Whether you’re looking for a fun family outing or trying to plan a school field trip for hundreds of students, petting zoos are one of those activities that kids and adults all get excited about or at least have some great memories of visiting.
Plus, it’s a fun chance to interact with that many animals, outside of the family or neighborhood pet.
Petting zoos not only expose your little ones to animals that they may have only viewed in books, but it gives them the ability to explore and learn about new pets and animals, all while being out in nature as well. And many of the farms in our area have great produce to pick or at least learn about as well.
If you’re on the lookout for some of the best petting zoos and farms to visit within 45-60 minutes of Boston, here are some great options for you and your family to explore!
Petting Zoos and Farms to visit in the Boston area
With the Fall season arriving, many of these petting zoos and farms may also have weekend activities and festivals as well so always call ahead and see what they have going on!
If you have the chance to explore these fun and family-friendly options, please do and share your experiences with us and even pictures below! Activities like these are what build up amazing memories in the minds of your children. Plus, they are so much fun, too!
Drumlin Farm
Address: 208 South Great Road Lincoln, MA 01773
You can pet goats, rabbits, and cows… and it’s a fun adventure for the whole family! They have community supported agriculture, community preschool, even programs for adults. It’s a place to watch the livestock like pigs, sheep, goats, and chickens as well as see how crops are sustainably grown. There’s a native wildlife exhibit and forest to explore, and so much more.
Cider Hill
Address: 45 Fern Ave, Amesbury, MA 01913
This has always been one of our favorite places. It’s in Amesbury and has a variety of pick-your-own food options throughout the year from berries to apples and more. They have a small assortment of livestock too, so the kids always love feeding the chickens. (Plus they have great cider!)
Chip in Farm
Address: 201 Hartwell Road, Bedford, MA
You can feed the animals scraps for free and pet them! There are goats, sheep, cows, bunnies, and chickens that you can visit all year from 10 am to 6 pm. Plus get eggs and other local food while you’re there!
Parlee Farms
Address: 95 Farwell Rd, Tyngsborough, MA 01879
Calling all berry pickers! Plan a visit to Parlee Farms to pick your own berries and apples. Plus, their petting zoo is quite expansive as well and is a great place that kids can both pet and feed the animals. At last count, there were over 70 different animals and counting! The goats and sheep have even been known to eat out of the palm of your hand.
Great Brook Farm State Park
Address: 165 North Rd, Carlisle, MA 01741
Great Brook Farm State Park is the perfect way to spend a day exploring trails, a dairy farm, and a petting zoo. While you can literally spend the entire day there checking out all that the park has to offer, keep in mind that there is a $3 charge for parking.
Winslow Animal Farm
Address: 37 Eddy St, Norton, MA 02766
This is an animal sanctuary in Norton, MA. They are a non-profit organization and animal sanctuary devoted to the rescue, rehabilitation, and care of mistreated and abandoned animals. So you’ll find a variety of animals from horses to peacocks, there are a lot of animals to see!
Franklin Park Zoo
Address: 1 Franklin Park Rd, Boston, MA 02121
Everyone loves a day at the local zoo, right? The great part about Frankin Park Zoo is that it has an amazing petting zoo for the younger kiddos to enjoy. It’s a perfectly safe way for the kids to get up close and personal with the animals in a safe and contained environment.
Chip-In Farm
Address: 201 Hartwell Rd, Bedford, MA 01730
Not only will the kiddos get to see pigs and goats, but they’ll also get to feed them as well when visiting the Chip-In Farm. Head to the store on property and ask for some free “scraps”, and feeding the animals will certainly steal the show. Plus, you can grab some great food items from there as well to feed your family for dinner that night!
Lookout Farm
Address: 89 Pleasant St S, Natick, MA 01760
Lookout Farm does a great job at being very family-friendly. There are train rides for the children, pets to see, fruit to pick, and during the weekends there are even face painters that will come and join in on the fun!
Hornstra Dairy Farm
Address: 246 Prospect St, Norwell, MA 02061
Plan a day trip to Hornstra Dairy Farm to show your family one of the very last dairy farms in MA that actually still functions. They’ll be amazed at seeing the process of how the milk arrives, ready for them to drink, and they’ll get some great views of all the dairy cows as well!
Holly Hill Farm
Address: 236 Jerusalem Rd, Cohasset, MA 02025
Planning a visit to Holly Hill Farm is an absolute must! With so much to see and do, you’ll want to spend as much time there as possible. Plus, they have a horse named “Pumpkin”. How cute is that? And if that isn’t amazing already, they also have a miniature donkey to view as well. (among other animals)
Davis Farmland
Address: 145 Redstone Hill Rd, Sterling, MA 01564
In Sterling, MA, you can see a lot of baby animals and feed them at Davis Farmland! There are always lots of fun things to do, so check their calendar of events and see what is available.
Endicott park
Address: 57 Forest St, Danvers, MA 01923
It’s in Danvers and it is free, just $1 too park. They have a small petting zoo and couple horse & cows in pasture. There’s a large area for walking, playing, and picnicking as well as 2 big playgrounds. On Wednesdays & Saturdays, the nature center is open and you can see frogs, animal pelts, and more.
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