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Ardenwood Historic Farm
Rating Details »
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
56 reviews for Ardenwood Historic Farm
I went there with a friend the other day in a sunny Sunday. The main attraction was Patterson House which was built in late 19th Century. There were lots of what we consider antique furniture. What struck me the most were ornaments made of human hairs to give good fortune and remember others. Guess a different era has a different tradition. An irony is that once this powerful family becomes an ordinary citizen in the modern age according to the guide. Still, it was nice to also see culinary tools and toys from early 20th Century.
After visiting the house, we went around the park to see lots of domesticated animals including turkeys and pheasants (do people still eat them frequently?). The blacksmith looked pretty nice. We wished to ride a train, but the schedule wouldn't allow us. Otherwise the estate looked pretty countryside-like.
As we were about to head out, we ended up getting into a train-related store and listened to a lecture about train system in the old days. That made me realize how out-of-control (in both good and bad ways) the society was in California, representing some frontier atmosphere. That lecturer was also in a old train preservation society, which I thought would like to see more active to keep old but quite characterful trains.
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.
This review isn't for the farm itself, which is really pretty, it's for the Ardenwood Affairs branch of property. I'm a specialty florist/events person and I never comment on a bride's venue, BUT knowing that the bride and bride's family are going to be sending letters of complaint, I felt it was important to weigh in on what was the single most unprofessional individual I've ever come across. Not only did the wedding coordinator ask me very personal questions about how the bride's mother had died (I only know she passed because her sister told me when I was hired). Of course I didn't know, would NEVER ask and certainly wouldn't share that info with a stranger. Now I can forgive a gaffe because folks are curious but then the coordinator went on to ask how many sisters the bride had (she knew the count already) I told her and she said, "Oh, because one of them looks like a guy so I wasn't sure". Uh, she is masculine, yes, but she is all girl. Two totally lame comments should have been enough right? Well it gets so much better. She went on to tell me that she's "so sick of weddings" and complained about how many she'd had to do. Yeah?! I just stayed up all night preparing GIANT buckets of flowers that weighed 22lbs a piece, carried them all to the car, drove them to effing Fremont and carried most of them to the reception site myself and you know what? I'm not sick of weddings, I'm blessed to be hired to help!!
When I took the flowers out of the car the first comment made by the reception staff was, "Oh well I hope the guests don't want to talk to one another over the table!" WTF?? The bride asked me for a specific centerpiece and that's what she got...the most AMAZING centerpieces EVER! Then, one of the staff, I'll call her chain-smokin' Flo, stuck a lantern down the center of my centerpiece! It was falling over so she got a beer cup, stuck that in there and put the lantern in the flowers. Uh, no, take it the eff out!!
Then wedding coordinator shows up, tells ME that it's a fire hazard and I can't have the lantern in there - really? Cuz it looked so lovely and junk! I told her I didn't put it in and I took it right out.
Then she complained that the lanterns the bride wanted on the tables next to the flowers looked "stupid" and she took them away!
Later, when the beautiful bride arrived with her wedding party they noticed there was one fewer table then they had reserved. I called the wedding coordinator on my cell (because she was NOWHERE to be found even though a wedding was going to start soon) and she argued with me that there wasn't another table reserved and when I gave the phone to the bride she argued with the bride!! Can you believe it?!
Once that was sorted, I heard that she spent the moments right before the walk down the aisle showing the original reservation notes to the Maid of Honor and telling her it wasn't Ardenwood's fault about the table. She also made comments about divorce rates, how she was sick of the food and on and on.
If I wasn't hired by the wedding party to make a beautiful setting even more beautiful, I probably would have thrown down with the coordinator who was clearly the worst person in the world to have that job.
I'm just sayin'.
I guess if you've never seen a draft horse or a tractor or live sheep and goats, then you'll love this place, maybe for some city kids who've never been away from asphalt it might be interesting. If you're an adult who has seen a farm, or you have kids who know that the outdoors exist, there's no particular reason to come here. I can think of one reason: I suppose it's good that there's actual land in Fremont where something grows, and we should support that. But I'd rather just send them money to take the time to actually go here again.
Went on a Saturday, but the blacksmith shop was closed (open every other Saturday). Also went a little too late to check out the Patterson House, so will have to return. The grounds are nice and there is even a walnut farm, chickens, goats, and a giant turkey. The train was neat along with the historic farm equipment. Make sure to check the hours before you go!
