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White Post Farms in Melville: Pony Rides, Petting Zoo, and Much More

White Post Farms in Melville: Pony Rides, Petting Zoo, and Much More


White Post Farms in Melville has been owned by the Brigati family for more than a century. It got its name in 1971 from the popularity of its farm stand. Each generation of Brigatis slightly evolved the farm to what it is today--an incredible property that includes:

  • A working crop farm, which has grown everything from potatoes to flowers
  • A petting zoo, which features exotic animals and birds, as well as farm classics
  • A large selection of playgrounds and a giant sandbox, often filled with bouncy inflatables
  • A market where you can purchase fresh produce and delicious cakes and breads
  • An annual Fall Farm Festival, the farm’s most celebrated event each year

 

Playgrounds at White Post Farms

Little houses at White Post Farms Playground

We started at the playgrounds. It was impressive to see all the variations of play areas available at White Post Farms. My favorite was the lane of miniature houses. Some kids were running in and out of each one while others were busy pretending to be a shop owner or living in one of the homes. Next to the lane of tiny houses is a big wooden boat with lots of things for climbing and sliding.

If you keep walking you come upon a huge sandbox. During our visit the sandbox had about seven giant inflatable bouncers, including bouncy houses and obstacle courses. Friendly staff managed each station to ensure the children’s safety. Past the sandbox area are two additional playgrounds, one with larger playhouse and another with smaller toddler-sized climbing and sliding structures. My daughter liked the bouncy houses and slides best. My friend’s daughter loved the little houses.

RELATED: The 10 Best Playgrounds on Long Island
 

Petting Zoo and Pony Rides at White Post Farms

The Petting Zoo at White Post Farms

After the playground we headed to the impressive petting zoo. This interactive area is included with admission. But we wanted to feed the animals, so for an additional fee we bought buckets for the kids, which included: several cones filled with animal food, a bottle of milk for feeding baby animals, a token for a train ride, and a token for a pony ride.

The petting zoo was absolutely adorable and my favorite part of the day. I loved feeding the baby goats with bottles of milk. The girls loved this too and also enjoyed the cones filled with animal food, as the bigger goats seemed to prefer this over the bottles.

The farm has a lot of exotic animals, too, including a zebra, camels, and a giraffe. The monkeys were super playful to watch. You are also able to enter a bird atrium that is really unique. For an additional fee we purchased food with which to feed the birds. You have a choice between two atriums--one with smaller birds you feed with sticks, the other with larger birds you feed with cups of nectar. We picked the side with nectar and larger birds. You could bring the food right up to birds and they would feed from it.  My daughter had the thrill of her life when a bird decided to land in her hair. My special moment was when I got a splash on my head with, yes, bird poop.



After cleaning off we got in a short line to ride the ponies. These little guys were precious, and the handlers were friendly. You're allowed to walk next to your child or stand to the side and just watch. Both girls loved the pony rides.

RELATED: Check out the top NY-area day trips for families.
 

The Train Ride at White Post Farms

The train at White Post Farms

After feeding the birds we used our tokens to ride the train. This is an adorable miniature locomotive that rides a winding track surrounded by lush vegetation and flowers. The ride was cute and short. My friend and I stood from the sidelines and watched as our 5-year-olds enjoyed their 10 minutes of independence from us. Adults are allowed to ride the train, too.

 

White Post Farms Fall Festival

The day we visited happened to be during the annual Fall Festival. The farm really decks the property out with festive decorations ranging from pumpkins to spiders, but nothing really scary at all. It’s very family friendly. We ended our day with a fun, free hayride that drives you through a cornfield with a few props to set the Halloween tone. There is also a stop where you can get out and pick small pumpkins. You’re dropped off at an area where there are much larger pumpkins available for picking.

In addition to the hayride, the Fall Festival offers face painting for an additional fee and several free shows throughout the day.
 

Tips for Visiting White Post Farms

  • Cash only and prices seem to fluctuate, so check the website the day of your visit.
  • Very stroller friendly
  • There are likely many activities you’ll want to do that charge for an additional fee, so bring extra cash.
  • The sandbox area requires participants to take their shoes off; some kids left their socks on and some took them off, so you may want to bring a back up pair of socks.
  • There are bathrooms and food options on site. You can also bring your own food.
  • Parking is free.


RELATED: Discover the best family activities near you.


Here at NYMetroParents, we've got everything you need to have a safefun, and festive fall and Halloween season.  Whether it is pumpkin or apple picking, getting lost in a corn maze, making Halloween crafts or finding costumes and decorations, we're here to help. 

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Estée Pouleris

Author:

 Estée Pouleris is the creator behind blog familyroadtraveled.com. She lives in NYC with her boyfriend and their daughter. 

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