Fun at G&M Farms: Plunge into a Pit of Corn Kernels or Lose Yourself in a Maze of Maize

I learned some new things about myself at pumpkin patch last weekend:

1. I'm not BAD at corn mazes. Just slow. Much, much slower than my 7-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter, who ditched me immediately and ran through the 6 acres of twists and turns, finishing at least 15 minutes faster than I did.

2. I get really, really excited about finding just the right deep crimson shade of Indian corn.

3. I like putting my bare feet into a large pit of corn kernels. A lot.

Beyond these small life lessons, I recommend you take your family to this cool place for a fall outing. 

But first, some tips

Don't follow G&M's website home page directions (exit at Airway off Interstate 580). Due to, after you exit the freeway, go right and then follow the detour signs and take the immediate left at the stop light onto Kitty Hawk. Take Kitty Hawk to East Airway and go left. (Address is 487 East Livermore Ave.) 

Bring cash. This here farm is not in the plastic-card-using era o' time. Though we will give them props for having a generic ATM at the quaint farm store (along with chewy caramel corn candy), you might not appreciate having to pay a bank fee.

Once inside the corn maize, answer the questions on the nifty boards. They work! And you will wow your associates with your stellar knowledge of random corn facts (hint: Cornhusker State is...). Or not. And if corn isn't your thing, at least it's multiple choice! 

After you master the corn maze, you can do all sorts of fun things at G&M. Pick out pumpkins. (Duh). Or buy fresh produce and fall decor.

For younger kids there's a hay bale maze and lots of other activities, some of which are only open during weekends, such as pony rides, face painting and pedal carts.

But our favorite was definitely the corn box. A large concrete pit filled about 2 feet deep with, yep, corn. Glorious corn to be buried in, to sift through little grubby kid fingers and to fling around at siblings.

After we adults grew bored of sitting off to the side, we couldn't resist slipping off our shoes to check out this foreign sensation. After all, it's not often that one comes across a vat of corn in which to frolic. And we found it rather enjoyable.

We hope you do, too.

Kari Hulac is a Patch editor and Pleasanton resident and mom of two. Her favorite month of the year is October.