I love coming to MacDonald's Ranch!! Free admission and lots of space for your little ones to roam…read moreand explore. They have a variety of animals you can pet and interact with and horses too. They also have horse back riding! They also have a fun little area what looks like could be out of a western movie. Cute saloon that makes for a fun backdrop for all your instagram flicks. The staff is friendly and the place is well kept. They do charge $15 in October and have a beautiful pumpkin patch as well as a few train rides!

We love MacDonalds Ranch! This is our happy place! We adore the animals in the petting zoo. I…read morerecommend Macdonalds Ranch to all my friends and family because it is such a rare gem in Arizona. The petting zoo is free, but they do accept donations. We enjoy petting the goats, sheep and little ponies. We were especially excited to see 3 baby goats today- they were the cutest. We love supporting this local business- go check them out! You can also hold company events or parties here too! We also love coming here in the fall for their pumpkin patch!

How could anyone not love this place? Yes, Carl's Damaged Pet Warehouse is the actual name and no,…read morethis is not an outlet store where the pets have minor cosmetic imperfections and are 40% off. It's actually a little animal rescue tucked into the backyard of a private property, where you can visit rescued Highland cows, pigs, goats, donkeys, tortoises, ducks, sheep and assorted other members of the Island of Misfit Pets. It's completely free to visit. You stay outside the fence for safety, but you can still pet and feed the animals (and it's okay to get emotionally attached to them!) Sometimes Carl leaves food outside for visitors to hand out to the "damaged pets" or you can bring your own approved snacks like apples, zucchini, carrots and cucumber. Basically a very wholesome BYOS situation. I posted a photo of the full approved-food list so you too can trick some furballs into becoming your new best friends. You can also leave a monetary donation to help with the cost of caring for the animals. You can visit at any time, but remember this IS someone's private property, so obviously be respectful of the home and neighbors.

Finally decided to stop by and feed these cute animals! It was pretty busy when I stopped yesterday…read moreafternoon and many people were there also feeding them. I saw two turkeys, a rooster, ducks, goats, donkeys, a piggy, and a bull. *Free, just follow the posted rules

I had lunch here with family on a Sunday afternoon and we had a great time. We parked across the…read morestreet and did the small walk across to the farm. We looked over the menu outside and stepped inside when ready. Once inside, we were quickly greeted by the worker that was serving drinks. We ordered two prickly pear lemonades with her and also some waters. Then we moved down the line and ordered our food. I ordered the roasted turkey sandwich and it was a hit. We sat outside in the grassy area under trees and a few minutes later my number was called out. My sandwich was really good and it was a pretty good size. I liked that they did not skimp out on the turkey slices and it was not dry. After we ate, we walked around tot he back to see the few animals and we stopped by the gift shop. Overall we had a good time! Food was great and the service was also!

The farm is cool! I live 2 minutes from it so it's cool that…read moreit's close by. We went to the farm breakfast and to be honest, it wasn't worth the amount of money spent for it. The service is really good and the outdoor seating was nice when it's 75°! The orange juice was really good! But the salmon tostada is just too little for $22. Maybe will get something else next time.

Over the years, the Phoenix Zoo has been a special place to go with friends, family, dates, and…read moreeven on my own. I even remember a time when my work brought our entire team for an afternoon of team-building and lunch at the zoo (with the animals, of course) and other times when my wife and I got a behind-the-scenes tour with friends. I have also been there for charity events and special zoo events. While the food at the zoo is fine, the animals are great, and the zoo staff are amazing. This is a great zoo, and I am proud to have been a member off and on over the years. While I am not a member now, I anticipate I will be again sooner than later. The zoo is divided into sections. For the most steps and the longest journey, definitely check out the Desert Discovery Train (and even see the special exhibit Dinosaurs of the Desert). You will even walk near Governor Hunt's Tomb in Papago Park. This section connects to the Africa Trail. This is where I recall feeding giraffes and seeing monkeys and baboons. As you head to the Forest of Uco, you will pass Monkey Village and can take a camel ride. The Forest of Uco is next to the Tropics Trail with the tigers, rhinos, and elephants. Nearby is the Harmony House and the Children's Trail with a petting zoo. And if you go back near the entrance, there is the Arizona Trail. There is just so much to see and one visit won't do you justice! While daily activities include animal encounters, a safari cruiser, a carousel, Scooterpals, tours, scavenger hunts, 4D movies, and play areas, there are also zoo events like Roars & Pours, Spooky Safari, the Zoo and Move 5K, and of course Zoo Lights, which include a Cruise Zoo Lights and a Sensory Friendly Zoo Lights. Some of these events are at night when only a few animals are out, but there are always some animal encounters. Some involve alcohol or food, and others involve creative fundraisers with silent auctions and raffle drawings. Check out the Phoenix Zoo website (https://www.phoenixzoo.org) to learn more about admissions prices, becoming a member, daily activities, programs, events, a zoo map, conservation information, how to give back, and so much more. There is a lot to explore online and even more to explore in person. I highly recommend this zoo!!

