Itโs spring, and that means baby animals. Hoping to get an up-close experience with animals? You can do it without buying the farm! Here are some fun destinations where kids can touch and learn about animals. No chicken coops and stall mucking required!
Carousel Acres
12749 Nine Mile Rd., South Lyon
248-437-7669
Open May 15-August 30, open daily 10am-3pm
Guests can go into the pens of sheep, goats, alpacas, miniature horse, and miniature donkey. Visitors are welcome to groom the animals, or feed the lorikeets in the aviary. The farm is also home to reindeer, lemurs, arctic fox, wallabies, and more. Picnic/playground area available.
$6 per person, kids under age 2 free. Pony rides are $4.
The Creature Conservancy
4950 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd.
734-929-9324
Open Saturdays and Sundays 1-5pm
Learn about ecology, biology, and conservation, all while viewing an amazing collection of animal ambassadors. Meet the sloth, three-banded armadillo, red-tailed boa, giant toad, Argentinian Tegu, cougar, and more at one of the weekend presentations. Check website for details and weekend presentation times. Limited outdoor viewing on weekdays from 10am-6pm is free.
Adults (13 and up): $10, Kids (2-12): $8
Renstchler Farm
1265 E. Michigan Ave., Saline
734-944-0442
Open May through December, Saturdays from 11-3PM
Learn about farm life at this interpretive historical museum while touring fourteen different structures. The farm includes a chicken house, sheep, livestock, and a dairy barn and milk house.
Free admission, donations accepted.
The Petting Farm at Dominoโs Farms
3001 Earhart Rd.
734-998-0182
Open Wednesday-Friday 10am-3pm, Saturday-Sunday 10am-4pm
Learn what a barn looks like, inside and out, while interacting with a wide variety of animals, including sheep, goats, rabbits, ducks, horses, pigs, alpaca, llamas, horses, cattle and more.
General admission: $6, Seniors 60 and up: $5.50, kids 23 months and under free
Indian Creek Zoo
2744 Consear Rd., Lambertville
734-224-0390
Open Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 12-5pm
This family friendly zoo offers a wide variety of animals and experiences, including camel rides, sloth encounters, and more. Learn about animals while exploring in this relaxed environment.
Adults: $12, Seniors (63 and up): $9, Kids 3 and up: $10, under two free
Kensington Metropark
4750 Huron River Parkway, Milford
248-684-8632 (farm center), 810-227-8917 (nature center)
Farm Center: Open daily 9am-4pm
Nature Center: Monday 1-5pm, Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm
At the Nature Center, park interpreters are on hand to answer questions as you visit with animals such as snakes, turtles, fish and birds. At the Farm Center, visitors can meet chickens, sheep, goats, ducks, geese, rabbits, cattle and draft horses.
Free admission, but metroparks vehicle entry permit is required.
Calder Dairy | A Family Tradition Since 1946
9334 Finzel Rd, Carleton
734-654-2622
Open daily 10am-7pm
Want to know where your milk comes from? Visit the cows at this dairy farm, where โthe girlsโ are milked every day at 4pm. There is also a goat viewing area. Make sure to visit the country store, where you can purchase ice cream cones, milk shakes, and sundaes.
Full tours for groups of fifteen or more include wagon ride and ice cream, $10 per person. Visit website for booking information.
Sauder Village
22611 State Route 2, Archbold, Ohio
1-800-590-9755
Opens May 1. Spring hours May 1-May 26: Tuesday-Friday 10am-3:30pm, Saturday 10-5pm, Sunday 12-4pm
Summer hours May 27-September 2: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 12-4pm
This historic farm village can be a one day visit or a vacation destination, with food, shopping, camping, and inn available. Animals on site include sheep, goats, pigs, dairy cows, horses, and chickens. Visitors may see demonstrations on goat milking, beekeeping, wool spinning, and more. Take a horse and buggy ride, or view the farm village on a train ride. Check website for special event weekends.
Adults: $18, Students (6-16): $12, Seniors: (60 and over) $16, Children 5 and under free. Sunday special: Adults $11, free admission for children under 16 with adult paid admission.
Maybury Farm
50165 8 Mile Rd., Northville
248-704-9211 (group admissions), 248-704-9211 (farm tours)
Opens May 16. Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm
The mission of the farm is to connect children and families with animals and agriculture. This working farm offers hands-on experiences that are engaging and educational. Storytime begins on June 5, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 11am.
General admission $3, kids under 2 free.
Barn Sanctuary
20179 McKernan Rd., Chelsea
734-746-5009
Open Saturdays and Sundays by appointment.
This hands-on animal sanctuary is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and care of farm animals. Visitors are welcome to tour the pastures and yards as they learn the stories of the cows, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens and turkeys who have been rescued. Many of the animals enjoying being pet.
Tickets must be purchased in advance. Admission is $12 per person.
