- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Ardenwood Historic Farm
Category: Active Life Parks Parks [Edit]
34600 Ardenwood Blvd(at Kaiser Dr)
Fremont, CA 94555
(888) 327-2757
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 10 am - 4 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
96 reviews for Ardenwood Historic Farm
96 reviews in English
-
Review from Eri H.
5/9/2012
What a wonderful farm experience for children and adults! If you are a city kid and you want to expose them to real nature then this is your go to place!
The admission for adults are 6$ and for children under 4 it's free. There is plenty of parking and it's free as well.
The farm area is huge with many animals (pig, sheep, goat, rabbits etc.). Plenty of opportunity for the children to pet them.
Many activities for children that are appropriate for kindergarten/school age children but younger children have enough fun just running around and watching the animals.
They also have a store near the entrance where you can buy organic vegetables and fruits for very reasonable price (cheaper than farmers market) -
Review from Clockwork G.
San Francisco, CA
5/24/2012
Ardenwood Farm is a charming gem in Fremont. A Victorian house sits on acres of working farmland and manicured gardens. Fremont is generally lacking in charming places like this so I consider Ardenwood a charming retreat from the surrounding city. There are some beautiful gardens at Ardenwood, a great place to stroll and have a picnic or just spend a relaxing afternoon. There are a lot of educational things for kids (and grown ups) to do- train rides, animal care, general programs about life on a farm. There is a blacksmith shop with demonstrations. Just outside of Ardenwood Farm is a fruit and veggie stand where you can buy fresh fruit and veggies for very cheap prices.
Ardenwood hosts some events throughout the year, and I believe rents out for other events. One thing you shouldn't miss is the Zydeco festival in August- which is a lively festival of Cajun music, food and dance.
There is also a small Renaissance Faire that happens each year but I don't remember when.
A random note: Ardenwood no longer rents out for weddings. Which is a shame. -
Review from Chen L.
Fremont, CA
3/8/2012 6 photos
This place is cute. Just went here this past weekend...quite late actually, just about an hour before they closed (didn't realize that), but the attendant was super nice. He let us go in for free! Woooot! It was nice too, since there weren't a lot of people around, so it was very nature-y.
I would totally love to go during the spring/summer, when there are more animals/flowers, but it was still nice. Some of the cherry blossoms were starting to come out, so in a few weeks, it's going to look even better, I think. There were the chickens, peacocks, lambs, horses, birds,...no piglets or monarch butterflies though. -
Review from Katie C.
San Francisco, CA
5/3/2012
I can't say enough good things about this place. I have a toddler and he loves this place. During the spring the place is chock full of baby animals and they have a Toddler Time on Tuesday where the kids learn about a new animal every week. The ranger that does toddler time is wonderful and great with the little kids. Watching my little guy's face light up as he gets to pet lambs, kids, turkeys, and mama goats is just about the most precious thing ever. Admission is very inexpensive, the staff is very nice, there's ample parking.... Also great are there special events throughout the year. Last year we went for the Harvest festival and it was a lot of fun. This year we plan to spend 4th of July here as well as making a Christmas visit.
-
Review from Brian W.
San Jose, CA
5/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
a Great park with beautiful grounds. The historic house is a great tour. lots of animals sheep, horses, cows, rabbits, peacocks, chickens, turkeys, bird, pigs. a great place for the family
-
Review from Jean K.
12/28/2011
Ardenwood is a tiny little park in the middle of the 'burbs. There are historic buildings and if you're lucky you'll catch people dressed up like Little House on the Prairie, but my favorite parts are the farm animals and the monarch butterfly clusters. The farm has some goats, sheep and different fowl. The best part is that you can walk into the chicken roost and hang out/pet the chickens and turkeys. Those turkeys are huge and they roost up in the rafters. Beware! The monarch butterfly clusters appear in the park during winter. Apparently monarchs west of the Rockies winter in California. There's only a small group at Ardenwood but it's still worth the visit if you're in the area. It's just like you might imagine from reading National Geographic. The rangers give a good talk and have high powered telescopes so you can get a close-up view.
