I had an absolutely fabulous time visiting Animal Adventures. The facility is quite spacious with…read moreoutdoor and indoor animal exhibits. They also have onsite parking, various indoor/outdoor seating, and a playground. You can also buy pellet at the check in counter to feed the goats and cows. I went for the otter experience and it was truly worth every penny. The online booking process was seamless as was check-in. I had a private room with two otters and their caretaker. The otters were rambunctious but it made for such a fun and memorable visit. You could tell that they're very loved and well cared for. All of the staff that I encountered were very friendly, incredibly knowledgeable, and very kind to the animals. I would highly recommend this business to other animals lovers who are seeking a unique experience.

We booked an owl adventure for two, and were not disappointed! The owls were beautiful if a little…read moreskittish at first. Dean, our guide was great with them and super informative. We learned a ton about the owls and got to interact with them up close- as well as getting some epic pictures! The outdoor play area was really great for kids and I can't wait to come back with my grandkids. I was totally overwhelmed by the variety of animals they had- totally unexpected for a fairly small operation. We interacted with other employees as well including Captain Brian and Ron(?) who gave us a wonderful tour of several areas and animals. I have read some bad reviews here about enclosure sizes- of course we would all love to see these creatures running free in the wild, but many (most?) of these animals are injured and cannot survive in the wild. Others (Diego) have had their enclosure size limited (prescribed) by veterinarians to minimize additional strains on their injuries. I was especially moved by the way every employee I saw interacted with each animal. They respected them, spoke to each animal by name, and showed genuine love and affection for every creature there. I think if I could recommend an improvement, it would be more signage. There were several cages that weren't labeled, or didn't have a backstory listed. I definitely would like more information! Overall, I would definitely support this business and I will be back! I highly recommend you check this gem out too.

We have visited retreat farm quite a few times. My kids love seeing the animals. Carlos is the main…read moreattraction for us. He's the big one with the horns. You can feed him if he's in the mood. There are pigs and goats and a number of other farm animals to watch and interact with. They have a bunch of other things Last time we spent some time petting the big pigs with long brushes. The kids loved it. We live in Connecticut and every time we drive through or visit Brattleboro we will be stopping again. In the mean time my three year old will get his Carlos fix checking out their Instagram page.

This is your go-to Vermont haven, if you haven't been here yet. Every local Vermont food and gift…read morecan be found here, so if you can't make it to the exact location, this is the place to go! From snacks and cheese, to jam, honey, chocolate and maple syrup, body products, ceramics, candles... honestly they have everything Vermont has to offer! Even a cow bench to take fun pics on! The staff was super nice and were able to help without being pushy. We loved walking around the property, seeing the animals, the beautiful stream and climbing the rocks and walking along the trails.

Such a hidden gem. I've now been two separate times with different people and it's always an…read moreunforgettable experience. The farmers are so kind and truly passionate about their job and are always excited to get everyone involved in feeding the animals and having a great time

Such a cute farm! We came here for baby goat yoga- the perfect start to the day. The instructor was…read morereally nice and it was so fun to do yoga with the goats! All the other farm animals were also really nice to see. Great place.

This 100-acre farm is located in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. It used to be a historic farm called…read moreMarshall Farm. It's located on a hill so the views are spectacular. We went in the fall and it was a perfect New England day; spooky season in full effect, sweater weather, and autumn decor. There was live music, picnic tables, and animals you can pet; there were goats and sheep. A feed dispenser was nearby, just insert some coins. The bar/restaurant line was not too long and it moved quickly. We had kettle popcorn, hot dogs, beers and cider. These were good and there were so many options; pizza, beer, ice cream, salad, nachos, etc. They are also a pick your own farm; from strawberries, flowers, pumpkins, apples, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, peaches, it all depends on the season. They even have a sugar house which produces maple syrup and other treats. We had an enjoyable time when we went and look forward to going back.

