Grab your hand sanitizer and get ready for some high-quality goat snuggles!
When you’re a young child, there are few things more exciting than getting to touch real, live animals. Little ones love the way llama tongues tickle their hands when they feed them, the pillow-soft fur of baby goats, and the nudging snouts of tiny piglets. Naturally, petting zoos are places of unbridled joy. They’re also a great place to learn about creatures kids often only read about in books — a prime example of edutainment!
Houston and its surrounding countryside has a ton of farms that feature hands-on experiences with livestock. Parents, nannies, and babysitters looking for a great petting zoo to take your young ones to this weekend should start by checking out these five!
Houston Zoo
Address: 6200 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, TX 77030
Hours: Open daily, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Phone: 713-533-6500
Fees: Zoo admission ages 2-11, $14 | Ages 12-64, $18 | Ages 65+, $11.50 | Under 2, free (Petting zoo entrance included in price of admission.)
For kids who go nuts over animals, the Houston Zoo is a bit of a no-brainer. But while there are hundreds of species to observe and learn about inside the park, there’s only one pen you’re actually allowed inside. Located near the back of the park in the Children’s Zoo section sits a fenced-in area with lots of soft, fluffy goats that rake in thousands of cuddles a day. Kids can walk right up to the goats — no need to stick arms through fences or coax the animals to come closer — and brushes are on-hand if they want to give them a grooming.
Only goats are in the pen, but other animals, such as a llama and a cow, also hang out directly across from the petting zoo and will walk right up to the fence for you to pet. Afterward, you can play on the nearby playgrounds — there are two — or on hotter days, frolic around on the splash pad.
Blessington Farms
Address: 510 Chisolm Trail, Wallis, TX 77485
Hours: Vary by season. See website for details.
Phone: 832-444-8717
Fees: Ages 18 months & up, $18.48 | Under 18 months, free
Many families know Blessington Farms for its pumpkin patch and strawberry picking, but it’s also a great place for kids who want to see some cool animals up close. This farm doesn’t have just one petting zoo. It has several! On top of the traditional livestock pen, the grounds also have places to interact with other animals, including reptiles and exotic (rescued) birds. For a few extra bucks, you can even feed the resident camels, Carl and John-Boy.
When you’re done, be sure to check out one of the other Farm Funland activities, like the fossil dig, tire bounce, and pedal cars. With so much to do, it’s easy to make a whole day of your trip there.
Old MacDonald Farm
Address: 3203 FM 1960 East, Humble, TX 77338
Hours: Vary by season. See website for details.
Phone: 281-446-4001
Fees: Ages 18 months & up, $10 | Under 18 months, free
Try spending the day at Old MacDonald’s Farm and not singing the famous namesake tune on repeat. This Humble-area amusement park — with its duck (duck) here and its cow (cow) there — has 12 petting zoo barns for kids to explore.
In addition to the standard goats and other small farm animals, the site also has some nice surprises, too, like ponies, llamas, peacocks, and deer. Your little ones will love running from one spot to the next as they call out the names and sounds of all the various animals they’ll encounter.
Bayou Wildlife Zoo
Address: 5050 FM 517 Road, Alvin, TX 77511-1828
Hours:
- March 1 – Aug. 1, open daily 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Aug. 2 – Feb. 28, Tuesday – Sunday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Phone: 281-337-6376
Fees: Ages 2-11, $10 | Ages 11+, $20 | Under 2, free
Halfway between Houston and Galveston, the Bayou Wildlife Zoo offers visitors a chance to mingle with animals in a slightly more natural habitat. From the comfort (and safety) of a tram, you can get close up with a variety of exotic animals like zebras, giraffes, rhinos, and lemurs.
While many of the animal species might not respond well to eager hands, the petting zoo has a selection of approachable pigs, deer, and goats — including some baby animals. Animal food is also available for purchase if you’d like to feed them. As a special treat, kids under 90 pounds can take a short ride on one of the tame ponies.
7 Acre Wood
Address: 4401 N. Frazier St., Conroe, TX 77303
Hours: Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Sunday, noon – 5 p.m.
Phone: 936-890-2326
Fees: Ages 18 months & up, $6 | Ages 65+ & military personnel, $5 | Under 18 months, free
At about an hour’s drive north of Houston, the 7 Acre Wood is a great bet for those living in the north and northwest sides of town. The petting zoo here has all the best cuddly creatures, including ducks, donkeys, and chickens. Besides the petting zoo, the site also features an Old West-themed play area, mini golf course, and a number of other kid-friendly activities.
The most devoted hippophiles can also hold a pony party for their birthday or other special occasion. Starting at $75, a guide will take each guest on a ride on one of the resident ponies, Shelby and Bullet.
