Our special needs son, age 6, loves animals. We found this sanctuary online when looking for places…read moreto take him to. It quickly became our favorite place, we visit once a week. Every time we drive through those gates, it feels like stepping into a different rhythm -- slower, softer, and full of heart. There's a calm that settles over me the moment I arrive, like all the noise of everyday life fades into the background. For a few precious hours, time seems to stand still. We spend our visits surrounded by the most amazing animals, each with their own story and personality. The people who care for them are just as special -- kind, genuine, and truly devoted to every creature on the farm. They always greet us by name, take time to chat, and make our son feel like part of their family. He loves to feed the sheep, who are so patient and gentle with him. I love learning each animal's name and backstory -- it makes every visit feel personal and deeply grounding. If you ever feel weighed down by the world, this is the place to go. It's impossible to leave without feeling lighter, calmer, and a little more connected to what really matters. And as a bonus -- they grow the most delicious fruits and vegetables right there on the farm, fresh from the earth that gives this place so much life. If you are looking for a special place to take your family, I highly recommend it!

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.

I brought my 16month old nephew to here. We had so much fun and had an amazing day here…read more Sign up and sign the prior visit. Lots of animals and activities for kids. Turtle, chicken, snakes, lizards , dogs, bunny, horses, rabbits.. etc For activities; play grounds, face painting, art class, play room I would definitely bring him here again.

This place is truly a little slice of heaven! We visited today for their Valentine's Snuggle…read moreexperience, and it exceeded every expectation. From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by the owner, Elizabeth, who was incredibly kind and inviting. The tour was well organized and never felt rushed. Every single person we met was friendly and passionate...you can genuinely tell how much they love what they do. The animals are exceptionally well cared for (which is so important to us) and are wonderfully social and curious. The entire experience was relaxed, thoughtful, and absolutely delightful. We had such a fantastic day! The farm store is adorable, and the jam is amazing. Highly recommend visiting this special place!

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!

To label Disneyland as the happiest place on earth feels wrong after visiting with So Cal Mini…read morePigs. Not only were the owners extremely kind, friendly and big hearted, the experience made for the most heart warming time I could ever ask for on my birthday with my boyfriend. This place is absolutely wonderful and I had the best time ever. My heart feels happier than ever. Book an experience with them asap and go play, cuddle and share love with the animals!

Went to Fox Point Farms for a free concert and definitely can't wait to come back! The outside…read moregrass area was a great place to hang with a drink and watch the kiddos run around and play. The place was VERY busy while I was there but the lines moved fast and they had multiple places you could buy food and drinks which helped. They also have a little market with all types of snacks, food, and drinks that are perfect to enjoy out on the lawn or patio. We were too late to see the farm or animals but we could view them in the distance which was a really cool and unique experience. I cant wait to come back for one of their many events they seem to hold. Quick tips: parking was a disaster, don't assume you will be parking in their lot if you go on a busy night or weekend. They had options nearby though that you could walk from. Also, the margaritas are strong, but in a good way! Don't be fooled by the premixed drink, I had two and was definitely feeling it.

Fox Point Farms is a super unique farm-style hangout that blends nature, activities, and a small…read morebrewery experience all in one spot. Pros: This place has such a fun and refreshing vibe very outdoorsy, peaceful, and almost like a little escape from the usual city spots. It feels like you're on a farm (because you are), which makes the whole experience really different and memorable. There's a brewery on-site with a good variety of beers, and I liked that some of them had Japanese-inspired flavors it made the selection feel more unique than your typical brewery. We also did the farm ride, which was $15 per adult, and honestly it was a really fun experience. It's definitely more geared toward kids (the little tractors are tiny haha), but it was still enjoyable getting to ride through the farm, learn about everything, and then interact with the animals. Being able to pet horses and chickens was such a cool touch and made it feel very wholesome. Parking is free, which is always a plus. It's more of a make-your-own-spot situation on a dusty lot, but it wasn't too bad overall we were still able to find a space without too much trouble. Cons: The parking setup can be a little tricky, especially if you have a bigger car like an SUV since you kind of have to squeeze into spaces. Also, the farm ride is definitely more kid-oriented, so just keep that in mind if you're expecting something more adult-focused. I also wish the brewery operated more like a full bar setting, but it was still nice to try the beers. Verdict: If you're looking for something different and a little more interactive, this is a really fun spot to check out. It's great for a casual day outdoors, especially if you want a mix of activities, animals, and drinks. I'd definitely come back and would be interested in trying the restaurant there next time!

When you're in San Diego, you have to come to the zoo!…read more The zoo is old, but is kept clean and modern! Due to its age, many trees have been able to grow big and tall, making the zoo beautiful! The zoo has many varieties of animals and activities, including a bus tour! The bus tour is about 20-30mins, and takes you to all the main interest points and gives you background info! There are plenty of parking spaces, but parking is paid (which is kind of silly). The area can get crowded, but is generally easy to navigate around. Have fun!

Beautiful, well-maintained zoo. The San Diego Zoo is free…read morefor military. You just show your ID at ticketing. Paid parking is whack, and the lot is huge. Lots of food options and lots to do. You could easily spend 3-4 hours here.

