The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is absolutely massive. This place is extremely huge, and honestly you…read morecould spend an entire day here and still not see everything. We showed up pretty late, so we were only able to do the Safari tour, which is one of the main attractions, but it was completely worth it. The way the Safari is laid out is unbelievable. Traveling through the park and seeing all the animals spread out across these huge open areas really makes you feel like you're on an actual safari. There's so much room and space for the animals to graze and move around naturally, and it was amazing seeing how different animals interacted with each other or how the sections were designed to feel natural and immersive. They also have a zip line that runs across the safari area and a hot air balloon that goes up and down over the park, plus plenty of other attractions and exhibits that we didn't even get a chance to see. Definitely worth checking out, especially the guided Safari tour portion. One important thing to note -- if you're searching for it online or using GPS, make sure you search for the "Safari Park" and not just the San Diego Zoo. The Safari Park is located up in the hills and is a completely different location from the actual zoo in downtown San Diego.

I'm not one for zoos but I decided to make an exception for this zoo with a twist: San Diego Zoo…read moreSafari Park. The San Diego Zoo is one of the most famous zoos in the U.S. Perhaps the best. The Safari Park is in a different location entirely, to the north of San Diego in Escondido. I stopped by on a Wednesday afternoon. Parking is easy in the large parking lot they have. Here's what's awesome about the Safari Park. If you pay for general admission, you'll have your typical zoo experience pretty much. If you shell out some extra cash for the safari, this is where it's a much cooler experience. I've been on a real safari many years ago in South Africa in Kruger National Park. Obviously this isn't as great but it's still memorable. Our safari consisted of a group of 12 people or so. Our tour guide was awesome. One of the best I've ever had. He was knowledgable, funny, and a lot of fun. For an hour, you'll cruise in the safari jeep checking out various animals like antelope, giraffes, and more up close. Unlike a safari in Africa, you're not going to pull up on any predators, but it's still enjoyable. It's a huge park. If you explore every nook and cranny there, you can spend the whole day there. We were there for about 3.5 hours (including the hour for the safari). Out of all of the areas we checked out, our favorites were the elephant area, platypus area, okapi area, the tiger area, and the kangaroo area. The platypus and okapi were awesome for the novelty. These are unique animals that you don't see every day. And the kangaroo area is especially epic because you're actually walking around in their habitat. Next thing you know, a kangaroo is hopping around a few feet away from you. Other popular areas include the lion area, the cheetah area, and the gorillas area. Part of the experience is going to be luck of the draw. A lot of animals are nocturnal so they sleep or rest (hidden away from the sun) during the day. Which means you might not even see them out there. For example, we didn't see any lions. If you show up right when they open, your chances are higher. Another issue I have with the park is it's quite expensive. California prices are a real thing but this was a little obscene. General admission is expensive. The add-ons are expensive. And the food and drinks there are expensive. Case in point: a soda for $15. A random guy even commented to me about how ridiculous the food and beverage prices are. Part of the proceeds go toward animal conservation, which is great and all, but the prices are just too high. All that being said, I did enjoy visiting.

We celebrated our daughters 9th birthday with family and friends at Wild Wonders and it was such an…read moreenjoyable experience. The animals were well cared for, the staff were kind, knowledgeable and professional, and the interaction with their animals was a memorable experience. It was a lot of fun too. We ended our party with a picnic at Wild Wonders and the area provided was clean, spacious, shaded and overlooking a nice view. Couldn't have asked for a better birthday for our daughter.

A beautiful wildlife preservation site where you can enjoy animal encounters with exotic animals!…read more - PARKING - We parked on the hill past the entrance of the business, and walked down. Pretty steep but it's a short walk. - SERVICE/ENVIRONMENT - Book your visit online! There are group rates and additional attendee rates, so just make sure you have the right count of people! Staff was very friendly from start to finish, and I loved seeing the enthusiasm shine through their work. It's not a huge site, so not a ton of walking involved, but there are some steps if you're worried about accessibility. Make sure to wear closed toed shoes! - EXPERIENCE - We booked a Wallaby encounter, and initially I thought it was only going to be a single animal experience but I was pleasantly surprised we were taken on a tour around the area! We did get to feed and pet the Wallaby, but we also walked to see all the different animals in captivity. They also brought out some animals for us to pet and see up close! - OVERALL - A wonderful wildlife preservation site, and amazing staff to take care of them all!

We had an amazing time at Dirty Bird Ranch during a private tour with our family of four including…read morea 4 yo and 2 yo. During the hour we were all able to hold, feed, and pet so many animals. We had such an intimate personalized experience and all learned so much. We definitely made memories to last a lifetime and can't recommend Dirty Bird Ranch enough!

Such a great time! All the animals are so friendly and Candace makes the whole tour feel so…read morerelaxed. We had a herd of pigs, goats, dogs and alpacas following us around the whole time. We even got to feed and pet an ostrich. Definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a unique experience for the family or date :)

Less crowded than the Main Zoo at Balboa Park and lot more open space. Unlimited Tram Rides…read more Parking is $12, ($9 for members or free for Diamond Membership) We get the Dual Diamond Membership for $140 which includes free parking here and unlimited visits to the main Zoo and the Wild animal park for me and my wife. Tip: Come here early on the weekends because it is much cooler and less crowded. Also get on the Tram before 11:30 to avoid long lines. Some of the exhibits to see are the Tiger Trail, Lion exhibit and Gorilla exhibit. You can get real close (Just a thick piece of Glass between you and the Animal) and see how they interact. I have seen the Lions Male and Females fight over a Large Leg Bone the trainer threw out - It was Really cool. Also check out the Cheetah Run usually once a day at 3:30. 0-60 in about 3.5 seconds. Really amazing to watch!

