I truly cannot express just how wonderful of an experience this tour was. Matt and Melissa were…read moreamazing hosts. They were friendly, knowledgeable, and you can tell that they really care about their animals. We were able to feed the chickens, milk a goat, and walk baby alpacas. We were even given fresh complimentary eggs! They have a store where you can buy some of their products as well. Definitely book a tour with them if you're going to be in the area. You will not regret it. I hope to go back as soon as possible.

Such a lovely experience. The owners of the farm have an obvious love for their animals and sharing…read morethat love with others. We took our 5, 3, and 1 year old, and they had an absolute blast. We fed chickens, goats, and alpacas, held bunnies, fetched chicken eggs, and went on an alpaca trek. We have been to many farms as our 3 year old has a deep love for animals, and this exceeded all of them. Gorgeous scenic views and fun time had by both kids and adults. If you are in the area, definitely check out Shaka - You will have the best time!

From our very first interaction with Abi in the ticketing area, we knew we were in for a treat. She…read morewas incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and patient, making sure all of our questions were answered, even as more people came through. We really appreciated how welcoming and attentive she was. Then we met Mae in the reptile area, and she was just as wonderful. She was incredibly knowledgeable about the animals and even let us pet a few of them (We'll never forget you, Lt. Dan!) My wife and I had an absolute blast simply walking around and taking everything in before meeting Shelby, who seems to know everything there is to know about sloths and capybaras. She was delightful to talk to and made the experience even more memorable. What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon! A huge thank-you to Abi, Mae, Shelby, and everyone else who made our visit so enjoyable. We had an amazing time and truly appreciate all the kindness, knowledge, and enthusiasm you shared with us!

Visited here recently for my niece's birthday, and it was quite an adventure to say the least! Took…read moreus about an hour and half from the Cumming area to get there. We bought tickets online and they had our name and feed purchases ready when we pulled up. Greeter gave us our buckets and explained the rules. We were probably one of the first cars through, so the animals were sort of hanging out far from the road. First animal we see is an emu in the distance on my niece's side. We are so focused on looking at that one and trying to get her excited, that I didn't even notice one had sneaked up on my side of the car and literally stuck his head in the window and grabbed feed from the bucket on my lap which startled me a bit which then proceeded to startle my niece...and that essentially set the tone for the rest of our time there. Next we came to the zebras. We were warned that they were a little pushy and had teeth like donkeys. You're taught to hold the bucket outside the car, but they pushed themselves inside the window (on my niece's side of course) and kept trying to grab the bucket, which just ended up dumping half of it into the car. We also saw some quiet, polite deer in the woods as well as some antelope in the distance. Next, we saw some llamas (or maybe alpacas). They too are a little pushy, but not as bad as the zebras. I think one even stopped at my window and smiled to pose for me to take his picture before he helped himself to another half a bucket of feed. Then we get to the camel. All prior animals were able to literally get in our car. The camel is inside a pen thankfully....He comes to the edge of his fence and we pulled close enough to where I could hold the bucket out my niece's side. He immediately grabbed the bucket from my hand, held it over his head to eat it, then dropped the bucket on the ground. I'm thinking I have to get the bucket back because I don't want to get in trouble. Problem #1 is, the first rule is to stay in your car at all times. Problem #2, some of the emus have now followed us and are quickly approaching from the rear. I climb into the front passenger seat, open the door, grab the bucket and quickly get back into the car. Meanwhile, the camel has moved on. He got what he wanted and had lost interest, figuring he would just wait on the next unsuspecting victim in the next car. We pass some water buffalo and the longhorns and a couple of highland cows. An ostrich quickly runs up the road in front of us so we can't get away. He helps himself and seemed a little more polite and pretty than the emus, so I let him snack. Eventually, we found the parking area and petting zoo. Mind you, there are signs telling you not to pet them or feed from your hand...but still call it a "petting zoo." Fed the goats and a huge pig. Made our way to the giraffes and someone shared some lettuce with my niece so she could feed them. She didn't love it, but didn't freak as much. Then we go to the aviary. We had bought three sticks with sticky seed on it, all of which I was carrying when we entered. I think we walked into a Hitchcock movie.... Parakeets swarm us the second we enter. Land on the sticks, our arms and my niece's head. That went over well.... Tried to direct her attention to the pretty birds and bright colors. Figured we should just exit quickly so we did. Went to gift shop where she bought a stuffed highland cow and all was well again!

