We came here for their Holiday on the Farm event and were so pleasantly surprised by how much there…read morewas to do there: - arts and crafts in the Boone house - Glass Museum hours - Santa meet and greet and pictures - Magic show - brass band - face painting - kettle corn, cotton candy vendor - sheepdog/sheep demonstrations - chicken coop - tractor rides - tractor barn - lawn games - gift shop The best part about it all was that it was free (with the exception of tips for the face painter, food for purchase, tractor ride donations)! Love that we came here by chance and left so happy, overjoyed, and full of Christmas spirit. We would definitely come back for their other Saturday events and sheep shearing in April! Lots of parking, and staff are so welcoming. Had an issue with unruly kids and parents, but other than that, it was a pleasant experience all around.

Our family had the best time here. We attended the fall fest last weekend and there was great…read moremusic, we learned more about East Bay Parks and rec Association. We learned a little bit about the history of the farm and we got to do a scavenger hunt. All around we really liked it Unfortunately with the parking somebody dinged your car left their car paint on our car with no cameras around, which was unfortunate for us because now there's a dent and paint from somebody's white car. All in all, the weather was great, the wine was incredible, we wish there was more options for food, but at least the children were able to eat lunch and have fun.

10/10 -- Worth Every Penny (Parlor/Dome Car Experience)…read more If you're considering the Niles Canyon Train of Lights, do yourself a favor and splurge on the Parlor Car or Dome car. It completely transforms the experience. From the moment you board, you're treated like a VIP: dedicated seating in a fully enclosed caboose, attentive service throughout the ride, and complimentary warm drinks and sweets that are perfect for a cold, wet winter night. Being waited on while rolling through a glowing canyon? Yes, please. One of the biggest perks is having your own reserved space, while still being free to explore the rest of the train--knowing your seat is secure and shared only with fellow Parlor Car Riders. It strikes the perfect balance between comfort and adventure. I've done both the 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm departures, and while both are enjoyable, 4:30 pm is the clear winner for me. You get to take in the scenery before the sun fully sets, which adds a magical transition from daylight to twinkling lights. The 7:30 pm ride feels more social and cozy--great for lingering conversations with family and friends--but the earlier ride lets you truly appreciate your surroundings. As for the cost, it's important to note that this railway is 100% donation-funded and entirely volunteer-operated. Knowing that every dollar goes directly toward preserving the historic railway, maintaining the trains, and supporting the volunteers who make this experience possible makes the price feel even more justified. You're not just paying for a ride--you're supporting a piece of living history. Bottom line: Cozy Thoughtfully curated For a great cause Perfect for winter evenings If you're on the fence about the Parlor Car or Dome Car upgrade--it's absolutely worth it.

All aboard! If you…read moreare looking for a low key outing that's suitable for all ages then consider booking a ride on Niles Canyon Railway. Enjoy a slow ride Sunol to downtown Niles and back, approx 1.5 hours. A docent will share tid bits of history during the ride. There are snacks for purchase and you can bring your own. I prepared a simple charcuterie for me and mom, gotta have something to nosh on as we enjoy the view. It's June and the hills are brown already but oh well it's still pretty. I was a little worried about whether my mom would struggle boarding the train as I didn't book ADA as she is not in wheelchair. The steps are slightly deeper than ours at home but she made it up without difficulty, there is a railing for support. Conductor did offer us to go to the car with the lift if we wanted. My next anxiety was holding up the boarding as mom navigated the stairs slowly and there quite a few people behind us. Everyone was patient thankfully and no one scoffed. Would love to do their holidays lights ride sometime but I haven't been successful in last few years to get tickets, they go fast.

Enjoyed an evening of Disney jazz with the Jeff Bordes Quartet and Alanna Vicente. The lovely…read moresounds of the piano, bass, drums, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, and vocals paired with an excellent sound setup and lighting in this theater. No concessions were available on site, but they did offer guests free bottled water in the lobby. Photography and video recording was allowed for this particular show. Note, you can't see the full stage from the side balcony section unless you lean forward drastically as the seats are too far from the railing and unmovable. There are also poles in front of some of the side balcony seats with no advanced notice about the obstructed view when purchasing tickets... there's a reason these are the cheapest seats in the house. The performance was great, including beloved tunes from Mary Poppins (Chim Chim Cher-ee), Cinderella (A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes), 101 Dalmations (Cruella De Vil), Aladdin (Never Had a Friend Like Me), The Little Mermaid (Kiss the Girl), Snow White (Some Day My Prince Will Come), Lady and the Tramp, The Princess and the Frog, Jungle Book, and a non-disney encore of What a Wonderful World.

The firehouse arts center is a great venue for performing arts. The acoustics are excellent. As…read morefor seeing the stage there isn't a bad seat in the house. The seats are comfortable with enough leg room. The center is kept clean. The art displays are engaging. The concessions are good quality and different than most theater fare.

