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    Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm

    4.8 (118 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    Ostrich eggs for sale
    Malia P.

    Come bring the whole family. For locals this is a hidden gem. The cost for two adults and one child came to around $120 with two buckets of hay and one cup of seed. We loved the experience of feeding the animals and being outdoors. If you're lucky they may have fresh ostrich eggs for sale. I got one and made the yummiest frittata, fluffiest fried rice and the creamiest silkiest flan. 10/10 must try once.

    Sid N.

    Being members here is such a gift. It's a warm, peaceful sanctuary that's become our favorite escape. It is perfectly scaled for my 3-year-old (fresh air, safe, and engaging) I love the calm environment and the meaningful connection to the animals. A true gem for families. We visit at least once a month and it's totally worth the drive from LA.

    Feeding the horses!
    Craig H.

    It is a nice place to visit to get a "non touristy" animal experience. Plenty of: peacocks, cows, horses, pigs, ostriches, goats, a zebra, etc. The staff members were all very friendly. This was our first visit to the Alpine, Ca. area - it was a bit of a drive and way off the standard path. The admission did seem a bit pricey but we understand that such places are expensive to run (postings throughout the area indicate that it costs $1,700/day to operate).

    Angie B.

    Such a great hidden gem in San Diego! I had fun feeding all the animals that I could (horses, goats, llamas, camels, cows and pigs). It's $5 for each bucket of hay. I got 2 and that was plenty I think for how many animals were wanting some. They also have add on options as well so you can get up close with some of the animals. Ended up buying the year membership so I can come back and bring friends. You can bring food and eat next to the animals or they have 2 little picnic areas. They also have some snacks and food items there for sale. Parking is free and a plenty.

    At least the camel looked happy :(

    Our visit to this farm truly made me so sad for the animals. It seems obvious to anyone seeing these animals that they are not being cared for properly. Some even look as though they are starving, which is crazy given just how pricey it is to go here. One of the alpacas looked like it had mange, and there were absolutely massive animals like cows that are stuck in the tiniest of pens. The bison looked super sick as well. I know this is a sanctuary, but the general air was animal suffering.

    Lazy Watusis.
    Bob S.

    I love going here very much because I love a;l the animals. My favorite ones are the Watusis. I had a wonderful time today.

    Carlan M.

    Loved this experience! Loved the animals. Paid an additional fee for the up close encounter with the bison. So worth it. We got two buckets more than enough to feed the animals. Space is huge. Self guided. Only snacks on site for sale. Support this sanctuary as it's for a good cause. Had a great time. Parking at no cost on site

    Moooo!
    Sherry B.

    First off, the people who work there are very friendly. The farm is well taken care of with a lot of farm animals that you can pet and feed.

    Amy M.

    We booked a behind the scenes experience with the owner and now we are hooked! We will be coming back here for certain. The animals are well taken care of and the property is so beautiful.

    CUTE art!!
    Vee S.

    My teen, toddler, husband, and I LOVED it here! 5-dollar buckets of hay and 2-dollar seeds to feed the animals, AND you can pet them! They give a guide on how to pet them via video before you walk around. You can purchase souvenirs, snacks, and fresh produce (herbs too). There is ample seating throughout to stop and eat. We came early in April, and it got a little too toasty. Bring your sunscreen. We fell in love with one of three cats we saw as one got comfy on our stroller, making our day since we missed our cats. There was even a cow that stole my heart. She was super gentle when being fed the hay. We plan to come here again on our next San Diego trip as it costs much less than the zoo!

    Pauline S.

    I love this place! My friends and I went here to celebrate a friend's birthday and we had such a fun time!Thankfully we decided to get there around 10:30am before it got too warm. We went on a Saturday and it didn't seem too packed at that time. After parking in the dirt lot, everyone fills out a waiver and buys tickets at the front desk where two lovely ladies talk about the sanctuary. We then watched a safety video on the TV on how to properly feed the animals, how to watch out for certain fences, and other safety reminders. You can buy a bucket of hay and cup of seeds to feed the animals and I'm so glad we did-- this was the most fun part. I absolutely loved how you can get close up interactions with the animals! You can really tell the staff here love and respect all their animals. The property is pretty big so make sure to bring some comfortable shoes that you don't mind getting dirt on. I had a blast and I can't wait to come back!

    the horses were so gentle and loving, very comfortable with people and so well taken care of
    Kimberly C.

    Words cannot begin to describe how incredible the San Diego Animal Sanctuary is! My best friend and I are huge animal lovers and had the honor of being given a private tour by the owner herself, Agnes. Agnes was a wonderful host who told us about her dream of opening this place up - a place where families could come to spend quality time together and happy animals can live freely without fear or stress. (brb crying!) Agnes showed us around the barn where we met several rescues who have been given a second chance at life (like the adorable blind alpaca "Sherman"). We were also able to meet gorgeous horses, tortoises, emu, goats, chickens, mini donkeys, pigs, dogs, cats, & more throughout the entire 20 acre property. You can tell these animals are all so happy and loved to the fullest extent! Did I mention we got to feed an OSTRICH, kiss a BUFFALO, and admire a ZEBRA up close? We also explored their gorgeous garden where they have tons of fresh produce you can purchase and also a wonderful PUMPKIN PATCH. P.S. this is a perfect fall activity! If you're looking for a once in a lifetime experience that is also helping out an amazing cause, look no further!

    we had such a fun and wonderful experience on our visit to the Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm. Will definitely get another food bucket next time to make sure we don't run out feeding all the animals as the grounds are huge!

