We visited Olivenhain Farms for the first time for their Monday morning animal play session with my…read morealmost 3-year-old and had such a fun morning! It's a cute, small farm right across from the San Diego Botanic Garden with easy parking right out front. They have miniature ponies, goats, a pig, rabbits, chickens and quail. The experience was very hands-on the kids fed the animals lettuce and Cheerios, brushed the ponies, went inside the rabbit enclosures, and got to interact with the pig and chickens outside their pens. They also had painting activities, a super cute mud kitchen with bubbles and utensils, and ended with fresh fruit in the shade and story time. Just wholesome, messy toddler fun! The instructor was great with the kids--laid-back, friendly and informative. I think the Monday morning session is especially perfect for kids under 4. We drove up from Chula Vista, so I'm not sure I'd make the drive specifically to do the same session again, but it was absolutely worth experiencing once for $40 and we had a great time! Bonus: walk across the street to the San Diego Botanic Garden afterward and make a whole day out of it!

I enrolled my grandson in a summer farm camp at Olivenhain Farms. He had a great time. Ms Natalie…read moreis very organized and surrounds herself with great volunteers to help with the camp. The area used for camp is well kept and clean. The kids made crafts, held some of the animals, planted sunflowers and washed the pig. It was a great place for my 4 yr old grandson to spend outside time and play with other kids.

Where do I begin? We absolutely loved our visit here! You can tell Wes and his wife love their…read moreanimals so much and take such wonderful care of them. We booked the Mini Pig Experience and added on a visit with the mini cows: Adeline, Shasta, and Sedona. We really enjoyed our conversations with Wes, and he made the entire experience so fun and memorable. Their ranch, along with the time we spent with the beautiful pigs and cows, gave us the chance to disconnect from the stresses of everyday life. We received a complimentary bucket of greens to feed the pigs. Definitely wear clothes you're comfortable getting dirty in - the pigs love the mud, and they also love cuddling up with you! We would love to visit again and stay in their Stargazer Suites that overlook the cows' ranch area!

SoCal Mini Pigs is not just a petting zoo. It's a special place where visitors can interact with…read moremini pigs, from petting to feeding and even adopting. Visits are by appointment only, so my husband and I booked a session on Valentine's Day. This was hands down the best animal experience we've had, thanks to the amazing staff and adorable animals. The animals were friendly, engaging, and active, which is a testament to how happy and well cared for they are. Each party is given a complimentary bucket of lettuce to feed the animals, with more available for purchase. We got to pet and feed not only mini pigs, but also goats, ducks, chickens, and even a large, handsome turkey. And because it was Valentine's Day, the staff passed around glasses of sparkling wine for guests, which was an extra special touch. The setting is tucked away in a mountainous area, making it feel like a hidden gem off the beaten path. It was the perfect stop on our way to San Diego. We're definitely looking forward to returning again next time!

A nice strawberry picking place but not very refined. Dirt paths and quite a bit of walking from…read morewhere you pay to the actual picking area. Very spread out space. Lots of opportunity woth photo ops which is nice. The petting zoo part and tractor ride is additional charge. They hand out scissors to cut the strawberries off the vines. Get the really red ones, even if they're small because they're sweeter. It was a nice experience but just okay.

The Carlsbad Strawberry company offers a fantastic U-Pick experience during strawberry season. For…read more$18 per adult, I got admissions and a reasonably sized bucket for picking strawberries. It's easy to fill up the bucket with ripe strawberries quick. Although it doesn't seem like there's a lot of strawberries at first glance, there's a lot as I walked through the rows of strawberry plants - that was part of the fun! One thing I wasn't prepared for was the dirt and how muddy the strawberry rows were. I'm not sure if it was always that wet. Perhaps it was because it rained earlier in the day? My shoes got extremely dirty and there wasn't a convenient way to wash it off there. I recommend wearing rain boots. In addition to strawberries, there was a sunflower maze and a separate section for a simple sunflower field. For those who don't want to worry about food, there's vendors and food trucks on site. They also sell jam and fresh strawberries at the stand, which doesn't require an admissions ticket. Service wasn't anything special. The staff there were efficient and friendly. Overall, I enjoyed my time there and I recommend visitors trying out the U-Pick experience!

Booked this as an activity while we were in Temecula, not knowing much about Alpaca's. Well, let's…read morejust say I left full of knowledge! Our tour guide, Julie was great at going over the do's and don't of being around them. Also, she shared beautiful stories of how this all started and information about Alpacas. They were all so cute and well behaved (didn't get spit on) haha. I apologize that I can not recall the name of the great woman who showed us how their coats are handled. I think I was so intrigued with what she was sharing that I didn't catch her name. With that said, it actually was my favorite part! If in the area, I would recommend booking this! Great for all ages :)

Came here with the fam for a weekend visit. We love animal experiences, so we were excited and were…read morenot let down. Julie was our tour guide and was so great. Started with a short presentation about the facility and alpacas, then on to the visits. We had a blast getting to feed them and petting them occasionally. Apparently they aren't real fond of it, but you can get a head rub in while they eat. They have such great personalities and are fun to be around. We also got to spend some time getting a lesson on the process of spinning alpacas fur from Nancy. Such a great job showing us how it is done. They also have a small gift shop you can visit after for some really cool alpaca products, post cards, and such. This was an unbelievable experience that I would highly recommend. We are already planning to go back with other family members. Please, give this place a visit!!!

