Photo: Leticia
Photo: Tanaka Farms
Photo: Albert Kim
Tanaka Farms
★4.6(1,670 reviews)$Farm
🕑 1.5-2.5 hours👶 Best for ages 2-12. Toddlers and preschoolers love the simple joy of picking their own strawberries and feeding farm animals, while elementary-aged kids appreciate the educational wagon tours and more complex u-pick activities like digging for sweet potatoes.🧡 Saved by 18 families
About
Tanaka Farms is a working agricultural farm in the heart of Orange County where kids can experience hands-on farm life through seasonal u-pick adventures, wagon tours, and interactive educational programs. With strawberry patches, pumpkin fields, and vegetable gardens changing throughout the year, children learn where their food comes from while getting their hands dirty in the best possible way.
Highlights
- ✓Seasonal u-pick experiences including strawberries, tomatoes, green beans, and pumpkins
- ✓Educational wagon tours through active farm fields with guides explaining farming practices
- ✓Hands-on activities like digging for sweet potatoes and cutting your own vegetables
- ✓Farm animals to observe and sometimes feed
- ✓Fresh produce stand with farm-grown fruits and vegetables to take home
Pro Tips
- 1.Book your wagon tour or u-pick session online in advance, especially during peak strawberry season (March-May) and pumpkin season (October), as they sell out quickly on weekends.
- 2.Bring sunscreen, hats, and closed-toe shoes. The farm has minimal shade and kids will be walking through dirt fields.
- 3.Arrive early in the day when produce is freshest and before the afternoon heat sets in, especially during summer months.
- 4.Bring a cooler or insulated bag for your u-pick produce, particularly for delicate strawberries on warm days.
- 5.Check their website for current crop availability, as offerings change dramatically by season and some crops may be unavailable between growing cycles.
Best Time to Visit
Weekday mornings offer smaller crowds and cooler temperatures. Spring (March-May) is ideal for strawberry picking, while fall (October) is perfect for pumpkins. Avoid weekend afternoons during peak seasons when tours fill up and parking becomes limited.
What to Know
Tour prices are budget-friendly at around $4-$15 per person depending on the activity, with u-pick produce charged by weight. Parking is free but limited, so carpooling is recommended on busy weekends. Bring cash or card, though they accept both payment methods.
Seasonal Notes
Different crops are available throughout the year. Strawberries typically run January through May, summer vegetables June through September, and pumpkins in October. The farm may have limited activities during crop transitions (November-December). Special holiday events include Easter egg hunts and fall harvest celebrations.
Real Experiences
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Nearby Eats
The nearby Irvine Spectrum Center (5 minutes away) offers numerous family-friendly restaurants including Pieology and Yard House. For a quicker option, In-N-Out Burger is just down University Drive.
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