Mary in Vancity

No one prepares you to become the mom of a teenager. Gone is the sweet baby boy who loved being part of events and family outings, and in its place we have a sullen, moody teen whose favourite pastime is to complain about every little thing; and an outing that used to be a family favourite is now an ordeal. We headed out to Maan Farms, not totally aligned on the plan. One of us was into it, one of us was not. It happens. The drive out from Vancouver is easy, about an hour to Abbotsford, so at least you’re not dealing with a complicated start on top of everything else.

I didn’t go in expecting a perfect day. Just something to do together, get outside a bit, and see what the farm had going on for spring.

The Baby Animals (This Is the Main Event)

If you’re going, go for the baby animals.

That’s where the energy is, and it’s what makes the whole experience.

I love baby goats, so I was already sold, but one of them climbed onto me and fell asleep, which honestly sealed it. I stayed there longer than I planned to because you don’t interrupt that kind of moment.

There are ducklings, chicks, lambs, all of it, and you can actually spend time with them instead of just looking from a distance. Dylan fed the donkeys and ended up holding a baby duck, which was a highlight whether he admits it or not.

It’s the kind of experience that pulls you in without trying too hard.

Enough to Do That It Flows

There’s a good mix of things spread across the farm, so the day doesn’t feel repetitive.

We walked through the tulip forest, which is a nice way to break things up and take a few photos, then moved on to everything else. There are climbing areas, swings, open space to wander, and enough going on that you can just follow what feels interesting instead of sticking to a plan. Pro tip: The giant tea house is a perfect spot to take a cute picture.

It makes it easy to stay longer than you expect.

The Food (And the Real Surprise)

We stopped for food partway through and kept it simple. Chicken fingers and a chicken curry bowl, both solid, exactly what you want in the middle of a day like this.

But the standout was the desserts.

We tried a few, including the Magical Tree Ice Cream. It looks like it’s all about presentation, but the surprise was the cotton candy. It had a green apple flavour that actually worked, not overly sweet, a bit tart, and way better than expected.

Definitely save room for this part.

Worth It?

The baby animals are the highlight, the food holds up, and there’s enough going on to keep the day moving without overthinking it. It’s an easy outing, close enough to the city, and flexible enough that you can make it your own pace. And even though my teen wasn’t into it at the beginning, by the end, he was fully in it, just in that quieter way teens are. You could see it in the way he stayed, in the way he engaged, in the way he didn’t rush us out. It ended up being worth it, not just for the experience, but for that little bit of time where he was still just a kid enjoying it.

And sometimes that’s exactly what you need.