This art gallery impressed me so much -Kim, the sweet, friendly and knowledgeable manager chatted…read morewith us as we looked at all the amazing artwork. Some paintings were absolutely astonishing - made me wish I had more wall space! This is an art gallery for everyone. Make sure you go in and enjoy!

This studio is bright and beautiful, and I always feel welcomed. They have so many works of art to…read moreadmire. Unique stand out and colorful conversation starters, striking handmade jewelry, prints representing Ca and the Bay Area. I stopped in yesterday because my daughter was attending a birthday party across the street. I've already taken note of my next splurge. I am so happy to share that unlike some touristy spots, this gallery has a wide selection of reasonably priced art and gifts. High end is available, but there truly is something for everyone. I could spend hours in awe of the talent on display. I look forward to bringing some home soon.

Our favorite pumpkin patch and corn maze! I've come here for many years and have enjoyed the…read morevarious activities this farm has to offer. It gets crowded on the weekends so be prepared for lines. When you arrive there is a ticket booth near the parking lot to get ride tickets but if you walk further into the venue there are other ticket booths with much shorter lines. We took our 1 1/2 year old son on the cow train and he loved it. The corn maze is super fun and nice they have trivia questions along the route so you can answer questions to see which way to go.

What an extremely fun spot to plan an afternoon or make a pit-stop from a weekend back to the East…read moreBay. This was our first trip to G&M Farms in Livermore and it was incredibly special and actually quite the fun surprise off the freeway. As we were coming home from a night away, we wanted to stop and have a moment with our little amongst the pumpkins and support an East Bay pumpkin patch. As we were about to pass Livermore, we saw signage and oodles of fun happening for G&M Farms so we pulled off. There is so much to do here! You can grab a red Radio Flyer wagon and truly go hunting for the perfect pumpkin within the patch itself, or if you're on the hunt for more smaller pumpkins/gourds there is a whole gift shop/farm store that is so incredibly cute for basically every pumpkin vibe you can imagine. Plenty of spots to stop and take pictures with friends or family. There's a corn maze, drinks/snacks like mini donuts, popcorn, and corn dogs, and speaking of corn..oh-em-gee! Truly wanted to share a review for this reason alone. Looking for a sensory activity for your little? There is not a sandbox, but a giant CORN box for play. The adults also tried it (essentially we just put our feet in and it felt surprisingly really nice. Something unexpected and truly unique, fun, and interactive. We also noticed a few other activities on the pumpkin patch side like a tractor/train ride and I'm not sure if there was a petting zoo? Regardless, worth a trip if you haven't made your pumpkin haul yet. Plenty of room for strollers and very spread out. Can't wait to make the corn box an annual tradition. Looking forward to truly enjoying the patch next year with more time. Thank you G&M Farms for the memories! Still finding little corn kernels ;)

I only go to the Alameda County Fair for one reason the Monster Corndogs They are always cooked to…read moreperfection, and I love mine super well done. It's become a tradition every year. While I'm there, I enjoy grabbing a cold beer or maybe even a margarita, and sometimes I treat myself to a fried Twinkie. The food is always part of the fun! What I really love about the fair is the atmosphere. The vibe is amazing, there's always something to see and do, and it's a great place to spend quality time with family. The Alameda County Fair never disappoints and always makes for a fun and memorable day.

Anyway, this is a nice place to visit, but I will not purchase wristband if I know this…read moreahead.(every purchase is non refundable). Their pricing is ridiculous. They charge admission for children over 32 inches tall, yet kids at that height aren't allowed to ride most attractions on their own. Only three rides are suitable for smaller children, and parents are required to purchase tickets as well in order to accompany them. Who would pay full admission just to stand around and ride a few attractions with their child? I enjoy the rest part of the fair.

Very fun haunted house for adults. It is as good and as scary as it gets - and seemingly there are…read moreno corners cut - so much effort and money is put into decorations and costumes. Been a while since I've been but I have great memories here with college friends. We went with a big group and even the one grumpus in the group admitted he enjoyed it in the end (no I'm not talking about myself). The characters are amazing. They stay in character when you talk to them and put 110% into it. I think there are a couple other similar places to enjoy on Halloween - Great America does something and Winchester Mystery House might also be fun from what I hear.

I've been coming to Pirates of Emerson since 2021, and it's always such a blast! They've got four…read morehaunted houses, and this year they added three new games--which were awesome! The only downside was the lines; they were crazy long this year, and there seemed to be a much younger crowd (lots of middle schoolers). It might be cool if they made it 18+ to help keep the lines more manageable. Most of my night was spent waiting, but honestly, it's still one of my favorite Halloween traditions. Maybe next year they can add a couple more haunted houses to spread things out!