If you're looking for a unique, luxurious, and relaxing outdoor experience in the DMV, look no…read morefurther than The Paca Picnic! The ladies of DMVDoes social group had the pleasure of partnering with them for a Sunday Funday, and it was hands down one of the most memorable experiences we've ever had. It's bring your own food and drink. From the moment we arrived, everything felt intentional and beautifully curated. They reserved their largest and most scenic pasture just for us nestled in nature and surrounded by the sweetest alpacas. It felt like a private oasis! The picnic setup was absolutely stunning: And included Whimsical alpaca plates, Fine glassware, Modern flatware and linen napkins and Vintage market umbrellas that gave the space a dreamy, editorial vibe . The experience also included Low boho tables, layered blankets, and plush cushions made it perfect for lounging, connecting, and enjoying good company. They even included chilled ice buckets, Bluetooth speakers, and alpaca treats to complete the experience. This wasn't your typical picnic -- it was an elevated experience, ideal for birthdays, date nights, kids' playdates, girls' outings, or just because! Huge thanks to Abraham, our incredible host, for the warm hospitality.We can't wait to come back. Highly recommend!

Absolutely loved this! My husband and I had a 9A picnic with the alpacas and it was absolutely…read moreperfect! The customer service is wonderful, and everyone was friendly. A perfect way to de-compress and just relax. Highly recommend this experience

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!

My wife and I visited Montpelier Farms during their fall festival and had a great time. We don't…read morehave kids, and while there's obviously plenty here geared toward families, there was a lot for us to enjoy as adults. We ate some of their delicious, fresh donuts, browsed their store (and purchased several jams, and treats), shot paintballs, went on the hayride, and checked out all the barn animals. We arrived early, which I highly recommend. Parking was a breeze and we didn't have to deal with long lines. By the time we left there were cars and people everywhere. Being early is definitely the move. My wife also tried two of their cider drinks and loved them. They were a little too sweet for me, but definitely worth trying if sweet drinks are your thing. The area where they serve the cider also has a beautiful view looking down toward the corn maze, which was a nice place to stop and take everything in and take afew photos. Overall, we had a really fun fall day here. You definitely don't need to have kids to enjoy yourself. It's well worth a visit, and I'd happily go back.

We finally made it to Montpelier Farms for some fall family fun, and I have mixed feelings about…read morethis one. Customer Service-Everyone was pleasant, greeted us, etc. Food Unfortunately, the kettle corn was so disappointing. We were looking forward to that fresh, sweet-and-salty kettle corn you expect at a fall festival farm, but mine had a burnt taste that made it hard to enjoy and eventually got disposed of. It also wasn't helpful that I heard on the walkie-talkie an employee mention that the popcorn area smelled burnt and called over a manager for assistance. Apple Cider Donuts-We heard the hype, so naturally we had to try, and they weren't worth the hype; they simply didn't leave me wanting another one. Activities-A couple of options for families to enjoy, such as crafts, 2 playgrounds, bowling, basketball, a corn pit, a jumping pad, and my favorite and the highlight of our visit, the HAY RIDE. Value-$70 bucks for a family of three!! It's super expensive!!! Can we talk about those TURKEYS? I was truly not prepared for how huge they were.

Mary's Go Round was wonderful. We got the larger zoo and the animals were so great and gentle with…read moretoddlers. The animals have little neckerchiefs that are themed and so cute. The team arrived early, set up quickly and cleaned up so there was no trace when they left! Would definitely book again!

I've done 2 events with Mary and she does not disappoint! The kids loved the pony rides and petting…read morezoo. They worked with our theme and have very reasonable rates!

Same experience as the previous review! NO show, despite many previous emails, call, texts and…read morepayment. On the day of the event, didn't answer my calls or texts until my event was over. Who does this to kids??????

