Families are always looking for something different to do. These six animal experiences in Virginia may be activities you and the kids have never done.
Feed and Brush Mini Cows, Mini Donkeys, and Kent Sheep
Distance from Dulles: 40 minutes
Visit this 66-acre farm to play with mini donkeys, feed Kent sheep, and pet and feed Mini Highland cows. Guests can interact with cows from behind a fence, but they are welcome to go into the pastures where the mini donkeys and Kent sheep spend their time. The animals are quite friendly and love to give licks and eat out of your hand. Time slots are for an hour and cost $40 per person. Middleburg
Hands-on Historic Horseback Tour of the Shenandoah Valley
Distance from Dulles: 2 hours
Horse lovers will adore this historic horseback tour where you’ll take in gasp-inducing views as you head down a mountain. You’ll also walk along Walkers Creek before heading back to the stables. Post-ride, you’ll learn how to undress your horse and put it back into the pasture. The hosts have been operating Morning Star Stables for decades. Experiences are two hours, $150 per group. Note: There is a weight limit, and there are physical fitness requirements to ride the horses. Raphine
Walkabout with Junior
Distance from Dulles: 2 hours
Host Elizabeth Lee has worked on her family farm for over a decade. While walk about the farm, learn how to tend to sheep and goats. The goats will nuzzle you and give back rubs with their horns. The peacefulness of Lee’s farm makes it a great place to visit for a getaway from the busy suburbs. The two-hour tours are $47 per person. Charlottesville
Up Close and Personal Alpaca Walking Adventure
Distance from Dulles: 2 hours, 15 minutes
Enjoy touching and hand-feeding alpacas as you learn about their personalities, history, and behaviors at this experience hosted by a retired social worker and educator-turned-farmer. Along with three staff members, the group has been giving educational farm tours and alpaca walks for seven years. Visitors range in age from 7 months to over 80 years old. Guests may picnic after their tour or explore trails throughout 23 wooded acres. Keep in mind: If you visit during the summer, it is dangerous for alpacas to walk when the heat index is above 90 degrees. Tours will still be offered during those hot days, but the alpacas will not walk. Instead, guests are welcome to hose the animals. The host said they are children frolicking in sprinklers on a summer afternoon! Tours are $50 per person and last two hours. Palmyra
A Magical Walk with Goats
Distance from Dulles: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Make it an adventure to meet a whole host of animals including chickens, goslings, bunnies, and goats. Book a 90-minute timeframe to walk through woodland trails and pastures with goats and learn about how the farm cares for its animals. The trails are easy to moderate, and good walking shoes are recommended. The experience costs $45 per person and takes about one-nad-a-half hours. Scottsville
Farm Animal Interaction Experience
Distance from Dulles: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Butterfly Field Farm in Bedford is a nonprofit animal sanctuary with more than 70 residents that include miniature horses, cows, chickens, pot-bellied pigs, bunnies, and more. Recently added to the mix are two blind Black Angus steers. The farm’s mission is to raise awareness about issues facing farm animals, including abuse and abandonment. The one-hour experiences are $12 per person. Bedford
Feature image courtesy Airbnb
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