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5178 Japatul Spur Alpine, CA 91901 | (619) 320-4942|info@childrensnatureretreat.org

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Shopfotex2017-10-15T17:44:14-07:00

Location

The Farm is located on 20-acres
about a 40 minutes east of San Diego.
Hours of Operation: 10am - 5pm
We are open to the public 7 days a week.
Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
The Children’s Nature Retreat Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization, and its EIN is 20-4859019. All donations are 100% tax deductible.

Google Rating

Children's Nature Retreat Foundation

Keegan Huerta

22:59 14 Feb 26

Super fun experience for the whole family. We questioned if it would be worth the, but it absolutely was. It was pretty expensive. For a family of four it was about $150 with feed. There's no cell service out there so I'd recommend planning ahead for that aspect. Also, food options are limited. A pro tip would be to pack a little picnic as they have ample areas to sit below the trees.

Andrea Barnhart

16:48 03 Feb 26

Something so special and magical about this place. It made a lasting impression on our family and we will be back.

Hani Alqaji

03:12 03 Feb 26

Place was ok, prices were higher than it should be.

remy barnhart

02:40 03 Feb 26

Our experience was so amazing! They take such good care of their animals; it is clearly much more than a business to them.

Camila Lopez

19:06 21 Jan 26

We had a great time. Highlights were the zebra, the ostrich, softest bunny ever, and Spike the cat! Friendliest cat ever and he roams the grounds greeting people. I love Spike so much!

Allison Baker

23:01 18 Jan 26

This place is such a hidden gem. SO clean, I couldn’t believe it as I know how hard it is to keep a farm looking pristine. My son absolutely loved it!

Shawn Singleton

15:56 18 Jan 26

The experience was very pleasant. It had a very relaxed atmosphere and it was well runned. The staff was very nice. It was worth the time and money

Jessica Davidson

22:33 10 Jan 26

Genevieve Berry-Pye

16:01 30 Dec 25

We found this sanctuary online when looking for places to take our son to. It quickly became our favorite place, we visit once a week. Every time we drive through those gates, it feels like stepping into a different rhythm — slower, softer, and full of heart. There’s a calm that settles over me the moment I arrive, like all the noise of everyday life fades into the background. For a few precious hours, time seems to stand still.We spend our visits surrounded by the most amazing animals, each with their own story and personality. The people who care for them are just as special — kind, genuine, and truly devoted to every creature on the farm. They always greet us by name, take time to chat, and make our son feel like part of their family. He loves to feed the sheep, who are so patient and gentle with him.I love learning each animal’s name and backstory — it makes every visit feel personal and deeply grounding. If you ever feel weighed down by the world, this is the place to go. It’s impossible to leave without feeling lighter, calmer, and a little more connected to what really matters.And as a bonus — they grow the most delicious fruits and vegetables right there on the farm, fresh from the earth that gives this place so much life. If you are looking for a special place to take your family, I highly recommend it!

Kaitlin Lafreniere

15:41 30 Dec 25

My family went and had a wonderful time! The animals are clearly well cared for and the facility was incredibly clean. The staff were all very kind! There was hay to feed to some of the animals for purchase and they taught us the correct way to give it to the animals. Very peaceful place. Great, affordable family fun!

Katherine Rensink

09:24 30 Nov 25

We visited today and loved the experience of spending time with the animals! What I love even more is that the animals are well cared for with ample roaming space. There’s SO many animals and many are greedy, so definitely get two buckets of hay!The area is huge - way bigger than I thought it would be - and it’s very pretty. It’s very well maintained as well. The owner and her daughter (I think) are super sweet. Very happy place all around as an animal sanctuary should be!

Caroline Jullian

06:11 25 Nov 25

Super domaine, nous avons bien pu échanger avec la patronne.Je recommande à 100%

M S

18:15 02 Nov 25

Had a wonderful afternoon at the Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm. After a brief instructional video and signing some waivers we took off with a bucket of food and wandered around the grounds.Cannot wait to go back again, and look forward to seeing what produce is available for purchase on our next visit as the tomatoes were delicious!

Tracy Simmons

03:58 27 Oct 25

A very special place! Our entire family had the most enjoyable afternoon at the sanctuary farm; it is well laid out for easy walking, with many resting spots in the shade if needed. We went there for birthday celebration and Eileen helped deliver our lunch and birthday supplies to the picnic area, it was really relaxing. The animals are very well cared for, and very friendly! There was not an enclosure where an animal did not approach us, we didn't want to leave and will definitely be back!

Michal DeHart

05:15 19 Oct 25

❤️Such a well maintained, special sanctuary for these many animals! We love this place! So many pleasant places provided to sit and watch the animals and eat a picnic. Such fun feeding the animals with the hay and grain. And the large, thriving organic garden is amazing...I love the fresh vegetables (ripened on the vine!) to buy every visit!❤️

Amanda Levy

02:07 19 Oct 25

The owner and volunteers are very lovely and helpful. They definitely a good variety of primarily farm animals with some fun exotic animals sprinkled throughout. Every enclosure had an animal open to accepting food. Getting the hay bucket/bird feed is absolutely necessary for the experience. It's a bit pricey for the one-day "membership" but I'm sure their yearly memberships make the cost per visit more worth it. Overall a fun experience!

Víctor Avila

05:08 07 Oct 25

Jackie Stevens-santana

05:52 27 Sep 25

Julia Cerwin

23:26 19 Sep 25

It was fun, but it was expensive.

Dennis Wildey

21:16 13 Sep 25

Great place to take your kids.

Lesa Ghali

17:51 28 Aug 25

Sara Gabriele

03:32 18 Aug 25

Amazing hidden gem! It was so clean and peaceful and we were able to feed the animals and interact with them directly. We've never experienced anything like it. Highly recommend!

