PLEASE NOTE: This post was written in 2019, and while it should still give you a good overview of the experience, it may also contain some outdated information. Please be sure to visit their website for the most up-to-date information, especially about things like hours & pricing.
2019 Post:
About a decade ago–B.C. (before children)–my husband and I were driving back from somewhere in northern New England (probably New Hampshire) and, for reasons we cannot even begin to remember or comprehend, we took a crazy detour off in the woods and stopped at an ice cream shop. I remember that the ice cream was delicious, and I have a vague memory of some alpacas (or possibly llamas) in a pen. (This was before kids and all, so petting zoos weren’t exactly on my radar–haha.) But before long we couldn’t remember the name of the place or even the town where it was located!
So for years, YEARS! I have been trying to track down this ice cream place. With no luck whatsoever. We kept going to places I thought might be it, but then, alas, no.
I was beginning to think that either A. the place didn’t exist anymore or B. I made the whole thing up to begin with (so many of my B.C. memories have become fuzzy). But then one day a couple months ago, I shared our Favorite Ice Cream Destinations post on our Facebook page. As our readers often do when I share that post, we got lots of new recommendations for places we should try and add to our list. And one comment caught my attention. It was about a place in Massachusetts, with a catchy name and a petting zoo. That was it. I just knew it.
And sure enough, several weeks later when we made our pilgrimage to the Gran-Val Scoop in Granville, MA, my suspicions were confirmed. We had found our mystery ice cream place! And now I’m excited to share it with all of you (now make sure you write this down or bookmark this post or something because I tell you this place gives you some kind of amnesia. LOL).
There is a decent size parking area between the ice cream shop and the petting zoo.
We headed in to order our frozen treats.
When everyone had their cones (well, actually, after that scoop overboard incident I made the little guy put his new cone in a dish–but close enough), we headed back out to visit with the friendly animals in their FREE petting zoo. (By the way, according to their website, the petting zoo is free even if you aren’t buying any ice cream! You can just come by to visit the animals–though I dare you to try that and NOT sample some ice cream. Haha.)
Out in the barnyard you’ll also find two more seating areas. One is out in the open and adjacent to a little play area; the other is covered.
Afterwards, we headed to the restrooms to wash our hands. It’s always a good idea to wash your hands after touching animals, even if you’re done eating your ice cream.
Gran-Val Scoop also has lots of fun events happening throughout the summer and fall:
I’m so excited to have finally FINALLY found this place (again). And to know that, three kids later, I haven’t quite lost all my marbles…yet 🙂
223 GRANBY ROAD, GRANVILLE, MA
413-357-0164
Hours (2019):
Open 7 days a week!
MID-APRIL TO MID-OCTOBER
11:30 AM to 9 PM
Pricing (2019):
Details:
Stroller Friendly: YES
Coffee Mug Friendly: YES
Restroom: YES
Baby Changing Station: NO
Parking: YES
Food for Sale: YES (if ice cream counts!)
Outside Food Allowed: I don’t think they’d mind so long as you are enjoying it outside.
Cash Required: No; credit cards accepted (Unless you want to buy feed from the machines; then you’ll need coins.)
Dress Code: A hot day, a drippy ice cream cone, a slow walk around a barnyard– I’d pick an outfit that you won’t mind getting a little sticky. LOL.
Age Recommendation: All ages
Evening/Weekend Hours: YES
Birthday Party Venue: YES. Find more information HERE.
Discounts: N/A
Love this post? Here are some others to check out!
Out and About Mom is 100% funded by the generous support of our sponsors. Interested in advertising opportunities with Out and About Mom? Get more info here.
Want to keep up with things to do with kids in Connecticut?
Check back every week as we dish up more Momsense for getting out and about with your little ones. Don’t have time to check back in? Let us send you an automatic notification of new posts straight to your email inbox by signing up here. Also, you can like us on Facebook and Twitter or follow us on Instagram to keep up with the latest posts and get some extra tidbits we share only through those sites.