There is a small $2 charge to enter the park and there is lame bike parking outside if you ride here from BART. -
Review from Amy L.
10/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'd been wanting to go to Ardenwood since I was a kid, but I never got a chance to! The boy knew I wanted a pumpkin to carve, so he took me here the other day to the pumpkin patch [this review is only for the pumpkin patch b/c I haven't gotten to see everything yet], which made for a very happy Amy (:
I love that they grow pumpkins there, and that it's not just pumpkins that they brought from somewhere else&placed strategically. And the prices are suuuper reasonable. We ended leaving with a regular pumpkin, a Cinderella pumpkin, and 3 baby pumpkins + a gourd. Total was $14.50. Not bad at all. :]
Oh, and the girl ringing us up was super nice. I love the little cut out things you can take pictures with. Too bad it was super late, so there wasn't enough sun for us to take pictures :( But still a very good experience. Can't wait to come back&actually see everything Ardenwood has to offer! :] -
Review from Vanilla P.
San Lorenzo, CA
10/8/2011
Perfect place for an all day activity with kids. We go on Tuesdays for Toddler Time, then spend the rest of the day running around, splashing in mud puddles and playing with random leaves and sticks. When it's time to go, I always bribe my toddler with a juice from the farmstand on the way out.
Love this place. Makes me feel un-rushed, quiet, peaceful, calm. I can't hear the sound of cars here. Well, except in the parking lot. -
Review from Suzy S.
12/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ardenwood is such a neat place! As you stroll the gardens and farm area you get a glimpse of what it was like to live on a farm a century ago. I believe it's open year round with a variety of seasonal special events.
We happened here today when they were celebrating a Victorian Christmas. This weekend event included a cookie baking contest, puppet show, yule log hunt, live music, crafts, carriage rides, and more. Not to be missed is a docent-led tour of the Patterson House, decorated for the season. This tour transported us back through history to the 1850's when this area was open fields for miles. This magnificent house began as a modest farm house. Later a major addition was added to transform it into a Victorian family home.
You can make a quick stop or spend hours here but it's worth a visit any time of the year to get a feel for local history. -
Review from Pamela R.
1/15/2012
For only two dollars a person you can have a long walk, look at a bunch of different animals, look at historic buildings, and spend the day with the family. During the winter they have monarch butterflies hibernating in the trees- thousands of them.
-
Review from Alissa W.
Fremont, CA
7/7/2011
We had the best family Fourth of July EVER at Ardenwood on Monday. Where else can a family ranging in age from 2.5 years old to 65 years old all have an absolutely fantastic day, each finding something tailored to their interests? Though the "Old Fashioned Fourth" seemed to be well attended, it never felt crowded. We were just surrounded by equally happy famillies, enjoying the animals, the historic house, the train ride, and walking around a beautiful place. My toddler son's favorite thing was the old fashioned water pump and cement cistern. He could have spent all day playing in that water with the other kids. My folks loved the historic house and the fresh popcorn grown right on the farm. My husband and I loved being on a real working farm, with healthy, happy animals and a beautiful garden.
I can't wait to come back in October to commune with the Monarch butterflies and inhale the sweet scent of the Eucalyptus trees.
My dad told me that the City of Fremont traded with the City of Newark so that the historic house would belong to Fremont (the farm belongs to the East Bay Regional Park system). Awesome trade! Go Fremont! Go East Bay Regional Parks!
Go to Ardenwood! -
Review from Michelle C.
Castro Valley, CA
10/27/2011
WOW such a fun place. I really have not spent much time at Ardenwood but decided to take a stroll through there with my sister and littles over the weekend. We had a ball. Checked out the gardens and livestock listened to the blacksmith talk all about the good ole days and this and that.
I really had no idea that this place was so large. I plan on going back and planning a picnic for my little fab posse and spending another day soon. -
Review from J.J. M.
Fremont, CA
9/7/2011
I was here on Labor Day with my in-laws and my two little ones.
Had a fun time. We rode the train, my son loved the model train display. He spent like an hour looking at everything. (my other little one was napping in the stroller the whole time).
