Have kids who love animals? If you're looking for animals near Takoma Park and Silver Spring, then we have the list! From zoo animals to farm animals, and from the furry to the scaly, we have all the animals you'll need to please your little animal lover.
Here's where to find animals in nearby Takoma Park and Silver Spring:
Brookside Nature Center
1400 Glenallan Ave. Wheaton, MD 20902
https://montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/brookside-nature-center/
Even with the building closed for renovations, Brookside Nature Center (located just down the street from the Gardens) has many programs with amazing animals! Every week they have Turtle Talk and a Flying Squirrel program where you can learn more about the animals that live right in our own backyards (registration required; check the website for more info). There are fish swimming in the pond, and if you take a walk through the grounds, you are sure to see lots of birds and insects, too.
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Wheaton Stables
1101 Glenallen Ave. Wheaton, MD 20902
https://montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/wheaton-regional-park/riding-stables/
While you can take riding lessons at the Wheaton Stables, we love to simply stop by to visit the horses that are frequently in the grazing in the field. Bring a picnic and stay awhile!
Ellsworth Urban Dog Park
621 Ellsworth Drive Silver Spring, MD 20910
https://montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/ellsworth-urban-park/ellsworth-urban-dog-park/
Another place for free, fun animal sightings is the Ellsworth Dog Park. Of course, you should only go inside the park if you have brought a dog of your own, but children love to watch the pups romp and play. The Ellsworth Urban Playground (https://montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/ellsworth-urban-park/) for kids is also just steps away.
 By Juho Marttila via Canva |
Worth the drive from Takoma Park and Silver Spring
If you're up for a little road trip, here are additional spots worth the drive from Takoma Park and Silver Spring to see animals:
The National Aquarium in Baltimore
501 E. Pratt St., Baltimore, MD 21202
The aquarium in Baltimore is not-to-miss. It has a wide range of aquatic life, a petting area where you can actually touch a sting ray, and a rainforest exhibit with way more than just fish. The huge shark tank at the end of your aquarium journey is always a hit. Just know, tickets (and parking) are pricey and while you cannot bring strollers inside the aquarium, you can rent baby carriers if you do not bring your own.
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Green Meadows Petting Farm
10102 Fingerboard Rd. Ijamsville, MD 21754
Green Meadows Petting Farm is Ijamsville is one of the best places to interact with animals in our area. The farms has goats, sheep, and peacocks, as well as turkeys that sometimes roam the grounds. You can also see turtles, a kangaroo, and our favorite, Tank, the huge but gentle Brahman cow. The farm has pig races every hour and a hayride all included in the price of your ticket.
 Tank the Cow at Green Meadows Petting Farm |
The Smithsonian National Zoo
3001 Connecticut Ave., NW Washington, DC 20008
A favorite place to see animals in the Nation's Capital! You can see elephants, giant pandas, lions, tigers, and, if you're lucky, orangutans swinging from wires hanging above the zoo! The zoo is free, but you do need a reservation for parking.
 John Natoli via Canva |
Other Favorite Places to See Animals
We are so lucky to have some many places to see animals within a 30 to 45 minute drive. Here are a few others worth visiting.
Butler's Orchard
22222 Davis Mill Dr Germantown, MD 20876
https://www.butlersorchard.com
Whether you visit Butler's for a festival or to pick your own fruit, make sure you stop by the farm animals to say hi! You can buy feed when you buy your ticket to give the goats a little extra love.
Agricultural History Farm Park
18400 Muncaster Road Derwood, MD 20855
https://montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/agricultural-history-farm-park/
This farm is free to visit and has pigs, chickens, and goats on site. The grounds are huge, and a great place to bring a picnic on a summer day. The farm also has frequent events to demonstrate the agricultural history of Montgomery County.
Clark's Elioak Farm
10500 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21042
Surrounded by an enchanted fantasyland of popular fairytale characters, this Howard County farm is fun for your littlest animal lovers. There are lots of goats, ducks, pigs, and cows, and even pony rides for 6 and under (additional cost).
Watkins Regional Park
301 Watkins Park Drive Upper Marlboro, MD 20774
https://www.mncppc.org/3204/Watkins-Regional-Park
Watkins Regional Park, affectionately known as the Wizard of Oz Park, is one of the best playgrounds within driving distance of Takoma Park and Silver Spring. But along with the playground is the free-to-enter Old Maryland Farm, that has an assortment of farm animals to view, including pigs, turkeys, peacocks, and bunnies. The park also has a nature center on site, and several large birds housed on the grounds. There's so much for animals lovers to enjoy!
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
1 Safari Pl, Baltimore, MD 21217
Even if you've visited the DC zoo many times, making the drive to Baltimore is worth the trek. This zoo has several animals that you can't find at the zoo closer to home, including giraffes, penguins, hippos, and more. Your kids will enjoy making their way through the Maryland Wilderness area, with lots of interactive activities like a bat cave and a huge slide inside a tree!
