Best petting zoos and farm animal experiences in Wisconsin

Wisconsin is home to more than two dozen outstanding petting zoos, farm animal encounters, and agritourism destinations spread across every corner of the state. From free roadside gems where kids feed goats behind a general store to sprawling wildlife parks with drive-through safaris, the Badger State offers family-friendly animal experiences at every price point and for every season. This guide covers 25+ distinct locations organized by region, with full details on animals, costs, special experiences, and practical tips for planning your visit.

Greater Milwaukee

The southeast Wisconsin corridor radiating out from Milwaukee packs the highest density of petting zoos and farm animal experiences in the state. Families can reach half a dozen excellent options within 30 to 40 minutes of downtown.

Green Meadows Petting Farm — East Troy

This long-running family farm, established in 1964, consistently earns the title of best petting zoo for toddlers and preschoolers in the greater Milwaukee area. Located about 40 minutes southwest of the city on High Drive in East Troy, Green Meadows offers hands-on encounters with horses, chickens, ducks, turkeys, pigs, goats, kittens, donkeys, llamas, bunnies, tortoises, a Scottish Highland cow, and a Texas Longhorn. Seasonal baby animals (chicks, ducklings, kids) appear in spring.

Experiences include pony rides and hayrides (arrive before 2 PM for both), cow milking demonstrations, and a kitten barn where adoptions are available. Quarter-operated feed machines let kids dispense animal food throughout the farm. Admission is $18 per person for ages 2 and up (credit/debit only — no cash). The farm operates Tuesday through Sunday, 10 AM to 4 PM, from spring through early November, with special holiday events (Easter egg hunts, Night on the Farm, Santa visits) extending into December. A fall pumpkin patch and playground round out the visit. Website: greenmeadowsfarmwi.com

Bear Den Zoo & Petting Farm — Waterford

This family-run hidden gem in Racine County, about 30 minutes from Milwaukee, stands out for its unusual mix of exotic and farm animals. Alongside kittens, chicks, bunnies, calves, llamas, and goats, visitors may encounter baby kangaroos, ring-tailed lemurs, arctic foxes, a black bear, raccoons, bobcats, porcupines, Highland cows, and an armadillo. The specific baby animals available to hold vary by day and season, so repeat visits reward with different encounters.

A hayride winds through wooded trails, and a playground with slides and swings keeps younger kids busy. Feed bags run $2 to $5. Admission is approximately $12 per person — cash only (a critical detail to remember, as no cards are accepted). The farm operates May through October, with a fall pumpkin celebration. Federally and DNR licensed, Bear Den has been operating for over 25 years. Check their Facebook page for weather-related closures before visiting. Website: beardenzoo.com

Apple Holler Family Farm — Sturtevant

Situated right off I-94 about 30 minutes south of Milwaukee, Apple Holler combines a working orchard of 30,000+ apple trees with a Farm Park featuring 25-plus activities. The animal component includes pygmy goats on the Golden Goat Bridge, bunnies, chickens, turkeys, guinea fowl, and ducks. But the farm's real draw is the full package: a corn maze, giant slide, pedal carts, straw mountain, train ride, and Tinyville playhouses, plus seasonal pony rides, pig races, and gemstone mining on fall weekends.

Farm Park admission has historically ranged from $5 on weekdays to $10 on weekends, with full apple-picking packages running around $20 per person. The farm-to-table restaurant, bakery (famous for cider donuts and caramel apples), and biergarten operate year-round. The Farm Park is seasonal from May through November, while winter brings horse-drawn sleigh rides. No pets allowed. Parking is $5. Website: appleholler.com

Cedarburg Creek Farm — Cedarburg

For families watching their budget, Cedarburg Creek Farm is unbeatable: admission and hay wagon rides are completely free. Located on Highway 60 between Grafton and Jackson, about 30 minutes north of Milwaukee, this family-owned farm features goats, pigs, chickens, ducks, pigeons, donkeys, cows, calves, alpacas, and peacocks. Animal feed is available for purchase.