We were here for 3 hours and didn't even see everything. Love all the old and historical stuff.
We have to come back to see the gardens, Monarch butterflies and visit the Patterson House.
There is little store near the entrance of the parking lot with lots of fresh organic fruits and vegetables too.
Can't wait for the pumpking patch in October! -
Review from Kyle T.
San Francisco, CA
5/26/2011
I think my boyfriend and I were the only ones at this place who did not have children. In fact, it might be even more fun if you bring kids, since they get really excited about farm animals.
But so do we! As we wandered around this pastoral park, we chased peacocks, chickens, and sheep around trying to get perfect photographs. We also fed the goats handfuls of grass (which you're not supposed to do, but I think it's okay). I secretly want to be a farmer, so petting sheep and goats and watching chickens lay eggs in their condominium sized coop is pretty much heaven to me. We went on a sunny day in April, which was basically smack dab in the middle of spring. The roses were blooming (and smelling amazing) and the bees were buzzing and it felt good to be in a natural place contrasted with the suburban sprawl of the Bay Area. I miss when I had space for gardens and chickens so hopefully I will again soon.
There is also a historic train on site which you can ride from one end of the park to the other. It's more of an interesting historical relic than practical for transportation purposes. My boyfriend loves trains so he was really excited.
I would love to come back. There was even a wedding going on here the day we were there, which is something to think about, though people would probably be turned off to have to go all the way to Fremont, but trust me, it's worth it! -
Review from Nolan K.
San Francisco, CA
7/11/2011 4 photos
Farm land! Animals! Tractors! Wooden trains! Horsies!
Many people host their wedding here too, so that's an option if you like the quiet serene outdoors. Has a farm feel to it, which makes really fun pictures!
Admision is more expensive on certain days, such as Sunday. Go on a Saturday and you save about $3 per person! I went on a Sunday.
I wasnt sure if I could go into the animal pens and pet them-- because I was real excited to do that but i stayed out of it. didnt want to get in trouble.i love sheep and goats!!!!!!! they are SO funny! there's also a random peacock that walks around!
CHICKENS crack me up. theyre fun! they roam free.wow.
train ride from entrance to side of the park is free! every hour -
Review from Jason M.
Fremont, CA
1/2/2011
Butterflies... Beautiful butterflies... A good friend of ours cajoled us into visiting Ardenwood this winter to see the Monarch's. It was small, but it was * amazing * - they winter in the hundreds at the park... Unfortunately, due to habitat destruction their numbers are dwindling...
So 1) go see them as soon as you can, and 2) become an advocate for them!
The guides were fantastic, they had a little nature talk beforehand, as well as some amazing binoculars set up for us to view.
Beyond that, Ardenwood is a wonderful place to take your kids to see "days gone by" in terms of the Bay Area agriculture. -
Review from James T.
Fremont, CA
2/17/2011 4 Check-ins Here
This is the place to go for Halloween if you want your kids to experience something other than piling on sugar. They set up a maze made from hay that is the best. Seeing the kids running around in their costumes while keeping an eye on them makes it the ideal place to come.
Please support Ardenwood Farm! -
Review from Mary F.
Berkeley, CA
In case anyone from Ardenwood Farm actually reads this,
I want to apologize on behalf of my father.
I truly believe that he did not mean to steal the pumpkin from your annual pumpkin patch.
Thank you for being so gracious when apprehending him. He knows not of the ways of this country.
Sincerely,
The daughter of Victorino S. F-----
PS, you have a lovely corn mazeListed in: I will Mary Poppins your ass, ROTD aka fanning my own…
-
Review from Kelly B.
San Jose, CA
4/12/2009 ROTD 10/8/2009
Another fabulous picnic at Ardenwood Historic Farm.
This is such a mellow, gentle, funfilled place that I hesitate to tell anyone about this gem of a picnic spot. Geographically, it works if you have family that is spread around the bay area, everyone can take the various highways that seem to meet up right there... Dumbarton Bridge, 880... it all comes together there.
You do have to pack your picnic stuff in, but there are many possibilities of places to eat. Our big group favors the picnic area by the small cafe (that never seems to be open), because it has both sunlight and shade. There are many, many clean bathrooms to be had.