Great zoo, loved the kids play areas. A nice selection of…read moreanimals. The only reasons I gave it 4 stars was the forced exit through the gift shop. I get it is a money maker, however those of us with autistic kids know what can easily be a "no" turns into a 30-60 minute exploration of every item, needing to touch everything, and a full blown meltdown. Give people the option to avoid... please.

Amy was wonderful to work with! My son loves animals, and getting to bottle-feed the baby goats and…read morepet and brush the bunnies and other animals was such a special experience for him. The kids absolutely loved it, it was the highlight of the party. Amy was so kind, easygoing, and great with the kids. It was a fantastic experience and I would highly recommend her!

We used Karen's critters for my son's 2nd birthday and it was a hit! We had a bay cow, goats,…read moresheep, bunnies, pigs rabbits! Two hours was more than enough time. Would highly recommend!!

The highlight of our trip to Buckeye! It's $10 to get in and the money is well worth it! The…read morepetting zoo is perfect for any age. There are piggies and goats to greet you when you get there.. if you'd like to feed them, it costs a little bit extra to buy veggies and snackies for them.. but it is worth it! They are so cute and so friendly! They even had tiny baby piggies .. they had some horses, a burro, and a cow. All of them were so friendly!! I highly recommend visiting the farm!

Fun place to take the grandkids! All the animals were friendly and there were a few piglets running…read morearound you also can buy veggies to feed the animals which my grandson enjoyed doing

We stopped by the zoo a few months ago and wanted to give a review of all the amazing animals and…read morethe fantastic staff! We have been here a few time over the years. We love the conservation efforts Wildlife World zoo does and does consistently. They are always trying to improve living quarters for the animals. They always have many toys for the birds, which is so great to see, since exotic birds need lots of metal stimulation. We fed the lorikeets this time around and that was so fun and beautiful. We can't wait until we stop in again for a fun day trip to The Wildlife World Zoo.

Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park is not a "quick stop" zoo -- it's a full-on adventure…read moreday. First of all, this place is massive. You need time, comfy shoes, and realistic expectations because there is SO much ground to cover. Zoo, aquarium, safari park -- it really does feel like three attractions in one. The aquarium section honestly surprised me. That massive prehistoric-looking fish (looked straight out of a dinosaur era) was unreal. Between the giant tanks and the variety of species, it didn't feel like a small add-on -- it felt like a legit aquarium experience inside the zoo. The animal variety is wild. We saw everything from vibrant macaws perched up high greeting guests, to monkeys lounging in the sun, to antelope practically close enough to admire their horns in detail. The white tiger was stunning, and the big cats pacing in their enclosures definitely command your attention. You're not just looking at one or two showcase animals -- there's a LOT here. It's not super polished or ultra-modern like some major metro zoos, but that's kind of the vibe. It feels expansive, a little rugged, very Arizona. More spread out, less theme-park aesthetic. A couple things to note: it can get warm and it's a lot of walking. Food options are typical park-style fare -- nothing I'd go out of my way for. Pricing can add up with admission and extras, so plan accordingly. Overall, a solid four stars. If you're looking for a full day with serious animal variety -- from aquarium tanks to safari species to big cats -- this place delivers. Just come prepared to explore.

