****UPDATED REVIEW - SECOND VISIT **** January 2021- We came out again for a second time to get a more in-depth experience since we enjoyed our shorter visit so much last time. I went ahead and purchased the more expensive 'Keeper For a Day' ticket for my 7 year old daughter as a Christmas present. It was 1000 percent worth it! We enjoyed ourselves so much that we spent an entire day at the retreat from 9am until 5pm! No where else in San Diego county can you and your child stand next to and pet a mama and brand new baby alpaca (named pumpkin- born on Thanksgiving!) or lay on a the absolutely most cuddly giant Great Pyrenes Dogs and give them a hug that they are begging for! Or watch goats chase a golf cart right into their pen, feed pigs and giant tortoise - I could type out an novel here but in a nutshell this is a once in a lifetime experience, you will guaranteed not find this anywhere else! All the staff and volunteers went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable and informed. They were all so knowledgeable, friendly, great with my little girl and just plain kind folks! The Keeper for a day ticket is a MUST DO, CAN DO, HAVE TO DO experience for any animal lover of ALL AGES! read more

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Found this gem while searching on Yelp for a fun day activity for my 1.5 year old nephew. We had a blast. Courtney was super knowledgeable and kind. She even delivered another bucket of hay to us while we were on the trail. All of the animals were fairly friendly and super easy to feed. The grounds were clean and very well kept. Literally every employee we passed greeted us and talked a bit. There are some snacks and drinks available for purchase as well as a small gift shop area. We are looking forward to our next visit. read more

Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm - Ranches Near Me - Alpine, California

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Love this place so much fun! Inexpensive, you get to go up close with all the animals, it was such a cute fun experience! Will be going back! Added pics of some of the photogenic babies I saw! read more

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Super fun day, will recommend to everyone I know! I would do this over the zoo any day Worth the drive from San Diego Super reasonably priced Sooo interactive! Alpaca kisses were my favorite but we got to feed so many amazing animals. read more

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Supporting local businesses and giving the kids a great adventure. This place is hands down my favorite when it comes to caring for animals. Well maintained property and lots of different animals. All the staff were very friendly and helped with questions. Lots of fun for little ones. read more

Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm - Ranches Near Me - Alpine, California

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This is a great rescue. The animals look very well cared for. You can buy a bucket of Alfa sprouts and feed them if you would like. It was honestly a little bit bigger than I thought it would be. I hope they are able to stay open. read more

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A bit small, but they fit a lot in there. Lots to see and learn. Very clean and also some great views. Son loved it.

We took our 3 yo twin grandsons today and the Nature Retreat is fabulous! A large variety of animals that you can actually feed with a hands-on experience! You purchase a full pail of grass sprouts for feeding and they were able to feed all the animals It was very nicely laid out to loop around see all the animals. There is a picnic area with tables. read more

This place is worth the drive! It took us about 40 mins but it was so much fun and my son absolutely adored it. If it were more convenient I would go more often. My only complaint was that when I checked in to pay I showed them the Yelp offer that was available at the time- a discount on admittance for checking in. The woman at the front looked at it and plainly said "I don't know anything about that" and wouldn't give me the discount. Otherwise it was great. read more

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WOW! Outstanding facility. The staff is friendly and very willing to assist. My daughter and I were able to feed zebras. We fed pigs, goats, and lamas. We saw bulls, long horns, dogs, a turtle, and many other interesting characters throughout this place. I had so much fun! Beautiful setting. Great views. This place does an excellent job of caring for the animals. This is worth a visit. read more

So I was trying to find something to do for my boyfriends birthday and I found this on Groupon. I was thinking he would enjoy it cause he grew up around animals. I look thru some pictures on the Groupon and see that they have zebras (my favorite animal) and I'm immediately hooked. We get there and I see out of the corner of my eye two zebras up the hill. The lady told us the rundown and showed us where each animal is and we get our buckets of food for them. We go straight to the zebras. At first, I was kinda freaking out and excited. My boyfriend feeds them first and I see it's not bad so I go up and feed one and I'm smiling ear to ear. So happy I got the opportunity to feed my favorite animal They also have goats, cows, ostriches and so many other animals. Great price on Groupon. Such a memorable experience and I will DEFINITELY be going back with friends read more

Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm - Hope the zebra - Ranches Near Me - Alpine, California

Love this place, this is my second time here. All the staff members here were very friendly and helpful. I rather support this place than the zoo. They take in local rescues and they our help to keep this place going. read more

Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm - Ranches Near Me - Alpine, California

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Awesome place, friendly staff and the animals and grounds are very well maintained. A great little San Diego secret read more

Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm - Ranches Near Me - Alpine, California

This place is awesome! my daughter had a great time the animals like to interact while being fed. They do offer feeding buckets for a fee We had such a great time it's so worth it...Definitely will be back again read more

Children's Nature Retreat is such a wonderful place to visit. It was well worth the drive and if you do the group tour, it is such a good deal! Our homeschool group went and we had such a great time feeding all the animals. I love that you can feed almost all the animals at the retreat even the zebras! The kids also loved petting the horses. There is a good variety of animals and the place is very well maintained. Everything was very clean and you could tell that they really care about the animals. read more

This place is so amazing. Can not say enough positive. The love for the animals is very clear from the moment you pull through the gates. Very reasonably priced (if you plan to go more than once, splurge on the season pass). All the money goes to the welfare of the animals, so why not go and experience a practically private experience. Grab some buckets of food to feed the animals and go experience something you dont get at the zoo. It is truly a one of a kind farm experience. Almost every animal can be fed, petted, and shown some extra love. Every time we go, the farm is quiet and not packed so that we can enjoy some great 1 on 1 time feeding and loving on the animals. Where else can you feed a zebra or get up close with a buffalo whilst being stalked by some adorable kitties who want some pets. Feed the beautiful horses, llamas, goats, pigs, mini horses, ostriches, and so very much more. We love coming to the farm and having a peaceful morning stroll saying hi to all our farm animal friends. It's a great way to get a bit of the farm life without actually having a farm here in San Diego. This place is awesome. My 2 little girls aged 4 & 2 look forward to visiting their animal friends all the time. There is also a little maze and a beautiful garden with some delicious veggies. We try to get a few veggies every time we come. The salad mix is great, carrots are so sweet that even the kids eat them, and we are always pleased with any veggie or herb we purchase. Overall, it was a great experience, educational and something that you can go back and do over and over - visiting the farm/sanctuary never gets old! read more

I've heard about this place, no one described it as great as we experienced! I took my almost 4 year grandson and we had so much fun. The property is pristine, beautiful & the staff was amazing! As we checked in, we were given a bucket of hay, which we were able to feed most of the animals. We were so close and enjoyed every single animal! I can't wait to go back!! read more

One of the very best experience ever to be so close to animals. We had gone to the Camel Oasis prior and thought that would be hard to beat, but this place kicked it's butt! I got to feed zebras! Yes that's right ZEBRAS! And to boot we did not have to spend hundred of dollars to do so. You see there's this amazing thing called GROUPON (I know I know you're welcome haha). Saw this place had a special and looked it up on yelp of course. I immediately planned a day trip with my lil fam. I think we spent $25 for (2) adults through Groupon, and paid $15 for a child at the entrance. More than worth the money. we could have paid another $35 each for up close and personal, but we felt like we were much closer than what we thought we were going to be. They had a miniature area which had miniature cows, horses, goats and donkeys. any enclosed area had buckets if hay for you to feed the animals. There were also ostriches, long horned bulls, camels, bunnies, pigs, chicken, peacocks, and I'm sure many other animals. In close, WE HAD A BLAST. The plus side in all of this is not only the experience and the tranquil space (side note: if there were hammocks, I could stay underneath the tree and look out yonder and just fall asleep to the sound of nature), but this place is a sanctuary. The zebras were rescued from Texas. They were brought in the US specifically for Exotic Hunting Ranches. One of the zebras (the female), had someone deliberately thrown acid on her. She still has scars on her face. So what you pay to get in and purchases goes back to a VERY good cause. Best money well spent. read more

