September 6, 2026. We were excited to finally see this private zoo. I had proposed the idea of…read moreseeing Nova Wild to my husband, who was elated to go & insisted on going as early as possible. I saw the zoo website a few years ago and put it on my to do list for this area. Despite some of the negative reviews we saw online, the reviews did no affect us at all. Yet I could see how the negative reviews can affect one's perception of the zoo. Tickets are $20 for adults. Children's tickets are less. Parking is free. We came to the zoo in the morning to avoid crowds and less heat from the sun. It is true that there are additional costs for food to feed the animals, rides on the camel, and to see the butterfly garden. The prices are fair though. The zoo is small yet clean, well maintained, and has many areas & animals to see. Some of the animals are shy & avoid onlookers, yet that happens in zoos. Restrooms are limited. I only saw restrooms near the entrance. When compared to the Smithsonian zoo, this zoo was less crowded and the customers had better etiquette. Nova Wild truly went beyond our greatest expectations. I saw all the animals I wanted to see there. Despite the shyness of some of the animals, most of them seemed happy. Some had good interactions with the people and children especially when it came to being fed by children or adults. There are many sitting areas throughout the zoo. The bench by the lake and willow trees is where I spent a lot of rest time at the zoo. Highlights in the Nova Wild Zoo: Clouded Leopard, Cheetah, Fennec Fox, Giant Ant Eater, the Flamingos, the Camels, African Tortoise, Owls, Emus, Cows, and Silver Cheeked Hornbill bird. There were others as well yet I didn't spend that much time around them. My favorite place and last place to explore in the zoo was the butterfly garden. There were many blue butterflies flying inside the enclosed garden as well as other types of butterflies. It was mesmerizing watching the butterflies. We spent the most time watching the butterflies. We skipped doing the drive through safari since the line was so long and it was getting too crowded at the end of the day. It was a quiet and peaceful experience at the Nova Wild Zoo. We look forward to visiting this place again.

Reston has a zoo?!?!?!?!…read more I love it! I'm from southern California. I've been to the LA Zoo. And I have to say that this small zoo was better! Too many animals to name. The safari is really cool. You get to pet the animals. They look happy and well cared for. Because it's a small zoo, parking is tough and it can be a maze to get through traffic. The staff here is wonderful. You can cover all ground within an hour. But it's worth the ticket price. Exotic you're local. I enjoyed my visit. I went twice so I can enjoy the safari without worrying about time. Stop by, support and check it out. Thank you for a great visit.

I love this place and will definitely come back. The people working there are all amazing at what…read morethey do. The animals are well taken care of. The inside extras for kids are really a great feature. The price seem high but it's worth it!

The animal park is fun for kiddos, particularly for my 2 year old! Although I think she had more…read morefun going down the slides vs. looking at the animals. It's definitely not cheap, especially when you come with multiple members of the family so prepare to spend a good amount of time there to get your money's worth.

My partner and I had an amazing time at this petting zoo…read more There were horses, goats (like 30!), baby piglets, mama cow and calf that was born just that week, rabbits, llamas, emus, peacocks, turtles, and more! The farmers were knowledgeable and friendly teens/young adults. They were very sweet to the children and ensured that all the kids could pet the baby goat born that week. The best part of our visit was being followed around by Dolly, a goat that roamed the premises, scavenging for leftover corn and dropped treats.

I've been here a few times now and my toddler loves it every time. He especially loves the tractor…read moreyou can sit on (if you have a tractor loving kiddo)! This year, they had a great deal on Groupon, which comes with a tractor ride around the farm. There's plenty of animals to look at, from baby pigs, horses, donkeys, turkeys, goats, a camel, dogs, etc. Friendly staff, clean bathrooms (yup, you heard that right), and plenty of places to sit to snack. I've also seen a few families host birthday parties here!

Goat Milk Soap - Cold Process in Small Batch - I LOVE IT, especially "orange blossom". The bars are…read moreoversized and can easily be cut in 1/3 and used in multiple showers on next to sinks. I loved it so much I went back to get more. Sometimes something small can make a big difference in this is one of those.

Stopped by on a Sunday afternoon to find the farm was closed, but we were still able to purchase…read moreeggs and ground beef. The eggs were about $8.50 per dozen, and the ground beef cost a little over $12 per pound. While the eggs were great, the ground beef had a very strong, gamey flavor and smell that we didn't enjoy--disappointing, especially given the price.

12/10 we love the Wizard of us playground and surroundings! It is always so magical…read more Love the vibrant colors and fun things to do! The carousel and mini golf are a great addition. We always make it a point to walk to the farm which is nearby and has a decent amount of animals. The nature center is a short drive away so you can really make this an all day outing!

