Whether your kids want to meet alpacas, birds, sheep or even giraffes, there’s a local spot for them. From an urban goat farm to zoos to barnyards, these eight Delaware Valley destinations offer unique opportunities for children to feed and visit a wide variety of animals.
Philly Goat Project
6336 Ardleigh St., Philadelphia, PA 19138
(215) 460-7725
Located at the Awbury Arboretum in Northwest Philadelphia, the Philly Goat Project was founded to provide opportunities for urban residents to connect with nature through interacting with goats. Families are invited to walk the goats through a variety of events including community goat walks, Sunday FunDay activities and private visits.
Trotter Hill Alpacas
110 Locksley Rd., Glen Mills, PA 19342
(610) 220-9989
This Delaware County family-run farm invites visitors of all ages to visit and feed their herd of 13 alpacas. They also offer walks through the woods with alpacas, but participants must be at least 15 years old.
Linvilla Orchards
137 W Knowlton Rd., Media, PA 19063
(610) 876-7116
Among the many attractions for kids at this 300-acre farm is the Barnyard area filled with a variety of animals including horses, sheep, deer, goats and birds. Families are welcome to visit the animals year round at no cost.
The Barn at Spring Brook Farm
360 Locust Grove Rd., West Chester, PA 19382
(610) 793-1037
This 17-acre farm is designed specifically to enrich the lives of children ages 2-12 with cognitive and/or developmental disabilities. The Barn offers multiple ways for kids with disabilities to interact with animals through one-on-one sessions, family barn visits, Camp Geronimo summer camp and virtual field trips.
Johnson’s Corner Farm
133 Church Rd., Medford, NJ 08055
(609) 654-8643
The Discovery Barnyard and Animal Farm at Johnson’s Corner Farm has many fun activities for kids including the chance to feed and visit goats, cows, ducks, chickens, miniature donkeys and sheep.
Terhune Orchards
330 Cold Soil Rd., Princeton, NJ 08540
(609) 924-2310
This fruit and vegetable farm also has a variety of farm animals in their barnyard that children are welcome to visit. There are sheep, goats, horses, ducks, geese and chickens.
KidZooU at the Philadelphia Zoo
3400 W. Girard Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 243-1100
The Philadelphia Zoo offers hands-on experiences with animals at the KidZooU: Hamilton Family Children’s Zoo & Faris Family Education Center. Kids can visit goats, sheep, chickens and ducks at this part of the zoo geared specifically toward children.
Elmwood Park Zoo
1661 Harding Blvd., Norristown, PA 19401
(610) 277-3825
Visitors can feed wild animals through a unique program at this Montgomery County zoo. Currently, Elmwood is only offering giraffe feeding, but check their website for when bison feeding becomes available again.