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What a beautiful gem of a place! We had the place to ourselves on a Sunday. My kids got to feed all sorts of amazing animals and interact with them up close. The owner is so sweet and you can tell this is such a labor of love. Just a few tips before you go that I figured out the hard way: The entrance is the second gate you encounter with the farm sign on it... if you see the gate that says "Delivery Entrance Only," you haven't gone down the road far enough. Also, call ahead and make a reservation just so she knows you're coming and can have feed prepared for you to give to the animals! It says that on the website but I missed it and felt bad I just showed up. Lastly, there are green signs that show you how to angle your car to get the gate to open up again when you're ready to leave... I was an idiot who didn't see them and had to call her to have her explain it to me. All in all, a wonderful day and a great place to support. read more

I recently took my children here with their small homeschool pod. I was blown away by this place. We organized it on a day they were closed and had the entire place to our self. We wore masks and we able to be socially distanced. We paid for the 4 hour tour, we got to feed the animals, prepare dishes for the turtles. There was a ton of hands on experiences. My self and my kids learned so much about the animals. Thank you Agnes for giving us the special treatment. read more

Children's nature retreat, a mini zoo, that's a great and fun place for kids to have a close up experience with farm to exotic animals. While getting to feed those animals as well! Thanks to my good friend, Diane, that told us about this hidden gem! A surreal experience for the entire family. And, well worth the hour drive from north county. Great place to go to! read more

Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm - Bucket to feed the animals! - Ranches Near Me - Alpine, California

One of my new favorite places! The owner Agnes is such a sweet person! They leave out white bins near the enclosures where you can feed the animals. You get up close and personal and you get to pet them and touch them. They have miniature horses, mules, horses, goats, camels, zebras, ostriches, bunnies, pigs, hens, roosters, ducks, etc! I spent two hours here feeding the animals. They also have picnic tables there as well! read more

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It was a great experience for me on my birthday. All staffs are so friendly and helpful. All animals are so awesome. We love the cats there so much. Definitely going back again. read more

My husband and I had an awesome afternoon at the Park. The owner was very nice and gave us lots of sprouted barley to feed all the animals. All the animals were very friendly (and hungry) and came right up to the fence and interacted with you. The animals seems very well taken care of and happy. I will be returning with my niece and nephew soon! read more

Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm - Ranches Near Me - Alpine, California

The San Diego Animal Sanctuary provides a unique and totally different experience and way to be close to animals. In my opinion, the sanctuary is a much better experience than the San Diego Zoo. The sanctuary is located in Alpine and is about a 30-40 minute drive from the Mission Bay Area, it is a beautiful and stress free drive. The staff are truly friendly and you can sense their genuine love for all the animals. We made a mistake on the date for our visit and arrived two days earlier than we should have. The owner and lead animal handler accommodated us without any fuss. From miniature horses, turtles, zebra, bison, and a slew of other animals- it was a day our granddaughter and we will cherish for a lifetime. This is an amazing experience that will bring joy to your heart as you learn the backstory behind the rescued animals. Where else can you feed a zebra, feed a bison and pet both? No doubt, we will be going back soon. read more

It supports children's education and it gives the kids an opportunity to see animals up close

This place is amazing! I stumbled on it accidentally when I was looking for a pumpkin patch. The owner is extremely friendly and will talk to you about how she started this retreat and her vision. The property is beautiful and it's so cool to be to get close to the animals. read more

Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm - Ranches Near Me - Alpine, California

