If you didn't grow up going to Happy Hollow, and you say you're from San Jose, are you REALLY?…read more Happy Hollow will always have a special place in my heart. I grew up going there as a kid, and now getting to bring my own child feels really full circle. There's something so nostalgic and magical about it, one of those places that truly spans generations. From the rides to the animals to the play areas, there's just enough variety to keep kids entertained without it feeling chaotic. My child absolutely loves it every time we go. What I appreciate most is how it still holds onto that classic charm while staying clean, well-kept, and family-friendly. The food is pretty good, too! Special shout out to David for being super friendly and helpful. Become a member if you have kids, it is so worth it!

Location / Parking There's a dedicated parking lot for…read moreguests on Story Road and several self-service parking meters. Each parking ticket is $10 per car for the whole day. You must place the printed hardcopy parking ticket on the car dashboard as there may be parking compliance enforced to avoid being fined. Depending on the day and time that you go, the parking lot seems to get full earlier in the day when the park opens at 10:00 am. However, there was plenty of parking available around 11:30 am on a Saturday morning. Admission It varies on the age of the guest that determines the admission price. Children under 23 months are free. They do allow strollers, wagons, and outside food/drinks. You can also purchase an annual membership if you buy a daily admission ticket and upgrade it. There's an entrance area for regular admission and a separate entrance for memberships. Once you have the physical ticket on-hand, there's a separate line where an employee will scan the ticket. I hosted a party here and reserved the Whistling Woods picnic site, which accommodates 80-100 people. Based on the event package chosen, I was able to buy tickets at a wholesale price for $14 each (instead of the $22 general admission for adults and children over 24 months old). There's a $25 fee for will call where you pay for guests to pick up their physical tickets on the day of the event. Alternatively, you can pay extra to pick up the physical tickets in advance and distribute it yourself. In total, the total costs for the event was $1,200. Guests who attended the party can come at any time during park hours the day of the reserved event (ex. Sunday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm). The reservation time that I booked was from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm and was given 30 minutes prior to the reservation to set up. There was a discrepancy advised by the staff during my reservation process that I would have 30 minutes to break down the event after my reserved time. However, the Happy Hollow dedicated staff arrived at 2:30 pm to advise that my party needed to break down the area and vacate the picnic site by 3:00 pm. There was dedicated staff to help provide carts to transport personal belongings and they came with plates, table covers, and utensils for the prepaid event. Park There's a variety of activities that both adults and children can do in Happy Hollow ranging from the following: animal zoo (it's not a petting zoo), rides for children, adults must accompany if the child does not meet the age requirement, picnic areas, benches/tables to eat, and several playgrounds for all ages. There's also an onsite cafe if you plan to dine at the park or bring your own food, drinks, and snacks. The park is well-maintained and fairly clean overall.

I'd just lost a family member and my boyfriend brought me here a few days after. It was such a…read morewonderful experience interacting with the animals and I even got to hold a baby bunny. This farm even had trampolines and a swing set which brought out my inner child. I loved how we could really take our time and just hang out. The owner was so kind and you can tell they truly love the animals and treat them well. Thank you so much for healing a little piece of my soul!

This place restored my energy and gave me immense gratitude. I took a day off last Friday because I…read moremaxed out on accruing PTO. I have been short-staffed, so I wasn't able to take time off but w/ my team slowly getting back one by one, I knew I needed some time w/ myself doing what brings me the most joy. Growing up we had dogs and cats. Now I have 8 cats and I feed a small stray population (all fixed) in me neighborhood. But the more I work inside the semiconductor industry, the more I want to get away from the noise, the people, and be w/ the animals. When animals are hungry, they eat. When animals are tired, they sleep. When there are conflicts, they fight. They have no hidden agenda. They will love you unconditionally no matter what you bring to the table. Booking the reservation was easy. You pay half of it first to secure the timeslot. At the time of your reservation, you will be asked to pay the remaining balance. Paying cash will give you 10% off. You can bring children and even your dogs! They have a small area for kids to play. You can bring fruits/vegetables or purchase food for $10. All of their animals (cows, chickens, alpacas, goats, rabbits, and dogs) are secured. You can feed them, take selfies w/ them, and pet them but you cannot be inside the enclosures. The cats are healthy and friendly, they roam the property. There wasn't a single area I saw that wasn't maintained. Every animal and every enclosure were clean and well taken care of. Jasmine and Andrew were personable, friendly, and you can see how much love and patience they radiate. I cannot wait to head back. This time I will bring Gavin. From that day on, I decided to stop consuming lamb, goat, and a day after turkey. i am not trying to be vegan or a vegetarian but I wanted to reduce my carbon footprint what w/ all the AI data centers and the artic no longer being protected, I just feel it's my duty to do my part in helping preserve this planet not just for my kids, but for all living beings on this planet - mainly the animals.