We have gone here for years with all our kids gkids and cousins. It's a super fun farm something…read morefor everyone. They have things for little kids and big kids, even the adult kids! So many photo opportunities, From fields of pumpkins to big rope spider web to the tractor or large painted tires . The only thing you'll pay extra for is the train ride for the littles. I think it's $2-3 bring cash. Even at the gate if you pay with cash it's a $2 discount each. $20 for admission They have big bounce thing for the big kids to adults. A small one for the little kids. Tricycles for big and small. All kinds of climbing things. Yard Games large legos, chess and a huge corn maze bring a flash light or use your phone. They do have reasonably priced food. They allow you to bring in drinks not sure about food. Years past we celebrated birthdays and they let us bring in ice chest. You may want to check for current rules. There is a farmers market at the entrance to buy pumpkins, jelly, honey.... We go on Thursday's less busy . They have a super cute petting zoo area. Bring quarters to get the food to feed the animals . Lots of J John's clean and well kept. With all the rain you may want to bring misquote spray. We didn't need it but it's rained again. It's well lit at night we go around 5 stay till closing. Even our grown up college kids ask when are we going to the farm. Hard to post pic without our family in them. Lots of tree house things for kids to crawl up and slide down. Great memories are created here. I highly recommend this farm. We've been to a few other farms and they aren't as fun or organized with employees who care. Bonus is it's clean. Plus the cost is very good in comparison.

We try different farms each year, trying to find "the one." This one was okay. It is big and has…read moreplenty to do. A con is that the smaller kid activities is way on the other side from the bigger kid activities so if you have kids of different ages, you have one bored and just hanging until the other is done in their section. The food was decent for the most part. The funnel cake bites, turkey leg, and kettle corn were good. The elote corn was eh. The food was decently priced. To get in is $20 each which to me, is a little pricey. There should be kid pricing in my opinion. Parking is ok. They did let a car in front of us hold the line up to wait for a car to leave but when we tried to do it, they made us move. Understandable but rules should be the same for everyone. Most staff was nice. On the way out, they asked about taking a family photo. We declined. My son was on the props I guess (it wasn't labeled and no one was there taking pictures) and one staff was like "this is where we take our pictures just so you know." That was interesting. Maybe post a sign. Not my top pick, but it was a decent time.

I can't say enough nice things about Carter Farms. I reached out to them after so many other places…read morehad let me down, and they were wonderful from the start! He explained all the extremely reasonable rates, and was super patient with all my questions. He sent me an email with all my party details and that was set. The day of the party they were punctual, and so upbeat. They set everything up on the backyard, I did the pony/petting zoo combo, and they did a wonderful job. They walked all the animals in a row, and gave my daughter a wonderful surprise. I did the hour combo and it was plenty of time, just like they suggested! They made my daughter feel special and important, they were genuinely caring, and went above and beyond anything I could have asked for. I recommended them to everyone! Everyone was so happy with the animals, and the overall experience. I will definitely be using them for future parties!

Really good experience for a backyard birthday! Animals were a great hit and it was a very easy…read moreprocess. Would highly recommend!

As a butterfly fanatic, I was in heaven!! There are so many beautiful species in the garden, there…read moreis no bad direction to look in. The staff were so knowledgeable and truly cared about all the animals in their care. Highly recommend, especially as a break from the heat!

This experience starts with a 3D movie about the migration of monarch butterflies, then a stop in…read morethe Emergence Gallery, where you can see caterpillars and chrysalis (aka cocoons). From there, visitors can access the Conservatory through the doors. Though a bit humid, it is such a magical environment with concrete pathways, a few seats, a koi pond, and lots of greenery. Various plants creating a beautiful setting, including flamingo flower, panama rose, purple heart, and sandpiper vine. And informative signs are posted throughout, educating visitors about the conservatory and butterfly care. Visitors are given a butterfly guide in the beginning, but some of the butterflies fluttered their wings so quickly nonstop, it was sometimes hard to identify. The big blue one (blue morpho, I believe) looked like a bird as it soared in and out of the plants and overhead. There were so many butterflies in the air, on the leaves and flowers, they even had signs noting how you could get them to land on you as well. The random music in the background wasn't too loud. At some point, the Harry Potter theme song came on, and what an enchanting vibe in the conservatory! They had bees in there too (behind glass). Once you exit the butterfly conservatory, there was much more to see. The Rainforest reptile gallery included awesome turtles (like the mata mata turtle camouflaged with the rocks), snakes, and even amazing axolotls on display. And the Tropical Waters room was delightful to view, with fish, stingrays, and more. There was also a gift shop, cafe, and vending machine selling edible bugs. Butterfly Wonderland is great for all ages, and I had such a memorable time here this past weekend.