    Eager feeder

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    Business owner information

    Photo of Agnes B.

    Agnes B.

    Thank you Jamie for your continuous support. It means the world to us.

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    Agnes B.

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    Agnes B.

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    Agnes B.

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    Agnes B.

    Thank you for sharing your experience, we hope to see you again soon.

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    Ask the Community - Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm

    How much is your military discount? Good for active duty, retirees, and veterans with I.D.?

    We offer 10% discount 😊

    Are there any watusis?

    Yes, they had some when we were there earlier this year.

    Do you do special events for fall?

    I am not looking for riding lessons. Do they offer pony rides for kids? If so, how much does it cost?

    We don’t ride our horses. We have experiences with our animals but no riding.

    Does your retreat have llamas?

    YES! At least they did last time we were there (January) . They also have darling Alpacas! One was a baby! If you like Alpacas, ' A Simpler Time' Alpaca Farm is worth checking out in El Cajon as well: www.asimplertimestore.com

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    Review Highlights - Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm

    As an animal person, I was looking forward to it and The Children's Nature Retreat was even much better than I expected!

    Mentioned in 11 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Zovargo - Hazel the rabbit!

    Zovargo

    4.9(54 reviews)
    14.3 mi

    Zovargo is such an amazing organization with people who genuinely care about educating kids and…read moreencouraging conservation during their programs. There are so many different and exciting animals at their zoo to learn about and meet up close and personal. Highly recommend booking an event with them because animals truly make everything so much better and they bring a unique experience!

    Amazing experience with Zovargo for my daughter's birthday this past weekend! Communication for…read morebooking and pre-event confirmation was amazing and the staff was great with the kids, and put on a great program for our event. We booked the larger party option for 16-35 kids and when the date was approaching and we thought we may end up with a few more than expected, they were flexible and communicative about our options. Come game time, it turned out we didn't exceed the limit so the team remained flexible and delivered the original plan with ease. Set up and break down was insanely fast. They kept the birthday girl completely engaged and loving every minute of the program. They made her feel like the star of the show while keeping her guests engaged as well. When some kids got a little squirrely, they were gracious and patient and kept the program rolling. We throughly enjoyed the fun, different element that Zovargo brought to our party. We highly recommend!

    Photos
    Zovargo - Ash the adorable ferret is waiting to come to your special event! At Zovargo Zoo, we bring the zoo to you!

    Ash the adorable ferret is waiting to come to your special event! At Zovargo Zoo, we bring the zoo to you!

    Zovargo
    Zovargo

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    Sugarplum Zoo - Festive decorations

    Sugarplum Zoo

    4.4(414 reviews)
    58.1 mi
    $

    Yes--as other reviews have stated, the cost may seem like a lot for the visit. But if you love…read moreanimals or you want your kids to remember an experience, I would recommend the place. I enjoyed petting them and feeding the animals and being able to spend that time with the animals unlike in a crowded carnival style place that has a petting zoo. The staff who greeted us at the front were super sweet and friendly and playful too which makes the place feel just like another alternate world full of good, happy people. They have a little shop full of chocolates and when you enter, a staff member offers you a sample. She asked what we would like to try while kids received a milk chocolate with sprinkles on it. Because they're probably made with a lot of love and labor, the chocolates aren't cheap but not ridiculously overpriced either. I'm for sure the type though who would have spent a lot more on the chocolates if the tickets were cheaper but that's just me. I'm sure the ticket sales are better. A lot of people do walk out with purchasing any chocolate when I was there. I had fun looking at all of them though and deciding what I wanted. I will be back again when my children are a little older and it's a good excuse to stop by a winery while you're in the area.

    Sugarplum Zoo is adorable, slightly muddy magic--and we are *obsessed*…read more If your kid loves chasing pigs like it's their full-time job and happily feeding goats like a tiny farmer, this is absolutely your place. Mine was living her best life the entire time. Meanwhile, I was just trying to keep up and not get outsmarted by a goat Pro tips: the gelato is SO good (like, treat yourself good ) and definitely do *not* wear your nice shoes... unless you're okay with them becoming part of the farm experience 10/10 for laughs, memories, and a little bit of dirt

    Photos
    Sugarplum Zoo - Zeus wasn't fond of me

    Zeus wasn't fond of me

    Sugarplum Zoo
    Sugarplum Zoo

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    SoCalMiniPigs - Cute little baby.