The farm primarily operates during fall season (mid-September through November), daily from 10 AM to 6 PM, with a pumpkin patch (pick-your-own, priced by weight), corn mazes (kids' straw bale and full-sized versions), bounce houses (wristband required), barrel train rides, pony rides, and obstacle courses. An antique tractor plowing demo adds old-fashioned charm. In winter, it transitions to a Christmas tree farm with Santa visits. Birthday party packages range from $200 to $395. Website: cedarburgcreekfarm.com

Concord Zoo at Concord General Store — Oconomowoc

Perhaps Wisconsin's quirkiest free petting zoo sits behind a general store and gas station just off I-94 Exit 275, about 35 minutes west of Milwaukee. The Concord Zoo houses roughly 30 animals — goats, sheep, miniature horses, donkeys, alpacas, cows, pigs, chickens, ducks, rabbits, and a peacock — in a self-guided, unstaffed outdoor area. Feed cones and carrots are sold inside the store.

The zoo is free and open year-round (9 AM to 5 PM, extending to 8:30 PM in summer), making it an ideal road-trip pit stop. The general store itself is worth browsing, with a Moose Café serving lattes and specialty coffee, NessAlla Kombucha on tap, and a curated selection of Wisconsin-made products. Website: concordgeneralstore.com

Jerry Smith Produce & Pumpkin Farm — Kenosha

This fall-only powerhouse celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025 and draws huge crowds from both Milwaukee and Chicago. The Activity Area includes a petting zoo with goats, pigs, and bunnies, plus unlimited wagon rides, a corn maze, bounce pads, pedal carts, Tire Mountain, rubber duck races, and straw mazes. Premium add-ons include camel rides ($10), pony rides ($10), a Haunted House ($15), and a paintball shooting gallery ($10). The farm's trademark is 70+ hand-painted pumpkin character displays, which are free to view.

The Activity Area requires paid admission for ages 3 and up. Open mid-September through early November, with weekday afternoon hours and extended weekend hours. The Country Store sells apple cider, caramel apples, and frosted cookies starting at 8 AM daily. No dogs allowed during fall season. Website: jerrysmithfarm.com

Madison and southwest Wisconsin

The capital region offers some of Wisconsin's most educational and intimate farm experiences, from real working dairy tours to a goat-yoga farm with a resident zebra.

Eugster's Farm Market — Stoughton

Twenty minutes south of Madison, this Swiss-heritage family farm (farming since 1926) spreads across 15 acres of interactive petting farm plus orchards, flower fields, and farm market. Animals include goats, sheep, lambs, a 1,200-pound cow named Bessie, a mini horse, mini donkey, pigs, turkeys, chickens, ducks, Flemish Giant rabbits, catfish, and a Cat & Kitten House. Kids can bottle-feed baby goats for $2, practice milking a cow, pump water the old-fashioned way, and hunt for animals on the "I Spy on the Farm" scavenger hunt.

Admission is $10 per person (children 1 and under free). Seasonal events span spring lambing and kidding days through fall festivals with an 8-acre corn maze, 3-D Haunted Fun House, pumpkin wagon rides, and puppet shows. The Milk House Bakery serves cider donuts and caramel apples. Christmas trees are sold in winter. The farm is smoke-free and pet-free. Website: eugsters.com

Hinchley's Dairy Farm Tours — Cambridge

For the most authentic working-farm experience near Madison, Hinchley's is the gold standard. This third-generation dairy operation runs 400-plus head of cattle, including 240 Holsteins milked by Lely robotic milkers. Guided tours lasting 90 minutes to two hours let visitors hand-milk a cow, bottle-feed newborn calves, hold baby chicks and kittens, gather eggs from the henhouse, feed goats, and ride an antique tractor-drawn hay wagon through the fields.

Reservations are required. Family rates (under 10 people) are $25 adult, $15 child, $20 senior (children under 2 free). Group rates for 10+ drop to $20/$10/$15. Tours run Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at 11 AM and 1 PM from April through October, with off-season tours available November through March (minimum $80). Note: cash or check only. This farm hosts about 12,000 visitors annually. Website: widairyfarmtours.com

Havens Petting Farm — Blue Mounds

Thirty minutes west of Madison, this 80-acre farmette run by Logan and Sarah Havens since 2011 has earned a devoted following as a true hidden gem. The animal roster includes pygmy goats, alpacas, miniature donkeys, calves, sheep, rabbits, kittens, ducks, miniature horses, mini pot-belly pigs, turkeys, guinea pigs, chickens — and a zebra that surprises first-time visitors. Guests enter pens to interact directly with animals, hold baby lambs and bunnies, and take hand-led pony rides.

