Borchard Farms
142 Rodgers Road, Salinas, (831) 449‑1062, borchardfarms.com
Where else can you find fairytale pumpkins – so named because yes, they look just like the pumpkin carriage Cinderella must have ridden in – alongside perfectly round pie pumpkins alongside massive pumpkins that are hundreds of pounds? Not to mention the Instagrammable towers of gourds in every color and shape, a corn maze and a display of exotic fowl. Borchard Farms is agribusiness first, growing mainstream Salinas Valley crops on some 600 acres. But patriarch Tom Borchard loves the wonder of the humble squash, so he dedicates 36 acres to 61 wild and colorful varieties, offering a one‑of‑a‑kind pumpkin‑picking experience every fall. Pumpkins and gourds (and treats like hot chocolate) are for sale, but the experience is free for all to attend.