Arthur Hameister

16:36 15 Aug 25

Lorri Smith

01:38 04 Aug 25

Steele Sacks

21:41 03 Aug 25

A well laid out sanctuary for visitors to come see rescued animals.. Goats, peacocks sheep, horses, zebra, ostrich, chickens, (a) bison, ponies, tortoise and more.. would highly recommend just going to visit and support this wonderful cause. Very sweet ladies up front helping out as well.

cate sacks

21:40 03 Aug 25

The love I felt from the staff to the animals was clear especially when u hear the stories and see how happy and well kept they are. If you want a super fun easy walk with the family, a lived one or your kids while being able to feel, pet and talk to the animals on your way around the winding paths then this is a must. Thankyou for all that u do for these animals . The amount it costs in feed, care and work is huge.

Michael McCabe

16:07 27 Jul 25

Robert Swartchick

16:06 24 Jul 25

Alina Serrano

03:29 21 Jul 25

We’re a family of three and we’re always looking for local businesses to support and came across this business. Definitely worth the drive for the amount of animals they have. It is a little pricey ( spent about 120 for the three of us after entry fee and feed) but you can tell the animals are well taken care of which is what matters in the end. Would have loved for the entry fee to include some sort of experience but that’s all an additional cost.

Amanda Sandoval

20:54 20 Jul 25

Gaaron Varner

21:15 16 Jul 25

Friendly staff, cool animals lots to see and feed here

Masha Poses

03:30 27 Jun 25

AMAZING place!!! Beyond worth a visit!

nick natt

04:35 25 Jun 25

We loved it. The guided tour was awesome. You get to hear names and stories of all the animal's. Great time with kids!

Olivia InLove

22:00 24 Jun 25

This is the best place with pets, next time i want to take some delicious food and drinks with me, sit and watch these magnificent horses! and ostriches and peacocks are distinguished by their importance in the world!

Maria Gladwell

04:03 21 Jun 25

What a beautiful place! We got there around 12:30. The person on the front was very helpful and kind. We paid 85 for both me and my husband, and a bucket of food. We went in our own pace, saw all the animals and enjoyed. We left around 3pm. They have some snacks and produce from their own garden. Totally recommend it!

Chelsey Hinrichsen

00:57 02 Jun 25

It was so much fun to wander and explore to find new farm critters. Everyone who worked here was lovely, the grounds were immaculate (especially for a farm), and you can tell the animals are well cared for and loved. You won’t regret going.

Simone V

20:14 01 Jun 25

We recently went to the Animal Sanctuary for a field trip with our charter school and we all had a great time. There is a wide variety of animals that the kids got to see and learn about. We were also able to feed many of the animals. I definitely recommend it for a fun family or school trip.

Deborah Reichert

18:34 01 Jun 25

Really nice people running this animal sanctuary. Large area for animals to roam. Great educational tour and chance to interact with animals. Can get hot, bring snacks, water and lunch, there is a nice area to sit outside and eat in the shade.

Ben French

23:34 27 May 25

Absolutely amazing. U can feed all the animals hay and bird seed. Such a intimate little sanctuary. You know the money is going to animals. All staff super friendly

Jonathan

03:26 19 May 25

5 starsThe San Diego Animal Sanctuary and Farm is an absolute hidden gem! From the moment we walked in, it was clear how much love and care goes into every inch of this place. The animals are clearly well taken care of, and the staff is incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about conservation and animal welfare.We got to meet goats, pigs, emus, alpacas—you name it! And each animal has a story, a personality, and a home that feels safe and happy. It’s heartwarming to see a place so dedicated to giving animals a second chance and educating visitors about compassion and care for all creatures.Huge thank you to everyone who works and volunteers here—you’re doing such important work and creating lifelong memories for families like mine. We’ll definitely be back (and bringing friends)!

Samantha

01:39 19 May 25

I can't say enough about this special place! My husband and I took our 17 month old and we all had a blast. My son loved being pulled in a red wagon and also running around and getting his hands all over things. There's so much to explore; his little heart was so full and had the best time ever. We purchased bird feed and hay and we all loved feeding and interacting with the many animals they have. We purchased fresh produce afterwards from their farm. We ended up becoming annual members and can't wait to return and continue to support this wonderful animal sanctuary with an amazing mission.

Brett St. Cyr

00:02 05 May 25

Fantastic afternoon here. Everyone is super friendly. We spent about 4 hours walking through. Highly recommend checking this place out

Delon Leon

02:33 22 Apr 25

Amazing place for family and also to have quiet moment, look into these amazing green mountains

Linda Edith Lipovsky

01:49 21 Apr 25

Very Peaceful

Veronica S

20:58 19 Apr 25

My teen, toddler, husband, and I LOVED it here! 5-dollar buckets of hay and 2-dollar seeds to feed the animals, AND you can pet them! They give a guide on how to pet them via video before you walk around. You can purchase souvenirs, snacks, and fresh produce (herbs too). There is ample seating throughout to stop and eat. We came early in April, and it got a little too toasty. Bring your sunscreen. We fell in love with one of three cats we saw as one got comfy on our stroller, making our day since we missed our cats. There was even a cow that stole my heart. She was super gentle when being fed the hay. We plan to come here again on our next San Diego trip as it costs much less than the zoo!

Ronen Halevy

04:29 17 Apr 25

Kids had a blast. Great location

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West Africa

5178 Japatul Spur Alpine, CA 91901
(619) 320-4942
[email protected]

Directions from I-8 East:

-Take the Alpine/Tavern Road exit
-Turn right on Tavern Road belgesel izle
-After about 9 miles, turn left onto Japatul Spur
-The retreat entrance will be on the left after approximately 1/4 mile

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