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.
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!
My best friend and I came here once for the corn maze.We arrived in the afternoon,around 1pm.Although we tried following the map they supply you with,we were unable to find our way to the exit.
We got tired and hot,even though it was October,we were in direct sunlight for over an hour and walking constantly.So we found the entrance,went through that and called it a day.Good thing we didnt go at night,we'd really have been screwed.
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 »
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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 »
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.
I was so bummed by that review I had to post my own! I LOVED my wedding at Ardenwood this summer. My husband and I looked all over for the prefect spot that was affordable before settling on Ardenwood. We Loves the wedding Coordinator Julie and thought that she was so helpful with every request we had. Never once was I told no for a request, and never once did I see her argumentative with anyone and all our vendors said she was great to work with. I thought the price was good, the food was amazing (especially the tri-tip!) and the setting couldn't have been more perfect! The only complaint I could even think to make was having a fork and knife that's patterns didn't match. and If I have to go that picky, needless to say it was a great day! Don't take one upset vendors word for it, let the place stand for itself.
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.
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!
Cool farm that I barely even knew it existed. It is pretty easy to drive right by and miss this hidden gem. Went today and enjoyed the farm animals with DD. Be nice to return for the pumpkin picking...
And admission is a reasonable $2.00 for adults..
There are so many facets of Ardenwood Historic Farms to experience. You have the farm itself. A genuine working farm inside of Fremont city limits. It's like hopping in a time machine and taking a trip back to the early part of last century. I have been there on my own, and with school groups, and found it to be an outstanding experience for the most part. Why did I only give it three stars? It seems the East Bay Regional Parks employees sometimes need to work on their people skills when greeting or working with children or teachers. One time our school group was resting by the entrance, waiting for other groups to arrive. One of my students who happened to be "differently abled" was yelled at constantly by the person in the entrance kiosk. When he wasn't yelling to "get away, or I'll call the police, " he was making really rude comments the rest of the children and teachers could hear. Really, was that necessary to berate and tease an eight year old like that? I found that behavior from this particular adult to be wholly unacceptable.
More recently I was calling about field trip information, and the lottery system (which I am aware of). I was treated somewhat rudely when I was trying to clarify something I didn't understand on the application. The application said to call if there was an issue with the size and that there could be accommodations. I did. As a result, we didn't get a call back on the lottery (something that hasn't failed before, I've always gotten in). In these tough economic times when people are more than willing to pay for a field trip, and arrange for very expensive transportation, being smug and unhelpful doesn't serve the schools. To date, the school that I am at now has never visited Ardenwood. We have to take bus transportation, as we have many children, which would otherwise use up many cars if we car pooled. Am I less likely to try again? Well, no. I'm hopeful that in the future they will allow us in. Let's hope the employee was having a Very Bad Day and Feels Better Soon.
I've only been here once and it was for the the corn maze. The corn maze is a good thing to try out if you've never been to one because I believe it's good to experience everything at least once so you can judge for yourself how you like it. That being said, I thnk the corn maze is only okay. When I went it was quite busy, which can be a good or a bad thing. Good because it's more lively with more people. Bad because it's not very scary with 20 people walking around you and your friends down the trails. It was good to try, but I don't think I'd be back this year.
I grew up around this place; my mom used to work there.
I'll always love the pumpkin patch and the sheep I took a photo of that won me 1st place in the state fair. =)
Minimal entrance fee, free parking. Fun and educational place to take children or just relax. The gardens are beautiful and nice to walk around on a sunny day. It provides a wonderful educational opportunity for children on days when the farm is in operation. There is a working blacksmith, horse drawn train, cooking exhibits, old original house tour, and lots of animals (pigs, horse, sheep, peacocks, chickens, bunnies) to see.
A lot of weddings take place in the spring and summer as well as company picnics most often on the weekends. It also houses many events like the Civil War re-enactment, corn maze, and other festivities.
Perry's farm stand on the corner at the entrance to the park has cheap, delicious produce! In the summer, the heirloom tomatoes are half the price of those sold at the store and are juicy and absolutely delcious!!! I've had the apricots as well, sooo good. He grows his produce on the land surrounding Ardenwood so it's all straight from the field.
Definitely worth a visit!!!
