Kids and animals are a pretty unbeatable combination. Whether your family is into big cats, bottle-fed alpacas or shelter kittens, Indiana has a long list of places where children can get face-to-face with animals they would never meet otherwise. A lot of the spots below are tied to rescue, conservation or education work, so an afternoon out also helps support the people doing the day-to-day care. Use these as starting points and double-check details before you go, since hours and offerings shift with the seasons.
Oinking Acres
Brownsburg, IN
Oinking Acres is a small rescue and sanctuary best known for its pigs, though the residents also include ducks, goats, donkeys, peacocks and a long list of other farm animals.
In 2026, the farm is open for self-guided visits on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tickets run $10 in advance online or $12 at the gate, and every dollar goes back to the animals. Volunteers are scattered around the property to answer questions, and the self-guided format works best for kids 6 and up. While you’re there, swing by The Kitty Cuddle Cottage to meet adoptable cats, and stop in at The Back Forty general store for vegan snacks. Hours can shift for weather, vet visits or rescue emergencies, so check the website or social media before loading the car.
Black Pine Animal Sanctuary
Albion, IN
If a northern Indiana day trip is in the cards, head to Black Pine Animal Sanctuary in Albion. Black Pine is a permanent home for more than 80 captive-raised exotic animals, including big cats, bears, primates, reptiles and birds, all on an 18-acre property. It’s also the only multispecies sanctuary in Indiana accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries.
The 2026 season opens May 1. The Staff Guided Tour is the classic introduction and runs about 90 minutes, with guides sharing the backstory of each resident. Black Pine also runs Toddlers and Tots tours for kids 7 and under, Enrichment Tours that catch the animals during their daily enrichment routines, and a Behind the Scenes Tour for older visitors. Tours fill up, so book ahead.
Natural Valley Ranch
Brownsburg, IN
Natural Valley Ranch is a family-owned operation tucked along White Lick Creek on 78 acres in Brownsburg. Horseback riding is the headliner: 30-minute and 60-minute guided trail rides are available by reservation, along with riding lessons, pony rides, day camps, birthday parties and seasonal family events.
If you’ve got younger kids who aren’t ready to ride (children under 4 aren’t permitted on horses), the ranch also has an animal interaction area with miniature goats, chickens, miniature horses, rabbits, sheep, pigs, cats and dogs. Overnight cabin and cottage rentals are an option too. Schedules shift with the seasons and weather, so check before you go.
Indianapolis Zoo
Indianapolis, IN
Beyond general admission, the Indianapolis Zoo runs a slate of Animal Adventures that get you closer to the animals than a regular zoo day. Current options include:
- Sloth Adventure: Meet the zoo’s sloths up close.
- Dolphin Meet & Greet: A behind-the-scenes hello with the dolphins.
- Dolphin In-Water Adventure: Step into the pool for a fully immersive dolphin encounter.
- Elephant Bathing: Help scrub down one of the African elephants and learn what their care looks like.
- Rhino Adventure: Spend time with the rhinos and their care team.
Each one comes with its own age requirements and ticket price, so read the fine print before you book. Kangaroo Crossing, a walk-through habitat with red kangaroos and birds, is included with general admission. The zoo also schedules Elephant Art on Saturdays and Orangutan Art on Sundays at 1:45 p.m. for guests with gift certificates.
Heritage Farm
Flora, IN
About an hour north of Indianapolis, Heritage Farm in Flora is a working Suri alpaca farm with a herd of more than 60. Kids can meet, feed and learn about the alpacas, and the property’s 120 acres leave plenty of room to wander.
The farm is also home to Nubian goats, KuneKune pigs, chickens, barn cats and a black Lab named Juno. Visitors can pitch in with daily chores at whatever level feels right, walk the wooded trails, cross the creek on a suspension bridge and check out the big red barn (one of Indiana’s Top Ten Bicentennial Barns). Day visits are bookable, and overnights range from a three-bedroom guest house and a renovated log home to a rustic 1850s log cabin or tent and RV sites.