We hired Bunny Gurus for my daughter's second birthday party this past weekend, and I truly cannot…read morerecommend them enough! We had originally booked a bounce house, but due to rain, we had to cancel at the last minute. Less than 24 hours before the party, I reached out to Bunny Gurus hoping for a miracle -- and that's exactly what we got. They responded immediately, had availability, and were incredibly accommodating despite the short notice. From the very first message, they were kind, knowledgeable, and quick to answer all of my questions, which immediately put me at ease during a very stressful moment. On the day of the party, they arrived early to set up fencing and a canopy on our front lawn. The setup was absolutely beautiful and so well organized. They brought 15 therapeutic bunnies that were unbelievably cute, soft, friendly, and cuddly. They even played calming spa music to create a peaceful, stress-free environment -- such a thoughtful touch! As guests began arriving, they were blown away by the setup. People immediately lined up to go inside and feed and play with the bunnies. For younger children, there was a short waiver for parents to sign to ensure everyone's safety (including the bunnies), which was quick and easy. We had over 50 guests, and nearly everyone had the opportunity to go in, pet, and feed the bunnies. The owners brought plenty of food so all the kids could participate, as well as blankets so the bunnies could be held safely and comfortably. Everything was handled so professionally and with so much care -- both for the animals and for the children. This was hands down the highlight of the party. Planning an event for 50+ guests in the rain -- especially after losing our original entertainment -- had me extremely stressed. But I have to say, sitting in there holding those sweet bunnies genuinely lowered my heart rate and helped me relax and reset. It brought such a calm, joyful energy to the entire event. My two-year-old daughter absolutely loved it -- she could have stayed in there all day! I received countless compliments from guests saying it was one of the most unique and enjoyable party experiences they've ever seen and that they'd love to book Bunny Gurus themselves. They were worth every penny and truly made the party unforgettable. If I could book them for every event, I would! Do not hesitate -- 100% reach out to Bunny Gurus for your next party. You will be so glad you did.

This is a wonderful program that we Were introduced to…read morewhile taking Easter bunny pictures! It is healthy, calming and respectful to the animals.

We hired D'Rose Petting zoo for the second time. The owners arrived early and we loved the…read morevariety of animals. Little chicks and rabbits were cute. The goats enjoyed munching on our grass. If you're looking for a petting zoo, I highly recommend this company.

great experience. the animals are really good with kids all ages from 1-10 . the animals are super…read morefriendly and adorable

We had the absolute best experience with Teresa and her mobile petting zoo for my daughter's…read morebirthday! From the very beginning, Teresa was incredibly responsive, kind, and so easy to work with. She brought the most adorable array of animals--including bunnies, guinea pigs, and the sweetest goat ever named Joey! All the kids (and adults!) were completely delighted. Teresa made sure everything ran smoothly and created such a joyful, memorable experience for everyone. You could really tell how much she cares about the animals and I truly cannot sing her praises enough. She was an absolute gem to have at our event--so much so that I honestly just wanted to hang out with her all day! Highly recommend.

We've used Once Upon a Pony for several years during the summer at my center. Teresa brings a great…read moreassortment of friendly animals and the kids always have a blast. We'll continue to invite her back in the coming years.

We visited the tortoise ranch today with three first grade classes, and it was honestly my favorite…read morefield trip I've been on so far, and my son's favorite too! The kids and adults all learned so much about tortoises, and the whole experience was incredibly informative, hands-on, and just so cool. How often do you get to get up close and personal with giant tortoises like that?! The owners were so knowledgeable and kind to open up their home and space to all of us. You can tell how much they care about their animals and sharing what they know with kids. Such a fun and unique experience, and we can't wait to come back again with my youngest for his field trip!

We went on a field trip with a kindergarten class (ages 5-6). Everyone was really excited to visit…read moreand it felt like we had discovered a hidden gem at first. Unfortunately, the experience quickly changed due to the rude behavior from the owners. During our visit, the owner yelled at the children - YELLED. This video is just a small example of what happened. There were multiple instances where both the man and his wife raised their voices not only at the kids, but also at the parents. While the children still managed to have fun, the overall environment felt stressful and uncomfortable for many of us. We understand that managing large groups of young kids can be challenging, but the way the situation was handled made what should have been a positive field trip feel uneasy and disappointing.

