Solvang Farmer Pumpkin Patch

A couple of hours up the coast, you’ll find a mini Copenhagen by way of California: Solvang, which has been named the best small town in the West. It’s particularly picturesque in the fall, and leading up to Halloween, this pumpkin patch sells 64 different varieties of the orange gourd, ranging from Wee-B-Littles to pumpkins weighing hundreds of pounds. Admission to the patch and parking are both free. Also on the property is a 14-acre corn maze ($15) with a scavenger hunt, a kids’ maze ($5) and an after-dark edition ($20) on select nights. Once you find your way out, snack on freshly grown and popped popcorn and kettle corn.