Seasonal happenings give fresh meaning to the Golden State, and many California towns are just getting into the spirit of fall. Across the state, wineries turn on the charm for harvest: new releases, vineyard tours, and multi-course dinners highlight how well local wines pair with dishes made from California’s abundant, year-round produce. The al-fresco Harvest Lunch series at Jordan Vineyard & Winery near Healdsburg is a perfect example of how autumn enhances Sonoma County’s reputation as a must-visit California destination.
© Jordan Vineyard & Winery
Beyond wine country, cooler weather and fall color bring out new reasons to explore California. Lompoc, on the Central Coast, has quietly become a favorite for travelers who enjoy award-winning wines from Santa Rita Valley producers, scenic roads that lead to the Pacific, and unexpected natural spots like the 1.5-mile Bodger Trail and Nojoqui Falls tucked inside a modest park. Old Town Lompoc buzzes during the fall months with antique stores, cozy coffee shops serving seasonal lattes, and more than 40 outdoor murals—easier to appreciate when temperatures drop and crowds thin. Visitors can use the city’s downloadable mural map to learn about the region’s history and cultural heritage while wandering streets that come alive in autumn.
© Explore Lompoc
In Southern California, family-run Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark offers immersive agricultural experiences and a popular Harvest Festival in early October, but its annual Wild West Weekend—this year scheduled for Oct. 29—brings an extra dose of seasonal fun tied to the state’s frontier legacy. The event typically features tractor-drawn wagon rides, a corn maze and corn stalk labyrinth, pick-your-own fields and a pumpkin patch, plus a pumpkin playhouse for kids. Live entertainment often includes roaming Old West characters such as a banjo-playing cowpoke and a prospector, along with performers demonstrating classic card games and other period pastimes that let visitors step back into California’s past while enjoying modern fall festivities.