One of the best parts of a working farm, is having Mom and Dad talk about how they grew up on a farm just like this. There are house tours of the "big" house, blacksmithing demos, train rides, big horse, tons of peacocks and lots of flora and fauna. If you have gardeners in your family, they will appreciate the work and detail it takes to keep this area looking so lush and taken care of.
There is a big grassy area (perfect for hiding easter eggs), a gazebo, orchards and train tracks. Something for everyone. After our picnic, everyone went off in twos and threes to explore the farm. It was great to meet up again for dessert. Everything is SO mellow at this park, we left our picnic for a full hour and nobody bothered anything (and those younger kiddos even left a couple of ipods lying around... but I don't suggest that!)
The vibe is cool, lots of young children, but hey, tons and tons of space for them to shriek and scream and just explore. I heartily applaud their parents for taking them someplace that is kid appropriate (rather than next to me at a restaurant).
I hope that you get the same great weather that we did today: warm and sunny, with a slight cooling breeze. Beware, however, the park does close at 4pm... usually way before everyone is ready to go. -
Review from Chris K.
4/13/2010 ROTD 5/23/2010
Truly a local gem! I remember going as a kid and now I get to share the fun with my daughter. We enjoy going for their "Toddler Time" program on select Tuesdays (check the East Bay Regional Park website for schedule). There is a short circle time with a story and then the kids do a farm chore and get to meet/feed the animal of the day.
Today we ground corn for the goats and fed them. Definitely bring a picnic so you can stay and enjoy all the animals the farm has to offer: chickens, pigs, sheep, rabbits, turkeys, peacocks, doves and goats!
You absolutely cannot beat the price...$2 for adults, kids under 4 are free and there's no parking fee.Listed in: How 'bout a playdate?
-
Review from Rinky N.
East Bay
3/16/2009 12 photos
EIGHT baby lambs were born this month (March 2009) at Ardenwood, including one this past weekend.
(See my pix)
Talk about TOO CUTE! Although this is off-season for Ardenwood, my hubby and I drove from the depths of Richmond to the other end of the East Bay just to see the sweet lambs. We saw a picture of them in this past week's West County Times.
WE spent about 45 minutes oohhing and awwwing over these cute little furballs. Their moms wold bleat at them to follow them into the field and they would reply in the softest tiniest "baas." CUTE attack.
We have been to Ardenwood dozens of times over the years-from a Mother's Day Tea, butterfly walks, tours of the Ardenwood mansion, a cousin's wedding, a full blown Civil War camp and battlefield reenactment with cannons booming, ice cream making, nature walks, Father Christmas and a yule log hunt, hikes and much more.
It is a historic working farm. No crop to pick lots of events and activities in the spring and summer.
I LOVE Ardenwood and the East Bay Regional Parks!Listed in: Frolicking in Fremont, Lions, Tigers and Bears--oh my…
-
Review from Katherine F.
Dublin, CA
Updated - 6/9/2009
Piggy day was a blast!! My DGD loves animals....when she sees a picture from the zoo or farm, she signs "more"...so cute!! So any animal is OK by her!
Grandpa, grandma and DGD had a such fun...we saw the goats, chickens, turkeys, and best of all, Toddler Time Pigs!
The ranger reads a story, and then you go to the pens where he gives you all of the facts. Sadly, pigs have teeth, so DGD did not get to pet them. But he did provide feed to give to the darling baby goats so the kiddies would have a "hands on" experience!!
Ardenwood rocks!1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
3/31/2009
We went today, which was "bunny day"
So cool, because we went here with DD many times when she was… Read more »
-
-
Review from Sarah P.
8/12/2010
We came here and went on the house tour, which was delightful and very interesting. We were glad, however, that we were on the last tour of the day--we'd narrowly missed being with a large group of rambunctious kids. If I was going to do this again, I might call ahead and find out if I could avoid joining any school or camp groups.
After that, there wasn't much to see on our brief tour around the area. Still, it's very pleasant, and the grounds are pretty, with some interesting animals, and a few other sights. -
Review from Ashlee J.
