Soo cool! Such a surprise. You think it's a small community center, but it's packed with activities, light snacks, coffee, a stage, play rooms, books, toys, and best of all - animals! There's a pig that gets walked by a staff member intermittently, turtles you can get up and personal with, chickens, owls, hawks, falcons, snakes, starfish, etc. This is a great venue to take your kids. They have activities such as story time, and they also have an area where you can learn about the natives. There's areas to hike around the beautiful lagoon. You can be a member or take a look for the day for about $15 which is very reasonable. I believe it's worth it. They really maximized the space. It's a wonderful place! read more

Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation - Play area - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Wow! I'm so glad I was recommended this place! They have a suggested donation and with it, you get an animal feed bag of your choice. There are lots of animals around the property! This place is perfect for younger kids, I'd say around 9 or younger. They have a scavenger hunt that changes monthly and kids get to pick a small prize. Highly highly recommend if you're looking for a fun FREE activity to do with your kids! read more

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This place is great for a quick stop with kids. The property is really nice and the staff are great. There isn't a whole lot to do is my only criticism. We came here with two three year olds and a five year old. We were stretching it being there for an hour. read more

Although I've driven by here many, many times over the years I've not stopped for a visit. Recently attended a friend's birthday party here and fell in love with the place. Really learned a lot about the foundation and the work they do. The birthday party was outdoors and very nice. I'll definitely come back again and will let friends and family know about this place! read more

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Loved the space and wow so many restrooms! Loved the animal petting experience and got the opportunity to see people pet a snake. Loved the view and resident pig. Never saw a pig or chickens so clean and absolutely no smell read more

This little nonprofit spot was such a hidden gem! While they do ask for a $15 donation at the entrance, it's totally worth it for the experience. Once you're inside, there's a nice variety of animals for little ones to see--pigs, fish, small sharks, chickens, bunnies, guinea pigs, owls, and more. It's a great setup for young kids to explore and learn. Right from the start, the staff were incredibly kind and welcoming!They took the time to explain what they had to offer and helped guide us through the process since it was our first time there. You could tell they really cared and wanted visitors to have a good experience! They also had a cute scavenger hunt that you can do as you make your way around the property, which kept the visit interactive and fun. One of the highlights was being able to buy small feeding bags--getting to feed and interact with the animals up close made it even more memorable. Before leaving, we stopped by their gift shop which had some adorable items if you want to take something home or support the organization a little more. Overall, it was a super sweet and family-friendly outing, and knowing it's all supporting a nonprofit made it feel even better. Definitely worth a visit! read more

Cool little spot to witness some animals, even when the spot is closed! You can catch some animals outside like a tortoise, pig, and chickens. Our baby LOVED looking at them. We also took the little hike around the Lagoon. It was a short mile or so and an easy hike for families. I'm excited to come back and check this place out during business hours, but in the meantime - don't hesitate to swing by do the hike and enjoy the animals outside! read more

This place is really cool! Plenty of parking. Great place for kids, plenty of animals to interact with. Great views of the lagoon. Staff is helpful and kind and will assist you on holding animals. They do ask for $15 group donation and I had no problem paying for this great educational experience. read more

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Decided to start exploring our new neighborhood and get a breath of fresh air even thought this spot is closed on Monday's I saw they had a small hiking trail so popped in anyways! The good news is that there's some small exhibits to see outside (pig, tortoise and chickens!) and the hiking trail is open. We couldn't quite figure out the circle path, I think it might've been closed so we only went a short ways which was good enough for our curious toddler who stopped to touch everything, even took a short stroll with some of the stones on the path before rehoming them further down the path. The only downside was that we caught a lot of small black flies? No bites but rather annoying as we walked down the path. There is a smallish parking lot and not sure if there's street parking on busier days but can't wait to check it out when it's open! read more

Beautiful property with so many educational and interactive things for kids (and adults) to enjoy. The customer service was wonderful and everyone there seems really passionate about what they do. Bingo the pig was such a highlight but we truly loved it all. An absolute must with kids. read more

After consistently driving past this place and always wondering what it was, I finally decided to stop in and check it out. After walking around outside and seeing the interesting areas featuring chickens, various birds of prey that were rescued and cared for, I ventured in and spoke to Sam, who was extremely helpful and knowledgeable about this terrific local resource that serves Carlsbad and North County. There are so many different areas of wildlife conservation at work here, from recycling, educating about the local environment, caring for the animals and wildlife here and the area surrounding the reserve. There are opportunities for volunteer work and seminars offered to those who are interested in getting involved in helping out. Not to mention a really fun place to visit and bring family and friends, too! read more