Admission is approximately $8 to $10 per person (under 24 months free), with 20% off for seniors 65+, veterans, and first responders. Animal food costs $1 per cone. A punch card loyalty program rewards regular visitors. The farm also hosts goat yoga classes, sheep shearing days, and runs a popular mobile petting farm service for private events. Open Wednesday through Sunday, roughly April through October. Much of the farm is indoors, so rain rarely forces closures. Website: havenspettingfarm.com

Hidden Hills Petting Farm & Paintball — Stoddard (near La Crosse)

Fifteen minutes south of La Crosse in the scenic Driftless region, this family-owned farm on a dead-end road combines a genuine pasture-raised animal experience with adventure activities. Animals include chickens, turkeys, ducks, guinea fowl, cows, calves, sheep, pigs, piglets, goats, alpacas, a mini horse, kittens, and bunnies — all visited in their natural pasture settings.

What makes Hidden Hills unique is the activity lineup beyond the petting farm: barrel train rides, a sponge water-wars tower, pugil stick arena, magnetic fishing pond, downhill trikes, scavenger hunts, and nature trails are all included in the $11-per-person admission. Add-on experiences include a Nerf gun course, three paintball courses, and a murder mystery game. In October, a Haunted Barn runs evenings for $14. Open weekends May through October, 10 AM to 6 PM. Season passes are just $25 to $30. Website: hiddenhillswi.com

Door County offers two iconic family farm destinations

The Farm — Sturgeon Bay

This Door County institution has been welcoming families since 1965, earning the subtitle "A Living Museum of Rural America." Set just north of Sturgeon Bay on Highway 57, The Farm features goats, piglets, lambs, calves, foals, horses, cows, chickens, kittens, ducks, and geese. An observation incubator lets visitors watch chicks hatch daily, and a "Stork Report" in the lobby announces recent animal births.

The hands-on experiences are the highlight: bottle-feeding goat kids, lambs, and piglets (milk bottles available for purchase), feeding cows corn by the handful, and milking a goat. Beyond the animals, nature trails wind through woods and around a pond, and over 20 historic pioneer log buildings house exhibits on maple syrup production, beekeeping, and early farm life. Admission is $10.50 for adults, $7 for children 3–12 (under 2 free). Open Memorial Day through Labor Day, 9 AM to 5 PM, with reduced fall hours. Website: thefarmindoorcounty.com

Plum Loco Animal Farm — Egg Harbor

This animal sanctuary in Egg Harbor has been a Door County family favorite since 2006. Over 60 permanent animals include Shetland ponies, miniature horses, miniature donkeys, four breeds of goats, three breeds of sheep, pot-bellied pigs, geese, and chickens. Because it operates as a sanctuary, animals are mostly adults living out natural lifespans — baby animals are not guaranteed.

The standout attraction for younger kids is the elaborate Play-Farm Village: child-sized authentic buildings including a farmhouse with stocked kitchen, a barn with pedal tractors, a 1950s diner, a general store, a country vet clinic, and a livery stable with plush horses. Giant lawn and board games fill the outdoor spaces. Adult admission is $12 (check website for current child and senior rates). Open daily Memorial Day through Labor Day, 9:30 AM to 4 PM, with fall weekends through late October. Plan 60 to 90 minutes minimum. Website: plumlocoanimalfarm.com

Wisconsin Dells packs animal attractions

Wisconsin Deer Park

One of the Dells' original attractions, family-owned since 1952, the Deer Park lets visitors hand-feed over 100 tame deerroaming freely across 40 wooded acres. Species include Virginia white-tail deer, four varieties of European fallow deer, Japanese sika deer, plus American elk, bison, goats, llamas, lemurs, bunnies, chickens, horses, and emu. Deer-safe food comes in corn-filled wafer ice cream cones ($1 each) or $2 packets.

Admission is $14 for adults, $10 for children 3–11 (under 3 free). Open mid-April through late October, with peak summer hours of 9 AM to 7 PM and off-season hours of 10 AM to 4 PM. A typical visit takes about 90 minutes. Ranked #3 on TripAdvisor for Wisconsin Dells activities. Service animals are not permitted due to animal safety. Website: wisdeerpark.com

Timbavati Wildlife Park

The Dells' largest animal attraction houses 400+ animals across 75+ species, including giraffes, camels, rhinos, zebras, kangaroos, red pandas, sloths, a white tiger, lions, and penguins, alongside a dedicated petting zoo area. The Safari Train ride (adults $11.95, children $9.95) stops at a giraffe and camel feeding deck. Premium encounters include a Sloth Encounter ($49 for 20 minutes), Red Panda Encounter ($150), and VIP Behind-the-Scenes Tour ($299 for up to 5 people).