    SoCalMiniPigs

    4.9(459 reviews)
    38.0 mi

    SoCal Mini Pigs is not just a petting zoo. It's a special place where visitors can interact with…read moremini pigs, from petting to feeding and even adopting. Visits are by appointment only, so my husband and I booked a session on Valentine's Day. This was hands down the best animal experience we've had, thanks to the amazing staff and adorable animals. The animals were friendly, engaging, and active, which is a testament to how happy and well cared for they are. Each party is given a complimentary bucket of lettuce to feed the animals, with more available for purchase. We got to pet and feed not only mini pigs, but also goats, ducks, chickens, and even a large, handsome turkey. And because it was Valentine's Day, the staff passed around glasses of sparkling wine for guests, which was an extra special touch. The setting is tucked away in a mountainous area, making it feel like a hidden gem off the beaten path. It was the perfect stop on our way to San Diego. We're definitely looking forward to returning again next time!

    To label Disneyland as the happiest place on earth feels wrong after visiting with So Cal Mini…read morePigs. Not only were the owners extremely kind, friendly and big hearted, the experience made for the most heart warming time I could ever ask for on my birthday with my boyfriend. This place is absolutely wonderful and I had the best time ever. My heart feels happier than ever. Book an experience with them asap and go play, cuddle and share love with the animals!

    Photos
    SoCalMiniPigs - My daughter with one of the mini goats she was able to cuddle.

    My daughter with one of the mini goats she was able to cuddle.

    SoCalMiniPigs
    SoCalMiniPigs - All the animals to give love to!

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    All the animals to give love to!

    River Street Ranch - RIVER STREET RANCH, San Juan Capistrano, CA!

    River Street Ranch

    3.8(811 reviews)
    76.2 mi

    I saw a video about this place on social media and saved it…read moreFor later, since it looked like a fun place to take my son. He is almost 6 years old, and I'm always looking for fun ideas/things we can do on weekends. We drove here from Santa Monica (about an hour). Parking is located a few minutes away from the farm. Keep moving down the trail, and you will find it. We bought tickets online, so the check-in process was easy. We purchased a veggie basket to feed the animals, and we paid some extra $$$ so my son can ride the tractor and play on the excavator. There is also a playground on site and a horse ride. It was nice, but after an hour, my son asked to leave. Younger kids will enjoy it more. It took us 1.5 hours to drive back, so we spent more time on the road than actually experiencing the farm. What I like is that there are variety of shops and restaurants around the farm, and it's cute. Boutiques to shop for jewelry, clothes, shoes, HomeGoods, all kinds of stuff, so that was really nice.

    Came by River Street Ranch and honestly... a bit overrated…read more It's a smaller spot than expected, so don't come in thinking it's a full-on big attraction. You can get through everything pretty quick. That said, it's still a nice place to check out if you're already in the area or want something easy to do with kids. The setup is clean and organized, and there's enough little things to keep it interesting for a short visit. Think more "quick stop" than "plan your whole day around it." Overall, it's decent, not a must-go destination, but not bad either. Good to add to your list if you're nearby and just want something simple to do.

    Photos
    River Street Ranch
    River Street Ranch - Bunnies

    Bunnies

    River Street Ranch

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    Olivewood Acres - Time well spent.

    Olivewood Acres

    4.8(25 reviews)
    6.6 mi
    Locally owned & operated
    Family-owned & operated

    I had both of my senior boys at Olivewood acres and l the facility, horsemanship, and the care was…read morewonderful. Tobey is an amazing facility owner; always looking for ways to improve the facility and make the property better for the horses. And Nyna, who takes care of many of the senior horses, loves them as if they were her own. She went to check on one of my boys later in the evening, and thanks to her observation and gut instinct, she noticed my 30 year old was not doing well. She called me and the vet, and thanks to her diligence, he was able to get the best possible care and endured the least amount of suffering. She even stayed by my side the whole time, along with Tobey coming out to check on us. I can't thank Olivewood enough for all they have done for my retired boys.

    From the moment I stepped on the property grounds, I knew Olivewood is where I needed to board my…read morehorse. It is going on 9 months and I'm so happy with my decision. It is clear the entire team cares for the horses' well being. I travel often for my job and I don't have any concerns or hesitations that my horse isn't being taken care of while I'm gone. Tobey is very communicative and accommodating. A few months ago a larger stall opened up and it was an easy transition to the new stall. Since I've been boarding here, a few renovations and updates to the property have taken place, leaving the ranch one step closer to Tobey's vision for the space. I have spent the most time with Nyna between lessons, trail time and just running into her while at the barn. She is the life force of the ranch and keeps feedings, stall cleanings, lessons, farrier and vet appointments organized. She has spent a lot of time with my horse during lessons and turn out time. I can't see me or my horse boarding anywhere else. Thank you Olivewood Acres!

    Photos
    Olivewood Acres
    Olivewood Acres - One of our beautiful barns with huge turnouts.

    One of our beautiful barns with huge turnouts.

    Olivewood Acres - Top view of one of our beautiful barns.

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    Top view of one of our beautiful barns.

    Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm - ranches - Updated May 2026

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