Absolutely Unprofessional and Unreliable -- Do Not Trust This Company With Your Event…read more I hired this petting zoo company twice for my daughter's birthday parties -- and both times were an absolute disaster. The first time (my daughter's 1st birthday), I had booked well in advance, paid the deposit, and confirmed the specific animals we wanted -- including a pony I paid extra for. On the day of the party, they were a no-show. I called them in a panic, only to be told they forgot to add me to their schedule. Hours later, the owner showed up with fewer animals than promised -- and no pony. We asked for a fair discount due to the lateness and missing animals, but the owner was incredibly unwilling to take responsibility and only reduced the price by a minimal amount. While the kids enjoyed the animals that did show up, the stress they caused was unforgettable. Against my better judgment, I gave them a second chance for my daughter's 2nd birthday. That was a huge mistake. On the day of the event, they canceled last minute, claiming they were stuck in traffic and chose to go to another event instead of ours. I was devastated. After numerous calls, I finally reached their assistant, who kindly offered to come out herself with a few animals. But when she arrived, she told us her manager refused to let her unload the animals until we paid the full balance -- despite the cancellation, the smaller selection of animals, and once again no pony. This company is completely unreliable, disorganized, and worst of all -- unapologetically unprofessional. The owner refuses to take accountability for her repeated mistakes, shows no flexibility or empathy, and prioritizes money over integrity. Save yourself the heartbreak and look elsewhere -- your child's special day deserves better.

High Standards Equestrian Center (formerly Hideaway Horse Center) provides summer camp sessions…read morethrough the Maryland Park and Planning Summer Camp Program for children ages 6-16. The camps are one week sessions (held June-August) for a maximum of six weeks. For Prince George's County residents the cost is $325 per week - non residents pay $390 per week. The summer camp program is advertised as a "horseback riding camp" but the children are only given 15 minutes of actual riding time in the mornings and if time permits, the same in the afternoon. For the cost per camper, I would expect more riding time. The children observe vet and dentist visits once a week and are able to paint the horses and play Jeopardy but again, for the cost of the camp, the stable should provide more hands on riding lesson time. With the lack of riding time that is provided, the Park and Planning Summer Guide should advertise the High Standards Equestrian Center's summer camp program as a, "petting zoo," at best. Another concern that I have is that the campers do the exact same thing every session. There is no advancement for campers that stay longer than one week. In essence, if children stay in the program for the entire 6 weeks, they are repeating the same things that they learned in week one every week - regardless of knowledge gained. The program never changes its weekly routine and doesn't provide advancement opportunities for campers that have mastered what was learned in week one. Lastly, but most important, the stable volunteers don't have the patience and training that is required to be summer camp counselors that represent the Maryland Park and Planning summer camp program. There were several occasions that a stable volunteer/employee used profanity when addressing my child (and at least two other children that I am aware of.) When the stable owner was made aware of the volunteer's verbal tirades, her response was, "Oh, he must be getting tired." That was an extremely unacceptable and unprofessional response. I would expect more from the establishments owner. I don't care how, "tired" your staff is - using profanity is never acceptable when working with young children in a summer camp setting. If the High Standards Equestrian Center volunteers/employees don't have the experience and training to be able to handle the responsibilities that go along with being summer camp counselors that represent the Maryland Park and Planning Summer Camp Program, the stable shouldn't be allowed to have camp sessions at their establishment. I am very disappointed with this particular summer camp program and the staff/volunteers at the High Standards Equestrian Center. I am giving them a below average rating and would not recommend this program to anyone that has expectations of a good, quality horseback riding summer camp program. However, this review does not, in any way, reflect the Maryland Park and Planning Summer Camp Program as a whole, it is specifically and solely directed to the services (or lack thereof) and treatment that my child received directly from the High Standards Equestrian Center staff and volunteers while attending the 2017 summer camp session in Brandywine, Maryland. *Please see the reviews that they received while under the name Hideaway Horse Center. The claims of animal abuse and statements of horses being removed from the stable by the county's animal control office are quite disturbing.

