Family Farms and Petting Zoos Near Montreal

City Kids Need Farm Days

There's something magical about watching a child pet a lamb for the first time or pick a strawberry straight from the plant. Farm visits connect kids with where their food comes from and provide a much-needed break from city life. Fortunately, Montreal is surrounded by incredible farmland with family-friendly destinations.

Petting Farms

Ferme Quinn in Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-Perrot (30 minutes from downtown) is a four-season family destination. In spring and summer, kids can feed goats, sheep, rabbits, and chickens in the petting zoo. Fall brings the famous apple orchard with wagon rides and a corn maze. Winter features horse-drawn sleigh rides. Their farm store sells fresh produce, pies, and local products.

Admission to the petting zoo is around $8 per person. The apple-picking experience costs about $5 per bag (you keep what you pick). Bring cash for the farm store — not all sections accept cards. The farm gets very crowded on fall weekends, so arrive early or visit on a weekday.

PACE Farm (Parc Animalier du Centre de l'Écologie) offers an immersive farm experience where kids don't just look at animals — they participate in farm chores. Children can collect eggs, brush horses, feed baby goats, and learn about sustainable farming. Programs run 1-2 hours and are guided by friendly educators.

Sessions cost $15-20 per child and must be booked in advance. They run special seasonal programs including maple sugaring in spring and pumpkin harvest in fall. The hands-on approach makes this a genuinely educational experience rather than just entertainment.

Ferme Bord-du-Lac in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue is a small, charming farm right on the western tip of the island. Kids can meet horses, donkeys, chickens, and goats. The farm also has a small playground and picnic area. Free admission — they operate on donations.

U-Pick Farms

When the seasons align, nothing beats picking your own fruit:

• Strawberries (June-July): Ferme Ste-Thérèse, Quinn Farm
• Raspberries (July-August): Verger Labonté, Ferme Charland
• Blueberries (August): Bleuetière Asselin (Rawdon, 1 hour north)
• Apples (September-October): Quinn Farm, Verger Denis Charbonneau, Verger Poméloi
• Pumpkins (October): Most apple orchards add pumpkin patches in October

Tips for Farm Visits

1. Wear closed-toe shoes — farms are muddy, and sandals plus goat pens don't mix
2. Bring hand sanitizer — essential after touching animals
3. Pack a picnic — many farms have picnic areas but limited food options
4. Check weather — most farm activities are weather-dependent
5. Bring a wagon or stroller with big wheels — gravel paths are hard on small strollers
6. Call ahead — small farms may adjust hours based on weather or season

Seasonal Calendar

• Spring (April-May): Baby animals, maple sugaring
• Summer (June-August): Berry picking, petting zoos, hay rides
• Fall (September-November): Apple picking, corn mazes, pumpkin patches
• Winter (December-March): Sleigh rides, sugar shacks

Explore more outdoor activities near Montreal on FamiliQC.