It’s not spring without baby animals and other farm fun, so grab your kiddos — and camera — and get ready to oohh and ahhh over furry and feathered friends, take a hayride and learn about spring planting. We've compiled some of the best farms to visit around the Seattle area.

Many of these facilities are open year-round; others are open only for the summer season, or starting in spring. We recommend double-checking current hours of operation and admission prices (where not marked as “free”).

See also our list of secret gardens around Seattle, many of which have kid-friendly attractions and garden paths to run through.

Eastside and Seattle farms and petting zoos

1. Farrel-McWhirter Park, Redmond

Tucked away in Redmond, Farrel-McWhirter, a 68-acre, city-owned park, is a welcome escape from city life, boasting beautiful nature trails, large, grassy fields and picnic tables with BBQ pits. It’s also a fabulous place for kids to get up close and personal with pigs, goats, cows, ponies and turkeys. The park offers pony-riding classes for both toddlers and “big kids,” summer day camps and a preschool.

Cost: Free
Hours: Open year-round, daily from 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Address: 19545 N.E. Redmond Road, Redmond

2. Fox Hollow Family Farm, Issaquah

A family farm in Issaquah, Fox Hollow Farm is a treat for kids of all ages (and parents, too!). The farm's Open Farm days let children get a close peek at sheep, goats, pigs, peacocks, chickens, mini horses, kittens and more. Kids can also ride ponies or miniature John Deere tractors, take a spin on the Squak Mountain Station kid-sized train or get a bounce in on the giant inflatables. There’s also a “Cottage Area,” full of kid-sized houses for little ones to explore. Ramble down to Issaquah Creek for a picnic or wading.

Cost: Reserve your $10 parking spot online in advance (space limited). Activity wristbands cost $20 for ages 2–14; $15 for toddlers under age 2. Ages 15 and up are free.
Schedule: Daily, April 2–October 31, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Once all parking spots are filled, no additional entries are allowed.
Address: 12123 Issaquah-Hobart Road S.E., Issaquah

3. Kelsey Creek Farm Park, Bellevue

Not far from the trendy restaurants and shopping of downtown Bellevue, you’ll find Kelsey Creek Farm Park, a 1930s-style working farm with white clapboard barns, open pastures and distant chatter of animals setting a scene reminiscent of old-fashioned America. The farm offers families a chance to view ponies, cows, sheep, bunnies, chickens and pigs in their pastures. If you're just visiting, you can't actually pet the animals, but hands-on interaction is available through farm classes, school tours and birthday parties. Woodland paths, a playground and picnic tables are open to the public, and hands-on, farm-centric classes, camps and more are available for kids ages 2 and up. A fun spring event is the Kelsey Creek Farm sheep shearing on April 30 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Cost: Free, though donations are welcome.
Hours: Open year-round, daily from 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Address: 410 130th Place S.E., Bellevue

4. Woodland Park Zoo Family Farm, Seattle

We love gorillas, lions and hippos, but it’s always fun to wander over to the Woodland Park Zoo's Family Farm area to say hello to the more, well … domestic inhabitants. Kiddos can interact with goats, pigs, bunnies and more. Learn how a cow is milked, take a peek at the chicks and play on a tractor by a farmers market. Come into the Contact Area and pet a few goats and other farm animals. 

Cost: Included in zoo admission.
Hours: Family Farm is open daily from May 1 to Sept. 30, 11 a.m. –5 p.m.
Address: N. 50th St. & Fremont Ave. N. or N. 55th St. & Phinney Ave, Seattle

5. Remlinger Farms, Carnation

At 350 acres, Remlinger is the mother of all farms, with animals, amusement rides, a steam train, U-Pick berry fields and much more. In the County Fair Family Fun Park, kiddos can interact with goats, peacocks and bunnies in the 4-H Animal Barnyard Kids, and pony rides are included in admission. Be sure to check out the awesome hay maze and impressive farmers market. And the rides! Beyond the train, there's a canoe float ride, mini roller coaster and much more.

Cost: $12.75 + tax; under age 1 free
Hours: Open May–October; check hours, which vary
Address: 32610 N.E. 32nd St., Carnation

South Sound farms and petting zoos

6. Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Tacoma

Round up the family and check out Point Defiance Zoo’s Kids’ Zone — a bright, colorful environment that encourages play. Kids may be able to feed or groom resident goats and sheep and get a closer look at some of the zoo’s animals, like wallabies and meerkats.

