Farms with animals for kids around Seattle

The moment a 2-year-old locks eyes with a goat beats any museum. The Eastside is lucky to have two free city-run farm parks, and a little farther out, ticketed farms that fill a whole day.

Kelsey Creek Farm in Bellevue has sheep, pigs, cows and ponies to watch over the fence year-round, with a playground next door; Farrel-McWhirter in Redmond is quieter and good for slow looking. For more of an event, Remlinger Farms in Carnation has a steam train, rides and a petting zoo, and Fox Hollow in Issaquah does pony rides and a petting farm on weekends; in summer, Everett's free Forest Park animal farm lets kids actually touch the animals, with a spray park next door.

• 5 places
• 3 free
• 5 stroller-friendly
• closest is 7 min away