General admission runs $22.95 for adults, $18.95 for children 2–12. A key money-saving tip: Kalahari Resort guests receive free admission from May through October by showing their resort wristband. The park is open year-round, though winter access is limited to guided tours at 11 AM and 1 PM. ZAA accredited. Website: timbavatiwildlifepark.com

Country Bumpkin Farm Market — Lake Delton

About two miles west of Lake Delton near I-90/94, this family-owned farm (since 1997) combines a petting farm with the Lil' Bumpkin Play Village. Animals include goats, baby goats, alpacas, donkeys, peacocks, chickens, ducks, and a miniature dwarf horse named Duke. The play village features a kid-sized zipline, pedal kart race track, pedal tractor corral, obstacle course, and John Deere combine slide.

Fall brings a 2½-acre corn maze ($5), express train rides ($5), pumpkin catapult, hay wagon rides, and Moonlight Fun Nights. The farm market and bakery serve fresh baked goods and ice cream. Admission is approximately $12 per personfor the play village and petting farm, with a $18 fall fun package that adds seasonal activities. Open late April through October 31, daily 9 AM to 6 PM. Day passes allow re-entry, so families can leave for lunch and return. Website: countrybumpkinfarm.com

Fox Valley and northeast Wisconsin

Mulberry Lane Farm — Hilbert

Widely considered one of Wisconsin's premier petting farms, this 123-acre working farm dating to 1881 sits about 90 minutes north of Milwaukee in Calumet County, near Sherwood. Purchased in 2005 by the Keyes family (founders of Green Meadows Farm), Mulberry Lane offers the most comprehensive hands-on experience in the state. Visitors milk a cow, catch a chicken, hold kittens in the Kitten Barn, cuddle bunnies in the Bunny Box, handle chicks in the Critter Barn, and feed goats by hand with included grain.

All-inclusive admission of $16 per person (ages 2–92) covers a tractor-drawn hayride, cow milking, animal feed, and a free pumpkin during fall. The farm is completely cashless (credit, debit, or mobile pay only). Open May through October, with spring baby animal tours, summer country breeze tours, and fall pumpkin harvest celebrations. Special discount days include Pay Your Age Day, and moms and dads get in free on their respective holidays. USDA licensed. Website: mulberrylanefarmwi.com

NEW Zoo & Adventure Park — Green Bay (Suamico)

This AZA-accredited zoo northeast of Green Bay houses 215+ animals from 90+ species, including a petting area with goats and llamas and a year-round giraffe feeding experience ($1 per cracker). The Adventure Park component adds dual racing zip lines from a 1955 fire tower (reaching 40 mph), a 60-challenge aerial ropes course, a 40-foot rock climbing wall, and a Kids Kourse.

Admission is approximately $14.50 for adults, $10 for children 3–15 (under 3 free), with half-off admission in January and February and half-off Wednesdays during summer from 4 to 6 PM. Open year-round, daily. Behind-the-scenes Wild Encounters and Insider's Encounter tours are available for more immersive experiences. Website: newzoo.org

Plamann Park Children's Farm — Appleton

This completely free seasonal petting farm within the 257-acre Plamann Park in Appleton houses young farm animals on loan from Fox Valley farms, including cows, pigs, goats, sheep, rabbits, and occasionally a donkey. The experience is more observational than hands-on (visitors view and pet animals from outside a fence, with no feeding permitted), but the price is right and the surrounding park offers a beach with water inflatables, disc golf, hiking trails, baseball diamonds, a playground, and winter sledding. Open Memorial Day through Labor Day, daily 9 AM to 4:30 PM.

Cristo Rey Ranch — Mt. Calvary

A beautiful free, year-round hidden gem in the rolling countryside south of the Fox Valley, Cristo Rey Ranch houses an impressive variety of animals for a no-cost destination: sheep, goats, llamas, emu, donkeys, rabbits, horses, pot-bellied pigs, turkeys, geese, ducks, peacocks, chickens, and an aviary with birds. Quarter-operated corn dispensers are on-site, and visitors can bring their own carrots. Baby animals can be bottle-fed in spring. Open daily, with summer hours of 9 AM to 7 PM and winter hours of 9 AM to 5 PM. No personal pets allowed.

