You read about Otis the tractor, sing about Old McDonald and watch Nature Cat more times than you can count. Now here’s your opportunity to get out and let your littles pet their favorite barn yard animals!

Domino Farms (Ann Arbor)
The Petting Farm opened its doors in 1984 at Domino’s Farms. In addition to petting animals, riding ponies and on a hayride, kids can also explore a stationary train car. Cost $6 per person, children under 2 are free.

• Address:  3001 Earhart Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48105
• Phone: 734.998.0182
• Hours: Monday & Friday: 10am to 3pm, Saturday + Sunday 10am to 3pm

Bowers School Farm (Bloomfield Hills)
Take a trip to Bowers School Farm for hands-on fun. Let your kids carry chickens, brush horses and hold bunnies. Bowers takes the petting farm experience to the next level with unique farm experiences and daily activities. Daily activities are scheduled in two hour blocks throughout the day and include animal experiences, wagon rides and crafts. Cost $10 per person ages 3 and up.

• Address: 1219 East Square Lake Rd, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304
• Phone: 248.341.6475
• Hours: Saturdays 10am to 4pm beginning April 10th

Real Life Farm (Canton)
Schedule a field trip on Monday – Friday from 10am to 2pm and go on a 30 minute hayride, ride a horse around the corral and enjoy a hands-on animal show.

• Address: 48700 Geddes Rd. Canton, MI 48188
• Phone: 734.495.0822
• Hours: Schedule a group visit

Calder Farms (Carleton)
Calder Farm is open to the public daily and admission is FREE! Get a look at real life farm life and see how cows, sheep, chickens and other animals live.  Stop by the farm store for ice cream and other treats.

• Address: 9334 Finzel Rd, Carleton, MI 48117
• Phone: 734.654.2622
• Hours: Open daily 10am to 7pm

Gibraltar Bay Alpaca Farm (Grosse Ile)
Get ready for a counting contest! How many Alpaca’s can you spot at the Gilbraltar Bay Farm? Oh and be sure to pick up cozy Alpaca goodies from the gift shop too.

• Address: 8545 Groh Rd, Grosse Ile Township, MI 48138
• Phone: 734.675.6220
• Hours: Wednesty – Sunday 11am to 4:30pm

Blue Line Farm (Livonia)
Blue Line Farm in Livonia is a family operated urban farm that is literally in Angela and Eddie’s backyard. Parents to 3 kids, they also care for a dozen goats, a couple picks, a flock of chickens, ducks, a couple barn cats and a guinea pig. The couple have rehabbed a nearly 100 year old barn to be put to use as it was originally intended and invite visitors to come and say hi, feed the goats and attend special events.

• Address: 30655 Six Mile Rd, Livonia, MI 48152
• Phone: 734.716.0626
• Hours: April 21 & 22, May 15 + scheduled private tours

Kensington Farm Center (Milford)

Meet farm animals and get a glimpse of rural life at Kensington Metropark’s Farm Center. Take in the sights, smells and sounds of life on the farm and see live farm animals like chickens, sheep, cattle and draft horses. Take a short walk to the riverside where a one-of-a kind “green” building (made exclusively of natural materials), a stone labyrinth, a grass maze and the new early skills area including a blacksmith shop and brick oven can all be found. Special programs on the animals, historic techniques, and other farm-related topics are held throughout the year. The Farm Center is free but you need a daily or annual Metopark pass to enter the park.

• Address:  4570 Huron River Pkwy, Milford, MI, 48380
• Phone: 248.684.8632
• Hours: Open daily 9am to 6pm

Maybury Farm (Northville)

Maybury Farm is a working farm with a mission to connect the community to animals and agriculture through hands-on experiences that are both engaging and educational.  Situated on 85 acres of farmland and forest, the opportunities to enjoy and learn about Michigan farming, agriculture and habitats is endless. On the Farm we care for dozens of farm animals who provide opportunities to teach kids about the role of animals in providing food and fiber, a U-Pick farm garden full of fresh veggies, a farm-themed playground, large picnic area, and a General Store with delicious eats and gifts including Michigan-made maple syrup and honey from our Maybury Farm honeybee hives! Cost $4 per person, kids under 2 are free.

• Address:  50165 W 8 Mile Rd, Northville, MI, 48167
• Phone: 248.916.3033
• Hours: Open weekends from 12pm to 5pm. Tuesday – Sunday 10am to 5pm beginning April 13

Wolcott Mill Farm Center (Ray)

Meet the animals on the 250-acre working farm. Wolcott Mill is the only known public farm in the state of Michigan where all six heritage breeds of dairy cow, Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Jersey, Milking Short Horn, and Holstein, reside year-round. In addition, the farm features a wide variety of other animals, including miniature and draft horses, multiple species of sheep and goats as well as a wide variety of farm fowl. Visit the greenhouse and gardens or, when available, take a horse-drawn wagon ride through the crop fields.

• Address: 65775 Wolcott Rd, Ray, MI 48096
• Phone: 586.752.5932
• Hours: Open daily 9am to 5pm

Carousel Acres (South Lyon)
Carousel Acres is a family owned farm that specializes in camps and birthday parties but it is also open to the public for general admission farm visits and pony rides. Cost $7 per person and pony rides are $5.

• Address: 12749 Nine Mile Road, South Lyon, MI 48178
• Phone: 248.437.7669
• Hours: Monday – Friday, 10am  to 2pm + Saturday & Sunday 10am to 3pm beginning April 19th

Duke Farm (Temperance)
Duke Farm is run by a community of volunteers who donate their time. The kids will enjoy the small animal petting area and chasing the ducks and goats in the outdoor animal area. There’s a new bunny ‘Rabbitat’ for the kids to play in. Admission is $5 per person and pony rides are only $3.

• Address: 44 Samaria Road, Temperance, MI 48182
• Phone: 419.410.7193
• Hours: Friday – Sunday from 11am to 4pm

Heritage Park Petting Farm (Taylor)
The Heritage Park Petting Farm offers a hands-on experience for the young or just young at heart in a unique park atmosphere. Children wearing proper footwear (gym shoes or boots) can walk around the stalls of the goats, sheep, and piglets. Cost $4 per person, children under 1 are free.

• Address:  12111 Pardee Rd, Taylor, MI, 48180
• Phone: 734.374.5946
• Hours: Tuesday – Sunday  10am – 4:30pm beginning April 6th

Photo credit: Bowers School Farm