This place is amazing. An incredible store with so many things to choose from. Everything apple and…read moremore. You can actually watch cider being pressed from behind a window. They have a cafe/bakery where you can purchase pies, turnovers and donuts. Unless you have a handicap parking permit, it's quite a hike to park. I saw a lot of older folks struggling to walk up the hill. It's also a Harvest Host location where you can reserve an RV spot and park overnight in your RV spot for free.

While visiting North Georgia, one must visit at least 1 orchard…read more This time, it was Mercier which is quite large with fresh bakery, gift and food items, and of course, apples ! First of the season offered some of my favorites, September Wonder and Crispins. It was close to closing time, so no fresh baked goods remaining. However, cider donuts were in the fridge, looking like they were made at a local bakery. $9 for a dozen which is less expensive than most places. Very friendly and clean place.

Last month rented the large farm animal petting zoo for my son's birthday and everyone (kids and…read moreadults alike!) LOVED it!!!! Highly recommend this place! It was a very special day.

This is a great idea for the kids and family. They have so many different kinds of animals and they…read moreare ALL super cute and super friendly. I highly recommend this place! L

This was a very nice get away for us while on Spring Break vacation. Brian and Barbie, the owners,…read moreset up this carriage house and 3 acre mini farm about seven years ago. They offer private farm tours, carriage rides, a bed & breakfast, a wedding chapel and lots of flowers to enjoy. My family went on the carriage ride with Brian and Barbie. They use an original carriage from the 1800s which has been updated with fiberglass wheels and hydraulic breaks. The carriage is drawn by Moses and Aaron (Gypsy Vanner Cross horses). The ride takes about one hour along a mountain gravel road. For portions of the ride, Brian & the horses kick up the speed to around 40 mph. It's pretty cool and exhilarating. A fun family friendly experience. The kids enjoyed petting the animals. They have a donkey, a pony, fainting goats, chickens and pheasants. You'll also find daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, a type of cherry blossom and other flowers.

What a great time my fiance and I had here. Barbie and Brian are wonderful hosts had we known we…read morecould have stayed there we certainly would have. We went for the carriage ride and what a wonderfully memorable event that turned out to be. Beautiful carriage, beautiful horses, great food, and enjoyable conversation. When in the Blue Ridge area we highly recommend this farm tour and ride through the beautiful woods.

This place is SO wonderful as well as everyone working there! I don't think you'll find a better…read moreor more affordable animal encounter experience anywhere. The owners and staff absolutely love their animals, they take such great care of them and the facilities are just beautiful. And ,best of all, they do it all to share the love of Jesus with every person who comes through their gates. Amen to that!

