Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Williams Reindeer Farm



 Did you know we had a reindeer farm in Palmer? Williams Reindeer Farm has been around since 1987 and continues to grow with animals! We went with some friends a couple of weeks ago to check it out. The drive out to Palmer was such a pretty one with the leaves changing. What drive isn't pretty in Alaska though?


 I think the price is right on for what you get. $7 for adults and $5 per child (3-11) and 2 and under are free. The tour includes information about the animals, entering the reindeer pen to feed them and up close to moose, bison and elk.


 We went to feed some elk first. Look at that animals head compared to Brooke! I think its eyeball is bigger then her face! She wasn't afraid though. I had to pull her back a little just cause one elk was getting a weird look about it. You know, like I think I'm going to bite your child look. Mother intuition I guess. The elk were cool to watch especially the one male with the huge antlers. We were expecting to see some action because it was mating season. But nothing probably best with the kids being there. How would we explain that!


 Before we went into the pen we were briefed on do's and don'ts. Very helpful with small kids. This is my favorite picture of our day. All three of my kids....wait, I mean two of them waiting for food. Of course I couldn't hand it out fast enough because I HAD to take a picture! Little advice bring 2 adults if you are bringing kids. One for all the photo ops and the other to hand out the food cause it goes fast! Mind you I also had Kora strapped to my back.


 The kids loved feeding the little reindeer. There were a couple adult reindeer with HUGE antlers that were a little intimidating. They all gathered around Brooke. I was more nervous then she was! All the reindeer were great, I just had to shove the adult reindeer a little out of the way so Kaden wouldn't freak out. He didn't like the large adult.



 When all the food was gone, we visited Denali the Moose. We got to feed him too. Kaden was helping Brooke feed him, too cute.

 
  I even got to "kiss" a moose! Well that's about as close as I got to his lips. But pretty close by my standards! One of our little friends "kissed" a moose as well! Kaden didn't want anything to do with kissing a moose. Maybe next year he will follow in his mothers footsteps.

 There is also a bison that we got to visit. Sorry, I didn't get the greatest of photos to share. But I learned so much! Did you know female and male reindeer grow antlers? There is actually one reindeer there that has horns and the rest have antlers. I did not learn how that happened though. Ill have to ask next time we go back.

 So for the bad news, the farm is only open for events or appointment only for the winter. But there is a Halloween and Christmas event going on! The following info was copied from their site.

 "Every Saturday in October 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th
10am-6pm  $10 per person age 3 and up (2 and under FREE)
Price includes:
*Reindeer Tour
*Hay Maze (look for the Tootsie Roll Bandit)
*Wagon Ride-Its pulled by a tractor..not a reindeer (sorry)
*Pony rides (If it's icy, these will not be offered) Pony rides are available to kids age 12 and under. One time around, additional rides available for $5.

*Pappy's Pumpkin Patch!-Come choose your pumpkin from the pumpkin patch! Come early in the month for the best selection. (pumpkins at additional cost)

Friday Oct 28, Sat Oct 29, Monday Oct 31 Only
From 6pm-10pm the Maze is HAUNTED! (not recommended for young children) $10 each/ Maze only."
Christmas Fun!We will be open from 10am-6pm every Saturday and ALL of Christmas break 10am-6pm. Price is $10 per person, ages 3 and up. (2 and under FREE)
Price includes:
*Reindeer Tour
*Wagon Ride- pulled by a tractor
*Visits with Santa from 11am-12pm and 3pm-5pm
*Holiday light show (after dark) stay warm in your car as you watch lights dance to music played through your car stereo.
*Elf Story time 1pm and 2pm

We have some special Theme days, all of the above and the price is the same $10 each, but you get even MORE for your money!!

Saturday Dec 3rd -Family Photo Day. We will have a professional photographer on site for you to get your family photo taken with Santa, his Reindeer and sleigh. You will get a CD of your photo for you to reprint however you choose.

Saturday Dec 10th- Elf's Workshop. Come and make a craft with Santa's Elves as they prepare for Christmas Day!

Saturday Dec 17-Reindeer Games. Come play games just like the Reindeer do! It's how they de-stress before their biggest day of the year! Games are geared for Young children. Prizes for all!

Daily Monday Dec 19th-Dec 24th. We will be CLOSED Christmas Day. We will reopen Dec 26th- Jan 1st for regular Reindeer tours at Regular admission prices.


 We grabbed our groupon for the Fall Fun and will be doing the Christmas event as well!! Be sure to watch them run in the Running of the Reindeer Fur Rondy held in Anchorage as well. They are also on facebook!

 We had a great time! The kids and I loved it and look forward to bringing visitors out there next summer!