Cost: Included in admission.
Hours: Open daily, year-round. Hours vary seasonally.
Address: 5400 N. Pearl St., Tacoma

7. Jozee Rooz Indoor Petting Zoo, Tacoma

Open year-round, Jozee Rooz Indoor Petting Zoo is a great option for rainy days. With a special focus on miniature animals, visitors can expect to see wallabies, bunnies, cockatiel, budgies, piglets, dwarf goats, lambs, mini chickens, mini horses, mini donkeys and more. And don't forget the pony rides!

Cost: $10 per child; one adult admitted free with paid child admission; under age 1 free. Military and seniors receive $2 off regular admission. On Mondays and Tuesdays, everyone receives $2 off regular admission.
Schedule: Open year-round, Saturday–Thursday (Closed Fridays), Hours vary by day.
Address: 120 138th St. S., Suite C, Tacoma

8. Old McDebbie’s Farm / Jim’s U Fish, Spanaway

Farmers Jim and Debbie love sharing their working farm in Spanaway with the community. Kids can ride a pony, fish for rainbow trout, walk the eye spy trail, discover the musical forest and go on a wildlife scavenger hunt. They invite families to come visit and feed the animals — everything from lambs, goats, bunnies, kangaroos and even a camel!

Cost: $6 admission; $6 pony rides; $6 for each fish caught. Bring your own gear or rent theirs. 
Schedule: Open March 1–October, Friday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. during spring and fall. In summer, open Wednesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. 
Address: 4924 268th St. E., Spanaway

9. Morris’s Shadow Mountain Stables, Auburn

Walk through the barn to visit the horses or meet Henry the Cow, baby goats, alpacas and more at the petting farm.

Cost: $12/per person. $42 for petting farm admission plus a 25-minute horse ride.
Schedule: Open May 1–October 31, Wednesday–Sunday, 10 a.m. –5 p.m.
Address: 29502 112th Ave. S.E., Auburn

10. Pioneer Farm Museum & Ohop Indian Village, Eatonville

The Pioneer Farm Museum offers two distinct hands-on tours for families. The Farm Tour lets families explore homestead cabins and a barn, while getting to practice pioneer family activities such as churning cream and milking a cow. Kids of all ages can have fun playing in the hay loft. The Native American Seasons Tour gives participants a chance to learn how American Indians lived from season to season, with activities like bow and arrow target practice and playing a plank drum. 

Cost: $8–$9/person for Farm Tour; $7.50–$8.50 for Native American Seasons Tour
Hours: Hours vary depending on the season. Check website for details.
Address: 7716 Ohop Valley Road E., Eatonville 

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North Sound farms and petting zoos

11. Flower World, Snohomish

The Disneyland of nurseries, Flower World in Snohomish is a hidden gem and wonderful spot for a weekend outing. It boasts 15 beautiful acres of trees, flowers, veggie starts and more (90 percent of the plants are grown on-site). Kids will enjoy lots of green space for running, a duck pond, chicken coops and a petting zoo where they can visit goats, sheep, chicks and more.

Cost: Free  
Schedule: Open year-round, daily from 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Address: 9322 196th St. S.E., Snohomish

12. Forest Park Animal Farm, Everett

Goats, chickens, cows, sheep, pigs and other farm animals are on view at the Forest Park Animal Farm. On certain days, kiddos age 2 and older can get a free pony ride. Check out the spray ground while you're there. Bad weather? Head to the indoor pool (admission fee).
Cost: Free; donations appreciated
Schedule: Open June 25–Aug. 21, daily from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Pony rides are available Friday–Sunday from 10:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Address: 802 E. Mukilteo Blvd., Everett

13. The Outback Kangaroo Farm, Arlington

Looking for something different? The Outback Kangaroo Farm offers 40-minute tours of kangaroos, peacocks, parrots, flying squirrels, mini donkeys and more!

Cost: $8–$10 for a tour; $7 per person for groups of 15 or more. 
Hours: Open March 1–Oct. 30, Wednesday–Sunday, 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. tour times available; reserve ahead.
Address: 10030 State Route 530 N.E., Arlington

14. Foster's Produce and Corn Maze, Arlington

On your way for a hike in the Mountain Loop Highway area? This is a great post-hike stop, Just look for the big red barn on the side of the road with signs for ice cream, nursery plants, farm animals, and antiques. Foster's Farm has plenty of attractions for both kids and adults, including 50 acres of growing vegetables, an Old West town that doubles as a petting zoo,  and plenty of fun kids' activities including a hay maze. Be sure to have an ice cream cone made with a waffle cone baked fresh on the farm!

Cost: Free to visit the Farm Animal Barn, $1/person for the maze
Hours: Open June–October, daily from 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Address: 5818 SR 530 N.E., Arlington