Conference moira::parenting

    It's not really a petting zoo, but Capron Park in Attleboro is really
    nice.  It has beautiful grounds with a large playground, picnic area
    (complete with mini_McDconald's) and a small zoo.  Our 2 yr old loved
    it.  The playground and grounds are free, but the zoo is $2/adult and
    children under 12 are free.
    
    I think it's Rte 95 South to Rte 123 East, then just follow the signs
    (only about 3 or 4 miles).
    
    Susan

	See notes 38.109 and 38.110 - they mention the Friendly Farm.
	
	We went there last weekend after reading about it in this notes
	file.  It's great!!  Lots of animals to pet: goats, sheep, horses,
	cows, rabbits, chickens, pigs, a turkey, a peacock, etc...
	We spent a couple hours there.  I think admission was $3.75 for
	children 1-12 and $4.75 for adults.

	Hope you have fun,
	Karen T.

    There's also a nice place in Sterling, Ma. Lots of animals to pet, a 
    free hayride and expensive pony rides. I found the info in the Boston
    Globe's Calendar section in the Kids part. If I find it again, I'll
    type it in.
    Sue

    
    
    There is a place in Dublin, NH called the Friendly Farm. My 3 year old
    would go everyday if we could.
    
    The place is several acres large, large shaded areas with several
    picnic tables for lunches or just taking a break.  
    
    There is a good size hen house with several varities of hen, roosters,
    etc. A pen where the kids can hold the new baby chicks is also located
    in the hen house.  They also have a field of cows for the kids to 
    watch. Several large penned in areas (with baby lambs, baby goats).
    Several other areas penned areas that all the kids can go into with
    ducks, rabbits, geese, etc.  A pen with very large mom/dad pigs and
    several piglets. Another section with large lambs, goats. 
    
    There is also a birthing barn, where all the newborns are kept for
    the kids to see (calfs, goats, rabbits, peacocks.)
    
    They have a store on the premise where you can purchase grain for the
    animals and t-shirts, etc.
    
    I think the price it 4.50 for adults and a lower price for kids. My
    husband and I enjoy it because no matter how many people they have 
    there is never seems crowded.  They keep the landscape very green and
    clean of messes!!  Most importantly there is always 2-3 little animals
    per child, no one misses out.  
    
    
    It's on Rt 101 in Dublin, NH. The number is 603-563-8444.

    Southwick's is still around and in Southern Mass.  My mother
    takes the grandkids and she lives in Bellingham/Franklin
    area.  
    
    I'll see if I can get more info on Southwick's from my mother.
    
    She has also mentioned Roger Williams, but I think that's in
    Rhode Island.
    
    Noranne
    

      Roger Williams Park is in Providence Rhode Island..  They now have
    animated robotic dinasaurs. I took my grandson and nieces and a nephew
    Saturday and they loved it!
    
        Rose

    Southwicks is in Mendon, MA. 
    There is also a place in Hubbardston called the Heiffer Project.  I
    don't believe there is an admittance fee, more of a working farm that
    the kids can visit and pet some animals.  I recall some llamas, goats,
    sheep, your basic farm animals.  Might be worth a call to be sure.
    There is also a buffalo farm thereabouts.  My son's preschool recently
    went on a field trip to the farm, and stopped on the side of the road
    on the way back to watch the buffalo herd.
    Sarah

	Oh ya, Buffalos..
	
	There is a place called MTGreenhouses on Whipple Rd. in Tewksbury,
	right across from the DPW.  It's really just a Nursery they sell
	flower, plants, etc.  But they happen to have a Mommy, Daddy, and
	baby Buffalo and a horse or two.  I think they have a few other
	animals, maybe a turtle and something else.  It free to go visit
	them, my nephew who is 3yrs old lives a few houses away from there
	and he visits all the time.

	"Oh home on the range...."
	Karen T.

    Southwick Animal Farm is in Mendon Ma. From the 3M area -
    
    Rte 495 south to Rte 109 (Milford, Ma.)  Follow Rte 109 towards
    Milford.  At the 1st set of lights after Taco Bell take a left
    onto Rte 16.  Follow Rte 16 (appx 5 miles or so) into Mendon Ma.
    Take the street across from the golf driving range. There is a sign
    for Southwick Animal Farm.(If you go pass the Fino Chrysler/Dodge 
    Dealership you missed the street.) Go down this street for several miles, 
    this is a country road. You will finally see signs for Southwick 
    just follow them to the Farm.
    
