Oak Glen California - Fun for the Whole Family!

Oak Glen California is a beautifull little community of apple farmers and orchards nestled in the San Bernardino Mountains just Northeast of Los Angeles. It is not a very long drive and makes a great day trip from LA.

We actually learned about this fun place from the Huell Howser show. It looked so much fun we made our first trip almost right away and it has remained one of our favorite places to visit just outside the city.

Oak Glen CA is located northeast of Los Angeles. You basically head east on the 10 and then exit Live Oak Canyon/Oak Glen Road and head up into the mountains. It is a little over an hour drive from central LA, perfect for a long day trip.

So what is it? This area is full of dozens of apple orchards and they open up to the public to share the bounty the area produces. Most of the places are open year round but the real fun happens in the late summer and early fall when the fresh, ripe apples are coming in from the orchards.

Most of the orchards in Oak Glen California have shops with all kinds of fun stuff to do and to buy. Most of them have apple tastings where you can compare several different varieties of apples. Most of them also make their own cider and you can taste and buy the most delicious fresh cider you've ever had.

At some, like Snow Line, one of our favorites, there are tours and other fun things to do. The big shops are full of everything related to apples: gifts, decorations, cider, pies and of course heaps and heaps of delicious apples. Snow Line and others also let you pick your own raspberries and other fruits. You just buy the empty container and you go out and fill it up yourself (after eating several right off the vine of course!). The kids have a ball!

One of our other favorite things is the mini apple donuts made fresh all day at Snow Line. In peak season you can expect a line, but these little treats are delicious (our son can't get enough of them!)

There are a number of decent but simple restaurants around. One of the other big attractions we never miss is the big village in the middle of the area. Nestled in amongst beautiful huge trees (mostly big oaks with acorns scattered on the ground) are several little shops, booths, arts and crafts and tons of fun things to do. There are rides and games for the kids and of course a great petting zoo where you can feed goats, sheep, llamas, pigs and such.

Of note, there is another fun spot you can hit on the same day trip with Oak Glen California. Just when you get off the 10 at Oak Glen Rd, on the south side of the freeway, there is a big pumpkin patch and Christmas tree farm (the road is called Live Oak Canyon Rd to the south of the freeway). The Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Patch is open Sept 19 to October 31 7 days a week from 9:00am - 6:00pm. Besides millions of pumpkins of all types, there are all kinds of fun activities and food for the whole family. You can pick your own pumpkins, take hayrides around the farm, listen to music and more. From late November to December 21st it is also open for Christmas trees.

So Oak Glen California makes a great trip with lots to do to keep you busy for a long fun day. We definitely recommend it, particularly for those of you with families as the kids just love running around and exploring everything.

Have Fun!