Earlier this week we went on our semi annual trip to Underwood Family Farms. It's super awesome, and the best, and I'm so happy we found out about it years ago so my city kids can experience a world completely different than their own. We are really into museums, but we are also really into baby cows. Which Kenley still wants to hold. One day K, one day...
Oh, you want to go to the farm too? Of course you do! Wait, you don't? What is wrong with you? Let me tell you why Underwood is the best, and some tips for your next visit. Which better be soon because the Easter festival ends April 17th.
Why Underwood Family Farms is the Best
(Plus My Professional Tips):
Reason #1 why it's the best - The farm is just a hop, skip, and a jump outside of Los Angeles. Got kids that fall asleep in the car? No worries! It's less than an hour away, even with traffic!
Tips #1-3 - Go on a weekday, it's cheaper. There are more activities on the weekends, but if you have kids who have never gone on a weekend, they will never know! The activity tickets you buy, can be used forever. No really, you can take your grand kids in 30 years and they will still work. Wear pants or bring lots of band-aids. All that farm foliage (foliage? is that what you call farm "stuff"?) is gonna tear you up. There is always at least one bloody causality when we go.
Animal Feeding
Reason #2 why it's the best - You can literally feed every animal you could ever dream of on a farm. And if you go during the spring, BABY ANIMALS! BABIES YOU GUYS! Gimme one.
Tip #4 - Bring quarters to purchase the farm food treats.
Pony Rides
Reason #3 why it's the best - The pony rides here are extra long. And pony rides in generally are extra fun. Plus the ponies get breaks and swap out with other ponies so you know they are well cared for.
Tip #5 - The pony rides are extra popular because, ponies. So go here first.
Mini Electric Tractors
Reason #4 why it's the best - Your kid can live out their dream of one day driving a tractor on a farm in rural America. Oh, that's not their dream? They can live out their dream of driving a tractor into their sibling.
Tip #6 - This activity requires coins, not tickets, that you must purchase at the entrance.
Haystack Mountain and Combine Slide
Reason #5 why it's the best - Because you get to slide down a combine! (unfortunately it was broken the day we went) Also, doesn't every kid like playing king or queen of the mountain and sing/act out Katy Perry music videos when they get to the top? Oh, it's just my kids?
Tip #7 - The slide is bumpy and fast and I've seen blood and tears so get band-aids handy. You've been warned. But it's fun, so let them risk it!
Easter Labyrinth
Reason #6 why it's the best - I don't know why it's the best, but my kids are really into it. And they like to pretend they are characters from the PBS show "Odd Squad" when running through.
Tip #8 - No tip, just fun times and it wears them out.
Duck Races and other Easter-y Things
Reason #7 why it's the best - There is an entire section devoted to Easter Carnival like activities. We like the duck races and... you get to keep the duck! Year round bath time fun until it gets moldy and you have to visit the farm again.
Tip #9 - I suggest you let your kid pick one or two things from this area. No need to waste tickets on temporary tattoos when you can buy them at Target or face painting when you can come over to my place beforehand and I'll turn you into a baby Easter chick.
Petting Zoo
Reason #8 why it's the best - You get to pet BABY animals!
Tip #10 - I've never done it, but for an extra cost, you can bottle feed the newborns! *Gasp!* Next year for sure. Gimme that duckling!
Wagons
Reason #9 why it's the best - You don't have to bring a stroller with you and you get your workout for the day.
Tip #11 - Take a photo of your adorable children in one. Pile them all into one and take that photo every year until they are at least 14.
Easter Bunny
Reason #10 why it's the best - The freaking Easter Bunny is at Underwood! Where his real vacation house is! Sometimes he visits the Americana in Glendale, but you have to pay an arm and a leg to meet him there.
Tip #12 - Bring a camera. You get to take your own pics!
Giant Easter Basket
Reason #11 why it's the best - It's the best Easter photo op in all of La La land.
Tip #13 - Go here before your kids get cranky. Eleanor was not having it.
Bumblebee Train Ride
Reason #12 why it's the best - The train ride takes you on a tour of the farm, an actual working functional farm. And you get to ride in a bumblebee!
Tip #14 - Most kids love love love this so much that it's an awesome thing to do last. Bribes work great. "If you follow the rules and are nice to your sister and don't throw her off the giant haystack or pelt her with a giant fake egg, we can go on the train ride before we go home."
Don't all my reasons and tips (and photos) make you want to HOP on over there right now?! Get to it! You don't even need a full tank of gas Angelenos!
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See you next year Underwood!
Preview years' Underwood Blogs:
2016 Harvest Festival
2016 Easter Festival
2015 Easter Festival (one photo)
