Kid-Favorite Petting Farms & Zoos Near Boston

Carly Follett:  Come spend a day at the farm! Kids can pet, cuddle and feed livestock and reptiles, milk a goat, collect chicken eggs, and even bottle feed baby animals! Davis Farmland also features a dinosaur dig, pedal cars, spray ground, an extensive play area with play houses and a large playground for the older kids, including a 'mega maze' and zip lines (separate fee).

Carly Follett:  Home to over 850 animals including lions, tigers, giraffes, chimpanzees, rhinos, sloths, and more, Southwick’s Zoo is New England’s largest zoological experience! Stroll through the aviary, visit the 35-acre Deer Forest and petting zoo, soar down the zip line, find your way through the Rainforest Adventure Maze, ride the Woodland Express Train, and more!

Carly Follett:  This family zoo and rescue center is staffed by professional educators, animal handlers, show presenters and volunteers. Animal Adventures is dedicated to teaching people about the world we live in and the diverse animal life we share it with. Take a self-guided tour of the zoo, enjoy animal presentations, feed the goats, and more!

Carly Follett:  The Capron Park Zoo offers fun for the whole family! Throughout the zoo, you will see a variety of animals including African lions, snow leopards, snakes, fox, kangaroos, and emu. After touring the zoo, grab a bite to eat at the concession stand and on a hot summer afternoon, cool down at the splash pad!

Carly Follett:  At Winslow Farm, come meet and interact with over 150 animals! They incorporate a variety of animal-oriented activities including pony rides, group educational tours, nature hikes, as well as special events occurring during the holiday seasons.

Carly Follett:  The Franklin Park Zoo is a 72-acre zoo located right in the heart of downtown Boston. Take a behind the scenes tour, monkey around on the playground or help feed the giraffes a healthy snack!

Carly Follett:  As you explore Buttonwood Park Zoo, you'll see animals ranging from tiny frogs to enormous elephants! Notable attractions include the Wildlife Carousel, Zoo Train, and numerous family programs.

Carly Follett:  Stone Zoo is located on a 26-acre site near the sparkling Spot Pond reservoir in Stoneham, MA. Visit the touchable barnyard where children can see goats and sheep. Other exhibits include Mexican gray wolves, river otters, black bears, tortoises and many more. In addition to the animal exhibits, your children will love to ride the children's train, monkey around on the playground and zoom around on The Jungle Ride!

Carly Follett:  Animal exhibits at Boston's New England Aquarium feature thousands of aquatic creatures, including the kid-favorite penguin colony and a shark & ray touch tank. You can't miss the four-story Giant Ocean Tank, home to Caribbean coral reef creatures like sea turtles, eels and colorful fish.

Carly Follett:  Looking for a great daytime activity to do with kids in Cape Cod? Check out the Woods Hole Science Aquarium. It is a small public aquarium that displays approximately 100 species of marine animals found in Northeast and Middle-Atlantic U.S. waters. Children really enjoy the two touch tanks where they can gently touch marine animals. Additionally, they will love to watch the playful seals in the outdoor exhibit.