Visiting pumpkin patches, corn mazes, fall festivals and tree farms during the holidays often include a stop by pens and fences to pet the animals. If you want a larger petting zoo experience, you will find plenty of farms, zoos and wild animal parks ranging from one to three hours from Atlanta.
Whether it’s a fall trip, part of a holiday outing or another season, petting zoos offer up-close experiences to feed, hold and interact with animals. The zoos can range in size, number and breeds of animals and experiences, including unexpected access to creatures just off the interstate in south Georgia.
When planning trips, be sure to call in advance, since the attractions can be closed depending on the time of the year or weather. Some spots, such as T.I.G.E.R.S. (The Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species), where visitors can pet, hold and play with tigers, and part of Myrtle Beach Safari (myrtlebeachsafari.com), is open only from mid-March to mid-October. Some facilities that you may have visited in the past may be mobile petting zoos that bring animals to birthday parties and other events.
These seven options join closer attractions with petting zoos such as Yellow River Game Ranch in Lilburn, Wild Animal Safari in Pine Mountain and Zoo Atlanta.
Smoky Mountain Deer Farm and Exotic Petting Zoo: The attraction in Sevierville, Tenn., has more than 225 animals as part of its petting zoo. Interact with a zonkey (yes, you read it right – a cross between a zebra and donkey), zebra, camels, kangaroo, miniature horses, donkeys, reindeer, goats, llamas, pigs and other animals. The 143-acre Smoky Mountain Deer Farm has added emu and Watusi cattle the past couple of years. "They love interacting with our visitors," said Lynn Hoisington, who opened the farm 25 years ago with her husband, Greg. "They all come to the fence lines to be petted and fed." 478 Happy Hollow Lane, Sevierville, Tenn. 37876, 865-428-3337, www.deerfarmzoo.com
Wiregrass Junction "Animal Exit Farm": For an offbeat pit stop, travelers may be surprised to find a petting zoo behind a Chevron gas station off Interstate 16 (exit 98) in the south Georgia town of Metter. For a $1 fee, you'll also get access to the restrooms, which may be the real reason for pulling off the road and coming upon the animals. Pay an extra $1 for a bag of food to feed the animals. Goats, birds and ducks roam the large field behind the gas station, and a cow also may greet you at the fence. Other animals on the property include Watusi cattle, llamas, black swans and buffalo. Be prepared for an emu to poke up his head at the fence, which could be a great photo op or could make you jump. A small wood observation deck on a pond provides a vantage point to look at the animals roaming next to the interstate. 26127 Highway 57 South, Metter 30439, 912-685-5577.
North Georgia Zoo and Petting Farm: Encounter camels, a baby kangaroo, miniature potbelly pigs, goats and more than 30 species of livestock and a silky fainting goat at the petting farm, which is part of Paradise Valley Farms, in Cleveland. The animals are as little and new as they get, with a baby alpaca, a miniature zebu cow at 32 inches tall and miniature donkey baby among the recent additions. Other rare species include harlequin sheep. The zoo's wildlife encounters include interacting with Asher, its new Caracal lynx kitten (for a cost in addition to admission and reserved in advance). Upcoming events include Boo at the Zoo (Oct. 25-26), Pumpkin Smashin' (Nov. 1-2) and Santa's visit (Nov. 22-23). 2912 Paradise Valley Road, Cleveland 30528, @northgeorgiazoo, 706-348-7279, www.myfavoritezoo.com
Noah's Ark: About 40 miles south of Atlanta, this sanctuary for abused, neglected and unwanted animals is home to more than 1,500 animals with 100 different species. In one area of the 250-acre property, visitors can reach through the fence and touch donkeys, emu, goats, cows and sheep. These special needs animals are living together and are usually gentle when guests encounter them (signs advise people to pet the animals at their own risk), said Allison Hedgecoth, manager of animal husbandry at Noah's Ark. 712 LG Griffin Road, Locust Grove, 30248, @noahsarkclub, 770-957-0888, www.noahs-ark.org
Chehaw Wild Animal Park: A small petting zoo is part of the 100-acre park, which is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. At this Albany attraction, the petting zoo includes pygmy goats named Charlotte and Chloe; visitors also can touch Bogart the camel elsewhere in the park. The petting zoo section is named Ben's BarnYard, in memory of Benjamin Shepherd, a south Georgia child who died from a rare disease in 2003. 105 Chehaw Park Road, Albany, 31701-1260, @passport2chehaw, 229-430-5275, www.chehaw.org
Doodle & Boo Petting Zoo & Aviary: The name is cute, and so are the creatures at this petting zoo in Boaz, Ala., about two-and-a-half hours from Atlanta. You'll find farm animals to pet and feed, and an aviary with pheasants, quail, peafowl, chickens, doves, pigeons and waterfowl. Like some of the other attractions, Doodle & Boo also hosts a pumpkin patch each fall. 1500 Ala. Highway 168, Boaz, Ala. 35957, 256-281-9561, www.doodleandboopettingzoo.com
Western North Carolina Nature Center: See the fall colors and stop at this 42-acre zoological park in Asheville, N.C., which includes a petting area section. Walk into the "contact yard" where different breeds of goats, such as Nigerian Dwarf goats, and sheep roam. Elsewhere, other animals — mostly from the Southern Appalachian mountains — could get close enough for you to pet them at the center, which is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. 72 Gashes Creek Road, Asheville, N.C. 28805, 828-259-8080, www.wncnaturecenter.com
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