Northern and central Wisconsin

Wildwood Wildlife Park Zoo & Safari — Minocqua

The second-largest zoo in Wisconsin sits in the heart of Northwoods vacation country, housing 1,700+ animals across 229 species. The petting zoo at the entrance features free-roaming goats and bunnies, while elsewhere visitors encounter giraffes (carrot feeding $5), a rare white Siberian tiger, snow leopards, penguins, bears, and camels. A parakeet encounter ($3 per stick) puts dozens of budgies on your hands, head, and shoulders. The Safari Tram Ride ($10) passes through grasslands with zebras and wildebeest.

Admission runs approximately $27 for adults, $18 for children 2–11 (under 2 free). A 4% surcharge applies to card payments. Open May through October, with summer hours of 9 AM to 5:30 PM. The William Gardner Education Center adds hands-on learning with artifacts, microscopes, and live reptiles. Family-owned since 1997, originally opened in 1959. Website: wildwoodwildlifepark.com

Grampa's Farm — Merrill (near Wausau)

Fifteen miles north of Wausau, this century-old working farm opens only on fall weekends (last two weekends of September and first two to three weekends of October) but delivers extraordinary value. The $12 all-inclusive admissioncovers everything: petting zoo with bunnies, chicks, baby pigs, ducks, sheep, goats, calves, miniature donkeys, and miniature horses; cow milking; pony rides; tractor-drawn hayride to the pumpkin patch; corn maze (large and small); historical activities including ice cream making with samples, apple cider pressing, corn shelling, and puppet shows. Every child under 10 gets a free pumpkin.

The farm also offers trophy whitetail deer and rare piebald deer on display, a Red Barn museum tour with antique farm equipment, and a tire playground. A 98% recommendation rate on Facebook (286 reviews) confirms this is a beloved Wausau-area tradition. Mobile petting zoo service available for private events. Website: grampasfarm.net

Shamba Safari — Neshkoro (central Wisconsin)

About 45 minutes east of the Dells near Princeton, this drive-through wildlife park lets families experience exotic animals without leaving their vehicle. Zebras, giraffes, an Indian rhinoceros, lions, tigers, camels, wildebeest, ostriches, and various antelope species roam 75 acres along approximately 3 miles of road. A $10 food bucket of seeds, carrots, and grain encourages animals to approach your car windows — camels are known for sticking their heads right inside.

At just $10 per person flat rate (plus $10 for a food bucket), Shamba Safari is one of the most affordable exotic animal experiences in the state. Visitors can repeat the driving loop as many times as they like. Operated by the Schoebel family (who also own Timbavati Wildlife Park). Open spring through early September. Vehicles must have a roof and doors; no exiting vehicles during the drive. Website: shambasafari.com

Farm stays let families sleep alongside the animals

Wisconsin offers several farms where the experience doesn't end at closing time. These overnight destinations let families wake up to roosters crowing and spend mornings bottle-feeding calves.

• The Dairy at Wegmueller Farm (Monroe): A fourth-generation working dairy farm about two hours south of Madison. A renovated farmhouse sleeps up to nine with views of horse pastures. Guests can milk a cow, bottle-feed calves, go horseback riding, and — if timing aligns — name a newborn calf born during their stay. Stargazing from the farm's remote location reveals a brilliant Milky Way.

• The Farmer's Inn (Viroqua): A rustic log cabin on a small family dairy farm in the stunning Driftless region of southwest Wisconsin. The cabin sleeps six and guests can bottle-feed calves, hand-milk cows, pet horses, and collect eggs from the chicken coop. Pair with a visit to the farm-to-table Driftless Café in town.

• Palmquist Farm (Brantwood): A 1,500-acre working beef and lumber farm in north-central Wisconsin with Finnish heritage dating to 1902. Multiple cabin accommodations, horseback riding in summer, horse-drawn sleigh rides in winter, a traditional Finnish sauna, and home-cooked meals. Animals include chickens, rabbits, calves, and horses.

• Rainbow Ridge Farms B&B (Onalaska): A working hobby farm B&B just north of La Crosse with goats, llamas, puppies, kittens, pigs, cows, and sheep. Newborn animals arrive yearly. Air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and an outdoor fire pit for evening stargazing.