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Interesting experience @ the AHL today, but it will be our last (among others in our group). We've been to this location over 50x. We've spent hundreds on donations, food for the animals, merchandise and food - no problem, we were happy to do it every time. Today, insert Lisa Cannon-Rodman. Super arrogant, disrespectful, and condescending (judging from a few of the reviews - it's not her first rodeo being completely unfit for the role at a non-profit). Belittled the group because we decided not to give the $15 suggested donation today (we just came two weeks ago and paid for it - and again last month). We were going to buy a bunch of food and normally get something from the merch shop for the little ones but she demanded it was to be paid if we wanted the Lagoon to stay open in the future. Wild commentary from this unhinged human. We found that comment incredibly interesting, especially given her public 990s showing her $175K salary there, the Gala they throw, and the fact there's only two employees paid on salary - it makes you wonder why is she compensated at such a level to receive such low praise from the community who she's in front of. Scary. Her comments turned heads. We opted out of not getting a membership, and a few of our friends are revoking theirs after hearing the response. Place is awesome - but if you run into Lisa Cannon-Rodman working the front desk, you better have that "suggested" donation. She doesn't take no for an answer. read more

I saw this place while driving and wondered what it was. I also saw that it looks over the lagoon and I could see my house. What a fun place to visit especially if you have kids. They have history on the founder, Mr. Kelly, and of how this section of Carlsbad started, which I found so interesting. They have a few animals that the kids can look at. I loved that you could touch real dinosaur bones. They have a Mastodon Bone found right here in the Carlsbad/Oceanside area. They have a couple of bearded dragons with cute names. They have activities for the kids. I guess you can also walk the trail. I did not because I didn't have the proper shoes but how fun. They accept donations and the staff is wonderful and wants you to have a good time. Bring your kids, and if you don't have any stop by and support this place. Tell your neighbors with grandkids so they can bring them. 7/13/23 read more

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Nice nature and quiet retreat from the overstimulating activities in the area. (Legoland, zoo, etc). Really nice for all ages, would be most fun when weather is nice since there are mostly outdoor displays. read more

For the short time my grandkids and I visited one day, they had a very eventful or I should say fun day. We didn't get to explore everything since they were busy with other kids and spending more time in one spot than the other. That's ok, since I purchased a family membership this will give us plenty of time to explore everything at our leisure. This place gives the children the opportunity to learn about plants some reptiles and to be creative. You have the chance to enjoy time indoors with some learning tools/games and a chance to be outdoors on the trail or feeding the pet turtle and don't forget the secret garden. The staff is very friendly and helpful. This will be a nice little couple of hours getaway for the grandkids, even myself, to discover and learn. They do have some trinkets as well as snacks for purchase at the front. Come check the place out with your littles. read more

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This place was so cute! I originally looked up "hiking" and stumbled upon this place on Yelp. Once arriving I was blown away at this hidden gem! They have lots of animals you can check out, falcons, owls, turtles. Then walking into the building (free) they had more animals! Lots of reptiles, guinea pigs, and star fish, all whom you can hold. It was so fun! The hiking trail isn't much of a hike, it's just a short walk down to the lagoon and back up. WARNING be careful if you decide to walk down there as my friend and I came across a bobcat who was stalking us (see vid). Other than that super fun and cute place! read more

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I took my kids here for an outing when my wife was out of town. This facility is an educational center for the Lagoon, but also has a number of live lizards, animals, insects, birds, and arachnids that kids can observe and (in some cases) handle. Our 4- and 7-years olds had a great time feeding the rabbit, pig, chickens, and guinea pig. They also had a chance to handle a snake and some lizards. There is no admission fee, but donations are graciously accepted. That noted, the Foundation has a noble mission in that they promote conservation of the Lagoon, from hiking trail cleanup to invasive weed removal. Folks can actually volunteer for these activities if they so desire. For Foundation members that are involved in the community, they get together every Wednesday to talk about local infrastructure and city projects that will impact the local Carlsbad environment. They do that over a happy hour with optional ice cream too. This Foundation is a humble local gem that I highly recommend. read more

