Nightglow Window

Bates Nut Farm

The cars were backed up a mile deep as we pulled away from Bates Nut Farm in Valley Center, sweaty and exhausted -- over it.

With temps in the mid-80s and no shade, it was unpleasantly hot. Sydney and Hannah head into the hay bale maze and come out, 30 hot minutes later, cheeks bright red from the heat.

Swarmed by bees -- which the girls hate -- as we drink our root beer floats, we were all getting a bit eggy. The place is overrun with people. Never again will we come on a weekend -- especially this, the most busy weekend of the year for a pumpkin patch.

But, truth be told, it was still fun. It could have been better had it been cooler and less crowded. It would have been a better idea to stay up in Laguna for the day and lounge on the beach, but the Bates Nut Farm is a tradition.

We stopped by my Dad's house on the way home and cooled off. That was nice.