Intimate Barnyard Encounters at The Gentle Barn — Family Tour in Christiana

CHRISTIANA CITY TOUR FIELD GUIDE

Intimate Barnyard Encounters at The Gentle Barn — Family Tour in Christiana

A two-hour, donation-based small-group session where families brush, pet and hear the resilience stories of rescued farm animals—useful for planning a close-knit visit to The Gentle Barn in Tennessee.

Intimate Barnyard Encounters at The Gentle Barn — Family Tour in Christiana.

Duration
Contact operator
Location
Christiana
Operator
The Gentle Barn - Tennessee
Category
City Tour
Robert Eric Crews
Founder & Editor, The Adventure Collective
Published Verified

Set amid The Gentle Barn’s farm in Christiana, Tennessee, the Family Tour is a deliberately intimate, two-hour barnyard experience for 1–10 guests that pairs hands-on animal time with simple, humane storytelling. Over the course of a session you’ll groom and pet a variety of rescued animals, learn the animals’ stories of resilience and compassion from a guide, and move through the barn at an easy, family-friendly pace.

Highlights

Outing Highlights

THE ENCOUNTERS

Close, Calm Animal Time

Brush cows, meet horses, cuddle turkeys, hold chickens and interact with goats, sheep and pigs in a barnyard set up for safe, gentle encounters with rescued animals.

THE FORMAT

Small-group, Two-hour Sessions

Sessions are designed for intimate groups—up to ten guests and typically for one to two households—so the experience is paced for connection rather than crowds.

THE LESSONS

Stories of Resilience and Compassion

Beyond hands-on time, guides share the animals’ stories and what they teach about forgiveness, unconditional love and living in the moment.

What the day feels like

How the Family Tour Feels

The Family Tour unfolds like a slow, affectionate walk through a storybook farm: guests move through animal areas with a guide, engage in grooming and petting sessions, cuddle or hold smaller birds and mammals, and listen as the animals’ histories and lessons are shared. It’s structured to maximize calm, meaningful contact while keeping the animals’ routines and comfort first.

Suitability

Who it's for

Who this visit suits — and clear limits to keep the experience intimate and safe.

1
Active FamiliesA strong match: the program is described as suitable for all ages and is organized around hands-on animal interactions appropriate for children and adults when supervised.
2
Small HouseholdsIdeal for one to two households—sessions are sized for intimate groups and capped at ten guests to preserve the calm barnyard setting.
3
Large or Mixed Public GroupsNot ideal: mixed groups of unrelated guests should consider a Private Party Tour rather than this small, donation-based Family Tour.
4
Budget-Minded TravelersKeep in mind the listed donation for a Family Tour is $400, which covers the session for the whole small group.

Practical planner

Details to review before reserving

Timing & Schedule

Two-hour sessions run on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday with time slots at 10:00–12:00 or 14:00–16:00.

What to Bring

Closed-toe shoes are strictly required to enter animal areas; sturdy closed-toe footwear suitable for a farm environment is recommended.

Group Size & Cost

Sessions accommodate 1–10 guests (recommended for 1–2 households). The listed donation for a Family Tour session is $400.

Animal Availability

The Gentle Barn prioritizes animal welfare: animals eat on a schedule and may not always be available for interaction during every tour.

Booking Notice

Review cancellation policies before reserving.

Frequently asked questions

Planning Your Outing

How long is the Family Tour?

Each Family Tour is a two-hour session.

What days and times are tours held?

Sessions are held on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday with time slots at 10:00–12:00 or 14:00–16:00.

How many people can attend?

Tours are for 1–10 guests and are intended for one to two households.

What does the donation cover and how much is it?

The Family Tour is donation-based with a listed donation of $400 for the session.

Are children allowed?

Yes—the Family Tour is described as for all ages.

What footwear is required?

Closed-toe shoes are strictly required to enter animal areas; sandals or open-toed shoes are not permitted for safety reasons.

What if an animal is not available during my visit?

Animals live on a schedule and may not always be available; the operator designs tours around animal welfare and routine.