    I suggest bringing a lunch with you.  There is a great park for kids
    just off of the street you take a left at across from the golfing range.
    To get to the park take your first right.  There's a parking lot on the
    right and the park is behind the parking lot.
    
    Have fun,
    

    
    McQuesten Farm on Rt 3A in Litchfield NH, (between Hudson and
    Manchester) has a barnyard style setting.  This is not a petting
    farm but people can feed the animals that are fenced in.  They
    have goats, sheep, ducks, (lots of ducklings right now,) geese,
    roosters, turkey, peacock, pheasants, bunnies, cows, horses,
    hens and a pig.  (They also have quite a selection of plants.)  You
    can either buy an ice cream cone full of food for the animals for
    a quarter or bring your own food.  Lots of people bring vegetables,
    bread or cereal to feed the animals.  My two year old enjoys sharing
    his cheerios with the animals.  Most of the animals come right up to
    the fence for the food.  The goats will eat right out of your hand.
    
    Also, a few miles south of McQuesten Farm is Wilson Farm on Rt 3A in
    Litchfield, NH.  Wilson Farm sells fruits, vegetables and plants.
    Wilsons does not have as many animals but you can still stop over to
    the barn and see them.  They have horses, cow, pigs, hens, goats,
    roosters and two llama!
    
    Both places are free.  You can just stop in and visit with the animals!
    

    Regarding reply .3 about the Petting Zoo in Sterling, MA.  It is called
    Farmland.  We bring our son there all the time and he loves it.  They
    have all kinds of animals, chickens, donkeys, horses, cows, turkey's, a
    peacock, ducks, tons of goats, and they also give pony rides and hay
    rides.  They also have a spooky hay ride at Halloween which is nice
    also and not scary for young children.  They also have rabbits and a
    kitten cage that you can go in and play with the kittens (which they
    also sell).  They have a potbelly pig and during the hay ride the
    driver tells you about the history of the farm that the zoo is on.  It
    is a wonderful place to go and they also have a small snack bar and a
    picnic area and changeing station for babies.
    
    Liz

    Can anyone give directions for the Petting Zoo in Sterling, MA ?
    
    I know route 12 runs through Sterling and thats about it.  
    
    lori
    

    re: .12 Directions to Farmland ( from memory - no guarantees!) 
                                                                          
    Head South on rt 12 from Landlord Ben's restaurant (or the rt 12 exit
    from 190). Take a left shortly up the road onto rt 62 (??). There's a
    sign there. Take that road to the T-intersection. Take a left. A little
    ways up the road is an ice cream stand, take a right just before that
    stand. (There should be a sign for Farmland there). Take a left at the
    end of that road and Farmland is just up on the left. 

    
    McQuesten Farms in Litchfield is great and you don't have to pay
    a dime.  Lots of animals and my 2 year old has a blast there.
    I believe they have hay rides also (maybe just in the fall, not
    sure).
    
    BTW, Benson Animal Park in Hudson, NH is closed down, so don't go
    there ;-)
    
    -Chris

Friendly Farms in Bedford NH has been highly recommended to me by friends.  I 
was wondering - could you take a 14 month old to these places ?  Would the kid
be likely to enjoy it ?  What has been your experience ?

--C.

    I haven't been to Friendly Farms but I've found that in most petting
    zoos, the goats can get VERY pushy!  They won't hurt you, but they can
    intimidate toddlers.  Heck, at Southwick's and at the petting zoo in
    Brewster, Mass., the goats are wise to the coin-op machines that
    dispense food: once you put in the quarter, they'll body-check and 
    nose your hand away from the food chute!
    
    Leslie

    I can't remember how we go to Farmland but here is the phone number
    incase you want to give them a call.  508-422-MOOO.  They give you a
    ticket and stamp it and when you visit them for the fourth time you
    will get free admission.
    
    

    Thanks for the great responses.  Nice to have a couple different places
    to choose from.  Looking forward to bringing the kids to these places. 
    My son loves the petting areas, my 2 yeard old daughter needs to be
    held, but really likes it.
    
