Mass Audubon's Drumlin Farm — Attraction in Lincoln

To be clear, this is a working farm/wildlife sanctuary, not a zoo or petting zoo. That being said, it's still a great place to bring kids, to see and learn about the various farm animals they raise there (cows, horses, pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, rabbits), as well as some native species like foxes, skunks and various birds, and also learn about how crops are grown and harvested.

They offer a preschool and a summer camp, as well as other daily programming for visitors throughout the week. There are plenty of walking/nature trails and good picnic spots, as well as restrooms for visitors, but no snack bars or souvenir stands (again, this is not a zoo). There is a gift shop at the entrance that sells a small assortment of bottled beverages and frozen treats, nature-themed gifts/toys and childrens' books, with proceeds helping to fund the Massachusetts Audubon Society. You can also purchase meat and other seasonal products of the farm.

It gets busy in the Spring when the baby sheep and goats are born, so if you plan on visiting on a weekend during that time I'd recommend reserving a parking spot and buying tickets (or a yearly membership, if so inclined)...

This farm wants to profit from families with service dogs but refuses to provide equal service! Before our visit, I confirmed over the phone that dogs were allowed. At the ticket counter, we also informed the staff that our dog is a psychiatric support dog, and we were allowed to enter without issue.

Throughout the visit, we carefully followed the rules, including avoiding the newborn lambs as advised. However, in a room of the cow barn — an empty space with no people or animals — an elderly staff member suddenly rushed out, called us “ridiculous,” and demanded that we leave. At that moment, we were just trying to take a photo of our dog near a small gate (as shown below). My boyfriend and I were blocking the doorway, keeping the dog completely restricted. The dog was calm and did not move around.

Later, I tried to call and file a complaint. The receptionist refused to communicate, saying the person who kicked us out was the Director of Livestock and that “if she says you have to leave, then you have to leave.” Then she hung...

The set up is brilliant. It is basically a big oval with stops of the main trail. My little boys (ages 4 and 2.5) could spend the entire day here. It was a warm winter day this day. Wearing rain or snow boots would be ideal so they could splash in the many puddles and mud. There are not places to eat, so bring snacks, drinks and lunch. If you live close by, it is worth becoming a member so that you can come drop by anytime and use the other trails around the area. For boys who like trucks, there are large tractors and farm equipment to see. The cleanest bathrooms are up at the...