Our special needs son, age 6, loves animals. We found this sanctuary online when looking for places…read moreto take him to. It quickly became our favorite place, we visit once a week. Every time we drive through those gates, it feels like stepping into a different rhythm -- slower, softer, and full of heart. There's a calm that settles over me the moment I arrive, like all the noise of everyday life fades into the background. For a few precious hours, time seems to stand still. We spend our visits surrounded by the most amazing animals, each with their own story and personality. The people who care for them are just as special -- kind, genuine, and truly devoted to every creature on the farm. They always greet us by name, take time to chat, and make our son feel like part of their family. He loves to feed the sheep, who are so patient and gentle with him. I love learning each animal's name and backstory -- it makes every visit feel personal and deeply grounding. If you ever feel weighed down by the world, this is the place to go. It's impossible to leave without feeling lighter, calmer, and a little more connected to what really matters. And as a bonus -- they grow the most delicious fruits and vegetables right there on the farm, fresh from the earth that gives this place so much life. If you are looking for a special place to take your family, I highly recommend it!

This is the most special place I have ever been to, I've never been more happy. If you love animals…read moreyou have to check this place out! First off it's huge and you are allowed to feed and pet ALL of the animals! They have so much to see! Cows, pigs, camels, and even a zebra!! I never thought in my life I'd pet a zebra, this experience is just incredible! They even have turkeys and peacocks that roam and even came up to us for some food! All of the animals were super friendly and adorable. We even saw the smallest mini horse ever that was so cute. There are also cats that roam the property and one of them followed us throughout the whole place. Can you ask for a cuter tour guide?! They also grow their own produce and sell eggs. We picked and cut our own pumpkins and left with some duck eggs as well! Overall this was just the most fun experience I've ever had. I regret not purchasing the membership because ever since I left I keep thinking about how bad I want to come back! This is definitely a hidden gem and a fantastic experience.

We attended a birthday party where the backyard wasn't super big, but Cindy was able to…read moreaccommodate. It was fun to see everyone enjoy. We did make sure there were only 3/4 people at a time because of the space. The little chicks were everywhere, though. I almost felt I could have stepped on them, lol. Overall, it was fun to pet and take pictures.

Just celebrated my son's birthday and selected Cindy Lu's Petting Zoo to help keep the kids…read moreattending our party entertained. The husband and wife team were friendly and professional. The selection of pets were great. I joked and said they had brought the Noah's Ark Package for our party cause seriously, they had everything but a Chupacabra lol. They brought enough hay and feed to keep the animals at bay so everyone could enjoy them. I highly recommend them if looking for a petting zoo. I wouldn't hesitate to use them again for a future party. Price, value, selection- nobody even comes close!

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!

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!

Booking was easy! Paying by Venmo was easy! Barnyard Animal Buddies was so amazing! They brought…read morethe bunnies to our backyard, set up, provided lots of education on rabbits to the kiddos. They were professional, knowledgeable, great with the bunnies, friendly & kind. I loved the decor they brought for an added touch. They also bring hand sanitizer. They were on time & were quick to set up. We had our own canopy & turf area so they did not charge extra for that. There was a travel expense for being out of their area. They brought six bunnies and rotated the children so everyone could get a turn petting them. The birthday girl got to stay in the bunny pin the whole time. The bunnies were well taken care of and were so soft and sweet! My kiddo loved spending time with the bunnies and she loved that she got to swaddle two of them. I definitely recommend Barn Animal Buddies for your kid's birthday party, definitely lots of fun!

I reserved a bunny petting zoo for my daughters 6th birthday and was beyond thrilled with the…read moreentire experience! The communication was quick and clear and booking was easy. We got a message the morning of a call when in route. The set up is clean and cute, the bunnies were a huge hit and the staff were friendly and great with the kids. I will for sure book again. Highlight of our party!

Ponyland San Diego is an amazing place and it's clear that the animals are truly cared for. The…read morehorses are always the top priority, and you can tell they are very well taken care of and treated with a lot of attention and respect. The property is home to many horses as well as goats and sheep, and all of the animals appear healthy, happy, and well managed. The 1.5 hour trail ride is an amazing experience. The ride takes you through beautiful scenery with lots of wildlife and flowers along the way, making it both relaxing and memorable. It's a great way to enjoy nature while riding well-cared-for horses. The customer service is also top notch. Everyone is friendly, welcoming, and clearly passionate about what they do. The environment is well maintained, and it's refreshing to see a place where the well-being of the animals comes first. I would absolutely recommend Ponyland San Diego to anyone looking for excellent animal care and a great riding experience.

Wonder ride on well trained cared for horses. Gandalf ,…read moreStumpy and Amy took very good care of us. Although I have ridden many times I was there with first timers. Besides the normal snaking the horses were very easy to handle .

I really enjoyed visiting and learning. It was a quick tour but I was glad I got to have any…read moreinteraction with these amazing animals

Very down to earth place, granddaughter enjoyed it very much!…read more Nice tour of the Farm and what they do there along with making sweaters, blankets and yarn they sell. Many machines showing how they process the Alpaca wool.

We had an amazing time at Dirty Bird Ranch during a private tour with our family of four including…read morea 4 yo and 2 yo. During the hour we were all able to hold, feed, and pet so many animals. We had such an intimate personalized experience and all learned so much. We definitely made memories to last a lifetime and can't recommend Dirty Bird Ranch enough!

Such a great time! All the animals are so friendly and Candace makes the whole tour feel so…read morerelaxed. We had a herd of pigs, goats, dogs and alpacas following us around the whole time. We even got to feed and pet an ostrich. Definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a unique experience for the family or date :)

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

So happy we have this petting zoo in town! It was so much cleaner than others nearby and the staff…read morewas extremely helpful and friendly! It is interactive and the kids had a lot to do. All the animals were cute, clean and interesting with all the fun facts on the cages. The price was super reasonable and loved that they had pony rides. There were pigs, chickens, alpacas, sheep, goats, turkey, miniature horses and ponies. Will definitely be spreading the word. It was a fun family outing for a weekend morning.

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.

BOYCOTT UNTIL THEY LOWER PRICES…read more People can complain all they want about how insanely expensive this place is, but they're not going to change anything if people keep on going and paying the astronomical rates. Children (35 months and older) are $13, adults are $16, and seniors are $13. On top of that, you have to pay a aa carte for each of the experiences: $5 for the train, $3 for the excavator, $5 for the tractor and the killer is $6 for a basket of vegetables to feed the animals that probably won't be out because of the heat. The "entry fee" should be $5 for everyone, but at least have kids and seniors pay $5 and do $10 for adults who literally just stand there and watch their kids. The sheer cost of trying to do anything cool wiith your kids that is also fun for adults is ridiculous.