Parking is a nightmare. No guidance during the Apple F3st of where to park, so we followed others…read more We had to go down a very steep dirt road and park on grass (we followed a truck) No signage to know where anything is. Looked for Finicky Fork - it was the counter with the long lines. Since we hadn't eaten lunch yet, we waited in the 20 minute line and then placed our order. They take your phone number and say they are going to text you (not giving you any idea of how long the wait will be). We found a picnic table and enjoyed the live music. 30 minutes later, I walked up to the counter in case they had my phone number wrong. Turns out other people had been waiting almost 2 hours. After waiting an hour and a half and still no food, I asked for a refund. They did not give us a receipt of the refund, however and said it would be credited at the end of the day. Its one thing if one person's was delayed, but there were very many (probably 30 people) who had to wait almost 2 hours for food. One woman just asked for soup. Crazy!

My grandkids love Santa Land. The rides are appropriate for their ages. They had a great time…read more Santa played Christmas carols with his harmonica. He did an excellent job. We plan on returningfor a third year/

Ever since we discovered North Carolina's best kept secret, Santa's Land in Cherokee back in the…read more'90s, we've been chasing kitschy, nostalgic theme parks. The more bizarre and surreal the better ... Dinosaur Land (White Post, VA, Professor Cline's Haunted Monsters Museum (Natural Bridge, VA), and Storybook Land (Egg Harbor Township, NJ) just to name a few. It's hard to say no to these wonderful time capsules. One that's been on our list for years is the original Santa's Land (no affiliation) in Putney, Vermont, which celebrates its 65th anniversary in 2022. After years of neglect and abandonment, I must admit we were a little apprehensive about the park taking on a more contemporary look. But thankfully that wasn't the case. We found the park to be quite enchanting complete with gingerbread men, life size elves from the 1950's and even an original carousel from Coney Island. Their larger-than-life slide will quickly remind you just how much fun can be had with a burlap sack. We had the pleasure of speaking with the new owner (of six and a half years). He recalled how he used to visit the park as a young child, and always told his parents that he wanted to one day own all of this. He not only made his dream come true, but he also saved the park from oblivion. The friendly staff seem to have a real passion for keeping this park alive and it shows! Thank you, THANK YOU, for a wonderful day. Santa's Land USA is a perfect balance of old and new for all to enjoy!

If I could give this place 10 stars, I would. I've been spending weekends there every year for…read moreabout 11 years. Mostly, I've attended with a group of country dancers, but recently began going with my grandson, just for a mini-vacation. First: The accommodations. There are several buildings that offer a variety of rooms. We love the cottages, which are actually a three unit structure just outside the main inn. Each includes a sitting room, bathroom and two bedrooms (1 queen and the other with 2 twins.) The knotty pine walls make you feel like a kid at camp again, but the cottages were renovated within the past couple of years and are up to date and well appointed. No telephone or television, just a small refrigerator. I have also stayed in several of the rooms in the Main Inn, which are also very nice. They can accommodate a single person or an entire family, with several different arrangements. There are other, pricier rooms on the property, some of which include television or air conditioning. To each his own, but I love the old time feel of the inn and the cottages. The amenities: There are 3 pools (1 indoor) and 2 hot tubs (1 indoor) as well as a sauna. They are very well maintained and use at your own risk, as there are no lifeguards. There's shuffleboard, swings, sandbox, etc. but the best attraction is the animals. It is a working farm and you're welcome to visit the barns to see the sheep, goats, pigs, horses, cows, ponies, donkeys, chickens, turkeys, bunnies, etc. They've recently cut back on the feeding because too much bread is not good for them. But you can visit and pet them. There are often babies - a goat was born during my recent stay. You can milk a cow and a goat or pick your own eggs from the chicken coop. Extra activities: In summer months, there's boating on the lake, hikes, kayaking, horseback riding and pickup games of kick ball on the lawn. In winter, they have an indoor ice skating rink, snow shoeing and cross country skiing. (You can rent them right there.) Most weekends include new stop family activities, like crafts, games, cooking and animal related activities. Food: This is a highlight. Meals are family style, all you can eat and absolutely amazing. Your overnight stay includes 3 full meals. My grandson and I had our own table reserved for us every night with the same wait staff assigned. They are most accommodating to any dietary requests and very kid friendly. The service is incredibly efficient. I've included many pictures from a recent group dance weekend. In addition to the 3 meals, there's a happy hour style event in the late afternoon with an adult table of hot & cold appetizers and cocktails as well as a kid version with snacks and lemonade. The setting: Right at the base of Mount Monadnock, the farm offers beautiful views of the lake and mountain. If you prefer the indoors, there are comfortable, cozy common areas, including living rooms with fireplaces, library, game room with television, ping pong and board games. They also have a lovely little giftshopIf you are adventurous and tire of the farm (gasp!), the town of Keene is a short drive away. I can not recommend this place enough. It's unlike any vacation you'll take anywhere else. We love East Hill Farm! Update: Just returned from yet another amazing farm experience. The thing that impresses me the most about The Inn at East Hill Farm is that the quality of the visit never waivers. We've all gone to places that were really above and beyond, only to find things slack off after many years (or less) in business. But this place delivers EVERY TIME and I have been coming consistently for more than a decade, visited in three seasons. The accommodations are beautiful, the service impeccable, the food a highlight and the farm experience unique. Thanks for another great little vacation, East Hill Farm!

