I love this place but I think all these rich folks in Northern Virginia (and there is plenty of…read morethem) should kick in some money so they can enlarge the pens. Having 3 cheetas in one pen seemed cruel especially since they are the fastest animals. One more thing I would do is make the bottom of the hill another area where you can purchase more food without having to go back to the building.

I took my 3 kids 2 weeks ago, we last visited 5 yrs ago and we wanted to check out what changes…read morethey had made. What we liked - it's small and great for toddlers, not too busy, enough parking. What we didn't like - no staff were seen to ask questions about animals, could have been more interactive, no animal feeding times, layout was a bit confusing, not much to do for older kids they got bored, not any good food options, staff at the desk were not all that engaging. We didn't do drive through as we didn't want our car damaged, wish there was an alternative option to pay to take a bus ride, also more money making, why is there an extra fee to see the butterflies felt a bit conned. They have also removed the reptile house.

Had a great field trip here with my son's class. Such a fun experience and friendly staff.read more

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.

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!

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.

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.

My family visited Hidden Gems Farm during the Fall to get pumpkins. This is a cute small pumpkin…read morepatch, with very friendly staff, who even wheeled our pumpkins down the hill to put them in our trunk. It was only $1 per person to enter, which you can't beat. We will definitely be back next year.

Brought the family back here for the festival of lights. First I would recommend buying the…read moretickets online as they are cheaper online than at the gate. It's a great drive through light show that allows you to stay warm and cozy in the car. The ticket is for the vehicle and allows you to enter any time during your entry day. It's a 2-2.5 mile drive with light displays on the left, right and overhead. They also have hayrides if you want to brave the cold. A fun and inexpensive holiday event for the whole family.

I love Watkins park and the turkey trot/festival of lights was amazing and took the park to the…read morenext level for me. I've never ran through the park at night and with the lights it was truly magical. I can't wait to attend next year and many years to come !

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.

My boyfriend and I went on a blackberry picking date here, and we had a blast! We loved that there…read morewas NO line. It was $4 for admission, $1 for a picking bucket, and you pay per pound for your produce. Unfortunately in July, they didn't have any more peaches, but still had plenty of blackberries. To be honest, the blackberries were very sour, but I made them into a pie so it was delicious in pie form! We walked around and saw the animals on the farm, and wandered around the market where they had a ton of seasonal produce available for sale.

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.

ENTRY FEE THEN EVERYTHING FREE!…read more Such a great time! Lots of things for kids of all ages to do and experience (mostly little kids around 11 and under). But even as adults we had an enjoyable experience. SLIDES Lots of fun slides and unlike other places - you don't have to pay each time to ride them! APPLES So many free apples and apple juice! Bring a jar of peanut butter and you've just fed your entire family! FRIENDLY STAFF These are the nicest kids around. Everyone is joyful and in the spirit of the season! Have fun!

Cox Farms is a popular autumn tradition for many Northern VA families, including ours. Since 2022,…read morewe've visited annually to enjoy the Fall Festival. Our favorite activity is the interactive hayride, which is long and engaging. The farm has plenty of play areas, large slides, and farm animals for kids to explore. There's also self-serve apple cider (though it attracts bees!), festival foods like apple cider donuts and kettle corn, and mini pumpkins or squashes to take home. The festival runs from mid-September to early November. We recommend buying tickets online to guarantee entry. If you're just shopping at the market, parking is available at the front for quick access.

I couldn't figure out how to get Google Maps to direct us to the entrance. One of the entrances is…read moreoff of Connecticut Ave NW on the west side of the Zoo. It's less than a 10 minute walk from the Woodley Park-Zoo Metro Stop. Coming here in February with snow still on the ground meant that many outdoor exhibits had no inhabitants. That being said, there are plenty of things to see outside and a ton of creatures to see inside buildings. Sorry in advance for these elementary schooler descriptions- The memorable ones: A Snake Neck Turtle with very long necks A gigantic tortoise A large group of flamingos (a flamboyance) Incredibly cute small bearded monkeys - tamarins Otters, who were catching small fish and scavenging for food on land The obligatory clownfish and anemone which I've seen many times but still fascinates me An adorable guinea pig in a mini home I'm a bit surprised to see lower ratings on this zoo. Maybe it's due to a few feedings and no traditional shows where employees talk about animals and have them perform a little. That being said it is free and there are lots of more unique animals to be seen. I definitely think the National Zoo is worth a visit.

Big zoo and took about 3 hours to cover everything at a quick pace. They didn't have many gelato…read moreflavors, but $5 for a big slice of pizza seemed reasonable. Again, tickets are free but must be reserved ahead of time. The pandas were definitely my favorite. Unfortunately, the African exhibit was closed so no zebras or giraffes or the bison and the elephant house closed early. I liked some things better at my home zoo (penguins, bigger reptile house, the apes being in more of a social setting), but overall was a nice way to spend the afternoon 2026 #22