I didn't know this place existed until my parents told me about it when we went down to SoCal for a weeklong family trip (in addition to attending a HS friend's wedding). The kids had a SUPER fun time - the staff was extremely nice and friendly & we even got to HOLD/PET all the animals on display (mainly reptiles + a guinea pig)...it was quite an experience for both kids + adults alike! There's also a nice short hiking trail outside + they have scheduled educational/informational sessions. Definitely will be coming back here again in the future whenever we're in town! read more

This place was an absolute gem! Kids loved holding, petting, and feeding animals! Beautiful views for adults! Places to sit, watch, picnic. Such a nice chill vibe. I can't say enough about how wonderful this place is. read more

Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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The people working are always so nice!! Love their things they let kids play with and see. Before my son I haven't been around children much so I've been looking for things to do with him (1.5years old) that are age appropriate and a good setting where he won't cause a scene if he fusses. They can be closed on random days/times if they have a field trip, but it's conveniently located enough that I can always go to the outlet mall or the botanical garden if so. I've been twice w my kid now and it's just big enough he doesn't get bored, he can see some animals close up that are used to seeing kids and it's not too overstimulating. My first time here was actually years ago my husbands aunt had her wedding here and it's an amazing view if you decide to do that! Plus it's inexpensive for what you get and you know the money is going to a good cause. $15 for the group and we paid for some food to feed the animals they have and we have a good time! Definitely recommend for kids probably up to 5 and even my own parents like looking at the rescue animals they have and the wild rosemary in the garden! read more

A wonderful little discovery center for kids. We have been bringing the kids here for a few years now. They are much bigger and they still enjoy looking and touching the reptiles and taking a look at all the new animals year after year. They have a very cool bee hive that is outside you can see how the bees enter and help create honey. They also have a small pond that houses a few water turtles and they are fun to watch as well. The staff there is great. My daughter was inspired that one of the staff members was a high school student. As she is beginning her high school years, she was excited to see that working at a discovery center is something she can do while going to school. Little kids will love all the touch and feel activities that the discovery center has to offer. You can easily spend a few hours there with little ones. read more

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Stopped by during our vacation. There's various animals (i.e. tortoises, guinea pig, gecko, snakes, the bearded dragon, birds, starfish, horn shark, falcons, owls, hamster, bee observatory) you can see and some to touch too. You can also pay for some veggies to feed the tortoise. There's a nature trail to walk on, sand trays to play in and dig for prehistoric animal teeth, scavenger hunt, fairy houses to look at, a play section, and other exhibits. The staff are knowledgeable so you can ask them questions in addition to the information posted around the center. Its a suggested donation of $10 per group to visit. We had fun visiting with our toddler for 1+ hour. There is complimentary hot chocolate and coffee and restrooms inside. read more

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What a cool little find! One of the things I really dig about Yelp is the way it can enrich the time that would otherwise pass unnoticed. We'd made the obligatory trip to the mall to buy the bathing suit someone forgot to pack for San Diego, and now we had, oh, maybe 90 minutes before we were due somewhere else. What to do? I Yelped "childrens activities" and this random thing popped up. Shall we discover? Sure! This Center serves mainly as a daycare educational facility, but they'll give you a tour, and you should donate, it's worth while. Alongside caring for all sorts of orphaned animals, they staff the place with kids on various spectrums -- that was our impression, anyway -- who are super informative and dedicated to their conservation and research efforts. Our eleven year-old wasn't terribly engaged, but she enjoy petting sharks and handling coral, and the hike around the property was memorable. If you have younger kids, definitely visit, there's plenty to discover around here. read more

Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation - Baby shark! - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Carlsbad, California

This was wonderful for a grandma with lots of grandkids.i made a small donation. The kids really enjoyed feeding the tortoises and the chickens. The reptiles are very cool too. My youngest grandkids, 5, had fun knocking on every door in the fairy garden! All in all a really fun time. read more

Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Carlsbad, California

This was a fun place for my 2-year old. They have a wide variety of animals to see, learn about and some even pet. My daughter had a great time looking at everything. The lobby has some kids activities such as coloring, chalkboard drawing, playing with sand, toy trucks, etc. Staff is friendly and are happy to tell you all about the animals. There are a few trials you can take. We walked up close to the lagoon through the back of the center (1/4 mile) but didn't do any other hikes as we weren't wearing proper footage. I appreciated the free education and activities for my daughter. They don't charge but happily take donations. Also, a small gift shop with few drinks, snacks and ice cream is available. read more

