You Can't Have Halloween Without Pumpkins

Haul yourself out to Valley Center and go to Bates Nut Farm. I promise that you will feel much better about not only your entire Halloween season, but yourself as a person. Do not pick up your annual carving pumpkin at Vons, or Ralph's, or God forbid, CVS. Oh, no. Make an afternoon of it, grab a wheel barrel and wander around a virtual, day-glo orange field to find that perfect pumpkin.

While your pumpkin will cost you a little bit, and the gigantic, decorative pumpkins that they also sell will cost you a bit more, wandering around the festive lot is free. There's a corn maze, face painting, craft and art vendors peddling their wares, blow-up slides, a store with literally every kind of candy, dried fruit or knick-knack imaginable and so much more.

It really is the perfect way to begin your fall/spooky season (my personal favorite) and then you know that your pumpkin is special, lovingly and painstakingly singled out by your discerning eye. The pumpkin patch opens for business on Sept. 27, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., every weekday through Oct. 31. Bates Nut Farm is located at 15954 Woods Valley Road Valley Center. Their phone number is (760)749-3333, and for more information on the special events they hold visit batesnutfarm.biz.

Goin' 'Round the Velodrome

The San Diego Velodrome has been this crazy enigma for me for some time now. I've heard tales of where it is, though I had never previously caught a glimpse of it. So with a friend coming to visit, I thought I'd hunt this mysterious beast down. The beauty of it is that it is completely free. Free parking, free to sit on the outdoor bleachers and watch and you're allowed to bring in your own food and drink. We showed up at 6:30 p.m., when I heard the signing up and practicing before the actual races began. As time went on, more people showed up but the bleachers still remained fairly sparse. The track is pretty terrifying, sloping down at a crazy angle. The races were fast and fun to watch, and during practice time the ringleader rode a motorcycle, clipping the cyclists' heels in a motivational, "go faster" type exercise. The track is located at 2221 Morley Field Dr. It's a small driveway, surrounded by San Diego County vehicles and a tiny sign that says "Velodrome" with an arrow. Just keep driving straight until you see a park. Leave your car there and head for the giant flood lights.

Enter: Balboa Park

For me, the quintessential free activity in San Diego has always been going to Balboa Park. In fact I used to have birthday parties there when I was little. This public space can offer you whatever your heart may desire: free concerts, free museums, picnic spaces, IMAX movies, wildlife, culture, plants, flowers and lavish restaurants.

The park is always good for an impromptu picnic (my favorite location is on the grass near the lily pond, right in front of the arboretum). When you're done eating you can look for the koi fish and baby turtles in the pond or walk through the gorgeous, free, arboretum with its offerings of every plant imaginable.

Right across from the arboretum is the Timken Museum of Art. This is a smaller gallery, with only a couple of rooms, but admission is always free. They will even have special exhibits that are also free.

Balboa Park offers a handful of other museums too, including the Museum of Man, the Air & Space Museum, the Museum of Photographic Arts and the Natural History Museum. If you happen to be a Southern California resident, different rotating museums are always free on Tuesdays. All you have to do is check out the schedule on the park's website.

And if a picnic isn't quite up your alley, The Prado has a beautiful outdoor patio, a diverse menu and nice atmosphere. If you're aiming to enjoy a mostly free day, you can order happy hour (Tues.-Thurs. from 4 to 6 p.m., and 8 to 10 p.m., Fri. from 4 to 6 p.m. and 8 to 11 p.m., and Sat. from 8 to 11 p.m.) appetizers in the bar and get all of the luxury on the cheap.

Yet another (not really cheap but so worth it) option would be to leave the park through the main bridge on Quince Dr., cross Sixth Ave. and head to Extraordinary Desserts at 2929 Fifth Ave. The cake is amazing, artfully arranged on your plate and a whole meal all in itself.

The coffee is really good and the restaurant itself is small, with a twinkle light decorated outdoor patio to eat on. But, if substantial food is what you're in the mood for, cruise down Fifth Ave. a couple of blocks to 3172 Fifth Ave. and try Jimmy Carter's. Very tasty carnitas.

All in all, Balboa Park has a lot of personality and endless activities. It's the home of The Old Globe, there are free Organ Pavilion concerts during the summer, you can visit the International Houses, watch a puppet show, and oh so much more. It's worth at least a quick stroll. I will never get tired of visiting my favorite place in the entire city.