How Animal Sanctuaries Provide Therapeutic Experiences for Humans and Animals Alike
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Animal Sanctuary and Farm
Hours of Operation: 10 am – 5 pm
We are open to the public 7 days a week. Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Google Rating
4.9
Based on 371 reviews
Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm™ by the Children's Nature Retreat Foundation
4.9
Sara Gabriele
03:32 18 Aug 25
Amazing hidden gem! It was so clean and peaceful and we were able to feed the animals and interact with them directly. We've never experienced anything like it. Highly recommend!
Steele Sacks
21:41 03 Aug 25
A well laid out sanctuary for visitors to come see rescued animals.. Goats, peacocks sheep, horses, zebra, ostrich, chickens, (a) bison, ponies, tortoise and more.. would highly recommend just going to visit and support this wonderful cause. Very sweet ladies up front helping out as well.
cate sacks
21:40 03 Aug 25
The love I felt from the staff to the animals was clear especially when u hear the stories and see how happy and well kept they are. If you want a super fun easy walk with the family, a lived one or your kids while being able to feel, pet and talk to the animals on your way around the winding paths then this is a must. Thankyou for all that u do for these animals . The amount it costs in feed, care and work is huge.
Alina Serrano
03:29 21 Jul 25
We’re a family of three and we’re always looking for local businesses to support and came across this business. Definitely worth the drive for the amount of animals they have. It is a little pricey ( spent about 120 for the three of us after entry fee and feed) but you can tell the animals are well taken care of which is what matters in the end. Would have loved for the entry fee to include some sort of experience but that’s all an additional cost.
nick natt
04:35 25 Jun 25
We loved it. The guided tour was awesome. You get to hear names and stories of all the animal's. Great time with kids!
Olivia InLove
22:00 24 Jun 25
This is the best place with pets, next time i want to take some delicious food and drinks with me, sit and watch these magnificent horses! and ostriches and peacocks are distinguished by their importance in the world!
Maria Gladwell
04:03 21 Jun 25
What a beautiful place! We got there around 12:30. The person on the front was very helpful and kind. We paid 85 for both me and my husband, and a bucket of food. We went in our own pace, saw all the animals and enjoyed. We left around 3pm. They have some snacks and produce from their own garden. Totally recommend it!
Chelsey Hinrichsen
00:57 02 Jun 25
It was so much fun to wander and explore to find new farm critters. Everyone who worked here was lovely, the grounds were immaculate (especially for a farm), and you can tell the animals are well cared for and loved. You won’t regret going.
Simone V
20:14 01 Jun 25
We recently went to the Animal Sanctuary for a field trip with our charter school and we all had a great time. There is a wide variety of animals that the kids got to see and learn about. We were also able to feed many of the animals. I definitely recommend it for a fun family or school trip.
Deborah Reichert
18:34 01 Jun 25
Really nice people running this animal sanctuary. Large area for animals to roam. Great educational tour and chance to interact with animals. Can get hot, bring snacks, water and lunch, there is a nice area to sit outside and eat in the shade.
Ben French
23:34 27 May 25
Absolutely amazing. U can feed all the animals hay and bird seed. Such a intimate little sanctuary. You know the money is going to animals. All staff super friendly
Jonathan
03:26 19 May 25
5 starsThe San Diego Animal Sanctuary and Farm is an absolute hidden gem! From the moment we walked in, it was clear how much love and care goes into every inch of this place. The animals are clearly well taken care of, and the staff is incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about conservation and animal welfare.We got to meet goats, pigs, emus, alpacas—you name it! And each animal has a story, a personality, and a home that feels safe and happy. It’s heartwarming to see a place so dedicated to giving animals a second chance and educating visitors about compassion and care for all creatures.Huge thank you to everyone who works and volunteers here—you’re doing such important work and creating lifelong memories for families like mine. We’ll definitely be back (and bringing friends)!
Samantha
01:39 19 May 25
I can't say enough about this special place! My husband and I took our 17 month old and we all had a blast. My son loved being pulled in a red wagon and also running around and getting his hands all over things. There's so much to explore; his little heart was so full and had the best time ever. We purchased bird feed and hay and we all loved feeding and interacting with the many animals they have. We purchased fresh produce afterwards from their farm. We ended up becoming annual members and can't wait to return and continue to support this wonderful animal sanctuary with an amazing mission.