Worth the price of admission!…read more Organized and friendly staff. Make it a must when visiting the patch.

Snows was amazing! We booked a unicorn for pony rides and a petting zoo for our daughter's 7th…read morebirthday party in Vista. Our kids and their friends had a blast! I was impressed with Snows for showing up about an hour early to set-up, leaving zero mess behind, and for working with our small outdoor space. Guys- they brought in the little fence for the petting zoo and used our driveway and alley for the pony rides! They really made it happen! Also the young ladies were so attentive and accommodating to our guests..not goofing around or playing on their phones. I highly recommend this company.

We attended a birthday party where the backyard wasn't super big, but Cindy was able to…read moreaccommodate. It was fun to see everyone enjoy. We did make sure there were only 3/4 people at a time because of the space. The little chicks were everywhere, though. I almost felt I could have stepped on them, lol. Overall, it was fun to pet and take pictures.

Just celebrated my son's birthday and selected Cindy Lu's Petting Zoo to help keep the kids…read moreattending our party entertained. The husband and wife team were friendly and professional. The selection of pets were great. I joked and said they had brought the Noah's Ark Package for our party cause seriously, they had everything but a Chupacabra lol. They brought enough hay and feed to keep the animals at bay so everyone could enjoy them. I highly recommend them if looking for a petting zoo. I wouldn't hesitate to use them again for a future party. Price, value, selection- nobody even comes close!

What an incredible experience! It was so amazing to see so many reptiles and be able to actually…read morehold them and interact with them in their habitats. We wouldn't have had such an amazing time without our amazing tour guide. Rachel did such a great job teaching our kids the right ways to interact with the animals and you can tell that she really loves what she does. She was really patient with our kids and made this an unforgettable experience. Highly recommend! *full warning, the outside of the building looks a little sketchy at first because it's an old building, but don't let that deter you*

Would you like to learn about incredible reptiles up close and support a good cause? The…read moreEcoVivarium is the perfect place! For $25 you can get a behind the scenes tour that introduces you to a variety of turtles, snakes, and lizards that call the EcoVivarium home. They also have birthday party visits, host events, and as I learned from my friend Trish, can help teachers get set up with a reptile in the classroom. My first conversation with Susan at the EcoVivarium was heartfelt, as I was calling to see if they might be interested in the donation of our decommissioned aquarium. The setup was only four years old and housed our previous beloved 26 year old fish named Puff that had recently passed away. Susan was kind, expressed her condolences and shared that they would appreciate our donation. Chun P and I met Rachel and Donald on a Sunday and after we brought our items in from the car were treated to meeting some terrific reptiles. Many of the inhabitants at the EcoVivarium have sad stories, some had suffered abuse, some were abandoned, and others were victims of trafficking that were confiscated and brought in by the department of fish and game. Susan has created a safe space and her staff and volunteers give their all to make sure they live a better life. I'm looking forward to visiting again soon and supporting this worthy endeavor!

Annual spring exhibit that's known for butterfly interactions and long-ass lines…read more Is it worth it? If you've seen it once you can probably skip it. The problem isn't butterfly jungle, it's the poor timing of butterfly season which is during spring break for SoCal schools. Even during midweek it was 20 minutes waiting. During a Saturday you're looking at an hour. There is one large viewing aviary loaded with butterflies. There are plenty of opportunities to have butterflies land on you if you're patient. I would say that adults were having more fun with this experience than the kids. - There are two mandatory butterfly checking stations before you can leave Butterfly Jungle. If you think TSA searches are embarrassing just wait for the security checks here.

I come every year to this exhibit, and whether I pay for priority viewing or not, the wait time is…read moresoooo long for maybe ten minutes of wandering the enclosure. It's basically a 2-hour wait if you don't pay, and upwards of an hour if you do. Overall, I don't recommend this exhibit. It's too crowded as it is. Joking, not joking! Well, my best tip is to wear bright colors. Butterflies always land on me when I wear red or hot pink. P.S.- Fun fact: It sounds cruel, but the birds they keep there are to eat the butterflies when the exhibit ends. Enjoy~ Pros: - great photo ops Cons: - humid inside - long lines - priority viewing oversold

We booked Shawneen and her alpacas to celebrate a thesis defense at Caltech and it was a wonderful…read moreand memorable experience! We really turned heads on campus I can't recommend this experience enough and we will certainly return in the future for a fun, unique and educational experience. Thank you, Shawneen!

Wonderful experience! We booked for a children's party. Shawneen was prompt and clear with…read morecommunication. She very knowledgeable about each of the animals and gave me a little background on them all which I felt was a testament to how much they are cared for. Booking was a breeze. The trailer arrived well before our scheduled petting zoo time for set up, everything was thoughtfully arranged for safety but also so that it would photograph nicely. Shawneen did an excellent job explaining etiquette for everyone and gave parents helpful pointers to ensure the little one's were comfortable and having a great time. After cleanup, there was no sign whatsoever that a whole bunch of farm animals had been present only moments before. I really wouldn't change a thing, we loved this experience, our guests loved this experience, and I would recommend it to anyone considering.