Little Eagle Creek Valley Farm
Westfield/Zionsville area, IN
On about eight acres near the Hamilton and Boone County line, Little Eagle Creek Valley Farm is home to a flock of around 40 Shetland sheep, two miniature horses, two llamas, chickens and a handful of farm cats and dogs. Time it right and you might catch shearing day, when the family preps wool for fiber arts.
This is a smaller, quieter stop than most of the others on this list. Visits are by appointment only, so message the farm through its Facebook page before you plan a trip out.
Nine Lives Cafe & Cat Lounge
Indianapolis, IN
Tucked into Fountain Square at 1315 Shelby St., Nine Lives Cafe & Cat Lounge was Indy’s first cat cafe and is hitting nine years in 2026. The lounge is cozy, cage-free and full of adoptable cats from local rescues.
Reservations are strongly recommended (one per person heading into the lounge). If anyone in the group isn’t up for cat time, the cafe side serves drinks, pastries, local art and gifts and doesn’t require a booking.
Conner Prairie
Fishers, IN
The Animal Encounters barn at Conner Prairie is hands-on in the best way. Kids can meet the animals, ask the specialists who care for them all year about anything from feeding routines to baby season, and get a feel for what life on a working farm actually looks like.
Conner Prairie also keeps a herd of rare historical livestock breeds as part of a larger conservation effort. Look for Arapawa goats, Tunis sheep, American rabbits, Ossabaw Island hogs and English Longhorn cattle. The barn pairs nicely with a longer day at 1836 Prairietown, the Treetop Outpost treehouse and the rest of the museum’s outdoor areas.
Wilstem Wildlife Park
Paoli, IN
Wilstem Wildlife Park in southern Indiana packs a lot into one stop: animal encounters, outdoor activities and overnight lodging. The Drive-Thru Safari (or guided wagon tour) takes visitors through habitats with more than 40 species, and an animated dinosaur section is open from mid-March through November.
For something more hands-on, Wilstem runs separate ticketed encounters with sloths, giraffes, kangaroos, elephants, otters and grizzly bears. Reservations are a good idea. The park also has cabins and lodges, a zip line and horseback riding for guests staying longer.
Wolf Park
Battle Ground, IN
A short hop outside Lafayette in Battle Ground, Wolf Park sits on 75 acres of restored Indiana prairie and is home to ambassador wolves, foxes, bison and an Eastern box turtle. The nonprofit started in 1972 with Purdue professor Dr. Erich Klinghammer and is now well past 50 years of wildlife education and research.
Guided tours run about an hour and dig into wolf behavior, ecosystems and what it actually takes for humans to coexist with wild canids. Saturday Howl Nights are a fan favorite (yes, you can howl back). Tours and special events sell out regularly, so reserve before you make the drive.
The Smitten Kitten Cat Café
Fishers, IN
The Smitten Kitten Cat Café opened in January 2023 at 7852 E. 96th St. in Fishers as Hamilton County’s first cat cafe. The cafe partners with the Humane Society for Hamilton County and other local rescues, giving adoptable cats a comfortable, cage-free space to meet potential families.
Order a drink and a treat, then head into the lounge for some cat time (up to two dozen cats and kittens are usually in residence). Reservations are highly recommended, especially on weekends. Adults need to come along with anyone under 13, and one adult can bring up to three kids.
The Exotic Feline Rescue Center
Center Point, IN
About an hour southwest of Indianapolis, The Exotic Feline Rescue Center is a forever home for big cats and other exotic felines that have been abused, unwanted or neglected. The nonprofit cares for more than 100 animals, including lions, tigers, cougars, leopards, bobcats, servals and a few foxes.
Daily guided tours run at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. and last about an hour. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids 12 and under, and groups of fewer than 10 don’t need a reservation. Tours move outdoors on gravel paths, so wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather. Children under 5 have to be held or in a stroller, and there’s no touching the animals at any point on the tour.
[…] Story continues […]