Brett St. Cyr
00:02 05 May 25
Fantastic afternoon here. Everyone is super friendly. We spent about 4 hours walking through. Highly recommend checking this place out
Delon Leon
02:33 22 Apr 25
Amazing place for family and also to have quiet moment, look into these amazing green mountains
Veronica S
20:58 19 Apr 25
My teen, toddler, husband, and I LOVED it here! 5-dollar buckets of hay and 2-dollar seeds to feed the animals, AND you can pet them! They give a guide on how to pet them via video before you walk around. You can purchase souvenirs, snacks, and fresh produce (herbs too). There is ample seating throughout to stop and eat. We came early in April, and it got a little too toasty. Bring your sunscreen. We fell in love with one of three cats we saw as one got comfy on our stroller, making our day since we missed our cats. There was even a cow that stole my heart. She was super gentle when being fed the hay. We plan to come here again on our next San Diego trip as it costs much less than the zoo!
Christine Joy Apostol
22:24 16 Apr 25
An amazing experience seeing all the animals there! You can feed and pet most of them. We will definitely be back!
Mel Itz
22:10 16 Apr 25
Wonderful lil sanctuary. Took us about 40 minutes to stroll through. Peacocks, goaT, sheep, horses, zebra, ostrich, chickens, bison, ponies, tortoise and cats amongst pretty plants and trees made it an enjoyable time. . We were able to pet those animals that placed body against fence. The bison was very cool and surprisingly social. Paid a few extra bucks for some hay and seed to feed everyone.Upon leaving, we decided to purchase a $25 ostrich egg. Bucket list material and a huge bargain!! April was extremely friendly and gave us the low down about some animals and how to store the egg. Very cool and affordable experience!! Highly recommend.
Anna Pollard
23:49 12 Apr 25
I am going through grief losing my grandmother. The experience I had here was so healing. Seeing animals that are rehabilitated in large well taken care of enclosures was so special. I will be bringing back a lot of friends and family here.
stephanie hoffman
22:39 23 Mar 25
This charming farm is much bigger than I imagined. We saw goats, horses, emus, ostriches, pigs, zebras and much more! My child loved every second of it! They sell fresh produce, honey and salads. Perfect for any animal lover or if you just want a peaceful get away.
Carmen Velasquez
02:18 21 Mar 25
This is such a fantastic, well run, sanctuary with rescue animals that are healthy and cared for. We loved our visit!
Rob T
16:34 12 Mar 25
Great place to go associate with the beautiful animals that share this wonderful planet with us. Be sure to purchase a couple buckets of food so that you can closely interact with the animals.
Tony Quaglietta
13:30 25 Feb 25
Thank you for taking care of these precious animals.Your farm is a testament to taking care of wildlife.Great place to bring children of all ages.
OnPoint Hospitality Management
17:40 24 Feb 25
Our visit to the San Diego Animal Sanctuary and Farm was an unforgettable experience! This incredible sanctuary provides a loving home for a variety of rescued animals, and the staff’s dedication to their care is truly inspiring. The grounds are beautifully maintained, with spacious enclosures that allow the animals to roam and play freely. My husband and I particularly enjoyed getting hands-on with the animals, from feeding the goats to petting the friendly sheep and horses. If you’re in San Diego and looking for a meaningful way to connect with animals and support a fantastic cause, I highly recommend visiting this sanctuary. It’s a beautiful reminder of compassion and the importance of giving animals a second chance at life.Another big plus: it’s open daily. Bring a hat, water and snacks. Take your time, sit on the benches, observe, be present and feel the love ❤️ 🐷🐐🐢🐴🐔🐈🐤🐑🐄🐪🐂🦃🦓🦙🐿️🦆🦚🦬❤️
Rory
06:03 19 Feb 25
I enjoy this special Sanctuary. Yes It may cost a lot of money to feed these animals and pay for help to keep this place up and running. Yes the price can be high but you help feed the animals when you do. I signed up for a annual membership. Great deal. Come often as you want and I adopted an animal. Plus they also have a vegetable garden and you can buy fresh veggies.
