Clark's Elioak Farm

Our daughter loves seeing and interacting with different animals, so we decided to take her to Clark's Elioak Farm since it was advertised as a petting farm. Well, after paying $10 for two adults and a two year old, we went in to find all of the animals behind fences. The only way to pet them was if we were lucky enough for them to walk up against the fence and stood in a way that my toddler could get her arm through the fence to pet them. They also had food in gumball style machines that could be fed to some of the animals, but that cost even more money! We have a better time for free by going to Kinder Farm Park in Millersville, where we can see the animals, and often get to interact with them face to face as they are being taken care of.

On top of the horrible experience inside, we had to stand in line for about 40 minutes to get in, even though there were only a dozen or so families in front of us. The only registers at which to pay were in a store where people were buying other stuff at the same time there were people trying to get into the farm.

PROS:
CONS: A "petting farm" where you have to stand behind a fence.

Clark's Elioak Farm has a perfect mix of relaxation and fun for all members of the family. The farm is sprawling, so even when there are a lot of visitors, it doesn't feel crowded. There are a lot of activities, including a tractor pulled wagon ride (which goes through woods and by a pond and is well worth the trip) and a great petting area with such animals as young chickens and ducks as well as the standard goats. There is both a big and small hay maze at Halloween and often little crafts available at the covered picnic area. There is a shop with snacks and the staff are friendly and efficient. It's a great way to spend a day!