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*
We recently attended my company picnic at Ardenwood farm. This venue is a great spot for a large gathering and the Picnic People are really great at handling all the picnic coordination. They provide the food, drinks, activities, and even goody bags for the little kids. There were two other companies sharing the site with us that day, but we still managed to use and enjoy all of the facilities.
The food was very plentiful and we had all the standards and then some including hotdogs, BBQ chicken, tri tip, pork ribs, and veggie burgers. Drinks were served in cups to be environmentally conscious, however, we probably produced the same amount of trash in the form of cups as we would have in the form of bottles or cans.
Activities included tetherball, foozball, horse shoes, softball, volleyball, kid's hay maze (very cute!), bouncer, giant slip and slide, and a dunk tank. All were very fun and kept our day busy on top of walking around the farm to see the animals and historic buildings. The only downside was that the train doesn't operate on Saturdays. Too bad!
All in all, this was a fun place for a company picnic. The farm is one of those places to go just once and see what it's all about. I don't feel the need to go again.
The Maize, on the other hand, is a whole other experience outside of the farm. We've been there during the day with the kids and at night for Halloween. Both were super fun, but night time in the Maize with masks and glow sticks really rocks. Unfortunately, I hear the Maize won't be open this year... boo!
Great place to take the kids. It's almost like going back in a time machine going here.
They use to have a Civil War Reenactment here a few years back and it was amazing. Also, every Halloween, they have pumpkin patches and hay rides that the kids enjoy. Don't forget you can always get a tour and pick FRESH FRUIT out of the ground with the farmer helping you.
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 maze
I am speaking through a 5th-grade memory, so don't mind me.
Things I remember most:
-A big Victorian-esque-styled house.
-Tons of animals. :D
-The horse-drawn carriage! (I got to ride it with my crush. hooray!)
-They were selling horseshoes where you could get your name engraved in em' for $5. I really wanted one, but even at 11 years old, I was pretty freakishly stingy. Probably because I'm Asian.
I'd love to go back there one of these days to see what it's like now. :] And I want that horseshoe.
The Corn Ma(i)ze was pretty fun. We used the map the first time and then when we got to the exit, we threw away the maps, turned around and tried to retrace our steps back to the start.
On the way back, our group of three got split up but we all made it back unharmed, despite many references to Children Of The Corn.
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.
Ardenwood Historic Farm has always been one of my favorite places to visit ever since I was a little girl. I grew up in Newark so many of our field trips were to Ardenwood.
Halloween is usually one of its most popular times because of their corn maze and pumpkin patches. The corn maze isn't exactly the best but it's still fun. They hire people to dress up in scary costumes to jump out and scare you, or even follow you halfway through the maze and wait until you turn around and freak out seeing their face two inches away from yours. The maze can last a good amount of time and it's great to go with friends on an October evening.
I worked here for a about 3 to 4 months back in high school as well. I worked during the summer time as a part of a wedding caterer of Ardenwood. The weddings here were extremely beautiful. Many couples had their weddings at around sunset time. As the sun sets, they are being pronounced husband and wife. There is a gazebo in the middle of a grass field along with chairs for guests of the wedding. The gazebo caught my eye when I first saw it and it was just like the movies. The entire scenery is just amazing to me. I never realized Ardenwood had this beautiful scenery since I normally would only come during Halloween. Once the wedding ceremony ends, they usually move the guests to the next area where dinner and drinks are served. A dancefloor is there too for after the meal. The lights make the scene look so cute and.... I don't even know how to explain it. It made me want to have my future wedding at some place like Ardenwood.
The workers are really nice (since I was one of them). We would work from 3pm, setting up all the chairs, lamps, and tables for the ceremony and dinner, and not leave until around 11pm or midnight cleaning up. Once in awhile, you'll have a few mosquitoes and that might get annoying, but things like that should already be expected when you have a ceremony in the middle of the woods on a farm.
Ardenwood is also great for company picnics. They offer a GREAT lunch (and I really do mean GREAT). All these different types of bbq, sandwiches, pastas, and salads. There's usually games they set up as well and even facepainting for the kids. It's a great place to enjoy a nice Saturday or Sunday afternoon. If you are in charge of your company's annual picnics, or even own a business, definitely hold it here at Ardenwood.