I've been keeping a look out for a new barn for my daughter and I to join since moving to Maryland…read morefrom Virginia. This barn isn't that far from where I currently am and the facility appears very well done. I enjoy riding Western and primarily trail riding, whereas my daughter has enjoyed the show jumping and youth team divisions. This barn looked like it would be a perfect match having both trails and English instructors. However, I'd heard rumors from some horse people in the area about boarding here and then quickly moving on to other boarding barns after getting to know management. Others mentioned riding with April and never seeing progress despite tons of effort being put in. I tried to be indifferent as to what I'd heard but honestly, this barn is not the place for us. Management puts on a good show at first but the barn is very clicky and there's way too much drama and gossip that goes around the barn and its crew. Definitely not the type of crowd that I want my daughter to be around, having someone smile to your face and then immediately talk about you behind your back. Then you find out that while trails are confirmed to exist, it's very rare management will take you out to show them unless you happen to be their BFF. You're on your own with that one, which seems to me like a safety hazard. Overall, it seems to me that you're either in or out with this crowd, meaning that if you're not a teacher's pet, you're a threat. I prefer to have more character in a barn if I am to join one. As an aside, I also wasn't impressed with the main pastures that have the horses as there's no shelter anywhere except for the barn. The gelding field has some trees and isn't as bad when the entire field is opened up, but the mare field is practically a field of dirt under the sun with next to no shade. We were looking here in the fall, so I can't imagine what it must be like in the summer. And as for the 'border paddocks,' a single horse is isolated in a small, narrow paddock on a daily basis. Last I checked, horses are social creatures. I would not board my horse here if I got another one, nor would I recommend this barn for either boarding nor riding with. I will continue my search elsewhere. UPDATE in response to Miss Salta's response: Thank you for taking the time to respond to me as I do appreciate that. However I do not appreciate when people try to put words in my mouth or try to twist around what I've said. I'm not quite sure why you're trying to blame some other people from the past for an experience that I've had with your current facility.

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!

Wild Kid Acres is a wonderful place! The staff is incredibly friendly and welcoming, and the…read morevariety of animals made the visit exciting. Such a fun and memorable experience for my 2 1/2 year old grandson --highly recommend!

A 45-minute drive from Washington, D.C., Wild Kid Acres is a petting farm along the water in rural…read moreMaryland where kids can come close to farm animals for enjoyment, therapy and exercise. Opened during the pandemic after the owners returned from Cameroon, Wild Kid Acres is a 5-acre farm of rescue animals. When you arrive, you feel like you're driving into someone's private driveway. Don't fret. Follow the "Wild Kid Acre" sign to park and the owner will greet you like a member of his family. The front area has a Little Free Library, a small playground with a slide and a climbing wall and an area with picnic tables and small farm animals like goats and chickens. Once you get your fill of love from the goats and chickens, the owner will guide you to the other animals- two pigs, a horse, a mini horse and cows. They ask that you don't pet them on the head and some are very nervous being rescue animals. Other than that, they are very friendly and love being around children. People can book an hour appointment online and it cost $15 per adult and $10 per child. Wild Kid Acres also hosts therapy sessions and goat yoga. With plenty of outdoor space to spread out, it's the perfect pandemic activity. If you need food, drive ten minutes into downtown Edgewater or further north to Annapolis.

Who knew this hidden gem was so close to home. I was able to take all 5 (and one on the way) of my…read moreGrandkids to this family farm in Southern Maryland. On the property, we visited the petting zoo, did a kid's corn maze (along with a slide), took a hayride to the pumpkin patch and had the kids pick out their own pumpkins. They had a ball! The farm also has fresh vegetables, ciders, honey, jams, meat and other items available for purchase. The entry fee is $11 for those 2 and above which I think is reasonable. They also have ice cream(which they all loved), milkshakes, root beer floats and pulled pork sandwiches available for purchase. They have strawberry and blackberries for picking in the spring(will be back). The family was very friendly and informative. was friendly. My Grandkids had a ball. This is what I call good, clean fun.

Their meats and vegetables were really good . I tried their blackberry cider amazing,service was…read moreexcellent very friendly

Dana is a great source of information and she backs up her products with great customer service. We…read morelove our ducks we got from Moose Manor Farms.

This wonderful micro-farm specializes in small, compassionate production of heritage waterfowl…read moreraised on a 2 acre wooded lot. The chickens, ducks, geese and turkey roam freely and are fed chemical free food. Moose Manor is run by Dana, a friendly and knowledgeable duck expert also known as the "head hen herder". The farm also participates in conservation and breeding of a rare type of duck. I'm all quacked out on what the name of that duck line is at the moment. But super important work nonetheless. We have enjoyed the duck eggs, chicken eggs, and whole duck meat that we got from the farm. The quality and taste of the eggs and duck meat are much higher than that of the standard grocer fare. And for those adventuring into mini - homesteading, Moose Manor also sells hatching eggs, chicks, ducklings, and goslings. You can also learn backyard poultry raising and processing skills at her fall homesteading workshops. Moose Manor also hosts an annual seed swap and potluck for members of the farm mailing list. We were blown away by charm and friendliness of Dana that we have remained in touch regularly.