5 Farm & Animal Experiences in and Around Simi Valley

If your idea of a great getaway includes getting nose-to-nose with a goat, watching a tiger work with a student trainer, or hand-feeding a giraffe, Simi Valley puts plenty of animal adventures within reach.

From working farms in nearby Moorpark to world-class zoos in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, you can fill a weekend with experiences that bring you closer to animals and the people who care for them.

Take a look at just how close these experiences are when you stay in Simi Valley.

Close to Simi Valley

1. Underwood Family Farms

For a classic farm experience, head to Underwood Family Farms in nearby Moorpark.

The Animal Center is home to baby goats, a mini cow, ponies, alpacas, emus, chickens, ducks, sheep, bunnies, a donkey, Percheron horses, and Scottish Highland cattle. Feed and pet some of the animals, take a tractor-drawn wagon ride, or let the kids burn off energy on the farm’s play structures.

There’s plenty more to do beyond the animals.

Depending on the season, you can pick your own fruits and vegetables, browse the Farm Market, or time your visit around a seasonal celebration.

Spring brings the Tulip Garden Experience and Springtime Easter Festival, while summer and fall offer seasonal produce and the popular Fall Harvest Festival, complete with a giant pumpkin patch and themed weekends. Christmas on the Farm rounds out the year.

🕐 Hours: 9 am–6 pm daily, with hours changing to 9 am–5 pm beginning November 1.
🌤️ Best time to visit: Go in the morning, especially on warm days, for cooler temperatures in the animal area and fields.
💡 Pro tip: Check what’s currently available to pick before you go. The crops change with the seasons, so your experience can be different every time.

2. Apricot Lane Farms

If you’ve watched The Biggest Little Farm, you may recognize Apricot Lane Farms.

Seeing this 234-acre working farm in person offers a closer look at the ideas behind the film. Guided tours explain how the farm uses regenerative agriculture to grow food while creating a biodiverse ecosystem.

The tour includes stops at the Fertility Center, Fruit Basket Orchard, Market Garden, and Wildlife Habitat Ponds.

You’ll also visit the pastures, where you can meet some of the farm’s working animals and learn how they fit into the larger ecosystem.

🕐 Hours: Guided tours are offered Saturdays at 9 am and 1 pm, February through October.
🌤️ Best time to visit: Choose the 9 am tour for cooler temperatures and an early start to your day.
💡 Pro tip: Reserve your spot ahead of time. Tours are limited, and this is a working farm rather than a drop-in attraction.

3. The Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College

Here’s an animal experience you won’t find just anywhere: a zoo that doubles as a living classroom.

The Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College gives students in the Animal Care and Training program hands-on experience working with animals, while visitors get to watch those skills in action.

The zoo is home to exotic animals including tigers and lions, and the experience is more interactive than simply walking past exhibits.

Daily programming includes a 12:15 pm training demonstration highlighting the relationship between students and the animals in their care.

🕐 Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 11 am–4:30 pm.
🌤️ Best time to visit: Fall and spring are usually a bit quieter.
💡 Pro tip: Build your visit around the 12:15 pm training demonstration, then give yourself time to explore the zoo before or afterward.

Day Trip Experiences

4. Santa Barbara Zoo

For a day trip with an ocean-view backdrop, make the drive to the Santa Barbara Zoo.

Here, you can see animals ranging from Masai giraffes and Humboldt penguins to gorillas, red pandas, and kangaroos. The Australian Walkabout brings you close to kangaroos and wallabies, while the Zoo Train circles the property.

Want to make your visit even more memorable? Hand-feed a Masai giraffe, brush miniature goats, or book a wildlife experience featuring animals such as penguins and kangaroos.

🕐 Hours: 9:30 am–7 pm during spring and summer; 9:30 am–5 pm during fall and winter.
🌤️ Best time to visit: Arrive at opening so you have plenty of time to explore.
💡 Pro tip: If giraffe feeding is on your must-do list, check the schedule when you arrive. Feeding times can change based on weather and animal behavior.

5. Los Angeles Zoo

For an even bigger wildlife adventure, head toward Griffith Park and spend the day at the Los Angeles Zoo.

Its exhibits take you around the globe, from African grasslands and the Australian outback to the New World tropics.

Start with the Campo Go

rilla Reserve, where large viewing windows offer close-up views of gorillas in a multilevel habitat filled with greenery and waterfalls. Then wander through the Rainforest of the Americas to see jaguars, howler monkeys, giant otters, tapirs, and colorful poison dart frogs. The LAIR offers a completely different experience, with more than 60 species of reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates.

🕐 Hours: 10 am–5 pm daily.
🌤️ Best time to visit: Arrive when the zoo opens and plan to spend most of the day there.
💡 Pro tip: Pick a few must-see habitats before you arrive. With so much to cover, a short list of priorities can help you make the most of your day.

Make Simi Valley Your Animal Adventure Base

From feeding farm animals and picking fresh produce to watching student trainers work with exotic animals, Simi Valley makes it easy to add an animal experience to your getaway. When you’re ready to venture farther, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles open the door to even more wildlife encounters.

👉 Pick a place to stay in Simi Valley and start planning your adventure.