10/8/2010
LOVE THIS PLACE!
Came here for toddler time w/ my 2 year old. The ranch hand read a book about sheep, showed us how to grind up corn & let the kids participate in the grinding. He led us to sheep & goats & the kiddies fed them. He then gave us each a dried corn on the cob to take home to make popcorn. We then wandered around the grounds & checked out the pigs, turkey & different animals. What a lovely afternoon!
BONUS: they didn't charge us a penny!
On the weekends they have events like ice cream making & the harvest festival. Their is so much more to do here we plan on coming back to explore.Listed in: A toddler in CV, Fav kid places in the bay
-
Review from Ann L.
12/5/2009
We went to Ardenwood Historic Farm for the special Christmas Event going on Sat 12/5/09 and Sun 12/6/09. FREE parking, It's $8 for adults, but you get your monies worth w/ a full day of activities.
The first thing to do is the Patterson House. It was owned by George & Clara Patterson & their kids Henry & William in 1877 and George became rich from farming while others were mining for gold in Calif. The home was open for self-guided tour and there were docents in many of the rooms to explain what was in each room. Each room was very nicely decorated w/ Christmas items. I like the Library w/ the knitted mice - very cute.
We then went on the Train Ride. It's a slow moving train that doesn't go very far either. We went from Deer Park to Arden Station (entrance). During the Winter they stop less than mid-way to point out the Monarch Butterflies that are overwintering in the Eucalyptus Forest. They all huddled together and look like dark leaves. Cool to see. Included in admission.
We saw Father Christmas in the Gazebo - took 1 pic w/ him using my own camera. Got mini candy cane. Included in admission.
Blacksmith Shop & Equipment Shed (circa 1850) - there was a guy there working on making horse shoes, etc. Neat to see.
Farmyard Cafe. B. got 2 small pcs of corn for $1. It's like a half of corn ea. Nachos $4 - they shared it. I didn't try them.
Country Kitchen 11-3 - I tried some sample candy, & fresh, baked Oatmeal Crispies - yum.
Farm animals: I saw some chickens, a huge turkey, 3 peacocks, 2 horses.
Saw the Tankhouse from afar.
Christmas crafts - J. & B. made a wholly lamb, kinda cute.
Puppet Show at 1:30pm. We saw "The Nutcracker" by Puppet Company of Oakland Fairyland. It was pretty good. 30min show. Best to stand for good pics. Will be a different show Sun.
Hrs: 10a-4p. Recommended. -
Review from Lisa T.
5/30/2010
This place is huge! If you're used to the Little Farm at Tilden Park, like we are, prepared to be overwhelmed by scale.
It's a lovely place, and if you see the Perry Farms organic strawberries for sale by the entrance, for $2 a box, RUN DON'T WALK and grab those bad boys. They were picked right there, and they are hands down the best strawberries I've ever tasted. -
Review from Grace Y.
8/25/2008
This place is so cute. I think just about every elementary school near Ardenwood Farm makes a field trip out here once a year. I still remember my kindergarten field trip where we picked pumpkins from the pumpkin patch and harvested walnuts. I remember being really sad because I fought with my mother to wear my pink pants and it had no pockets, and I couldn't bring any walnuts home with me because I had no pockets to put them in and I needed both hands for my pumpkin :(
Funny the things you remember as a child. Anyways, the farm itself is pretty cool, they have lots of events going on here, hay rides, lots of history.
I'm looking forward to the field trip I'll be going on this fall with my future kindergarten class!!!! You have NO idea how excited I am. I think I am going to have an accident. *runs to the bathroom* -
Review from Anne N.
6/5/2009
I can only review this from my perspective as a 4th grader. I haven't been here in so long. All I remember is that I simply adored the Victorian house(s) we toured. The kitchen was considered "modern" back then and had really cool appliances. It was definitely a favorite place to go to on field trips. Don't remember taking any pictures, but I loved the fair they had going on. Gift shop was full of arts and craftsy stuff. Wonderful place for to take the family.
I would consider coming back here to see how much it's changed. -
Review from Surge C.