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Our son loved it! Small indoor area with a gift shop that had fish and small animals in terrariums. Outside they have two gated areas for the pig, turtle, and chickens and enclosed gated areas for the owls. The staff were so nice. We bought a bag of lettuce from the shop and our son had so much fun feeding the animals. I'd maybe pack a lunch or something next time so we could hang out at the picnic tables a bit longer. read more

I stopped by and found they house 2 owls , this was worth the stop for me, but than, chickens , tortoise, shade, sandboxes-great little place to take small children! Highly recommended! One owl needs to be sponsored as he is disabled. Putting this out to boost read more

Lions, tigers and bears! Ok, more like Macaws, bearded dragons and Sharks. We love coming here with our son. He is always excited to see Vlad the Russian tortoise. The center has a great selection of wildlife to interact with. The kids can touch a shark swimming in the aquarium or the bearded dragon that's walking around. They also have a bee viewing glass where you can watch a hive hard at work making honey. The staff is friendly and will answer all of the kids questions. Definitely worth a stop if your in the area or just looking to get the kids out of the house. You can also access the trail that leads down to the lagoon. It's a fun and easy trail the whole family can enjoy. read more

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Fabulous place to visit! Great for young children who might be interested in animals. Lots of great activities and fun things to do. read more

This place is small, but is the only place in San Diego where you can get upfront and personal with the animals that they have. The staff are extremely friendly and helpful as well as knowledgeable about all these animals. Some animals that they are able to bring out you can touch and pet. Some you cannot. But where else are you going to go to be able to go upfront and personal with animals in San Diego. this place is free to go in, but does appreciate donations. Please be helpful and donate. This is a hidden gem. A very good learning experience for children. read more

Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Carlsbad, California

What a cool spot to check out if you are in the area! Jeff the volunteer was super nice and knowledgeable : helped us and let us spend time touching various reptiles and geickos. read more

Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Carlsbad, California

First time here We actually pulled into Legoland and we accidentally came on a Blackout date. We are all super bummed to drive over 30 miles just to turn around. I went to Yelp to find a fun museum or someplace to stretch our leg before making the track back home. We came upon a non-profit educational center which was home to: -pig -tortoises -snakes -birds -small shark -sea stars They were so accommodating and patient with us, as the boys wanted to touch and hold everything. It was so beautiful outside and I appreciated the quick stop that turned the boys frown upside down. read more

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Awesome little hidden gem!! Quaint nature center and hiking trails. They have free roaming tortoises and other cages reptiles and tarantulas, owls, falcons/hawks, and some pretty cool hens, and other live exhibits for the family to enjoy. You can also enjoy the views and walking trails (west closed shoes). You can also reserve for kids birthdays parties, or home school enrichment. Quick little local getaway and family fun. Works in donations. read more

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This place is a hidden gem. I found it on my way to running some errands with my kid a 3 year old. And let me tell you. The views from this place are amazing. Also, it's free. I will definitely come back every now and then to have my kids learn and play around with some of the many activities they have. Also, the staff is super friendly. I would 1000% recommend. Some of the animals they have, and that the kids can interact with are chickens, lizards,shark, owls,and others. They also have a bunch of activities for toddlers, like a sandpit, tables for drawing and some toys. read more

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Such a hidden little gem in our city. Beautiful walking paths, lots of little animals that they will take out and let you pet, touch and learn about. Our kids love coming here. They also have a wonderful school program. They offer fun events and also believe they do water rentals for the lagoon. A fun local way to explore with kiddos for a couple hours. read more

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So many well cared for animals. We bought a succulent arrangement. Lots of events to choose from.

A hidden gem! There are various reptiles that a volunteer Jeff helped introduce us to. He took them out and let us touch the reptiles (bearded dragon, python, boa, leopard gecko, albino gecko). There's also a little water touch pool, a couple sulcata tortoises, owl, falcon, finches, and a nature trail. They have a suggested donation of $10 per group. read more

Nice spot to learn about the lagoon history and other local flora and fauna facts. Easy walking. Good educational center for the kids with a few tactile and learning areas. read more

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Lovely little local gem - perfect place for the kiddies to explore with hands-on interaction with cute reptiles and closeup views of beautiful birds. The peaceful view of the lagoon out to the ocean is nice too! Highly recommend checking out this educational and interactive discovery center! read more

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Very cute little preserve with lots of animals and a few little trails. The predatory birds are amazing!!