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.