The Wisconsin State Fair is the state's largest animal showcase

Held annually for 11 days in late July through early August at State Fair Park in West Allis (Milwaukee metro), the Wisconsin State Fair brings together approximately 7,000 animals in one of the Midwest's largest livestock exhibitions. Visitors encounter 1,100 dairy cattle, 1,300 sheep, 1,200 goats, 1,000+ swine, 800 rabbits, 800 poultry, 500 beef cattle, and 400+ horses across multiple barns.

The Compeer Financial Discovery Barnyard near Ag Village is the can't-miss destination for families: hundreds of baby animals including chicks, piglets, calves, and goat kids fill hands-on learning stations from 9 AM to 9 PM daily. The House of MOO offers cow milking demonstrations four times daily and goat milking demos three times daily, plus story time with Alice in Dairyland. Racing pigs and the K-9 Sports Arena with dock diving and agility courses round out the animal entertainment. Advance tickets run around $15 (children 5 and under free). Visit animal areas in the morning for the most active animals and thinnest crowds. Website: wistatefair.com

Three more hidden gems worth the detour

Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary (West Bend) covers 100 acres with 75+ species including bison, elk, wolves, bears, white tigers, camels, zebras, capybaras, and lemurs, plus a petting zoo near the gift shop. A 4-mile walking loop (or $45 golf cart rental) winds through wooded habitats. Admission is $17.50 adult, $12 child. TripAdvisor's highest-ranked zoo in Wisconsin. The Christmas drive-through event (November–December) draws big crowds. Open year-round. Website: shalomwildlife.com

Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center (Manitowoc) is a state-of-the-art indoor agricultural education center with over 10,000 square feet of interactive exhibits about Wisconsin's farming heritage. Its highlight is a live birthing barn where visitors may witness calves being born. A unique year-round, weather-proof option that works when rain cancels outdoor farm plans. Website: farmwisconsin.org

Henry Vilas Zoo (Madison) is one of fewer than 10 permanently free AZA-accredited zoos in North America, per a stipulation from the Vilas family who donated the land in 1904. The Children's Zoo with its Red Barn and goat feeding area (bring quarters) provides a solid farm-animal experience alongside polar bears, lions, tigers, penguins, and more. The zoo train and carousel cost just $2 each. Open daily year-round, with over 750,000 annual visitors. Website: henryvilaszoo.gov

Practical planning tips for Wisconsin petting zoo trips

Payment matters more than you'd expect. Bear Den Zoo in Waterford is strictly cash-only. Hinchley's Dairy Farm accepts only cash or check. Meanwhile, Green Meadows and Mulberry Lane Farm are completely cashless, accepting only credit, debit, or mobile pay. Always check before you go.

Seasonality shapes your options dramatically. Only a handful of locations operate year-round: Concord Zoo, Cristo Rey Ranch, Henry Vilas Zoo, Milwaukee County Zoo, Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary, NEW Zoo, and Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center. Most farms open in late April or May and close by late October or early November. Grampa's Farm near Wausau operates only four to five fall weekends per year.

The best free and low-cost options include Cedarburg Creek Farm (free admission, free hayrides), Concord Zoo (free, year-round), Cristo Rey Ranch (free, year-round), Plamann Park Children's Farm (free, summer), Henry Vilas Zoo (always free), and Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary in Green Bay (free, year-round). For paid attractions, Havens Petting Farm ($8–$10), Shamba Safari ($10 flat rate), and Hidden Hills ($11 all-inclusive) deliver outstanding value.

For the most immersive animal interactions, prioritize Hinchley's Dairy Farm (bottle-feed calves on a real working dairy), The Farm in Door County (bottle-feed multiple species), Green Meadows and Mulberry Lane Farm (milk a cow, hold kittens), and Bear Den Zoo (hold exotic baby animals). For the most activities packed into one admission price, Grampa's Farm and Hidden Hills are unmatched.

Combining petting zoos with other attractions is easy at several locations. Apple Holler pairs animals with apple picking and a restaurant. Schuster's Farm near Deerfield combines goats with a massive corn maze, haunted forest, and 70+ fall activities. Country Bumpkin in the Dells wraps a play village, U-pick produce, and corn maze around its animal encounters. And the NEW Zoo in Green Bay connects animal experiences with zip lines, ropes courses, and rock climbing.