Children have a natural affinity for animals, and the prospect of visiting one of Toronto's petting zoos is sure to be met with cheers. While you'll find the usual friendly goats, pigs and chickens common in petting zoos, Toronto also has facilities where you can touch more exotic animals such as zebras, deer and llamas.
At the Toronto Kids Zoo, kids have the opportunity to pet miniature pigs, alpacas and goats, ride a pony and explore interactive exhibits specially designed for children ages 9 and under. The exhibits cover five separate Canadian habitats where kids view wildlife up close, with plenty of opportunity to climb, crawl and dig along the way. Bring a suit and take a dip at the Discovery Zone, a 2-acre water park at the zoo. The Toronto Zoo is open year-round, while the exhibits at the Kids Zoo are open between April and October.
When much of the land for High Park was donated in the early 1870s, deer roamed the property's animal paddocks. Today, the nine paddocks house not only deer but bison, peacocks, llamas and Highland breeds of sheep and cattle. The llama pens are open on weekends and holidays during late morning and early afternoon. The zoo is open year-round with free admission. The paddocks border Deer Pen Road, making it easy to visit the animals without a lot of walking.
Head to Lionel's Farm, 35 minutes northeast of Toronto in Stouffville, where barnyard animals, deer and exotic creatures give kids a variety of animal encounters. Ride a pony, pet a goat or feed animals carrots, celery, lettuce or bread brought from home. The petting zoo is open to the public without an appointment from May through December. Group birthday parties, school field trips or youth group outings can book at any time of year.
Bring the petting zoo to your party or event with a large selection of pettable animals available through Tiger Paw Exotics. Choose from traditional petting zoo animals such as pigs, goats and llamas or go exotic with animals like zebras, kangaroos, ball pythons and macaws. Shetland ponies take the zoo experience to the next level with rides available ranging from a carousel of a dozen horses or one or two led by hand. Rent the horse-drawn wagon to transport up to 20 guests on a ride around your property.
