Erie, Colorado
My daughter is currently obsessed with animals, and we’re doing our best to entertain her interest.
Last month, I shared how much she’s been enjoying animals at this stage of life. Well, we’re leaning even further into her obsession. Earlier this year, around the time she started walking, we, along with our friends and their daughter, visited a small petting zoo. That was a fun experience, but the girls were just a little too small to be completely comfortable around the animals.
But a few months can make a big difference.
Now that she’s a little older, she’s way more adventurous. Our trip to the zoo revealed her genuine fascination with animals and her desire to see them up close. My wife found out about Lil Buckaroos through social media, and we decided to give it a try as a fun Saturday animal-focused activity for the family.
It was a hit, and of course I brought my camera along to document the experience.
We went for the 9 am time slot on a Saturday so that we could stick closely to our normal weekday morning routine. It’s out in Erie, but on a fall Saturday morning, that drive was about 40 minutes from the heart of Denver.
There’s actually something nice about getting out of the city without having it take your entire day. This was an activity outside of the city, and we still managed to make it home before her midday nap.
The facility is obviously on a farm, and the main area is a giant barn. After entering the small gift shop at the front of the barn, we checked in, purchased two cups of animal treats, and watched a short video covering the rules and safety measures.
I could walk you through every animal we encountered and our experience with them, but I think the photos do a better job of showing you what the morning was like.
All the animals appeared to be well taken care of, and the animals inside enclosures that you could enter were friendly, and most did not mind being touched by a 1-year-old child.
Goats are always a wild card, and while they weren’t dangerous, they were goats.
This experience showed me just how much my daughter has grown in just a few months. She was walking up to animals, wanting to pet them and even feed them treats. The sheep and bunnies were two animals we visited multiple times during our visit.
I think what surprised me most was the Silkie chickens and the 32-year-old tortoise. These were 2 animals that I was not expecting to see at a petting zoo.
The chickens were probably the most photogenic bunch, besides the goats, and it was almost as if they were posing for me. I really liked taking their portraits.
The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful.
Another thing I appreciated was the pacing. Our session never felt overcrowded, and we had plenty of room to move between the animals. The farm also schedules an hour-long break between visiting sessions, giving the animals time away from guests.
For a one-hour visit of two adults, a 1-year-old, and 2 treat cups, I believe we paid around $67.
The best part of this morning adventure was watching my daughter enjoy an experience she’s interested in. We talk about and sing about these animals, but having her see them in person, pet them, and feed them was special.
I love documenting her life and experiences. I hope that one day these photos mean as much to her as they do to me.
