, gourds. Goats, ponies, chickens, hayrides, mazes, scarecrows.

ELK GROVE

Keema Family Pumpkin Patch
6532 Point Pleasant Road, Elk Grove, CA, 95757
(916) 684-2334
Open Tuesday - Sunday, 11am - sunset
Farm Animals, Hay Pyramid, Pumpkins from $1 and up.

FAIR OAKS

Pumpkin Hill
5415 Kenneth Avenue, Fair Oaks, CA 95826
(916) 966-4111
Open Monday - Friday 9am to 7pm, Saturday - Sunday 8am - 7pm
Pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, child-sized haybale maze, wagon rides, whaunted trail, snacks and refreshment stand, petting zoo, farm animals.

LODI

Phillips Farms / Michael David Vineyards
4580 West Highway 12, Lodi, CA
(209) 368-7384 or (209) 368-5801
Open Monday - Friday 12pm-5pm; Saturday - Sunday 9am-5pm
Monday - Thursday FREE admission - pumpkin picking only.
Friday - Sunday admission for Adults $6.00, Kids $3.00
Pumpkin patch-already gathered from the field.   Weekends - games, tunnels, bounce house, food, farm animals.

Natomas

Pumpkin Acres
3101 El Centro Road, South Natomas, CA
(916) 929-7546
Open daily  9am to 6pm

Goblin Gardens Pumpkin Patch
3845 El Centro Road, Sacramento, CA
(916) 416-1133
Open Daily, 10am - 7pm or dusk
Hay pyramid, largest corn maze in Sacramento County, hay maze, tractor-pulled hay rides, antique tractors, slide, blow-up inflatables, produce and kiddie cars.

ROSEVILLE

Sleepy Hollow Pumpkin Patch
210 S. Harding Blvd., Roseville
(916) 786-7979
Monday - Thursday, 3pm to 9pm and Saturday - Sunday, 10am to 9pm
FREE admission
Train ride through the haunted mine shaft, corn maze, petting zoo, ferris wheel, carousel, food.

SACRAMENTO

Roemer Pumpkin Patch
6851 Hedge Road, Sacramento
(916)381-4331
Tuesday - Friday 2pm-5pm; Saturday - Sunday 9am - 5pm
Free parking, free admission, free hayrides (wkds only), free hay pyramid, and a free hay maze, free wagons to pull pumpkins in.  5 acre corn maze (wkds only) - $2.50 admission fee

WEST SACRAMENTO

Dave’s Pumpkin Patch
3010 Burrows Ave
West Sacramento, CA 95691
(916) 849-9450
Open daily 10am to Dusk, Fri & Sat till 9pm.
Hay rides, pony rides, bbq, free wagons to haul your pumpkin in from the field.

WHEATLAND

Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm
1415 Pumpkin Lane, Wheatland, CA
(530) 633-2568
Open Sunday -Thursday 9am to 6pm and Friday- Saturday 9am to 7pm
Admission is free. Parking is free on weekdays and $10 on weekends. Corn maze and Coyote Mountain admission is
$3.50 each. BPF Railroad tickets is $2.50. Coupons are available online.
Petting Zoo, Train, Hayride, Play areas - slides, swings, tree house; Shops, Bake Shop, Apple Cider machine, Corn Maze, Coyote Mountain - special slides & pan for gold.

WILTON

Fog Willow Pumpkin Farm
11011 Cecatra Drive, Wilton, CA
(916) 687-4547
Open daily, 9:30am to 6pm
$3 per person, FREE for kids 3 and under
Barrel train, hay rides, petting zoo, pony rides, crafts, haystack and barbecue during the weekends.

The CSD Pumpkin Festival of Elk Grove is celebrating 15 years of being “Wild About Giant Pumpkins”!  You are invited to enjoy GIANT pumpkins, animal prints, reggae music, a safari inspired scarecrow contest, and more.

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The 2nd Annual Fall Fairy Festival is happening this weekend!

Dust off your best pair of wings and come mingle with the fairies at this celebration of all things glittery and tiny.

When: Saturday, October 3, 2009
11:00am to 5:00pm

Where: Fair Oaks Community Clubhouse
7997 California Ave., Fair Oaks, CA  95628

Price: Admission is $10 for ages 13-99,
$5 for ages 3-12, and
free for those under 3.

For those wearing a fairy costume, admission is
half price!

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As of today, it is officially Fall!  A day trip to Apple Hill in the Fall is a tradition for many Sacramento families.   Although my family has lived in Sacramento for five years now, we haven’t ventured up there yet.  We didn’t know much about it and so I have talked to friends and done some research online to find out where exactly to take our kids in order to have the best time.  I’d really love to make it a yearly tradition for us.  So here is what I have found out…

The Apple Hill ranches are located north of Highway 50 between Placerville and Pollock Pines, about 1 hour east of Sacramento and 1 hour west of South Lake Tahoe. Recommended exits are Exit 48 or Exit 54, although you may take any exit marked as “Apple Hill Scenic Drive” located between Exits 48 and 54.

There is a map of the orchards on the Apple Hill website that you can print out and use as a guide.  They are open all year round, but the best time to go is in the Fall.  October tends to be more crowded, but the changing colors of the leaves makes it so beautiful, the weather is good and the picking is best early in the month.  Go early to beat traffic and long lines.  In October a free shuttle is available on the weekends from 10 - 5 to take you from orchard to orchard.

Favorite orchards to take the kids:
Abel’s Apple Acres - (best place for kids) pony rides, hay maze, wooden cut outs for pictures, Abel’s apples, apple butter, candied apples, fudge apple fritters and turnovers
Apple Pantry - watch cows graze
Argyres Farms - pick apples
Boa Vista Orchards - great market, Arkansas Black apples
El Dorado - good place to buy apples - crates and crates of about 15 different kinds of apples, miniature train rides around a big pond
Honey Bear - hay maze, bbq and goodies
High Hill - trout fishing pond, hay rides, pony rides, picnic area under trees, huge cider press and amazing pies
Kids Inc - (despite the name, not known to be that fun for kids) little farm animals, great “Mile High Apple Pie”, buy bottle of “Cider Sauce”!
Larsen - cool farm “museum”
Mill View - pig roasting on a big bbq, pony cart pulled by 2 ponies, apple fritters and apple cider doughnuts
Plubell’s Family Orchard - pumpkin patch, petting zoo, tire swing, great pies & goodies
Rainbow Orchards - good apple cider doughnuts and corndogs

Recommended things to buy:
Barsottis Apple Juice, Cider Sauce, apple peeler, apple cider doughnuts, Arkansas Black apples (tart), apple turnovers, and apple butter.

Click here for the Apple Hill website.

We’ll be heading up there in a couple weeks…what a great way to celebrate Fall, huh?  The older the kids get, the more I think about establishing traditions for wonderful childhood memories.  This should be a good one!