Westham Island Herb Farm.

Westham Island sits at the mouth of the Fraser River, flat as a table and ringed by dikes, and getting there is half the fun: you cross a creaky one-lane wooden bridge and the suburbs vanish behind you. The Herb Farm is one of a handful of farms on the island that open for autumn visitors, and it does so with an easy, unhurried charm.

The pumpkin patch spreads out under an enormous sky. Rows of orange sit on dark soil with a windbreak of yellowing poplars along the ditch and, on a clear day, the North Shore mountains far off across the water. Because the island is so flat, the light here is lovely late in the afternoon, when everything turns gold and the shadows stretch long across the field.

Children enjoy the hay bale maze, the farm animals and the simple pleasure of running between rows looking for the right pumpkin. The farm stand sells squash, gourds, preserves and seasonal produce, and in the warmer months the fields are known for herbs and flowers, so a return visit in summer is worthwhile.

Combine the trip with the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary a few minutes down the road, where October brings thousands of snow geese to the marshes. The caveats are simple: the bridge can back up on sunny weekends, the island is windy and exposed, and the farm’s hours and any seasonal fees change year to year, so check before you go.