    We brought them to the Red Apple Farm last fall to get apples and cider
    and they had 2 calfs, bunch of baby pigs, goats and sheep.  They were
    all in corrals but you could feed them through the fence and the kids
    loved it.  Not sure if they are open through the summer.  
    
    Regards,
    
    Sandy
    

re: .15

I took my daughter to Friendly Farm last year when she was around 10 months.
Under 1 (or not walking) get in free.  She got scared by the sheep (they
"baa"ed quite loudly) but she didn't mind the pushy goats, even when they
tried to chew on her rattle.  She also thought the baby chicks were ok.

We went as part of a large group of families, I don't think I would have gone
on my own, but she did get some enjoyment out if it.  If the 14 mo. old is
interested in cats and dogs she sees around town, she would probably also
enjoy the Friendly Farm.

The place is rather spread out, you might want to bring a stroller for the
toddlers.  You can bring the stroller up to the gates of many of the pens,
and then leave it outside while you go into the pen to pat the animals.

Jackie

    re:  .13
    
    Correct - you take a left onto Rt. 62 (the sign should say Clinton/
    Sterling/Lancaster).
    
    Continue on that road to the end (stop sign) and take another
    left.
    
    Right before the Sterling Ice-Cream Bar you can take a right.
    Or, if you miss that right there's another right you can take
    further down the road.
    
    But follow the signs...they're everywhere! 
    
    Have fun!!!
    
    /Kristin

    I don't know if this is appropriate for here, but I am wondering what
    type of outdoor activities would be suitable for an 8 month old.  My
    husband and I talked about taking Paul to the zoo but I thougth he was
    alittle young for it.  Forget fishing I also told him, he is too young. 
    He says, "then what can I do with him in the summer?" ... I don't know,
    I'm new at this too! :)
    
    cj

    At that age, my first son enjoyed splashing in his little pool (with us
    at his elbow of course).  Naturally this changed shortly after turning
    1 when he went thru an almost two year phase of HATING water - he's
    almost 3 now and seems to be coming around to it again.  We did take
    him to a petting zoo in Lincoln at about 12 months but even then I
    think he was a bit disinterested.  He liked riding on the back of our
    bikes and loved walks.  Its sort of a tough age - but theres things
    that can be done outdoors.  I'll be faced with it again this summer as
    our youngest turns 1.  Meanwhile the 3 year old is off in another 
    direction all together!  Have fun...

    The Anhauser-Busch plant in Merrimack, NH has the Clydesdales.  We were
    told that each summer they have a baby clydesdale.  They are on Route
    3A in Merrimack.  Not far from Digital.

    There is also a Charmingfare Farms in Candia, NH.  They give kids a "tour"
    of the farm and have a hay ride.   774 High Street, Candia, NH 603-483-5623

    Drumlin Farm, in Lincoln, MA has not been mentioned.  It's right
    on route 117.  Their prices are $6 for adults, kids 3 and under are 
    free.  It's not a petting zoo so to speak, but they have all the farm
    animals - birds, roosters (penned and loose!), pigs (baby piglets
    right now!), calves, cows, horses, donkey, deer, sheep.
    We just went this weekend, and Matty (18 months) absolutely loved it.
    All the animals seemed to make their appropriate sounds right on cue!
    They don't have a snack bar, and it took us 90 minutes to walk through
    (you 'could' spend a lot more time there)...they have hay rides too
    which we didn't go on, and a pony they let you pat (most of the animals
    you can pat through the fences if they come over to you).
           

    What is the story with the Franklin Park Zoo in Roxbury, Mass?  My
    husband and my friend's mother tell us that "we can't go there!"
    because the area is too dangerous.  Even my in-laws who frequently
    bring my three year old into Boston say its too dangerous.  What gives?  
    
    Is it a good zoo?  Would it worth the effort?
    
    Thanks..
    cj

    I went to the Franklin Park Zoo with my 1 year old last fall.  Just the
    two of us.  It is not in the best part of town, but if you drive and
    park in the Zoo parking lot I felt I was safe.  We only had time to see
    the childrens zoo which was very nice.  It is rumored to have been 
    neglected over the years but now has a new zoo director who has already
    made many improvements.  I'm looking forward to spending lots of time
    there this spring and summer.  It is beautiful parkland.
    
    Michelle