Found this place while searching for spots to visit with animals, and I'm so glad it popped up!…read moreSuch a fun sanctuary farm. The woman at check‑in was very nice and gave us a map plus a quick rundown of the layout so we knew exactly where to go. I'm obsessed with pigs, so I was very excited to meet their adorable pot‑belly pig at the front named Toffee. Tickets were on the pricier side, but honestly worth it -- the money supports an organization that gives animals of all kinds a safe, loving place to live. They also sell produce grown on the farm, along with drinks and snacks you can enjoy while walking around the grounds. They offer upgraded experiences for an additional cost if you want something more hands‑on. We went on a bright, sunny day, and it was HOT -- definitely recommend sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen, and comfy walking shoes. I was in heaven here. They have goats, camels, pigs, horses, a zebra, and more. You can easily spend the whole day here -- come early to beat the heat and the crowds. It's truly an animal lovers' paradise and a great place to learn about animals, be outside, and have some fun, all while supporting an amazing nonprofit doing meaningful work. A wholesome, memorable outing and a great day trip for families, friends, or anyone wanting to try something new.

This is the most special place I have ever been to, I've never been more happy. If you love animals…read moreyou have to check this place out! First off it's huge and you are allowed to feed and pet ALL of the animals! They have so much to see! Cows, pigs, camels, and even a zebra!! I never thought in my life I'd pet a zebra, this experience is just incredible! They even have turkeys and peacocks that roam and even came up to us for some food! All of the animals were super friendly and adorable. We even saw the smallest mini horse ever that was so cute. There are also cats that roam the property and one of them followed us throughout the whole place. Can you ask for a cuter tour guide?! They also grow their own produce and sell eggs. We picked and cut our own pumpkins and left with some duck eggs as well! Overall this was just the most fun experience I've ever had. I regret not purchasing the membership because ever since I left I keep thinking about how bad I want to come back! This is definitely a hidden gem and a fantastic experience.

Camping nearby and ventured into town and had this on my list of places to check out. I was so sad…read moreto learn that the blackberries bushes were all picked for the year, with the possibility of a couple vines but not yet ready. Flowers were in bloom and they did offer raspberries, but also said that was slim as well. Sure enjoy, with 3 people and 6 eyes, we were able to fill up. You pre-pay and then they give you your container. Walk around and you can come here to pick different fruits during different seasons. Guess what, they have a petting zoo inside as well! How cool! If there is food available and they haven't been fed too much, you can grab a scoop and feed away! Staff was friendly and very helpful in navigating, especially when you forget where you are supposed to walk to in order to pick your fruit. I would say it is about farmer's market pricing, definitely not on the cheaper scale but you are paying for quality here. Can't wait to come back! We came here in August 2025, and then my Husband brought his mother and siblings here in October 2025. They loved it as well. Plenty of parking, although dirt parking, easy to get in and out. Highly recommend if coming to Julian. This is a landmark/staple of Julian to visit.

We visited the Julian farm and orchard for the first time in November and we had a great time! We…read morearrived at around 10:30 am , we had heard that it gets pretty crazy with parking but the staff was very organized and guided us to our parking . Pricing is great and affordable we did the Barnyard experience ! I didn't know they did online reservations which is something we will do in the future as the line to purchase tickets was a little long . The animals are very cute , but some of them are a little more aggressive for food so watch out ! Overall we loved the experience we had! So many places to walk and take pictures! I knew it was busy due to the parking but it didn't feel as overcrowded since the space is so large ! Highly recommend everyone to bring their families !

Everything was awesome, Christy was super available for questions, so patient and flexible…read moreaddressing needs from the grandparents, parents, friends, and kiddos. Animals were adorable with their own unique stories, nothing like cow kisses, sheep cuddles, goat giggles ;) Would definitely recommend for children's birthday party, it feels so heartwarming to know what makes your child happy can also be socially responsible, support rescues!

Had an amazing time! Cristi was so informative and you could tell she loves these animals! We will…read moredefinitely be back for some cow cuddling! Thank you for a memorable experience!

Great family experience just outside San Diego! A real operating Alpaca Farm with a newly installed…read morepetting zoo. Had a great guide, JJ, learned so much about their animals, farm, production mill and great products in the store. (the dryer balls are a must have).

My son and his wife found about the tour of the Alpaca Farm....and suggested we all (out of town…read morecompany) do this together...our tour guide was very knowledgeable and gave us a nice tour....however, it was a bit too hot...maybe a little pricey....