Petting Zoos near Houston Where Kids Can See Farm Animals
Getting outdoors with kids is always fun, but whenever you include animals it takes the fun factor to another location level. Any trip to a zoo or safari park will certainly be met with glee, but nothing ups the ante better than actually addressing hug the animals at a petting zoo. From typical barnyard animals like sheep and goats to more exotic ones like wallabies and lemurs, we've rounded up 10 petting zoos that deliver a distinctive animal experience.
As an added bonus, many of these are at our favorite area farms, so you can get ready to invest the afternoon reaching animals and getting in some serious playtime! Make sure you bring some extra cash; there are several that permit you to buy food so that you can hand-feed the animals. For only more outdoor fun, make sure you check our Farms & Pick Your Own Guide and our Zoos and Gardens Guide.
Petting Zoos in Houston 1. Bayou Wildlife Zoo - Alvin
Get ready to see one of the very diverse petting zoos in and around Houston whenever you go to Bayou Wildlife Zoo. This unique zoo experience includes a tram ride across 80 acres that animals from all over the world call home, an end at the Big Red Barnyard, that includes a general store, giraffes, and the zoo's pet water buffalo Annie, and a stop by at Addie Lou's Barnyard, the zoo's petting zoo. At Addie Lou's you'll look for a wallaby, pygmy goats, lemurs, and more exotic wildlife and rare animals.
2. John P. McGovern's Children's Zoo - Museum District
Nestled amidst the original animal exhibits at the Houston Zoo is the John P. McGovern's Children's Zoo. This interactive exhibit includes a Nubian goat petting zoo, where children can pet and brush the goats, a realistic bat cave for exploring, the Houston Texans Enrichment Zone, which always has fun shows, games, and activities, a playground for burning off some extra energy, and more. Entrance is included in an over-all zoo admission ticket. 3. Old MacDonald's Farm - Humble
Old MacDonald's Farm does justice to the old farmyard nursery rhyme and is packed to the brim with animal experiences for your kids. The farm boasts 12 different farm animal petting stalls that are home to goats, bunnies, donkeys, and more. Visitors can buy bags of feed for the animals and bring their very own bread to feed the ducks. General admission grants access to everything on the farm, including pony and train rides.