Karrisa Love
02:54 17 Feb 25
This place is absolutely wonderful.It is simple to purchase tickets they accept card or cash. You are able to feed the animals (extra cost) and also have a picnic if you want. There is not a time limit and I would say if your looking to do something with small children or teens this would be a nice choice.You can also rent a wagon. Just be cautious with the terrain.I posted a few photos that I took of some animals but there are tons more.
Xinyi G
22:34 08 Feb 25
A haven to de-stress, get away from city life, and show some love to rescued animals.
Mark Ballard
14:48 30 Jan 25
Beautiful grounds and great way to get up close and even feed amazing variety of animals.
Dorinda Brunner
02:28 23 Jan 25
What a fantastic place. I will never go to a Zoo again. You can look at animals at the Zoo but you can’t touch them. At the Sanctuary, there are Zebras,Bison, Alpaca,miniature Donkeys, Longhorn Steers, Chicken, Ostriches , a Peacock, Pigs, Desert Tortoises and more and you can PET and FEED every one of them!!My daughter’s little family(they have a 2 year old) and I were so delighted to meet the animals , scratch them, talk to them, feel them, you almost can’t believe you are really are experiencing it in such a beautiful way. You can buy hay and birdseed for a them and they love it. It’s is far less money than any Zoo. There are wide dirt trails that connect to each of the animals and being outside in the fresh air and shade trees is so refreshing. Bring a lunch or a snack and sit under a shade tree and eat and rest while you contemplate the next animal you want to see.This Sanctuary has rescued all of these animals and relies 100% on donations. They feed and care for each of these precious animals. So if you go, please leave a donation and if you can’t, enjoy this wonderful experience and tell your friends about it!
maria
16:35 08 Dec 24
Nice drive up & was there for around an hour. Bought some feed & bird feed too. For two people it was $78 I think.Staff were nice enough, would recommended
Chanda Woods
15:49 05 Dec 24
This is a small non profit where I'm employed and it's a wonderful addition to the community and my boss is the best she works 6 days a week right along with us she is great and the animals are so loving if you get the chance come pet the donkeys in an uplclose encounter all our animals need love from our patrons and adopt a tortoise we have 26 babies up for adoption
B A
19:23 03 Dec 24
This place is amazing, we did a behind the scenes tour, we saw all the animals and were able to pet some that were fine to do so. Where can you see Cats, Dogs, Camels, Donkeys, etc. all in the same place !!! Plus, pick up some fresh produce, home grown on the farm. Please go and visit, help support this place in any way you can.Alison and Lori
Alice InWonderland
15:19 02 Dec 24
Forgot to leave a review sooner but it was AMAZING. 1000% worth the behind the scenes tour to feed and go inside the enclosures with the animals! We got the tour from the program director herself who was lovely and informative and answered any questions we had. You can really tell there's a deep rooted love for every single animal there; they all have names and personalities it was beautiful. For anyone who might be thinking about cost, just know 100% of it goes toward the funding of the farm, feeding the animals and maintaining them to give them the best life possible. Several have come from unfortunate circumstances and are living their best lives there now. 100/10 recommend for anyone who loves animals ❤️
Estela Morales
04:21 25 Nov 24
Amazing place to visit and lovely animals. We are coming again for sure.
Jeanette Galloway
18:54 22 Nov 24
Fun place to visit. You can tell they care about their animals. Every staff member I encountered was friendly and took the time to say, "Hi." I recommend buying a bucket of hay to feed the animals. It was lots of fun.
Brett Roark
12:09 06 Nov 24
I went here with some friends to get out of the city. It was such a fun experience and I loved interacting with all the animals. The staff is friendly and the work they do here is amazing. I bought a membership, and can’t wait to go back! You should stop by, you won’t be disappointed!
Sharilyn Parr
23:53 02 Nov 24
This is a wonderful place to visit for adult and kiddos. The animals are all very tame, since they get attention from people all the time. Well worth a visit!!!