We booked our reservation for today and ran a little late because it took a bit longer to arrive. I called and they were so sweet and said it was no problem. When we arrived we were welcomed by a lady who was very sweet. She prepared us with a few buckets of feed, we watched a short video on how to safely feed and interact with the animals, and then off we went. My first impression was pure joy. I don't think I have ever been soo happy in such a long time. I would rate this place 10 stars if I could. The animals are beautiful! My kids are 3 and 1. They had soo much fun. There's even little benches everywhere and if you bring a lunch I'm sure it would be ok to sit and eat as long as you don't leave any trash. We ended up purchasing our annual pass and they credited our daily ticket towards the family bundle. This place beats the zoo any day. I wish I lived here. It's literally a dream. Animals are soo gorgeous and well taken care of. I can't wait to come back. Thanks for having us. read more

Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm - He was such a handsome man - Ranches Near Me - Alpine, California

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We had the best time here! Everyone was very friendly and they seemed very cautious of all COVID safety protocols. Our son had the best time feeding the animals and we had a lovely picnic at the picnic area. We will be back! Thank you for a wonderful day! read more

This was such a great experience! Not just for kids, but big kids as well who love animals. There are over 200 different kinds of animals at this sanctuary-goats, sheep, zebras, camels, mini horses, tortoises,pigs, bison, emus, mini donkeys, Frisian horses, alpacas etc....A cute little pot bellied pig named Truffle stole my heart, she was so adorable. It is open 7 days a week ( except major holidays) 10-5 pm. You do need a reservation. For an extra $5 you can get a bucket full of hay and feed some of the animals. Be mindful as some animals are on a special diet and can't eat the hay. Everyone I spoke to at the farm was friendly and knowledgeable. Truly a great outing for kids and adults. Highly recommend! Be sure to wear comfortable shoes! read more

This place is AMAZING! I think i loved it more than my 5 year old. Its.def worth the pay and its a lot cheaper than san diego zoo and u are not even close to the animals and interact with them. This place is a gem!!!!! First off when u arrive it is gated and u need to call so they can open but if you have bad reception like we did we just honked a couple of times and that did the trick too. I paid online so we were ready. Its $5 for a bucket of food. I bought 3 and that was enough for all the animals. Must wear mask when u are checking in but the rest of the time when u are on your own u dont have too since the place is huge and there was pretty much no one around at least when we went. You watch a short clip on their tablet about safety and then u are on your own. Staff is wonderful and very knowledgeable. The owner Añies is such a wonderful human being i feel in love with her. Animals are awesome my favorite part was the ostriches and the llamas. Bathrooms are super clean and they have disinfecting spray when i enter to use. They have a small snack bar where its self serve but if you want ice cream u have to call them which is fine bc the owner was so.quick to help and come.over. also if.you buy the up close and personal (which i definitely recommend) u have to choose and call her by phone and she will go in with you on the chosen location that u want to go.in to. My daughter chose to be with the miniature horses and she loved it (note you cannot ride them just pet and interact with them) and they need to be accompanied by an adult inside. I decided to be with the Alpaca and llamas and Sue and the owner stayed with me and taught me so much about them. They didnt rush no time limit on how long you could be with the animals and she took pictures for me. I just loooved my experience. Bring lots of water. Good shoes. They do have maby shaded areas though and spots where you can sit. Pack your lunch or eat a big meal before u arrive. Honestly its so great you do not need to buy the upclose and personal for an extra $35 i believe to experience the greatness of this place but honestly i do not regret i did. The 1:1 attention u get from the staff and its you with the animals is priceless!!!! Will be returning and am def. Recommending this place!!! Go visit!!! read more

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We have been going here the past 3 years in a row. And also invited friends and family to come with us. Always loved it. Relaxing place and friendly staff. Kids had so much fun feeding different animals, even myself. As of now they have to schedule the entries for the day. read more

The San Diego Animal Sanctuary and Farm is a wonderful place to visit. My 11-year-old daughter did the "Be a Keeper for a Day" experience, and she was just thrilled. She was able to work alongside three different keepers throughout the day. Everyone was so kind and friendly. She really learned about the animals' personalities and their needs. We cannot wait to go back to this beautiful place! read more

So cute and my kids age 3 and 4 loved it. We rented a wagon and got two buckets of feed. We had a great time and there's plenty of space and it's outside. read more

