Sweet Eastside Farms and Gardens for Springtime Fun

A young visitor to Pivot Farm in Redmond wears a pink jacket and tries to hold on to a baby goat, among sweet farms to visit with kids near Seattle

Photo:

Trying to pose with the wiggly baby goats at Pivot Farm. Credit: Vicky McDonald

Pivot Farm, Redmond

Brandelyn and Joe Tafoya, together with their kids, live on picturesque Pivot Farm, tucked away in a scenic part of Redmond. During the pandemic, they leaned into homesteading and started to keep more animals, including hatching chicks.

The family also began preserving farm produce and renovating the place. The first thing you’ll notice when you come to the farm is the beautiful white barn, complete with lights and a chandelier! The family keeps horses, goats, pigs and chickens, and has opened the farm to visitors — by appointment.

The white barn at Pivot Farm with trees in the background and grass in the foreground among sweet family farms for Seattle families to visit — Pivot Farm’s sweet white barn. Credit: Brandelyn Tafoya

What to do?

The focus on this farm is animal experiences. Most kids love petting zoos, but some kids get frustrated by the crowds and can’t get quite close enough to their favorite fuzzy critters. For kids who want some quality time with cute baby animals, Pivot Farm offers a Baby Farm Animal Snuggle Session during which visitors can interact with baby goats, chicks and pigs, and take lots of adorable photos.

The farm is best known for its special Unicorn Riding Experience, which would make a great birthday treat. Lady is the farm’s resident unicorn, and when you arrive at the farm, she’ll be dressed up and ready to meet you. Kids will get to brush her, pick her hooves, give her treats and help her get saddled. Your kid will then take a ride around the arena on Lady, and learn a few tips and tricks about pony riding. Riders are asked to bring their own helmets (bike helmets will work); no previous riding experience is required.

A white pony stands in a barn with a rainbow unicorn horn on her head wearing a saddle at Pivot Farm among sweet family farms to visit near Seattle — Lady the unicorn at Pivot Farm. Credit: Brandelyn Tafoya

While you are on the farm, you can also check out the chickens and fluffy baby chicks. If you are interested in keeping chickens, the farm sells hatching eggs.

Cost: The Unicorn Riding Experience ($56 per group of up to two riders; 30-minute duration) and the Baby Farm Animal Snuggle Session ($56 per group of up to five people; 30-minute duration) need to be booked in advance on the website.

Hours: The farm is open by appointment only. Check online for booking.

Find it: 27928 N.E. Fifth St., Redmond

Next stop: Infinity Farm