Best Petting Zoos in NoVA and Nearby

They appreciate the household dog, but young ones also go gaga at the possibility to pet goats, cows, and other barnyard animals. These petting zoos welcome mild tiny palms.

Leesburg Animal Park

This preferred NoVA desired destination delivers a lot of the fun of a zoo, without having the parking problems you are going to uncover in DC. Youngsters can pet and feed farm animals like goats, sheep, llamas, and pigs, acquire a pony ride, and observe unique animals like zebras and sloths. There’s also a jungle perform location within which is open yr-spherical. 19246 James Monroe Hwy., Leesburg grownups $16.95, young ones 2-12 years previous $14.95, 2 and less than absolutely free

Nova Wild

The zoo, previously recognised as Roer’s Zoofari, is property to a menagerie of animals. Acquire your automobile for a journey around the park and have the prospect to feed wild animals like watusis and Asian water buffalo. Coming quickly is the possibility for zoogoers to park their vehicle and explore a variety of displays, including unique butterflies, colorful birds, lemurs, and far more. 1228 Hunter Mill Rd., Vienna $10 for ages 3 and older

Frying Pan Farm Park

Mother and father in the know rely this county park as 1 of their go-tos to entertain little ones. Frying Pan showcases what farm daily life was like in between the 1920s and 1950s — and that involves a host of barnyard animals. Wagon rides provide a tour of the residence and families can just take a relaxation on the porch of the Kidwell Farmhouse after they’ve met the farm’s horses, chickens, peacocks, rabbits, cows, and more. 2709 West Ox Rd., Herndon totally free (wagon rides $4.50 per person, underneath 2 absolutely free)

Smithsonian’s Countrywide Zoo

The granddaddy of regional zoos for tiny animal lovers, the National Zoo is a have to. It is commonly packed in the summertime, but the up-close access to the environment-famous pandas, plus elephants, tigers, all method of monkeys (oh my!), and extra is value the trip into the town. Animal keepers are also on hand at the Kids’ Farm, where by they chat about the animals and remedy concerns about the cows, donkeys, goats, chickens, and more. 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC totally free admission

This put up originally appeared in our August 2019 print problem and online on August 7, 2019. For extra tales like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine’s Things to Do newsletter.