Dawn M
10:19 01 Nov 24
This place is so amazing. Can not say enough positive. The love for the animals is very clear from the moment you pull through the gates. Very reasonably priced (if you plan to go more than once, splurge on the season pass). All the money goes to the welfare of the animals, so why not go and experience a practically private experience. Grab some buckets of food to feed the animals and go experience something you dont get at the zoo. It is truly a one of a kind farm experience. Almost every animal can be fed, petted, and shown some extra love. Every time we go, the farm is quiet and not packed so that we can enjoy some great 1 on 1 time feeding and loving on the animals. Where else can you feed a zebra or get up close with a buffalo whilst being stalked by some adorable kitties who want some pets. Feed the beautiful horses, llamas, goats, pigs, mini horses, ostriches, and so very much more. We love coming to the farm and having a peaceful morning stroll saying hi to all our farm animal friends. It's a great way to get a bit of the farm life without actually having a farm here in San Diego. This place is awesome. My 2 little girls aged 4 & 2 look forward to visiting their animal friends all the time. There is also a little maze and a beautiful garden with some delicious veggies. We try to get a few veggies every time we come. The salad mix is great, carrots are so sweet that even the kids eat them, and we are always pleased with any veggie or herb we purchase. Overall, it was a great experience, educational and something that you can go back and do over and over - visiting the farm/sanctuary never gets old!
Mike Mikho
00:20 10 Oct 24
This place is awesome. The people who work there are friendly and knowledgeable. They really care about the animals in addition to taking care of them.The place is neat and clean and looks well cared for. They have a huge garden and the veggies they grow go straight to the animals.I would donate so much to help this Sanctuary if I could. Hmmm...if I win the lottery this is one place that will benefit from my win.I urge everyone to pay them a visit. It will be a visit that will stay with you forever.All of the animals were either abandoned or unwanted or the owners just couldn't care for them any longer. They are now safe and happy. Living out their lives at this Sanctuary.Bless the people who work there. it's truly a labor of love.
Loretta
23:28 07 Oct 24
We had a great experience visiting the SD animal sanctuary and farm. All of the animals were so lovely and we were able to feed them as well. Lots of space to walk around and check out the animals, great variety. Loved my experience here! Thanks!
J P
21:11 22 Sep 24
Very large place and lots of animals to see and feed! Staff is also very friendly and helpful. Overall a very positive experience but didn't get a full 5 stars because in my opinion it's not worth the price for admission (nearly $150 for a family of 4) but I also do understand it's privately owned and expensive to maintain
Sarah Daigle
14:18 09 Sep 24
What a perfect day! The staff was lovely, and the animals were well cared for and loved. As unreal as it was to walk around and interact with so many beautiful animals, exotic & farm alike, my favorite was bonding with about 5 barn cats. :) they followed us around for quite a bit, were so loveable, and 1 fell asleep purring in my arms for a bit. I got a weeks worth of serotonin visiting the farm and can't wait to come back.
Stéphanie V
04:48 01 Sep 24
Very nice little farm where the animals are well taken care of. It is a great place for families. You can feed the animals and pet them.
Erin N.
00:35 01 Sep 24
Wonderful place to visit for kids & adults alike! It’s a great opportunity to get out of the city & have close encounters with animals - including some you may not otherwise be able to get up close to! The staff here is fantastic & you can tell they are passionate about their work & love every single animal on the farm.
Ran
02:03 31 Aug 24
Beautiful place! I look forward to future visits! A range of refreshments, snacks, and sweets for the day. The animals are all so cute: a zebra, a buffalo, cows, a handful of birds, chickens, goats, horses, peacocks, ostriches, donkeys, tortoises, a couple dogs (we saw one), and a 8 cats (we saw 5). The owner was super friendly and the staff very helpful, even with a staff shortage. We also went through the bird “encounter”. The Owner insisted that Eric be the one to show us through it and neither of them disappointed. Eric was very knowledgeable, open and honest, and caring with the birds. The whole experience was very wholesome. We walked out buying some local honey and melons 😊
Erika Casas
01:47 31 Aug 24
This place is super great and all of the staff members are super friendly and informative! The owner is sweet as can be and really personable, the animals are all very well cared for and the place is huge! I especially enjoyed meeting Eric who is their bird guy, he had an impressive amount of knowledge about birds and we had such a great time with the birdies! :) Would 100000% recommend this place for all the animal lovers out there and we will definitely be returning!
