What is Underwood Family Farms? 

Underwood Family Farms in Ventura County is probably LA's most popular pick-your-own farm, with plenty of entertainment for all ages, an easy-to-find location, and ample parking—especially on weekdays.

Weekdays are also cheaper, so if you have a choice, aim to visit the farm during the week. Since you have to take major freeways to get there from most of Los Angeles, plan your trip around non-rush hours, if possible.  

From animals to games and rolling fields of fruit and vegetables, there is no shortage of things to see and do at Underwood Family Farms. There's so much that depending on the age and activity choices, your family could easily spend up to four hours taking it all in. 

Underwood is simply aMAZEing! Photo courtesy of Underwood Family Farms

All the Underwood Family Farms Fun 

After paying admission and getting stamped (in case you need to exit and return), you'll need to determine what activities your family wants to participate in, which dictates how many activity tickets you'll need to purchase. What's great is that these tickets never expire, so if you have a few leftovers, you can save them for your next trip. 

There are plenty of amusing things to do without activity tickets, too. Kiddos can ride trikes on the trike trail, see the farm animals (goats, pigs, chickens, horses, cows, turkeys, etc.), climb the hay pyramids, slide down the combine slide and harvester slide, play in the tunnels and on the wooden train, and take a ride on a tractor-drawn wagon. 

RELATED: Find an Amazing Petting Zoo near Los Angeles Where Kids Can Meet the Animals

Pet baby goats. Photo courtesy of Gina Ragland

Many delightful farm animals call Underwood Family Farms home, and kiddos will love visiting them all. Don't forget a few quarters for the coin-operated animal food dispensers so the kids can send pellets to their favorite farm friends. 

All other activities (and there are many of them) require multiple activity tickets. My family often ends up riding the little electric choo-choo train, panning for fossils and gems, and riding the bee barrel train around the farm. Other ticketed activities include feeding the ducks and several petting zoos where kids can pet baby goats and brush sheep's wool. 

Animal shows occur on weekends which are amusing for kids of all ages as they delight in the various farm animals that make appearances. 

The Pick-Your-Own Portion

RELATED: Cherry Picking near Los Angeles with Kids: Favorite Family Farms in the Leona Valley

You'll find the best picks in the patch at Underwood Family Farms. Photo by Mommy Poppins

After you've worked your way through the attractions, head into the fields to pick your own fruits and veggies. You'll pay for what you pick on your way out. Prices are listed on a chart by the pound, where free bags are provided, as well as on the Underwood Family Farms website. 

Rather than walk to the fields, you can hitch a ride on a free tractor-drawn wagon. We always take the ride around, even if we aren't stopping to pick. During the fall festival, this tractor ride also makes a stop at the infamous corn maze.

Wear good shoes and comfortable clothes for picking. Harvesting your produce is a labor of love. Pull wagons are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis to carry pickings and children. 

The Underwood Family Farms website has a calendar of what crops are in season at any given time. Picking produce is a wonderful way for kids to try something new and learn how their food grows. 

While Underwood Family Farms is not a certified organic farm by choice, they are sustainable and incorporate organic farming techniques using integrated pest management, compost, and minimal pesticides. 

There's a farmers market near the entrance of Underwood Family Farms, which carries all the produce from the fields for people who want to enjoy the freshness without the work. Even if our family doesn't pick, we often purchase a flat of strawberries and a few fresh ears of corn or tomatoes on our way out. 

Activities for Babies and Toddlers

RELATED: Things To Do with Los Angeles Babies Before They Turn 1

Enjoy the baby swings at the farm. Photo courtesy of Gina Ragland 

Upon entering Underwood Family Farms, playground swings await, some of which are baby swings offering up views of goats as they climb through connecting nets throughout the farm. One of the best conveniences for babies is a diaper changing station, which is located right next to the baby swings. 