We celebrated my kid's 4th birthday! Last minute thought and when I reached out to Tina she opened…read moreup some appointment for the date I needed.. and I truly appreciate it. The couple puts in a personal touch so the kids can enjoy and the group too. The tour was fantastic and well paced. The animals were happy, healthy, calm and friendly with the kids. Kudos to the couple for managing this beautiful tour while they have a little one We took the 12-1 tour but because I have kids, Tina was kind to let me use the picnic area and stay on for a little bit longer so I can feed the kids and also let them play around a bit.. Thank you, Tina

It's a small business started by Tina and Julian during the pandemic. They love the animal and…read morestarted the farm way before they started the business. If you like a small family exclusive farm educational experience, this is for you. Julian and Tina are such a sweet sweet couple! Julian knows all about his animals and takes great care of them. Our 7 and 2yo boys absolutely loved the animals and the very natural experience. There're dozens of hens, a few goats, ducks and even peacocks. We were especially impressed by how much attention Julian pays to safety. He separates the animals while our toddler was petting ducks.

This place is awesome. The owner is extremely energetic with both my little girls. Animals are…read moresuper friendly and there is so many fun activities around this whole area. There's also a spot where the animals are not in so yhe kids can play with the toys and sand. 100% would recommend and we will be returning. The owner said they are going to be open on the weekends, certain days.

I happened to visit this magical place today for a child's birthday party. My visit today had a…read moreprofound impact on my life, and that's not an exaggeration. I have been in a bit of a funk for the past several days due to an upsetting issue that I have been dealing with. I have been struggling to get my own energetic vibration back up to a comfortable place and maintain it there. As such, I have been walking around feeling like a character from an antidepressant commercial with a dark, rainy cloud hanging over my head. Every now and then, the rain would stop for a while, but the cloud persisted. Until today. I experienced true bliss every moment that I spent at Farmer Jen's farm today. I pet the most docile llamas with the beautifully soulful eyes. I painted with an adorable, super chill bearded dragon named Sunshine relaxing on the table. I pet beautiful corn snakes, helped children tie knots for a craft, made my own craft (which involved painting chickens on rocks while surrounded by the unusually friendly chickens), and watched my kids joyfully paint and play. It was almost as though we stepped into a movie, complete with background music from a perfectly curated playlist. One of the partygoers was crying about their artwork not turning out the way they wanted, and Farmer Jen jumped in and beautifully helped them (and literally turned their frown upside down with her compassionate words and actions). My blues seem to have vanished after visiting this idyllic farm and spending time with these strangely mellow creatures. It struck me that Farmer Jen never once expressed concern over kids interacting with her animals. She is super mellow and happy, and her calm and content energy seems to permeate her entire property and all of the creatures there. I'm so grateful for today's experience, and can't wait to go back there again someday.

I had to run some errands in Palo Alto, and my little one tagged along with me for this trip. I…read morethought it'd be fun to bring her along to this museum. There isn't much fun stuff to do in Palo Alto if you're a tiny tot, but this place seemed like it was created for the little ones! Would highly rec if you are in Palo Alto for a day and want to bring your young child somewhere. There are different parts to this - a museum, and also a mini zoo. The museum has all sorts of fun activities, similar to the Bay Area Discovery with building blocks, magnets, trains, cars, tops, etc. The mini zoo is also quite fun with a variety of animals, although not many. The quality of the animals was great, though. They had a feeding hour for the Flamingos when I was there, and although my toddler was not interested, it seemed like the staff stayed for the whole hour, and made sure that anyone who wanted to do it had a chance to do so. Other animals there included a free-roaming peacock! The only draw here is that it's a little small, compared to a real zoo, or a real museum such as the Bay Area Discovery Museum, or the California Academy of Sciences. That being said, the price for this museum was quite reasonable, at $14 per person over 1 year old. Even for the 1.5 hours I was there, I thought it was well worth it! Free parking too. If in the area, I'd definitely stop by again.

Pretty nice little spot for the kids to spend some time. It's not very large, so be prepared for…read morethat. Still, we were able to spend a quality couple of hours here and enjoy the time with the kids. A nice little museum with a tree house and some animals that the kids will enjoy. Again, slightly small, but overall a good time.

We've used Cruz Party Rentals for two events over the summer. Great to work with! Highly recommend.read more

I highly recommend Cruz party rentals. They were easy to work with, very communicative, and the…read morepricing was fair and straightforward. I adjusted my order many times leading up to the event with no issue. Setup and takedown was quick and the rentals looked beautiful for our event. Thank you!!