Oma's Family Farm is such a special little gem. Everything feels thoughtfully put together, from…read morethe animals to the open space, and it's such a fun, wholesome experience for kids and parents alike. You can really tell how much care goes into maintaining the farm and creating a welcoming environment. My little one had the best time exploring and interacting with everything. It's one of those places that feels both relaxing and engaging, which is hard to find. I do wish the playground areas were open daily because they're such a highlight and would make it even more of a go-to spot during the week. Overall, we absolutely loved it and can't wait to come back

Cute place. I came for my son to see their Dump trucks and dozers event. We even got our tickets…read moreahead of time and came at opening 9am on Friday. Very thought out event. More stuff to see and do than Bates Nut Farm. I truly wish there was more crowd control with the tickets for the event because it became hard to enjoy after 10am. Like maybe maxing out the event tickets would have been nicer for each time slot. I will plan to be back for the next trucks event definitely!

We celebrated our daughters 9th birthday with family and friends at Wild Wonders and it was such an…read moreenjoyable experience. The animals were well cared for, the staff were kind, knowledgeable and professional, and the interaction with their animals was a memorable experience. It was a lot of fun too. We ended our party with a picnic at Wild Wonders and the area provided was clean, spacious, shaded and overlooking a nice view. Couldn't have asked for a better birthday for our daughter.

A beautiful wildlife preservation site where you can enjoy animal encounters with exotic animals!…read more - PARKING - We parked on the hill past the entrance of the business, and walked down. Pretty steep but it's a short walk. - SERVICE/ENVIRONMENT - Book your visit online! There are group rates and additional attendee rates, so just make sure you have the right count of people! Staff was very friendly from start to finish, and I loved seeing the enthusiasm shine through their work. It's not a huge site, so not a ton of walking involved, but there are some steps if you're worried about accessibility. Make sure to wear closed toed shoes! - EXPERIENCE - We booked a Wallaby encounter, and initially I thought it was only going to be a single animal experience but I was pleasantly surprised we were taken on a tour around the area! We did get to feed and pet the Wallaby, but we also walked to see all the different animals in captivity. They also brought out some animals for us to pet and see up close! - OVERALL - A wonderful wildlife preservation site, and amazing staff to take care of them all!

I really enjoyed visiting and learning. It was a quick tour but I was glad I got to have any…read moreinteraction with these amazing animals

My girlfriend and I did the complete farm tour which includes the alpaca ranch/fiber mill and the…read morenew petting zoo. It was an extremely fun experience; Barbara's an amazing guide who was very friendly and made us feel comfortable experiencing something that was out of our normal and learning about these animals. Would totally recommend this to anyone of any age!

I saw a video about this place on social media and saved it…read moreFor later, since it looked like a fun place to take my son. He is almost 6 years old, and I'm always looking for fun ideas/things we can do on weekends. We drove here from Santa Monica (about an hour). Parking is located a few minutes away from the farm. Keep moving down the trail, and you will find it. We bought tickets online, so the check-in process was easy. We purchased a veggie basket to feed the animals, and we paid some extra $$$ so my son can ride the tractor and play on the excavator. There is also a playground on site and a horse ride. It was nice, but after an hour, my son asked to leave. Younger kids will enjoy it more. It took us 1.5 hours to drive back, so we spent more time on the road than actually experiencing the farm. What I like is that there are variety of shops and restaurants around the farm, and it's cute. Boutiques to shop for jewelry, clothes, shoes, HomeGoods, all kinds of stuff, so that was really nice.

Came by River Street Ranch and honestly... a bit overrated…read more It's a smaller spot than expected, so don't come in thinking it's a full-on big attraction. You can get through everything pretty quick. That said, it's still a nice place to check out if you're already in the area or want something easy to do with kids. The setup is clean and organized, and there's enough little things to keep it interesting for a short visit. Think more "quick stop" than "plan your whole day around it." Overall, it's decent, not a must-go destination, but not bad either. Good to add to your list if you're nearby and just want something simple to do.

I spotted this tree that spoke to me while riding on the way to breakfast at Hash House. After…read moreleaving breakfast, we came back to Balboa Park it was a peaceful and grounding experience before heading to the airport to return home. That moment honestly made me decide the park was a must-visit. I ended up stopping by afterward just to walk around, release some stress, and enjoy the calm energy. I even found myself just sitting in a tree, hugging two or a few, and taking in the quiet; especially in the Trees for Health Garden, which felt fitting for the whole experience. It was a simple but meaningful stop that added a peaceful pause to the end of the trip before heading back to the airport. I even met a squirrel that I chat with; I named him James. While I was chatting with him, he even place his paw on his chest as if he was asking me "are you speaking to me?" It felt great speaking to my own little grandma Willow tree moment.

Yes - park and museums are lovely, but for me, I just didn't love Balboa Park…read more Didn't hate it but if you are someone with just a weekend in town, I think there are better options for afternoon activities in the zillions of things there are to do in SD. All I'm saying is don't get fooled making this a top of your list, must do-thing. Go if you REALLY want to, but don't feel like you missed out if you made a different selection.