1/3/2011
Pumpkin patch? Cornflake coated caramel apples? Count me in!
This is a perfect way to enjoy Halloween festivities with family&friends. My cousin and I went with our nieces and nephew and had fun running through the pumpkin patch, helping them pick out the perfect pumpkin to take home to carve, and indulge ourselves in savory caramel apples.
A great Fremont treasure! Reading the other reviews, I see that Halloween is not the only time worth going =). -
Review from Wendy H.
8/31/2009 3 photos
Ever seen Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring? Bilbo Baggins has a birthday part of the century with lanterns, fireworks, and people celebrating on beautiful lawns. The fiance wanted a wedding just like that.
After searching different outdoor weddings, we found Ardenwood. It was 6 times cheaper than golf courses and other private wedding locations. It had a beautiful lawn and wedding coordinator as part of the package.
It was everything we wanted, minus the lanterns and dragon fireworks.Listed in: Nuptial Bliss
-
Review from J D.
Dana Point, CA
10/22/2011
Good old school fun for all!! My girls love this place.
-
Review from Anna D.
1/3/2008
I came here as a child for a field trip and I remember that is was quite an adventure for me.
I went back last year because I was volunteering for the City of Fremont and the children wanted to go to the farm.
Pretty interesting animals. The sheep had huge testicles and that was hard to explain to the children what exactly that was. The peacocks roam the area and we're not allowed to touch them, but I was awfully scared of them because one of them was very interested in my sandwich. -
Review from Elisabeth H.
Berkeley, CA
10/14/2007
Usually the second weekend in October is the big day to come - that's when the fall Corn Maize and the pumpkin patch are in full swing and the farm is in full regalia, too, with people in historic dress spinning yarn, making butter, iron smithing...
Good times. BYO food, though - and an extra roll of TP for the porta-potties. -
Review from Henry S.
Dublin, CA
8/21/2009
I've been to Ardenwood farms for weddings and the corn maze however this was my first time visiting the Patterson House and the Farm it self! I really enjoyed my time here as there was plenty to see and do. There is so much history here and I didn't even realize it!
We had a naturalist guide our group and the kids were able to help clean the goat pen, feed the sheep and goats, we saw the two large pigs in their pen and their newly constructed chicken coop. They even took our group into the barn where kids were able to use these old machines who remove Indian corn from it's husks!
Our tour then led us to the Patterson House. Our docent/guide was dress as if it was 1859. It was very informative AND entertaining. The kids were all really engaged and their staff did a phenomenal job teaching kids about how the Patterson family use to live on the farm.
Overall great place to bring kids. Ideal age would be the 1st through 4th grade range. -
Review from Don L.
San Mateo, CA
10/21/2007
It seems most people come to Ardenwood to enjoy the corn "maize" around halloween time. I haven't experienced the maize yet. I come to Ardenwood for another reason - the home grown fruits and vegetables.
I'm part of the supposedly younger, healthier more earth friendly demographic that Whole Foods is building its empire upon. After reading up on the subject this year (I highly recommend the Ominvore's Dilemna by MIchael Pollan as an entertaining guide to our food chain), I'm all aboard for organic produce, but a few visits to Whole Paycheck can leave a guy with an decidedly bitter taste in his mouth and a markedly thinner wallet.
So what to do? This little farm is just a short walk from my office and has been my source of many fresh organic fruits and vegetables of late. A sprig of organic basil that would have cost me almost $4 at Whole Foods set me back half that ($1.99). A lovely head of orange colored cheddar cauliflower? A ridiculously low $0.99. OK, that was a sale price, but still it was locally grown and organic as well as crisp and delicious (I ate some raw before it made it into my soup).
Bottom line, a reasonable selection of fruits and vegetables are grown right on the premises and sold to the public. Farmer's market material at supermarket prices, lower than Whole Foods. Never any lines to stand in.
Only downside? Choose carefully and inspect before you buy! While shucking some nice sweet corn I brought home one ear had a nice juicy caterpillar inside, which gave me a good scare in my own kitchen. Apparently no need for me to get lost in the maize to experience "the Children of the Corn." But that's a risk of pesticide free farming - some bugs aren't exterminated. -
Review from Rat a tat R.
