A beautiful pumpkin patch at sundown.
From picking pumpkins and carving jack o’ lanterns to indulging in pumpkin spice everything—for many of us Fall is synonymous with pumpkin (or, the gourd-ian of Fall as I like to call it. Sorry, I’ll stop now, promise).
If you love all things Fall and…pumpkin…it’s the perfect time of the year to visit a pumpkin patch or visit pumpkin-related events.
To determine the best cities for pumpkin lovers, LawnStarter compared nearly 200 of the biggest U.S. cities based on easy access to pumpkin patches, pumpkin-related events and high community interest as well as the number of bakeries and coffee shops available where you might be able to grab delicious pumpkin spice treats.
Here are the top 10 that need to be on every pumpkin lover’s bucket list:
#1 Portland, Oregon
Portland bagged the top spot as its counties boast of more pumpkin patches per 100,000 residents than any of the 200 biggest cities surveyed. Plus, it has the second-highest number of coffee shops among all the cities studied—so pumpkin lovers will be spoilt for choice when it comes to indulging in pumpkin spice treats. Visitors can also enjoy delish pumpkin beers that are on tap at several local brewpubs. Try Level Beer’s I’d Like to Speak to the Manager pumpkin latte ale.
#2 Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is one of the best places to visit for pumpkin—and ‘pup-kin’—lovers alike. Besides a slew of pumpkin patches, Worcester also features canine-friendly eateries such as the Quite Fetching Barkery (which is just a short drive away) where you can enjoy the flavors of the season with your doggo.
#3 New York City, New York
The Big Apple is another place that needs to be on the bucket list of all pumpkin lovers. Here, picking out a pumpkin is as easy as pie thanks to places like Decker Farm, Elwood Pumpkin Farm and Outhouse Orchards. You can make a day of it with the family and enjoy a hayride or get lost in a corn maze!
#4 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
While the City of Brotherly Love is famous for its cheesesteaks, it’s also a fun destination for pumpkin fans. Be sure to check out French-focused restaurant Fond for a Pumpkin Flip including pumpkin pureè, rum, cognac, maple syrup and a whole egg. Or sit back and watch the Singing Fountain while you enjoy the flavor of fall.
#5 Jersey City, New Jersey
This coastal city is home to the largest indoor pumpkin patch in the state (yep, you read that right!). At the Liberty Science Center‘s Fall Fest, you can pick out a pumpkin (indoors, of course), see bats as you stroll the Spooky Pathway and shake a leg at the fun Monster Mash Dance Party.
#6 Pasadena, California
The city that hosts the annual Rose Parade lands the sixth spot. While orange, of course, is by far the favorite color for jack o’ lanterns, ghostly white pumpkins are becoming more popular at Pasadena pumpkin patches.
#7 Bridgeport, Connecticut
If you ever find yourself in Park City around Halloween, you’re sure to have plenty of fun among lots of fellow pumpkin lovers thanks to its wide array of pumpkin-related festivals and events.
#8 Seattle, Washington
To nobody’s surprise, Seattle ranked first for the number of coffee shops per 100,000 residents. So you’ll have plenty of options to satisfy all your PSL cravings. What’s more, Emerald City also landed in the top 10 for the most number of bakeries per 100,000 residents. If coffee isn’t your thing, try the pumpkin spice Oh Mochi donuts at Dahlia Bakery for $3.50.
#9 Orlando, Florida
Disney World’s Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party isn’t the only place in Orlando where you’ll find pumpkin treats and fans during Fall. O-Town beats out the other 12 biggest Florida cities when it comes to the number of coffee shops, bakeries and average monthly Google searches for “Pumpkins” and “National Pumpkin Day.”
#10 Aurora, Illinois
Illinois is the nation’s largest pumpkin producer, so it’s no surprise that a city from the Prairie State cracked the top 10. In Aurora, it’s pumpkin-palooza this time of year thanks to the biggest selection of pumpkin patches and farms in the state.
You can check out the full ranking and analysis here.
So, which of these pumpkin picking hotspots would you like to visit? LMK in the comments below!