The playground was packed with kids having the absolute best time, and there seemed to be at least…read moretwo parties happening in the nearby pavilions. But despite all of that, the park is so expansive that it never really felt crowded. One thing to keep in mind is the weather when you visit. On hot days, a lot of the playground equipment gets extremely hot and can become difficult to touch, so timing your visit definitely matters. We happened to pick an ideal day and were able to really explore and enjoy the park. I also wish we had been there when the train and golf course were open because both looked like they would have been so much fun! Overall, a great expansive park with plenty to explore and lots for kids to enjoy. We had a wonderful time!

Cindy and Paul were wonderful hosts! Our family spent the afternoon meeting their goats, rabbits,…read morehorse, pony, chickens, and Llamas. We took the llamas on a walk and learned about life on the farm, artisan goods, and animal care. Such a fun and unique interactive experience in a beautiful slice of Virginia.

From the owner: We are a family owned farm and enjoy sharing visits with families. Our menagerie includes llamas,…read moregoats, rabbits, & chickens. During a visit you could romp with goats, walk a llama, and learn about these amazing animals. Crafts for kids are an option when scheduled. Our llamas are also available to visit at your events. We also have products for sale from our llamas' fiber such as socks, blankets, rugs, and craft items. Fiber is also available for spinning and felting. We make goat milk soap and anti-poison ivy soap from jewelweed.

Homestead Farms is the kind of place that reminds you why a little fresh air and wide-open acreage…read morecan work wonders. The property goes on and on--plenty of room for kids to run, adults to exhale, and everyone to claim their perfect apple-picking spot without bumping elbows. The apple selection is top-tier: crisp, plentiful, and varied enough to make you rethink your recipes. Whether you're team Honeycrisp, Stayman, Fuji, or "I just want the prettiest one," they've got you covered. It's an excellent family outing--easy parking, nice country store organized staff, scenic views, and cute working farm charm. A Maryland must worth returning to every fall.

One of the pick your own farms in the Maryland suburbs. The pickings are well announced on the…read morewebsite. They charge a cover. The hike to the orchards could be a bit, but they have tractors during high season. Pickings depends on how the crops are doing and how picked out they are. I go there multiple times a year from blueberries to peaches to apples and they are generally good. The farm store also sells a lot of produce.

have been buying from this place often. Quality is wonderful. It is a bit of a drive for me. Will…read morebe visiting again now that weather is better.

The animals seem unhappy. This is supposed to be family friendly environment. But the new ownership…read moreis perverted. In many ways, you could visit and see for yourself. Some of the ways that this is run, just raises eyebrows. Also, their playground equipment is falling apart, I literally saw a screw fall off a piece of equipment. And some kid was shouting. They finally fixed it. But it was in fact, still broken.

Cox Farms has the most fun & engaging fall festival in the area. The hay ride is second to none -…read moregreat drivers, amusing side quests and route. There are endless attractions to keep the kids and adults entertained. The slides, the pumpkin smash, the play areas, the goats... if this is your vibe, you'll have an a great time. Their food selection is also good and there are numerous signs letting you know where to go for whatever specific refreshments you're looking for. Speaking of - the free apple cider is sooo good. Don't be that person filling up your water bottle at the cider station, though!

Stopped in to see some primates but unfortunately there weren't any in the exhibit area, not sure…read morewhy. Moved on and enjoyed watching a pair of gibbons. This zoo is just the right size, not oversized. They hold events throughout the year such as Christmas and Halloween. A tranquil place to walk, enjoy nature, animals, and some fresh air. The best part, it's free.

Couldn't even begin to tell you the last time I visited the zoo but when I got invited this time I…read morecouldn't say no. Especially knowing we'd get a chance to see the zoo's newest star, baby elephant Linh Mai. She was the very first animal we saw that morning happily playing with her mom and aunt and she was absolutely adorable. My friend insisted on getting there right when the zoo opened and while I was dreading an 8:00 a.m. arrival on a Sunday, it ended up being the perfect time to visit. The temperatures were still cool and most of the animals were out, active, and moving around. As the day warmed up it was easy to see why arriving early makes such a difference. For anyone who's never been, admission to the zoo is completely free. However, you'll need to reserve passes online ahead of time which are scanned at the entrance when you arrive. Another big plus is that you're allowed to bring in outside food and drinks which can save you quite a bit of money if you're trying to avoid paying theme park-style food prices. The zoo is also easily accessible by Metro. If you're driving, parking is available for $40 but if you're lucky arriving early might help you score free street parking like I did. Between seeing the adorable baby elephant, enjoying a beautiful morning, and getting to watch so many animals actively roaming around, this ended up being a much better experience than I expected. I definitely won't wait as long before making another trip back.