Picture yourself in Florida, wandering down a quiet dirt road, and stumbling onto a shaggy, teddy-bear-like creature that gently leans in for a hug. Highland cows, with their swooshy bangs and long curly coats, have become one of the sweetest surprises hiding across the Sunshine State.
Better yet, plenty of family-run farms let you actually pet, brush, and cuddle these gentle giants without spending a fortune. Here are nine places where you can meet these fluffy charmers up close.
1. Rooterville Animal Sanctuary, Melrose
If actual cow cuddling is the goal, Rooterville is one of the strongest matches in Florida. This animal sanctuary near Gainesville offers private Highland Cow Cuddle sessions rather than simply letting visitors admire the cattle from behind a fence.
Guests can spend time brushing, petting and cuddling the sanctuary’s fluffy Highland cows, including Jett, one of its best-known residents. Rooterville currently advertises 30-minute and 45-minute Highland cuddle sessions, along with a longer Ultimate Cow Cuddling experience.
The sanctuary says its Highland family also includes Penny, Phoebe and Zoe, although which animals participate can naturally vary. Visitors can combine the encounter with time seeing pigs, goats and other farm residents.
Rooterville also offers farm stays and other private animal experiences. Reservations are particularly important for cuddle sessions, with the sanctuary recommending booking at least 24 hours ahead.
2. Whispering Oaks Miniature Ranch, Clermont
Whispering Oaks Miniature Ranch provides a surprisingly rural escape within easy driving distance of Orlando’s major attractions. Located in Clermont, roughly 40 minutes from Walt Disney World, the ranch specializes in miniature cattle and gives visitors opportunities to get much closer than they would during a conventional farm tour.
Its Highland-focused experience is built around interacting with the shaggy cattle, making this a particularly appealing stop for families and travelers who have fallen in love with the breed’s distinctive long coats and horns. Visits are scheduled rather than casual drop-ins, so checking available tour dates before making the drive is essential.
The ranch operates its experiences even during light rain, although severe weather can cause delays or cancellations. With open countryside replacing theme-park crowds, Whispering Oaks offers a completely different side of Central Florida and a chance to spend some hands-on time around miniature Highland cattle.
3. Dim Jandy Ranch, Fort Myers
Dim Jandy Ranch is one of the Florida farms where the word snuggling is genuinely justified. The Fort Myers property specifically advertises Highland cow snuggling and currently introduces visitors to Marsala, its Highland calf.
That makes it a much stronger fit for this list than farms where Highland cattle can only be viewed from a distance. The ranch combines its cow experience with several other unusual ways to spend time around animals, including goat yoga, goat snuggling and a farm-stay Airbnb.
Visitors do not need previous yoga experience to participate in those sessions, and the emphasis is more on enjoying the animals than perfecting poses. An overnight stay adds even more farm atmosphere, with opportunities to encounter goats, chickens and donkeys around the property.
Dim Jandy is located on Pinto Lane in Fort Myers, and experiences should be booked ahead rather than treating the property like a walk-in petting zoo.
4. Eastside Acres Ranch, Port St. Lucie
Eastside Acres Ranch brings a little slice of country life to Port St. Lucie. Its Scottish Highland cattle were actually among the first animals welcomed to the family farm, and today they share the property with miniature cows, alpacas, goats, sheep, miniature horses, donkeys, rabbits, pigs and poultry.
The ranch’s Farm Visit experience is designed to be hands-on, with visitors able to get close to animals, feed them and explore the petting areas rather than simply watch from afar. Eastside Acres also advertises cow cuddles among its farm activities, although interactions always depend on individual animals.
Regular farm visits are offered on selected dates and reservations are required. Private tours are another option.
The ranch sits on 21 acres near the St. Lucie County Fairgrounds, giving families plenty of space to slow down, meet the animals and take photographs while experiencing a surprisingly pastoral side of South Florida.
5. Tiny Hiney Farm, Fort Myers
Tiny Hiney Farm packs an impressive number of miniature animals into its Fort Myers property, but its miniature Highland cattle are among the obvious stars. The farm currently lists a herd of five miniature Highland cattle, including Otis, LC, Louis V, Button and Maybelline.