Babies will love seeing the different animals as they hear farm animal noises their parents usually imitate brought to life. There are many patches of grass for toddlers and early walkers to traverse around, and they are sure to be entertained by Farmer Craig's Chicken Show. Babies might enjoy trying the petting zoos as they come face-to-face with baby farm animals to interact with. 

Underwood Family Farms is stroller-friendly—the farm pathways are flat, and the activities are in a relatively contained area. If you plan on taking a tractor ride, then you will need to park your stroller and hold your baby on your lap for the ride.

You can also bring in your own food, making it easy to take along baby food, though trying fresh fruit may fare well for a little one, too. 

There's a gift shop at Underwood Family Farms which will be hard to leave without grabbing a stuffed cow or goat to commemorate baby's first time on the farm. 

Annual Seasonal Festivals 

Underwood knows how to celebrate a holiday. In December, the farm transforms into Christmas on the Farm with a winter wonderland with holiday photo ops, reindeer, visits with Santa, Christmas-themed games, California sleigh rides, and more. The farm also hosts Big Wave Dave's Christmas Trees, a tree lot featuring Noble Firs, Grands, Frasers, and Douglas Firs. 

In the spring, spend some time with the Easter bunny, search for eggs, and feed baby ducks while you catch the Springtime Easter Festival at the farm. This darling annual festival lasts from mid-March to mid-April. 

If there is any time that you should check out Underwood, it is autumn. The Fall Harvest Festival is a pumpkin-covered palooza. We make it a priority to pick up some pumpkins in the sprawling patch every year.

In addition to the acres of squash, Underwood offers plenty of Halloween-themed photo ops (the pumpkin house and the hay bale spiders are two of my favorites), pumpkin games, live entertainment, food vendors, and additional attractions. 

RELATED: Meet the Easter Bunny at Bunny Brunches, Trains, and Easter Bunny Pictures in Los Angeles

Meet the Easter bunny at Underwood Family Farms! Photo courtesy of Gina Ragland

Food at Underwood Family Farms

If you're wondering what to do about lunch, the best idea is to pack one; there is sometimes a hot dog stand and sometimes not (except during the fall festival, when there is always food available for purchase), and the nearest restaurants are a mile or more out. 

There are plenty of fun places to sit and snack, whether on a bench or the grass. Food has to be carried in a standard-size bag or purse. Coolers are also allowed so long as they don't exceed 16" x 12." Plus, you can purchase fresh produce at the farmers market stand for snacks. 

Somis Underwood Family Farms Location 

While the Moorpark location typically gets all the attention, the Somis Underwood Family Farms location is the chill, lesser-known little sister. If you want a family farm experience without the crowds, the Somis location might be the right choice, especially if your kiddo gets overstimulated. 

Berry picking is the perfect time to visit the Somis location. Bring your food for a picnic, and let the kids play on a cute wooden truck. You can see farm animals at the Somis location, too. Bring change for the coin-operated feeders here as well. 

Getting Here and Parking

Parking is a piece of cake at Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark, with a giant parking lot that has plenty of spaces. Keep in mind that the lot is dirt—Underwood is an ideal place for your flannels and jeans when it's not too hot, but not the best spot for your finer clothing. 

Know Before You Go 

Moorpark runs hotter than LA, so hats, water, and sunscreen are an absolute must for most of the year. We often pick up some popsicles at the farmers market if the temperature gets uncomfortable. 

RELATED: Best Pumpkin Patches near Los Angeles For Picking the Perfect Pumpkin

The best pumpkins in LA are at Underwood Family Farm. Photo by Cynthia Bullard

Underwood is a beautiful, fun farm that's not too far from home for most of us. Admission costs slightly more on weekends and major holidays in comparison to weekdays.

Keep in mind that admission may be higher during some of the farm's popular seasonal festivals. Children under two years of age are always free, and season passes are available for frequent visitors. The farm also hosts birthday parties, which are darling (we've been to one). Happy picking! 

Originally published September 16, 2014