Even though it's called "Children's Nature Retreat," this is an animal sanctuary for all ages. Some of the proceeds support and fund educational efforts in Burkina Faso, which is very admirable. They are open during COVID-19, but follow CDC Guidelines, including face masks and social distancing. Despite everyone else's glowing reviews on here, our experience was, at best, average. You have to call to make a reservation, which we did. You would think that if this is a requirement, they would be better at staggering guests' visits so they're not piled on top of one another. We arrived at the same time as 3 other families, and had to wait while everyone filled out the paperwork, watched the mandatory video, and asked questions. When you arrive, the gate is closed, and there is a sign that says, "Please call to be let in." Whoever put up the sign forgot that because this place is located 30 miles from any cell phone tower, there is no service. Thus, we had to wait for approximately 10 minutes before someone took a break from processing everyone to push the button to let us in. It is unclear why the gate is locked during their business hours, but I digress. We opted for the extras, i.e., the wagon and two buckets of feed. Despite this being described by many, including the owner, as a type of "petting zoo," interaction with the animals depends on the day, their mood, and how much money you spend. For instance, you can purchase an "up close and personal" experience for one-one-one time with an animal of your choosing for $35, a guided tour for $175, or a "behind the scenes" tour for $495. Otherwise, all bets are off, and your chances come down to your luck, your charm, how much feed you buy, and how hungry the animals are. We were only able to interact with the horses, who were playful and friendly. The donkeys, llamas, goats, cows, and pigs left as soon as the food ran out. The camels were not interested, and stayed at least a football field away, leaving us little opportunity for photos. The zebras, contrary to the owner's promises on the video you have to watch before you gain entry, did not allow us to pet them through the fence, and the tortoises were nowhere to be found. Signage throughout the location is limited and misleading (for instance, a sign at the entrance reads, "Camel enclosure," but it is located at the other end of the sanctuary). When we asked where the restrooms were, we got a vague hand wave, which was not appreciated after a 2.5 hour drive. If you live close by, it is probably worth a trip, but if you live more than 30 miles away, it's safe to skip. read more

Love this place . You can feed the animals yourself. Friendly staffs. Ticket included animals' food basket. You can close see all animals when you feed them .They all come to you when you are around . Also it has picnic and rest area . Spend about 2 hours there . It is Fun . read more

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We love coming here so much we had to get a membership. The staff is wonderful! The concept is amazing. These are some lucky animals. Don't get put off by the drive if you aren't close. It's an easy drive and totally worth it. Pack a picnic and use their picnic tables. I've reviewed before but it keeps getting better. read more

Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm - Mama and baby! Always someone new at The Nature Retreat! - Ranches Near Me - Alpine, California

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Super awesome place! Took my wife and two kids and we all loved it. Very clean and well-kept, the staff was super friendly (including the owner) , and very reasonably priced tickets. Will definitely return and might even invest in their annual passes! read more

Traveling with children? Looking for a naturally beautiful retreat center for an office or organized event? The Children's Nature Retreat is a truly unique experience in the area where you can get hands-on interactions with over 100 friendly animals. Recently opened, you can feel the care for the animals from your first stroll around the grounds here. I spoke with the Owner and Development Director and they have clearly placed the animals first here. The word "Retreat" in their title is completely appropriate. With serene surroundings, natural comforts, and supportive enclosures, these animals are living their best days with a friendly staff to tend to their needs. They limit the daily guest count to 100 to preserve the serenity of the environment for both animals and guests. We enjoyed feeding the animals, who were social and grateful for the interactions. The sounds of animals and happy interactions around the grounds are enjoyable and relaxing. There are enough animals to please any child and foster an appreciation for the natural life there. Corporate events and special group outings are available for booking here as well, learn more at their website http://childrensnatureretreat.org/corporate-team-building/ read more

This was a very fun getaway! Close to home yet far enough you feel out of the city. The grounds are maintained very well and all of the staff are very friendly l. I can't wait to go back. read more

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