I'm going to be extremely fair in my review and explain all details and why. I know many people…read morelove this place, and I was so excited to go here but I need to be very honest in the ways they can improve and why 3 stars and not 5 stars from us. The booking and check in process was smooth and easy. The front staff were very friendly on the phone and in person. They walked us around to show us the grounds. Our room was exactly as we expected so no surprise there. It was ready when we arrived, clean and stocked with the basics (towel, soap). We didn't have high expectations for a new/updated room as the photos are exactly how the room was. No fancy frills but clean and absolutely fine to stay in. The beds are not that comfortable but fine. The wall paper in farm house 6 was peeling a bit and wear and tear around the unit was present but we did expect the room to be outdated and didn't have any issues over all with the room. The main reason for our 3 star is really based on food, amenities, and grounds. As for food, do not have high expectations as it's very basic. I would rate it 2 at best, but it's all inclusive and does feed the mass groups. Our waitress the first night was awful, we didn't eat for almost an hour. She told us she was rusty and not ready for the groups yet. Little weird, but I guess she was being honest. The other night/day team were much better and more competent. One odd thing we did notice, food is not in abundance when it's put out for guests to grab. Once something runs out, it runs out. I'm all for not wasting food, that's very important but we noticed often food would run out (cookies, appetizers, and other items to grab-go). For example, the cocktail adults evening, majority of the finger appetizers ran out. Another night, they had watermelon for dessert and it ran out. Ultimately, we can't say we didn't eat, we did, some items just would run out and that was it in terms of offerings. Another concern was the indoor pool, it was freezing. Like unable to swim at all -cold- cold. I would think summer time the pools outside are much better, but we didn't try those as it was too early in the season (April). The toys on the main lawn near the sand pit and volleyball area are all broken and worn out. One of the swings broken and missing. The kiddie barn is broken where the kids play. The boats near the lake are all broken and dingy. I understand this place is more about family legacy and farm life, which yes is special, but most things I found are falling apart around the main lawn area especially. Just in general, broken or not cared for. I am not expecting anything to be brand new or perfect but they're run down. We did most of the kid events and the play doh was all dried out and the crafts very limited. We felt there could've been a few more kid friendly events going on (maybe a movie, more crafts, outdoor music/games, outdoor events). The activity staff seemed really uninterested when it came to many of the events too which was unfortunate. Rather than really engage the kids they often stood around. These are the main reasons for our 3 star review. The concept and legacy idea for families is awesome, but the upkeep just isn't there and not as much engagement as we hoped. I love being outdoors, and for my kids to enjoy their time outside and farm life but they need to clean up a bit here. A few things we did love, to be fair and honest, the farm animals, Pony Ride, Easter egg hunt, and magic show. They were fun and engaging. Also, my kids absolutely loved trying to get eggs from the Hens (despite the limited number, but that's not East Hill's fault, that's just kiddos who claim them all and run away before others get a chance to grab one from the Hens). I also had a massage, that's not East Hill, but their outside vendor they use in their main lobby. It wasn't very good. The lady was nice but the chair massage was not relaxing or enjoyable. She barely massaged me. I wouldn't recommend spending $20 on this add on. This spot has so much incredible potential if they just maintained it better. Such special memories for families to create here. I get leaving the rooms nostalgic and maybe the farm areas, but the grounds, toys, arts and crafts and a few other areas could use some upkeep. Unfortunately that's why this is only a 3 star from our family.

