To The Petting Zoo!

I love animals and getting to admire them up close is a delight for all ages. Pigs and piglets are my absolute favorite to just look at. It came to my attention that we actually have some stellar Petting Zoos around Whatcom and just a little drive away there is one with… Kangaroos?! So, pack up the kids or your animal-adoring friends in your life and check out some of these interactive animal experiences!

The Outback Kangaroo Farm

This is a guided tour-based farm located at 10030 State Rte 530 NE Arlington , WA 98223. Featuring… Kangaroos, Wallabies, Wallaroos, Rabbits, Llamas, Lemurs, Alpacas, Nigerian Dwarf Goats, Peacocks, Mini Donkeys, Parrots, Emus - I have a vivid memory of my younger sister visiting this farm and loving a Llama named “Fluffybutt”. This wildlife tour in Arlington, WA is a quick drive away and well-worth it to see such incredible creatures! It’s a family-friendly, 40-minute tour filled with dazzling creatures.

Bode Farms

Located in Ferndale (7666 Woodland Road, Ferndale, WA, USA), this farm has chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, bunnies, pigs, goats, sheep, cow, guinea pigs, and cats and dogs. On their website they share, “Let the kids play on the playground, explore the 5 acres, or pick some fresh seasonal produce to take home with you. Bring lunch to enjoy in one of our picnic areas when you’re done visiting the animals or sit in one of our many cozy spots and take in the beauty and serenity all around you!” — Reservations are required and according to folks who have gone it’s like visiting a friend’s house.

Mountain Meets Farm

This is a really cool, education-forward farm. They offer summer camps and you can schedule a visit as well online to check out the entire farm as well. Their mission is to: “foster animal welfare and to inspire compassion by rescuing animals, providing education about their care and well-being, and creating meaningful community connections through hands-on experiences with animals and farm life.”

Laurel Lavender Farm

This is a more relaxed experience and the focus, as the name implies is on the glorious lavender fields. I’ve had friends share that they got to see farm animals like rabbits, goats, cats, and dogs when they visited. This farm is lower-foot traffic and feels like the animals are a bonus and if you bring some coins you can feed the goats. It’s a seasonal farm so be sure to check their website and socials for when they are open.

Olympic Game Farm

On my researching for petting zoos I came across this one that just piqued my interest and simply had to include! It’s a good 3-4 hour drive and a ferry ride if you’re feeling fancy to then get to your destination and drive some more— but hear me out, this looks like an epic adventure. Its self-guided drive-through safari! It says we can be, “face-to-face with animals like yaks, bison, brown bears, and llamas, all from the comfort of your own vehicle. “ with over eighteen animals you could possibly see the chance of discovery feels like you are an explorer. One of which is a LION?!

Let’s see all the animals!

Petting Zoos, Drive-through Safaris, guided tours! I’m honestly thrilled and mind-boggled that these beautiful creatures aren’t an airplane ride away. I’ll be sure to report in when I visit each of these stunning locations! And let me know if I missed a local farm or two in Whatcom that allows visitors to view some great farm animals!