San Francisco, CA
8/8/2009 4 photos
Who know such a nice farm would be nestled away in Fremont? I had a great time coming here. There's all kinds of sights to see, from animals to the organic growing to the historic restored estates. If you come with a group you can also get a talk about the history of the family and farm. My favorite part was riding the horse-drawn train from one end of the farm to another. You can also see various authentic-to-the1800s craftsmen at work, such as a blacksmith. Great fun for kids and adults alike.
I was also pleased by the cordial and helpful staff attitude. Everyone was dressed in authentic clothing and seemed really enthusiastic about their jobs. I was at the farm with a large group of elderly adults mostly in wheelchairs, and I found the staff to be incredibly patient and respectful of us, especially when it came to tasks like getting the wheelchairs on the train and over rough terrain. The park does cost a small fee to enter, but it's worth it. I recommend bringing a picnic lunch! -
Review from Fizza Q.
Fremont, CA
8/15/2006
They have toddler time every Tuesday at 10am. Check their site for it. they have a 4 week run then a 4 week break.
Its great. The park ranger reads a story. Then you get to feed the animal the story was about. Its not a very long thing. But keeps my 18month old occupied!!!
We love it!! -
Review from Angela H.
Daly City, CA
10/29/2007
My first time doing a corn maze, haunted or not, and I had a great time walking around, getting hopelessly disoriented and getting the bejesus scared out of me. I didn't think I would enjoy the experience, since I scare so easily, but the maze hosts small children as well so the scares are not too bad. The scariest things we saw in the maze were a girl dressed as the character from "The Ring" and someone in a werewolf costume that jumped out of nowhere. Be prepared to spend about an hour or so trying to make your way out- there are some deadends and circular routes that were particularly challenging, especially since it was mostly in the dark.
I came here on Saturday night and I didn't realize that there were going to be this many people wanting to get into the maze. Moral of the story...get there right at dusk, before 6:30pm or so to avoid the ridiculously long line. The maze can also get pretty crowded as people search for the way out so the pace in there can slow down to a crawl. Otherwise, bring a flashlight so you can read the questions at the different stations in the maze, wear warm clothing, and prepare to have fun! -
Review from Susan D.
10/29/2007 1 Check-in Here
On Saturday night, I went to Ardenwood Historic Farm with a large group of friends to check-out their Maize Maze. The traffic getting in there looking insane cause it was backed up all the way to 84 but in actuality it didn't take us very long at all to get in and park.
Potential problem: We arrived about 7:30pm and it's a good thing we'd made group reservations cause there were HUNDREDS of people in line. Only a few minutes after we'd arrived, they CLOSED down the roads to get in and cut-off the line. The part of our group that hadn't gotten there yet had to park by the gas station across the street and walk-in. I was pretty surprised that on what is probably their busiest night of the year, they didn't stay open later. Even if it's all high school kids working there, they should be able to stay out til midnight for a job!!
That being said... we had a GREAT time! The Ring girl was the creepiest one in the whole maze. I liked checking out everyone's costumes and taking pictures with people. Yes, regular people dress up too... don't be a stick-in-the-@#* DRESS-UP! HAha
Bonus: We had a group reservations so we didn't have to wait in the line!! Bet we had a couple hundred people not happy with the 20+ of us that walked in ahead of them.
Notes: Definitely get there early to avoid the 'cut-off'. I'm taking off one star cause they say they're open until 9 but turned people away at 7:30 on Saturday night. That probably ruined a bunch of people's Halloween fun. Some people don't go out often so it'd suck to get all dressed up and then have no where to go (be turned away).
If I'm up that way though, I will have to check-out the fresh produce that I'm reading about... -
Review from Mark P.
Saratoga, CA
9/3/2011
This large historic preserve is home to many activities that we've enjoyed over the years. History comes to life here, and a piece of the old Bay Area's heritage is preserved. Fund for picnics or activities, or just knocking around the farm and visiting the animals with the kids.
