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Tips for Visiting Long Island Farms with Young Kids

Pack snacks or lunch. While some of the farms have food stands and farm stands, not all do. Many of the farms are in full sun, so if it's particularly sunny, slap on the sunscreen.

Know your kids' preferences. My son loves sensory experiences, while my daughter loves animal experiences. Each farm offers unique entertainment options. While some may have lots of animals and interactive opportunities, others pack on the fun with play equipment.

As always, you'll want to check the farm's website for hours, special events, and pricing information, as well as weather closures.

Best Family-Friendly Farms on Long Island

1. Fink's Country Farm – Manorville

What You'll Find: Fink's Country Farm has a large playground, petting zoo, picking fields, and multiple festivals throughout the year. The playground highlights include a corn pit, life-size hamster wheels, a combine slide, and pedal cars/trikes. The petting zoo features goats, alpacas, pigs, cows, donkeys, chickens, turkeys, peacocks, and more, many of which you can feed. 

This is my kids' favorite farm. They love the roaming animals like goats and roosters, and of course, the barn of corn. Events throughout the year include Melon Fest, the Fall Festival, Winter Wonderland, Touch-A-Tractor, and Strawberry Jamboree.

Best For: Families with kids 10 and under, sensory-seeking kids, and animal lovers.

Pro Tip: You can bring your own food here and picnic at one of the picnic tables. Restrooms are conveniently located across Fink's County Jail and in the playground near the combine slide.

2. Seven Ponds Orchard – Water Mill

What You'll Find: Seven Ponds Orchard has apple, vegetable, sunflower, and pumpkin picking. In the fall, get lost in a corn maze or take a hayride. There is a wooden playground with multiple play structures for kids, including a castle and a bulldozer.

Best For: Families with young kids.

​Pro Tip: Bring your own wagon to haul your apples and pumpkins.

Snap an insta-worthy picture during the sunflower festival at Waterdrinker Family Farm. 

3. Waterdrinker Family Farm – Manorville

What You'll Find: Waterdrinker Family Farm features a large wooden playground, obstacle courses, jump pillows, mini-golf, and lawn games. While you can't feed or pet animals here, you are welcome to look at them. Resident animals include alpacas, goats, pigs, a tortoise, and more.

Seasonal festivals include the Fall Festival, Garlic Festival, Winter Wonderland, Sunflower Festival, and Honey Festival. The most popular festival just might be the Tulip Festival, where you feel like you're transported to the Netherlands.Best For: Families with kids of all ages. Teenagers will enjoy the photo ops of the tulip and sunflower festival, while younger kids can expend energy in the play areas.

​Pro Tip: Check out the Long Island Farm Brewery on the other side of the parking lot. Food trucks are usually parked outside, so you can have a bite and a brew. 

4. Benner's Farm – East Setauket

What You'll Find: There's lots to do on this homestead from the 1700s. Interact with sheep, goats, chickens, and pigs at the petting zoo. Check out one of their seasonal events and activities, like the Strawberry Festival, Maple Sugaring Day, and Fall Festival.

The farm offers classes and workshops for kids to learn how to care for animals and work the farm. Benner's Farm is also packed with historical buildings and structures. 

Best For: Families with kids 10 and under, history buffs.

​Pro Tip: Check out Maple Sugaring Day for a truly unique experience that involves watching farmhands tap maple trees for syrup.

Brave the obstacle course at Harbes Family Farm.

5. Harbes Family Farm – Mattituck

What You'll Find: There's something for everyone at Harbes Family Farm. Grab some kibble at the front desk to feed sheep and goats. Watch pig races. Conquer the gnome hedge maze or the big obstacle course. There is a sports zone to throw baseballs and footballs through targets. There are also sand pits, water duck races, playhouses, and so much more. The farm has various festivals throughout the year, including a Fall Festival, Baby Animal Festival, Mother's Day, and Father's Day Festival.

Best For: Families with kids of all ages. Older kids and teens can enjoy activities like the sports zone and apple cannon, while younger ones can play in one of the many play areas.

​Pro Tip: Harbes usually offers discounted tickets on Mother's Day and Father's Day.

6. White Post Farms – Melville

What You'll Find: White Post Farms has lots of fun experiences throughout the year, from its fall festival with pumpkin picking to Easter events and more. Some of the animal residents include giraffes, goats, cows, camels, sheep, and lemurs. There are magic shows on weekends, playhouses, and a wooden playground with slides. You'll even find dinosaurs, though feeding the birds in the aviary is our family's favorite. 

Best For: Families with animal lovers of all ages.

Pro Tip: Arrive early when animals like the giraffe and goat are more likely to be hungry. The animal farm is cash only, and there are a lot of extras to pay for (train ride, pony rides, animal feed, etc). 

7. Suffolk County Farm and Education Center – Yaphank

What You'll Find: A natural playground featuring a mud kitchen, slate water painting, wood balance beams, a water trough, and more. Animals at the farm include goats, sheep, cows, pigs, horses, geese, bunnies, and more.

Special events are held throughout the year, including private sunset hayrides, goat yoga, baby animal days, and Halloween at the farm. The Suffolk County Farm and Education Center also has mommy-and-me classes, camps, and a preschool.

Best For: Families with young children.

​Pro Tip: Check in at the office to purchase animal food. Regular daily admission is FREE, but there is a fee for special events. This farm is open year-round.

All photos by the author

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