Solvang Farmer Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze runs Oct. 1-31. Call: (805) 688-4496. Location: CA Hwy 246, Solvang, CA

Solvang Farmer Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze is an annual attraction that draws tourists and locals who can't escape the festive Halloween fun in the Danish village of Solvang.

Children come to meet Birgit and Arne Jacobsen, who have been selling colorful pumpkins for over 25 years now. The kids come with their moms and dads (and even grandparents) who hold fond memories of this roadside stand not far from Highway 101 on the road to Solvang (Hwy 246).  From broom corn to pumpkins of all kinds--cinderellas, jack-o-lanterns, ozzies, turbans and munchkins, throw caution to the wind and go pick out a pumpkin for your kin.  People of all ages love to experience the fields, the varieties of pumpkins, the corn maze and the family fun of getting the kids to help push a wheel barrel and fill it up with pumpkins.

While Southern California pumpkin patches often include carnival rides, petting zoos and entertainment, Central Coast and much of Northern California features the old-fashioned experiences afforded by acreage, tons of hay and rolling mountains with rich, blue skies. Wear your tennis shoes and casual clothes in the hay-strewn fields where you'll wander, picking out something that calls your name. It may be white, green or traditional orange in color. But whatever you decide, don't miss out on this Halloween tradition that's especially enjoyed in the USA, the pumpkin capital of the world!

If I had my way, I'd drive the entire state of California during the month of October, seeing all the pumpkin patches I could find. There would be hundreds or thousands of them, no doubt. In the Danish village of Solvang where baked goods and comfort foods are served, pumpkins blend with the rural environment that's so special in the autumn when the hills are a burnished gold just before the rains turn them back to green again. Roadside stands sell apples during this season in which many of the grape harvests are finished. It's the perfect season to visit Solvang and surrounding areas. Buy fresh produce, sample crafted wines and pick out your pumpkin just in time for Halloween.

Pumpkins come from the same family as the cucumber and is a squash. There are over 50 different types of pumpkin with names such as the Spooktacular and Munchkin.