Regular guided tours run for about an hour and allow guests to meet and feed animals while learning about daily farm life. For visitors primarily interested in the cows, the VIP tour is the better match.
That experience specifically includes entering animal areas and brushing and petting a miniature Highland cow. Tiny Hiney has also offered a limited-time morning experience involving bottle-feeding a baby miniature Highland.
The farm is home to miniature donkeys, ponies, Nigerian Dwarf goats, chickens, ducks and other small animals as well. Most importantly for trip planning, Tiny Hiney is reservation-only and does not accept casual walk-in visitors, so booking ahead is essential.
6. Mini Moo Land at Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures, Kissimmee
Mini Moo Land may be the easiest Highland experience to add to an Orlando vacation. Located at Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures, the attraction is devoted specifically to hands-on time with fluffy Scottish Highland cattle.
Visitors can pet the cows, hand-feed them approved food and use grooming brushes to comb their famously shaggy coats. Unlike several reservation-only farms on this list, Mini Moo Land currently welcomes walk-ins and operates seven days a week.
A typical visit lasts around 45 minutes, although guests are not hurried away when their allotted average time expires. Feed and grooming brushes are included with admission.
Its Kissimmee location also creates an unusual combination: visitors can meet Highland cattle and then take an airboat ride through Florida wetlands on the same property. There are additional attractions including a butterfly garden and gem-mining activity, making this one of the easiest options for families.
7. The Old Citrus Estate, Port St. Lucie
The Old Citrus Estate takes a calmer approach to the farm-animal experience. Spread across 22 acres in Port St. Lucie, this family-owned wellness farm and micro-retreat focuses on connecting visitors with animals and nature rather than operating as a conventional roadside petting zoo.
Most importantly for Highland fans, the estate specifically lists a mini Highland cow among its cuddle-trained animals. The wider animal family also includes Nigerian Dwarf goats, miniature donkeys, Netherland Dwarf rabbits and chickens.
Experiences vary throughout the year, with the property hosting activities such as Cuddles & Coffee, children’s camps, goat fitness and seasonal events. That means travelers should check the current schedule rather than assume Highland interaction is available every day.
The relaxed format makes The Old Citrus Estate particularly appealing for visitors who want more than a quick photograph. Its emphasis is on slowing down, interacting respectfully with animals and enjoying a quieter patch of Florida countryside.
8. The Rustic Ranch, New Smyrna Beach
The Rustic Ranch is a newer Central Florida option that has built its visitor experience around miniature farm animals. Located on South State Road 415 in New Smyrna Beach, the ranch keeps miniature Highland cows alongside miniature horses, miniature donkeys, Nigerian Dwarf goats, chickens and other farm residents.
The attraction specifically encourages hands-on interaction, allowing guests to feed, pet and spend time with its animals in a supervised farm setting. That makes it a legitimate Highland cow stop rather than simply a cattle breeder that happens to allow occasional visitors.
The ranch also emphasizes education, giving children a chance to learn how the animals are cared for while enjoying the more entertaining side of feeding and petting them. The miniature Highlands naturally attract plenty of attention thanks to their compact size and shaggy coats.
Current published hours include Saturday visits, but operating schedules can change, so checking directly before driving to New Smyrna Beach is advisable.
9. Hodges Hidden Highlands Farm, Middleburg
Hodges Hidden Highlands Farm offers one of the more immersive Highland experiences in North Florida. Located in Middleburg, between the Jacksonville and Orlando regions, the farm combines Highland cattle encounters with glamping, children’s activities and other farm experiences.
Visitors can book a guided experience to meet the herd, learn about Highland cattle and enjoy up-close animal interactions and photographs. Some offerings go even further.
The farm advertises an experience involving bottle-feeding baby Highland calves when available, while its glamping stays can include time around a friendly baby Highland cow and other animals. Families can also find scheduled farm programs that introduce children to Highland cows, goats, sheep, chickens and llamas while teaching basic animal care and farm routines.
Because experiences and calf availability vary, this is not a place where visitors should expect guaranteed baby-cow cuddling on any random day. Booking the appropriate encounter beforehand is the safest approach.
Share this story
