Have kids who love animals? If you're looking for animals near you in Tri-Cities, 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 Tri-Cities:
Paws-Abilities Place Dog Park
455 Englewood Dr, Richland, WA 99352
Paws-abilities Place is a 5 acre dog park at Badger Mountain Community Park. It's a great place to socialize your dog or let your dog-loving littles see puppies of all shapes and sizes.
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A Bit of Happiness Farm
1191 Bombing Range Rd, West Richland, WA 99353
A Bit of Happiness Farm has a pig, goats, sheep, alpacas, rabbits, chickens, ducks, and a hedgehog. They offer farm visits throughout the Spring where you can feed the animals, play on the playground and with digging toys, and even jump on the trampoline when it's warm out.
$8/person, Kids 18 months and under FREE
Foster Families—FREE
Email with preferred date/time and how many individuals will be attending. If the children have sensory challenges or triggers, they are willing to create a safe place for them as well.
Birthday Party: $150/hour, includes tables, tablecloths, a grain bag for all guests and the farm is reserved for your party only.
Amon Creek Natural Preserve
Leslie Rd, Richland, WA 99352
Amon Creek Natural Preserve is a wetland with over 150 bird species, black-tailed jackrabbits, coyote, raccoon, beaver, otter and mink. Beaver are particularly active in the preserve.
FREE to access
Big River Pets
1374 Jadwin Ave, Richland, WA 99354
Big River Pets is a pet store (perfect for littles who just want to see fish tanks and don't understand you can take them home yet). They have a wide variety of fish, lizards, snakes, spiders, and more. They do an unboxing video weekly on their YouTube channel if you'd like to prep your kiddo for new animals.
FREE to visit
Chamna Natural Preserve
Carrier Rd, Richland, WA 99352
Chamna Natural Preserve is a wetland with black-tailed jackrabbits, river otters, deer and other wildlife in the preserve. Prone to seasonal flooding, particularly during the late winter and early spring.
FREE to access
Josten's Petting Zoo
329 E 27th Ave, Kennewick, WA 99337
Josten's Petting Zoo has alpacas, sheep, goats, bunnies, pigs, chickens, ducks and a guinea pig. You receive feed to give to the animals and can pick up/pet most of them.
Open from April-October
$8/person
Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Society
All over Tri-Cities
Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Society hosts bird walks throughout Tri-Cities for bird lovers of all ages.
FREE events
McNary National Wildlife Refuge
64 Maple Street, Burbank,WA 99323
McNary National Wildlife Refuge is 15,000 acres of wetlands that is home to birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. It's a great place to explore and relax while being surrounded by nature. Large concentrations of migrating waterfowl can be seen from October through February, usually peaking in December.
FREE to access
PacaPoo
9203 S. Steele Road, Prosser, WA 99350
PacaPoo is home to tons of adorable alpacas! They occasionally offer alpaca pilates classes and open houses. The farm is open for farm tours and has many alpaca yarn goodies (stuffies, dryer balls, beanies, etc).
FREE to access
Sandollar Farms
2001 S. Washington St, Kennewick, WA 99337
Sandollar Farms has alpacas, Great Pyrenees dogs, birds, bees, and chickens. They also have a fiber/leather arts studio and farm boutique.
Escorted educational tours between April 1st and October 31st, on Wednesday and Saturday mornings at 9:30am
Pricing TBA
W.E. Johnson Park
Tanglewood Dr, Richland, WA 99352
W.E. Johnson Park is a breeding habitat for a wide range of birds, including yellow-breasted chat, gray catbird, Cooper’s hawk, yellow warbler, and downy woodpecker. Other birds observed in the park include long-eared owl, red-tailed hawk, black-crowned night heron, and great egret.
The southern part of the Tapteal Spur Trail floods regularly; some spots along the southern part of the Tapteal Trail occasionally flood; there are deep ditches that cross the Loop Trail that are filled with water through the spring and into the summer.
FREE to access
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Worth the drive from Tri-Cities
If you're up for a little road trip, here are additional spots worth the drive from Richland to see animals:
Blue Zoo Spokane
4750 N Division St Suite 1242, Spokane, WA 99207
Blue Zoo has fish, sharks, stingrays, reptiles, birds, mermaids, and even pirates. They've got several live shows (mermaids, pirates, divers), a water table, playground, and touch tanks.
$19.95/Ages 13+, $16.95/Ages 3-12, Kids 2 and under FREE
Oak Creek Wildlife Area
16601 Highway 12, Naches, Washington 98937
Oak Creek Wildlife Area is home to elk, mule deer, California bighorn sheep, mountain goats, forest grouse, turkey, quail, chukar, and a myriad of small mammals. From mid-December to February, elk feedings occur daily at Oak Creek Headquarters. At the Cleman Mountain Feeding site, just a few miles east herds of bighorn sheep receive feeding.
Note: Call before going to make sure they're feeding near the viewing area during your planned visit.
Discover Pass required to access. $30/year or $10/day pass
Oregon Zoo
4001 SW Canyon Rd, Portland, OR 97221
Oregon Zoo has many animal exhibits including, Africa Rainforest, Africa Savanna, Black Bear Ridge, Cascade Crest and Stream, Family Farm, Elephants, Penguins, Tigers and Red Pandas, Volume Aviary, Wildlife Garden, and so much more. They've also got a zoo train, carousel, restaurants throughout the zoo, and keeper talks/animal feedings.
Tickets: $24/Ages 12+, $19/Ages 2-11, Kids 1 and under FREE
Palouse Falls State Park
Palouse Falls Rd, LaCrosse, WA 99143
Palouse Falls State Park is a day use park with a beautiful waterfall. There is a chance of seeing many animals (birds, deer, bats, snakes), but you will definitely see marmots near the parking area. There are many and the pop in and out of holes all around the top of the park.
Note: There is little to no cell service in the area.
Discover Pass required to access. $30/year or $10/day pass
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
5400 N Pearl St, Tacoma, WA 98407
Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium has many animal exhibits including, Pacific Seas Aquarium, Asian Forest, Arctic Tundra, Rocky Shores, Kids' Zone, and Red Wolf Woods. They've also got the Discovery Hut, where you can meet a wild wonder up-close and learn fun facts about how they live and what makes them unique. The animals vary depending on the day, but include a tamandua, beavers, an aardvark, a sloth, and a radiated tortoise. They also have a carousel and a nature play garden.
Online Tickets: $20/Ages 13+, $15/Ages 3-12, Kids 2 and under FREE
Front Gate Tickets: $23/Ages 13+, $17/Ages 3-12, Kids 2 and under FREE
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