Hilmar Cheese Factory
Ages: 0 and up
Cost: Free - factory tours are free
Parking: Yes - lot
Features: Picnic Area, Shop, Restaurant, Restrooms, Handicap Accessible, Family Friendly, Changing Table
Daisy, the Jersey Cow mascot of the world-acclaimed Hilmar Cheese Factory, will show how cheese is made, and what role cows and factories play in the process, during her "mooovie" and interactive exhibit. Learn about the mechanics of cow milking, the process that raw milk goes through, and what products are made with dairy (besides milk and cheese)!
The Factory's visitor center is also a lovely little shop and café. Find gourmet food gifts, locally produced wines and cheeses, and even farm-themed toys and home décor in the store. The café serves gourmet sandwiches soups, salads, and features a kid's menu. Enjoy eating inside or outside on the patio, or in even nicer weather, take your lunch out to the waterfall and picnic areas on the east side of the center.
The self-guided tour of the Hilmar Visitor Center is available anytime, though the center is closed on major holidays, and occasionally the upstairs exhibits are closed due to reserved, private events. The center is opened from 7am-7pm daily.
Free guided visitor center tours are available on the weekends, January through October, at 10am and 11am. From mid-June to late-August, free guided tours are offered daily, Monday through Friday at 11am and 1pm.
1 Reviews
busyndizzy
Reviewed on 03/03/2011
The Hilmar Cheese Factory has a great Visitor Center with self-guided, interactive exhibits for children of all ages. The lower level of the center is a café and a store, but also features a "mooovie": a short but informative film that is geared to children 5-10 years old and summarizes how the cheese at Hilmar is made. After watching the movie, be sure to go upstairs and explore the exhibits and stations that further the learning. Our...more