Boston M
23:32 23 Aug 24
We enjoyed our time there. It was a relaxing drive out there from San Diego (approx. 40 minutes). Feeding the animals was a fun experience, and it was a nice walk around the property.
Lindsey Wisotsky
14:23 22 Aug 24
We went with our two kids (2 & 3), grandma and auntie. Everyone had a good time!
Fermín Gallardo
23:41 04 Aug 24
Hacen una excelente labor! Mi admiración para quienes hacen esto posible. Ojalá fuéramos más concientes de la importancia de todos los animales que merecen una vida digna
Brooke Carlisle
21:25 30 Jul 24
There is hay you can feed the animals all over the place. I do wish I could cuddle and touch the animals more. If ur not tall enough to bend over the fence to pet the few animals you are allowed to pet, you are just gonna be looking at animals through a fence the whole time.
Robert Hemphill
22:27 21 Jul 24
I surprised my wife and sister by bringing them here instead of downtown, and they had the absolute BEST time. The farm is beautiful, the animals are so friendly, and the staff was extremely helpful and positive. When every day feels rushed and you always have stress on your plate, spending a morning or afternoon here is genuine therapy. Do yourself the kindness and check this place out next time you need some time to unwind and just have a good time!
C S
20:06 14 Jul 24
Great place to visit. It gets hot out here so plan accordingly. They have water and restrooms, spots with shade, and some areas with mist to cool you. Obviously more for the animals would be great, but this is a rescue/sanctuary with great staff.
Kaitlyn H
21:16 08 Jul 24
Definitely worth the drive and the ticket price. You can feed almost every animal on the farm which was so unique. You really get up close interactions in a way not possible at a zoo. They really care about their animals here and it shows.
Xavier Garcia
21:39 02 Jul 24
Amazing experience for all ages. My wife and I recently visited this sanctuary, and it was a lot of fun. They are also very kid-friendly, including a place where children can cool down in a play area with sprinklers. You can feed the animals. They also grow some produce and will sell it to you if you wish.
andrea gardner
21:19 02 Jul 24
Such a great place! A great variety of animals to interact with at your own leisure and they all look healthy and happy with plenty of space to roam. The staff is very friendly and does a great job caring for the animals. It's such a cute place to visit and I definitely encourage the public to visit/support this sanctuary!
Jennifer K
19:57 14 Jun 24
Excellent alternative to other animal experiences in San Diego! Very family friendly!
Brittany Caswell
19:01 31 May 24
The drive to get there is beautiful. The sanctuary is beautiful. The animals were just absolutely cute and adorable and funny. My daughter went here for a field trip and she had the best time ever. She was just so excited that she got to feed all the animals (a few that we couldn’t obviously because of health reasons) she listened to the tour guide with everything he was saying about each animal and how they came to be at the sanctuary! Then we came home and she just kept talking about the animals! It was beautiful. We had a great time.
THE LEAN MACHINE MEAL PREP
17:46 19 May 24
This place is absolutely amazing! If you are a true animal lover you must make it a point to come for a visit! I purchased a behind the scenes tour for my wife’s birthday last Thursday and it could not have been a more perfect day! We were greeted by one of the staff when we arrived at the front entrance, they welcomed us in and radioed the Founder and Executive Director, Agnès Barrelet of our arrival. As we waited they prepared our buckets of hay and cups of bird seed for the tour(a must). One of the many farm cats came up to say hello and get some pets, she was trying to eat the bird seed from our cups, too adorable hahahaha, the first of countless animal interactions to come. Agnes arrived and we started to walk the grounds. Needless to say the whole experience is one we will never forget!! 100% worth doing the behind the scene tour with her!! Up close and personal with all the creatures. So much love at this place! You can tell they truly care about each and every one of the animals there and they are working hard to give them the best life they deserve! The facility is massive and Agnes is obviously doing an amazing job making it all run smoothly. This place is worthy of all of our support, whether you choose to donate to their wonderful cause or opt to come in for a visit, there is no better place to spend your money, like I said it is 100% worth it! If you love animals, book today, you will thank me later! :)) please go to our FB page to see all the videos this place is GOLD! Anthony Lero, Dana Lero
Breanna Mesa
01:27 18 May 24
What a fun day! On a beautiful piece of property, surrounded by fun and unique animals. Close encounters to zebras, Buffalo and even camels! Definitely worth visiting with your family!
