Halloween is right around the corner and that means it is that time of year to start checking out pumpkin patches. But which patches are the best? Where can you find that perfect pumpkin to make the absolute best jack-o-lantern?
There are plenty of fantastic pumpkin patches throughout this great country of ours and we talked to our colleagues to find out which ones rank the best around the country.
So pack up your bags and prepare to visit the absolute best pumpkin patches that the United States have to offer.

The Great Pumpkin Farm, Clarence, N.Y.
This patch is fantastic for its award-winning gourds but it’s not just pumpkins that make this patch worth visiting. You can also see incredible scarecrows being made and catch some awesome pumpkin slingshots. Mummys also get wrapped here and there is a hilarious play known as the Cackling-Hen Revue. You can visit this patch again and again as there is something new every single weekend at this amazing farm. You can find pie eating, concerts or even awesome barbecue at the Oinktoberfest. You will find plenty of delectable treats and a world of fantastic entertainment at The GReat Pumpkin Farm.

Siegel’s Cottonwood Farm, Lockport, Illinois
Take a trip an hour outside of Chicago to Siegel’s Cottonwood Farm. This is definitely a place where you can spend the whole day either picking pumpkins or exploring the enormous 15-acre corn maze. If you happen to find your way out of the maze then try to topple tire mountain or climb aboard the giant wooden rocking chair. This destination has a lot of fun for kids too as there is a baby chick nursery and a petting zoo so you can be sure to snap plenty of classic pictures of your family enjoying Autumn on the beautiful Siegel’s Cottonwood Farm.

Tom Thumb Pumpkin Patch, Dallas, Texas
Head on over to the Tom THumb Pumpkin Patch to witness 90,000 pumpkins all arranged in a dizzying array of awesomeness. This place creates an entire Pumpkin Village for you to enjoy with your family. This might be the most family-friendly destination on this list and your kids will be begging to go back again and again for the Cinderella Pumpkin Carriage and the awesome hay bale maze. Head over to the Dallas Arboretum to enjoy this amazing Fall wonder.

Vala’s Pumpkin Patch, Gretna, Nebraska
Vala’s Pumpkin Patch has no shortage of entertainment contained within. In fact, you will find over 50 unique attractions from golf to bumper cars. Don’t worry, they have plenty of food too, so you can spend a whole day or even a whole week enjoying this unbelievable pumpkin patch.

Pumpkin Hollow, Piggott, Arkansas
If you’re focused on just pumpkins then head to Pumpkin Hollow as it is one of the biggest pumpkin growers in the country. There are plenty of other attractions to enjoy as well, such as a zip line and a pedal tractor so after you find the perfect gourd you can spend the rest of your time really enjoying everything this pumpkin patch has to offer.

So you like to hang ten on some tubular waves. That’s cool, but are you getting tired of shredding the same waves on the same beaches with the same boneheads? Then it’s time to get out there and experience surfing in other beautiful destinations across the world. You will be blown away at how much gnarlier it is to go shred with some killer bros and babes that don’t speak the same language as you. You will most likely learn a lot and even catch some waves that are different from the ones you see. There is nothing as thrilling as redefining surfing as you know it by hanging ten out of town. So pack up your bags, but don’t forget your surfboard and head to one of the world’s best surf destinations.

Ulu Watu, Bali
When most people think of Ulu Watu, Bali they think of the old Hindu temple that outdates all other Bali Hindu temples. Either that or they think “Whoa, what a gnarly name!” But many people don’t know that Ulu Watu is also home to some seriously awesome waves that are killer to surf in. If you visit the temple you can look down off the cliffs and see surfers getting their shred on. You’ll want to jump off the cliff and join the surfers below. However, don’t jump off the cliff, there are much easier ways to get down with far less risk of serious injury. Once you get down there you’ll surf the day away.

Bundoran, Ireland
This is one place where you’ll need to pack a wetsuit. Bundoran is known as a “cold water Eden” because there are constant swells that are awesome to surf. Most people don’t associate Ireland with surfing but a quick walk through the town would leave you to believe that Ireland has always been a surfer’s paradise. There are plenty of awesome surf shops and even restaurants and cafes offer discounts to visiting surfers. Now that’s what I call totally tubular!

Jeffreys Bay, South Africa
No surfing list would be complete without mentioning wonderful South Africa. In fact, this is where the pros surf during the Billabong Pro ASP World Tour surfing competition. This place is well known as one of the best-surfing destinations in the world and was even featured in films, has anyone heard of Endless Summer? Yeah, it was filmed here. Now it’s time for you to enjoy your own endless summer by hopping on a plane and hitting Jeffreys Bay.

Huntington Beach, CA
Huntington Beach is what is known by locals as Surf City, U.S.A. which is why tons of surfers flock over here to see the wonder that is a total surfer’s paradise. They have a bunch of different beaches that are good for different types of surfers. If you ride a longboard you hit one beach and if you ride a shortboard you hit another. Now that’s what I call surfing convenience.

The year of COVID-19 has brought so many changes in our lives. The coronavirus has altered so many areas of our routines including traveling within our borders and abroad.

This, perhaps, should be the year we can all forget. With the multitude of disruptions, challenges, and restrictions, this unforgivable year of COVID-19 is, thankfully, about to end. We’re on to the next one.

Among the many areas that were heavily affected during this year of COVID-19 is the transport and travel sector. Below then is a rundown of the highlights.

Worldwide traveling came to an abrupt standstill

During the start of this year of COVID-19, travel to and from Wuhan, China—the origin of the coronavirus—was halted. Eventually, countries closed their borders to all other countries especially those that had numerous cases of the disease. To control widespread transmission, lockdowns and quarantine protocols were initiated, as well.

Airlines suddenly had to stop their daily trip schedules. Maritime travel followed suit as cruise ships slowly became teeming grounds of infection. Experts posit that the travel industry will take years before it gains back the losses it incurred during this year of COVID-19.

Micro-transport began to emerge

Due to the necessity of controlling the spread of the virus, regular public transportation had to be stopped. People had to make do with other travel alternatives. Those who had private vehicles got to rely on them while others who had scooters and bicycles were forced to rely on these implements.

People who did not have their own vehicles had to walk on foot as not many were open to sharing their private rides to strangers. This abrupt change in commuting trends heavily resulted in heavier road traffic and the government must find a way to ease this problem.

The increase in border checks

Because of the increased need to halt the spread of the coronavirus, another trend that emerged during this year of COVID-19 is the increase in border checks. Be it domestic or abroad travel, borders were tightened and various requirements emerged. Several areas within the country required COVID-19 testing for visitors and some kind of quarantine protocols. Many countries adopted the same safety protocols especially in their maritime ports and airports.

Better equipped communities.

Around the world, people experienced the lack and insufficiency of supplies. Disinfectants, medications, and food implements became increasingly unavailable as people flocked to the stores, draining them of the much-needed supplies. Panic-buying became a worldwide phenomenon. Thus, governments had to encourage and limit the number of products allowed per individual so that more people can benefit from the stocks available. There is a need for communities to become more self-reliant in terms of produce so that during such instances of emergency, residents are assured of food security, among others.

Increase in cashless transactions

During this year of COVID-19, people became even more dependent on the internet for purchases. Due to the need to follow social distancing mandates, people were forced to rely on the internet, prioritizing cashless transactions or online purchasing. Businesses had to limit their opening hours, as well, as many employees were instructed to do work-from-home (WFH) arrangements. In effect, WFH arrangements and internet purchases are both due also to the lack of ready public transportation.