I discovered Ocoee Riverside Farm through a suggestion on TikTok. When I saw all the interactive…read moremeet and greets with the animals, visiting this place was nonnegotiable, lol. You can come experience the farm for a few hours featuring 30 - 60 minute guided tours and animal encounters. Or.... You can stay in accommodations on the grounds of Ocoee Riverside Farm. It's a nice retreat away among the flatland plains of Tennessee. They offer old fashioned farm cabins, wagons, lofts, condos and glampsites. Prices range anywhere from $100 - $200 per night. I was exclusively here to spend time introducing myself to the farm residents. The most popular option offered to visitors is the $19.99 Farm Tour & Animal Encounter. The tour lasts 75 - 90 minutes. Now...when choosing this tour, they offer 50% discount add-on experiences to entice guests to stay and play longer. There's the Kangaroo Encounter - $14.99 (normally $29.99) for 30 extra minutes saying hello to kangaroos. There's the Camel Encounter - $9.99 (normally $19.99) for 30 extra minutes learning about the two camels living on the farm including riding on their humpbacks. So...right there w/ the basic Farm Tour for 75 - 90 minutes and including the Kangaroo and Camel experiences, that's 2.5 hours of fun at Ocoee Riverside Farm for a total $45. I think that's a total bargain. And...they plan activities to coincide with each other so visitors aren't standing around waiting for their next interactions. But.... Ocoee Farm offers even more chances to get up close encounters with their animals. For extra $$$, everything is on the table, lol. More add-on animal meet and greets including.... - Sloth/VIP Encounter - $99.99 - two 30 minute sessions. - Baby Kangaroo Bottle Feeding - $29.99 - 30 minutes. - Sloth Cuddles and Snuggles - $119.99 - 30 minutes. - Hug -A-Highland - $19.99 - 30 minutes. - Horseback Riding - 20, 45 and 60 minute rides. - Fennec Fox - $14.99 - 30 minutes. - Baby Llama and Alpaca Feeding - $14.99 - 30 minutes. There's even more farm experiences guests can pick from... I added the Hug-A-Highland and Baby Llama and Alpaca Feedings for $14.99 each, which brought my total to $75 plus taxes and fees for 3.5 hours on a weekend day. The Farm sent me a confirmation email with a list and itinerary for the a-la-carte experiences I signed up for. They instructed me to arrive at 9am. I departed the farm by 1pm. Extra highlights... - With all the various animal interactions and guided tours, every staff member was ultra friendly and went out of their way to ensure guests left with wonderful memories. Fallon, McKenna, Michael and Vladik were knowledgeable about the animals and they kindly offered to take pictures and videos for visitors. - Included in the Farm Tour is the Petting Zoo where they provide a bag of pellets to feed goats, sheep, donkeys, llamas and alpacas. After the Petting Zoo, visitors step inside the Barn to greet...iguanas, parrots, an anteater, hedgehog, lizard, mouse, baby camel and adult camel. - Lastly, I met John, the owner. He shared stories about his life before Ocoee Riverside Farm, his time in the armed services and how he and his family are 100% committed towards giving their farm animals the best possible lives. I had a wonderful experience at this tucked away hidden gem in Benton, Tennessee. If you're near the Chattanooga, TN area, Ocoee Riverside Farm is a quick 40 mile drive east. Thank you for having me.

baby goats. I was in…read moreheaven. I'd go back for the opportunity to hold baby goats again. Otherwise, knowledgeable and friendly staff. Adorable array of animals to meet, pet, feed and talk to, all with names and personalities. Left with lots of doodoo in our shoes, and lots of memories.

We didn't know what to expect but it was a pleasant surprise! Beverly and Cindy were amazing hosts!…read more They let us hold baby goats and chickens. We loved the emu and the cows...it took about an hour total but was so worth the trip! We will definitely be back!

Great hands on learning experience, reasonably priced as well. Exactly what I needed to gain…read moreconfidence with my own rabbitry. Very happy with the handsome buck I took home with me.

From the owner: Give us a call or text and we’ll set you up with a farmtastic play date with baby goats, bunnies,…read moreand pigs. Play dates by appointment.

This was a fun outing for kids - it was just exceptionally hot when we went. Workers were all very…read morefriendly. You get pretty large cups of feed to feed a nice variety of animals. Going in with the deer is a fun experience - kinda overwhelming because they can get a little pushy. The pony ride was the highlight. You get to go around 3 times, and its parent-led, which was nice to have that experience with your kiddos. The animals seem so well taken care of here. Great experience, just know it doesn't have much more than an hour or so worth of time.

My two kids enjoyed the day (age 2 and 8). I recommend this place. There arA lot of games for young…read morekids plus animals for hours of fun.

Our favorite alpaca farm and we've visited many! Friendly, well-cared for alpacas. The owners…read moreJerome and Pam are passionate and knowledgeable, and are happy to have visitors to their farm. We recommend visiting if you get the chance and love alpacas!

From the owner: We raise and sell alpacas which also includes halter/lead training plus service after purchase. We…read morehave our alpacas sheared once a year, then use their fleece for various products like yarn, socks, gloves, hats, shawls, scarves, bird nesting balls and stars, felted ornaments, and more. We even have alpaca fur toys including finger puppets. These toys are imported from Peru and are handmade by women in the Andes Mountains.