We had a really nice visit to Vineyard Farm with my one-year-old daughter and my mother, and overall we had a great experience! We came during the week to visit the animals, and I actually think going on a weekday was perfect for families with younger children because it was much more peaceful and less overwhelming than I imagine a busy weekend would be.
The barn area was very well kept, and there were so many cute animals to see. I absolutely loved the barn cats, and seeing a baby goat hanging out with them was seriously adorable! The rabbit enclosures were also such a fun experience because you can actually go inside, sit with the rabbits, and pet them. I do wish there were a little more staff supervision in that area to make sure younger children are handling the rabbits appropriately, but overall it was a really neat experience.
One of the highlights was a young staff member who was absolutely wonderful with my daughter. He took out one of the baby ducks and one of the baby cats so she could pet them, and he was so gentle and sweet with her. He really went above and beyond and made the experience extra special for her!
We also purchased food to feed the animals. The feeding experience itself was fun, although I was a little confused about which food was meant for which animals. There weren't many signs or instructions, so we basically offered it to the animals and figured if they ate it, it was probably okay. The pigs were definitely VERY excited when they saw the milk! They were nudging each other out of the way to get to it, so I did feel a little bad that some of them seemed to have a harder time getting their share.
There was also a cute little play area for children, which was a nice addition. The farm store was another highlight. They had fruits, vegetables, honey, and all kinds of other items, and everything looked really fresh. I ended up purchasing strawberries and carrots, and they were great.
Admission was only $8 per person, which I thought was very reasonable for everything included. I had heard that weekends can get much busier because of the events and activities, so if you have older kids and want more of an all-day, activity-filled experience, I could definitely see going on a weekend. But if you have a younger child and are looking for a more relaxed outing where they can interact with the animals without feeling overwhelmed, I highly recommend going during the week.
Overall, we had a really enjoyable visit. There are a couple of areas where a little more signage and supervision would make the experience even better, but the animals, staff, cleanliness, price, and overall atmosphere made it a great outing for my daughter. We would definitely come back! read more