As much as I LOVE living in Southern California, one of the biggest drawbacks for me is that we don’t get to experience any drastic seasonal changes here. Sure, the temperatures have started to drop, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t missing the Fall foliage that I got to enjoy when I lived in New York and Virginia. I am still completely determined to get into the Fall spirit, so I decided to visit as many Fall-themed locations as I could and create this list of the best Fall photo spots in SoCal to share with you! I will be sure to update this post during our time here, because unfortunately many of the more Halloween-themed attractions that I wanted to visit have been closed since 2019 due to a certain *virus*.
Carlsbad Strawberry Company Pumpkin Patch
Do not let the name fool you, the Carlsbad Strawberry Company also has what I consider to be the BEST pumpkin patch from LA down to San Diego. I have come to this conclusion after visiting a few other pumpkin patches in SoCal and reading tons of reviews. If you are looking for a classic pumpkin patch that is both photogenic and fun for the whole family, this is the place to go.
I ended up visiting in late October, and they still had a massive selection of pumpkins in all shapes, sizes, and colors to either purchase or use as photo props (see above). They also have a few areas set up that are designed to take photos at (think stacked hay bales) but by the time I got there most of them had been broken down or reconfigured so that the pumpkins in them could be sold. Don’t be like me and go late in the season! If you need more convincing, parking is easy and free, there is a $5 entry fee, and there are plenty of activities for kids.
Mr Bones Pumpkin Patch, Culver City
If you have at any point searched online for pumpkin patches in LA, which I assume you have because you are reading this article, I am sure that you have seen photos of Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch before. Here is what the photos don’t show you: it is TINY! I was expecting a classic pick-your-own-pumpkins-off-the-vine patch. Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch is more of a dusty fenced in lot on a street corner crammed full of activities.
That isn’t to say it’s not worth visiting. Tickets are $5, and that $5 gets applied to any pumpkin purchase. Parking is also $5. It is definitely geared towards kids as the whole place is stuffed with pumpkin-themed installations for kids to climb on and explore. There were SO. MANY. KIDS. As for photography, these pumpkin houses are pretty much the only truly photogenic thing there, but even though I visited at noon on a Tuesday, the place was PACKED and it was tough to get photos without anyone in the background! I am glad I checked this one off my list and I would recommend it to anyone looking to take cute Fall photos, but I am not sure that I would rush to visit it agin.
Spadena House, Beverly Hills
No list of the best Fall-themed photo spots in SoCal would be complete without the Spadena House. This witchy little house is perfect for any Halloween-themed photos, and is even cuter in person! This is a privately owned residence in Beverly Hills, so don’t expect to spend too long there. Also, please be respectful!
The Spadena House was built in 1921 by Hollywood Art Director Harry Oliver to serve as an office and dressing rooms for a film studio. It was moved to its present location in 1926 and in the 1960’s the house’s first residents, the Spadena family, moved in, renovated it, and gave the house its name.
The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens
If you are looking for glorious Fall foliage in LA, a visit to the Huntington might be your best bet. Most recommendations to find Fall leaves in SoCal will have you driving hours away, and for some pretty mediocre payoff. I was lucky enough to stumble across this recommendation on my Instagram explore page, which I am so grateful for.
Ginkgo leaves might not be the most traditional Fall leaves for us Westerners, but these photos don’t do them any justice. Their golden showers are something to behold, especially if you are a fellow leaf-starved Californian. At $25-$29 dollars per adult, entrance into the Huntington isn’t cheap. If you have never visited, however, it is well worth the entry free. Sprawling gardens and gorgeous art and architecture go on for acres. Pack comfortable walking shoes, and bring a camera.
Quail Hill Park and Trail, Irvine
You might be looking at the above photos and thinking to yourself, “Really, Caitlin? A random field qualifies as a Fall-themed location?” Hear me out. Every Fall I see SO MANY photos on social media of people taking photos in wheat fields and other types of golden fields, and I think they look great! I wanted to try to find some locations in SoCal that look similar, and I have visited a few *cough* *Malibu Creek State Park* *cough* and was seriously disappointed.
Quail Hill Park and Trail in Irvine is seriously a hidden gem if you are also looking for the kind of “golden field photos” that I am describing. It is a hiking trail, as the name suggests, and I have seen some incredible shots that I believe were taken further along the trail than I had time to walk on the day I shot these. I took these photos five minutes into trekking on the trail, and I love them! This spot also has some seriously incredible views overlooking what I am assuming is downtown Irvine. It is my new best-kept photo location secret.
Roberts Cottages, Oceanside
I realize at this point I am starting to stretch what might be considered “Fall-themed”, but beggars can’t be choosers. I live really close by to these little beach cottages in Oceanside, and I think they are just the cutest! If you are doing an orange theme for any kind of social media content or photography projects, you need to visit the Roberts Cottages at sunset. The sun bathes them in this incredible orange glow, and the symmetry of the cottages and the palm trees is really fun to play with.
Table Rock Beach, Laguna Beach
I first want to mention that I talked about Table Rock Beach in-depth in my post sharing the most Instagram-worthy beaches in Southern California, which I will link here. It is without a doubt one of my favorite beaches in SoCal. Again, I realize this isn’t the most Fall-themed location on Earth, but something about the way the house at the end of the beach clings to the cliffside feels kind of eerie. In my opinion this house reminds me of the buildings falling into the ocean in limbo in the movie Inception. No? Just me? Another way I justify to myself that this is a Fall locations is because the sunsets in SoCal are truly the best this time of year. Is there any better way to enjoy an early Fall sunset than on a gorgeous beach? I rest my case.