We love Davis Farmland!! Today was our third visit to the farm. Drove 2 hrs with heaping snacks and…read moreexcitement, ready for a great day of animal snuggles and water play. Our day was not as smooth as planned. My daughter has autism and was easily triggered into meltdown today. There were many meltdowns that we pushed through, bc we love this place!! The last BIG meltdown was rough. I'd like to extend a HUGE thank you to Sophia and Cassy. You came in soft and supportive and met my daughter at her level. Offering us options to keep her regulated and a special moment with sweet kitty Blu. Your gentle kindness meant the world to me!! 5 stars to your team at the farm!! This is really such a special place

I honestly wasn't quite sure what to expect-- Davis is pretty pricey and fairly far from me. My…read morefriend had raved about it from years ago so I figured it was worth a try. My son LOVED it. My son has a weird affinity for goats so this was basically his heaven. We really didn't leave the goat area for long. The only other thing we did was the hayride, which was amazing and the animals come right up to the truck. I loved learning about all the different animals they have on the farm. We went in October and the goats were dressed up for Halloween which was adorable. My son loved the area where you can sit and hold the baby goats. For my goat loving son, it's definitely worth the fall trip.

Super nice folks, animals are well kept and look healthy and taken care of…read more Sweet employees and homey atmosphere at a very reasonable price

Super nice. We loved it. Very kind staff. Animals well kept and good variety. Also has a nice…read more little gift shop.

Beautiful small farm with an extremely friendly staff! Lisa gave us an incredible tour and was so…read morepatient with all the children on tour. Awesome little shop with farm fresh snacks after that runs on an honor system. They don't make em like this any more! Support small farms!

If you get the chance, take your kids here! Or even go as adults. You can go into the outside pens…read moreand pet the animals. And get a tour to get to ride the 750 pound pig!

Southwick Zoo is an end-of-summer tradition for our family! It is a large zoo with many animals to…read moresee, such as lions, goats (and a goat petting and feeding zoo!), monkeys, gorillas, giraffes, flamingos, and so many more! It has a 10-15 minute train ride ($7 per person) through the woods to spot animals, a sit-down zip line ($12 per person) and a little maze ($5 per person!) and a carousel (not sure how much that costs though!) ! There is a playground for the little ones, and many gift shops and food shacks around the zoo. We have always had a great experience here, and it will be our tradition for many years to come! Thanks for reading! -A

I had come here once before, so I was prepared to walk and came with a water bottle since it's a…read morebig zoo. I don't remember the entrance being as expensive as it was: $38 per person but as a AAA member we scored a $2 discount each. There were three free shows/ presentations going on that day, which were posted on a big dry erase board: bird show, sloth talk, and an earth discovery creature feature. We made 2 out of 3 of them. My favorite was the bird show where they brought out 6-8 unique birds and each of them did a trick for the crowd, all while the trainers gave us fun facts about them. They had bleacher seating so very comfortable show. At the end, they had one bird who could take your money (voluntarily) and put it into a box with its beak. The money was going towards a good cause, so I donated. The sloth talk was also cool. We got to hear interesting facts about sloths and watch the sloth eat their lunch. They were also doing a Frozen skit / play for the kids when we arrived and it was pretty good and kept the kids there engaged. They have a great selection of animals throughout the zoo including large ones like rhinos, giraffes, tigers, and lions but also smaller ones like pigeons, ravens, parakeets, and prairie dogs. I did not go on / into any, but they have an overhead lift you can ride, zip lining, and a maze (not free). There is also a petting and feeding area with goats. One thing I remember there being was a deer park but I think it was closed off this time which was a bummer. For the most part, the zoo is shaded. They also have gift shops, snacks/drinks, and bathrooms throughout the park. We spent about 2.5 hours there, but might've missed a couple animals. The staff is friendly and helped us find our way around. There is a map and it's pretty good but we were just running low on time to make it to one of the events.