I know this is a long review but let me tell you one last thing. This place is called Ardenwood HISTORIC Farm, so YES, it does have some history to it. There are abandoned houses far into the land and people say that they are haunted. I've never been near it but I guess it's just kind of cool to see something like it or even be near it. I never dared going over there at night while I'm working, I only looked at the houses during the daytime. They have these articles displaying the history of the houses right outside of each house and the stories are very interesting. If you ever get the chance, come check it out. Interesting, beautiful place to visit.
OMG! I love this park/farm! I used to come here all the time when I was a little girl. It is such a beautiful and peaceful place. I used to come here on field trips and on family outings all the time. Wow. I can remember it like it was yesterday.
I used to bring a plastic bag and fill it wit walnuts for my grandpa, because he loves walnuts. And I remember because he had this really weird nut cracker that me and my siblings used to play with. So when I brought home the nuts, we would crack all of them with his nut cracker. It eventually broke after we played with i so much.
I even remember going to the pumpkin patch a zillion times. I would always try to get the biggest pumpkin, so big I could not even hardly carry it. I always wanted the biggest one because my uncle always carved the coolest things in out pumpkins and he made the best pumpkin seeds ever.
I even remember in the summer time, I would come here and I rode on the back of a horse drawn carriage around the entire park. That was like the funnest thing in the world! I even remember making vanilla ice cream! I remember churning the handle for like 20 minuets with so much excitement,because I was making I cream. Then the guy would send me outside with a HUGE piece of watermelon while he would finish churning the ice cream. I even remember buying the weirdest little things from the gift shop. I even bought a pencil that was made out of a twig! How awesome is that? Oh how i miss this place! I cant wait until I take my son here, I know he is going to have a blast!
OK, so last Oct./Nov. I decided to take my class (3rd grade autism) to the corn maze and pumpkin patch. We got lucky and it wasn't raining. BUT, the rain had made the mud in the maze super squishy! We were lost within 5 minutes and of course with children w/autism, time is of most importance! I wouldn't recommend this...
The pumpkin patch was fun. I took them for the hay ride, and we got to see fruits and vegetables. They got to pick out a pumpkin at the end as well. We took cute photos in the decoration things with holes in it to put your face in...
It was an OK day. I don't think I'd take my students here again though...
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.
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.
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!!
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!
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...
Haunted corn maze was lots of fun. After dark on Fri/Sat nights. My friends and I were caught by surprise at least 3x by the kids in masks....well worth the entrance fee.
Bring cash, and prep yourself for a long line. Better yet, try to hit the maze either early (5-6) or later to avoid the crush. Otherwise, the maze gets so crowded that there is simply no way to get "lost"....you're a lemming surrounded by other lemmings in a sea of corn.
Came here on a Saturday earlier this month with Mieko G... admission was only $2! So many photo-ops! A great way to spend an afternoon.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/8/2008
whoo hoo! i used to take my preschool class here every October! The kids love coming here and they… Read more »
Who is brave enough for the challenge of solving the haunted cornfield MAiZE on Halloween? Beware of spooky creatures and possessed pumpkin pals.
No maps this time. Bundle up with warm clothes and comfortable shoes. Bring your fancy flashlights and $6. If you have more than 5 people, they'll split you up into groups (ie. Ghouls & Goblins) of 5, which will be staggered for admittance. You can print the $1 coupon off their web site or organize a group of 15 for the same discount.
Try going before Halloween weekend to avoid the chance of being turned away from being too packed. Have fun running through the cornfields with an occasional scare creeping out and trivia clues at each fork to point you in the right direction.
Great place to stop by with the kids before Halloween. They have a corn maze ($7 for adults), hayrides, haystack, and lots of different varieties of pumpkins, squash, and gourds for sale.
They also have different kinds of events throughout the year like the Civil War reenactment, railroad fair, checking out the animal babies in the springtime, etc.
This place is quite enjoyable for a quick get away when nothing to do in Fremont.
There are lots of areas to walk around and they have numerous animals including peacocks.
They have seasonal events and activites, the migration of the monarch butterflies and the cornfield maze are just some of them.
There is a fee to get in, but it is really low, and they usually have certain promotions for different days.
Nobody has written about their wedding experience at Ardenwood Historic Farms, and as a dedicated Yelper, I have tons of opinions about our ceremony and reception. My sweetheart and I would do it all over again here, but of course, we have ideas at what worked and how it could be slightly better.