Edward Morfeld
17:22 20 Apr 24
Wonderful staff, wonderful animals, wonderful layed back atmosphere with cats running around everywhere etc.. for a tiny sum children can feed the animals, not crowded, and it's a charity, the animals all needed a home. I wish I knew about this place when my son was small! Quiet and about half the price of the zoo. Some exotic critters like zebras and ostriches, mostly usual barn yard stuff like pigs ponies etc..
Sierra Phillips
01:01 12 Apr 24
Fun way to spend the day with a nice variety of animals. From the typical farm animals to a few more exotic species, there's something for everyone 😀 highly recommend getting the feed bucket add on.
brianna thomas
19:30 09 Apr 24
Absolutely loved the experience! Took my kids and it was so fun. The staff is so nice and everything is so well kept. I appreciate that they even do military/veteran discounts. To some it may seem like the entrance fee is expensive but 100% believe I would pay it again because it’s that worth it! I also love that we can bring our own lunch and enjoy an outdoor picnic surrounded by all the open fresh air and trees in their benches and table area. And I loved all the little farm cats that approached us at our lunch time! Everything about this place is amazing. Getting to feed the ducks/chickens/turkey for only $2 a cup is amazing. I cannot wait to take my kids back.
Robyn
00:21 05 Mar 24
Such a peaceful drive to arrive there, ... it felt like nature at its best & Then the Animals ..WOW, what a fantastic variety ... The grounds were cleaned /spotless & a beautiful loving family of animals and happy team players everywhere.. it was so peaceful & nature at its best👍beautiful..🕊️💞Go and enjoy, you will NOT be disappointed.. but grateful that such a fantastic place like here is there to share.....What an amazing Zoo/ Farm out there in Alpine!!I'll be back .. what a great place!!
Angela Deptolla
04:09 04 Mar 24
Loved it! We had such a great time. Where else can you feed a zebra????
Lucie Colomb
05:20 22 Feb 24
I recently had the pleasure of visiting the San Diego Animal Sanctuary and Farm with my toddler, and it was an unforgettable experience that I feel compelled to share. Nestled just 40 minutes away from San Diego, this hidden gem is more than just a farm; it's a peaceful haven where each animal, from the mini horses to the camels, is treated with the utmost care and love.Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted by the most incredible host, a French single mom who embarked on this admirable journey in 2015 to create a sanctuary for rescued animals. Her passion and dedication were evident in every corner of the 20-acre park, making us feel immediately at ease and welcomed.One of the highlights of our visit was the opportunity to interact closely with the animals. For a small fee, we bought a bucket of hay for $5 and grains for $3, which allowed us to feed and connect with the animals in a more intimate way. My toddler was particularly enchanted by the mini horses, while I couldn't help but chuckle at the camel's antics. It was truly heartwarming to see how well-cared-for all the animals were, reflecting the sanctuary's commitment to their well-being.Not only did we enjoy our time with the animals, but we also supported the sanctuary by purchasing fresh cabbage, bok choy, and eggs. Knowing that everyone involved in the sanctuary is a volunteer added a special touch to our visit, emphasizing the community's collective effort to maintain this wonderful place.I highly encourage everyone to bring a picnic, spend a day at this magical sanctuary, and support their cause by attending their fundraising event on March 8th. Visiting the San Diego Animal Sanctuary and Farm is not only a delightful experience but also a chance to contribute to a noble cause. Let's help this amazing sanctuary continue its mission of rescuing and caring for these incredible animals.
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