THE SITE: The ceremony is an ideal garden wedding location. The backdrop of the farmhouse, the gazebo, the train station, and the arching trees over the entering roadway makes this bay area location special and lovely.
We married in August 08 and despite warnings of mosquito, windiness off dumbarton, it turned out just fine. The forecasted high for our Saturday wedding was 71 degrees. I prayed all summer for a heat wave but after surviving the wedding evening with a 6 layer dress, I ended up thankful for our given sunny temp. My husband was happy it was cool enough to make all the decor moving in a suit and tie bearable.
We told our guests it was entirely an outdoor reception and ceremony. As a result, I noticed many women with lovely jackets and shawls and the men kept their suit jackets on. I did get 2 mosquito bites off my backless dress... not too bad considering how sweet I am. ;-)
I booked my date 1 year in advanced. What was not communicated to me were the other events going on. At the same time as our wedding, there was a murder- mystery dinner inside the farmhouse. Their party was much smaller and despite early jokes about a possible gunshot frightening our wedding guests, they were not much of a problem. The only negative thing was that the murder mystery participants waited outside the farmhouse so my photographer didn't get that perfect shot of my husband and I walking up the aisle. I have yet to see the photos. This could have been remedied by a coordinator asking them to wait inside the house or even joining us in the ceremony(?). Or if I had known, I would choose another Saturday... maybe.
In addition to the murder-mystery, there was a 800 person picnic earlier in the day. This didn't have too much of a negative punch on our wedding either. Their event was held in another part of the park so there wasn't a mess to clean up. But because of the 800 person event, the wedding cupcakes couldn't be placed in the fridge early in the day in fear they might accidently be given to that event. Minor detail but a good Yelper will mention this to others.
GAZEBO/CEREMONY SITE: I noticed from older pictures that the gazebo got a facelift. It is looking much much better with replaced shingles and a bright white paint job. The bride has to walk a great distance from her hiding spot to the gazebo. This actually was really fun for me. Even with my long dress, no problem. Don't get spiked heels. They do need to replace the grass along the aisle as it was balding in some spots.
RECEPTION SITE: Tall redwoods and trees surround this outdoor "room". The walls of greenery create an intimate feeling even and it reminds me of a secret garden. During the spring, it was a bit buggy. Choose a late summer date for the least amount of bugs. I noticed they do water for green lushness but Ardenwood made sure the ground was dry by watering 2 days before the wedding. No puddles! Thank you!
If this was my property, I would update the deck/dance area keeping it rustic. Julie and team did place white fencing (I believe) to hide the catering trucks. Good decision. I suggest, ripping out the olive trees (ugly droppings) and place scented plants like lavender or sage to reach the olfactory sensory! Aromatherapy wedding indeed!
The reception area is also not flat. I was told that this was because Native American Indians are burried here and digging is forbidden. I don't know if I believe but it should be more leveled perhaps by adding soil?. In the end, our guests didn't tilt over and it was fine.
The wedding coordinator: Julie was extremely helpful in helping me plan our big day. Her experience and desire to assist is what made the experience enjoyable. I knew I could count on Julie to deliver. I found her to be honest with her valuable suggestions to create an elegant and affordable wedding. There were times she thought upgrades were worth it and times she thought it would be a waste of my money. I appreciate that since I never planned a party on this scale before. Bottom line, a wedding coordinator is about working with someone and I like working with people who have opinions and suggestions but who is also willing to listen and accomadate. 5 Stars to Julie and her helpful staff. Of course, my husband's one complaint was that we should get the unused wine we paid for and that the staff asked if we wanted white wine because a mixup caused them to only have red. Of course, says my husband, you get the white wine since we paid for it!
We had friends from across the US who LOVED the site. I hope this was helpful if you are deciding on Ardenwood!
This place is peaceful. It just makes me feel good to be on the grounds with my little one running around exploring. I happened to talk with three employees on my last visit, and every one of them was kind and interesting. They made me feel welcome and like the world didnt need to be in such a rush. We've been here for Toddler Time on Tuesdays, for an Easter Egg Hunt, to buy a Halloween pumpkin, and just for a Sunday afternoon. I highly recommend it to parents for a picnic. Also stop by the organic foods place on the way out, they always have some good stuff.
