This little nature reserve was such a unique and enlightening experience! It was educational, fun, and full of furry, cute animals :) The staff were friendly, enthusiastic, and clearly seemed to love and care about the animals. They have different animal experiences you can book in advance for on their website, but their most popular seems to be the one where you get to sit in a pool with otters! The session and communication beforehand were well organized and helpful. I won't spoil everything, but not only did we get to sit in a pool with otters zooming all over the place at the end, but we got to learn about, see, and touch about 6 other types of animals up close + walk through some of the property to view some other saved animals. For the otter swim, the team will take tons of photos using your phone or camera, so you can just enjoy the moment! They recommend wearing a tank or shirt over your swim suit (there will be time to change into it right before the swim), and J wish I wore a looser shirt, because it gives more space for the otters to wiggle in and explore :D Plenty of parking, clean restrooms on site, bring your own water/snacks if needed. Definitely a little pricey, but it goes to support the reserve and its little critters and was such a fun time! I would recommend them to anyone looking for a special experience for any animal lover :) read more

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What an absolutely unforgettable experience! 10 out of 10! Wendy and the entire staff made sure everyone was learning and having fun the entire day. They went above and beyond to make sure we were all having the best time possible while also learning in-depth about the marvelous animals that live at the sanctuary, caping it off with an hour-long play date with the otters in the pool. Just incredible! read more

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I want to start this review by saying a huge thank-you to Nurtured by Nature for creating such an incredible experience and allowing me to fulfill a 10+ year dream of interacting closely and even "swimming" with otters. This was an early birthday gift to myself, and honestly, nothing could have been more meaningful. Our group was led by the founder, Wendy, along with another amazing educator whose name I regretfully don't remember. Both were absolutely wonderful, you could feel how much they care for and understand each animal through the knowledge, enthusiasm, and respect they shared with us. The groups are small, maxing out at eight people, which makes the experience feel personal and intimate. Before the otter swim, we met about seven other animals, including a sloth, capybaras, fennec foxes, ring-tailed lemurs, and more. We were even able to feed, pet, and interact up close with many of them, which made the tour around the property both educational and heartwarming. And then of course, the highlight of the day: the Otter Swim. We got to spend time in the water with three playful otters, and I can now officially say I've petted an otter (flat hand, of course)! They had no concept of personal space, swimming all around us, climbing on our arms, and using us as launch pads back into the water. Watching them play and interact up close was beyond adorable. It was truly a 10/10 (or more like 1,000,000/10) experience, and I would--and hopefully will be back again someday. Parking: They have a decently sized lot available Bathrooms: Both port-o-potties out front, and 2 proper restrooms within the facility read more

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Please support this business, family run with loads of love for their animals and for their visitors. The tours are thorough and it's a must see experience. Gorgeous facility, beautifully well maintained. It's a magical place with all kinds of fascinating animals it's worth every dime! Adults and kids will love it . Who doesn't love swimming with otters and capybara.. read more

Nurtured By Nature - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Pauma Valley, California

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What an amazing experience. The staff is so friendly and knowledgeable. The animals are adorable and their enclosures are immaculate you can tell they really care for the animals here. I got a tour of the facilities and got to see and feed the animals up close and personal. This was a fantastic experience and I hope everyone can experience this at least once. Swimming with the otters was soooo fun and truly a beautiful experience. I thought I was coming here just to see otters and I got so much more. They are dedicated conservationists, I recommend visiting their websites nurturedbynature.org and otter.org to learn more and help keep this place going as long as possible. It was a little pricey but worth every penny because of what it helps and all that you get to do. read more

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The price is way too much! The fact is, that it is double. I wanted to do this for my daughter, but she was also not interested in going alone. All I wanted to do was take photos and they wouldn't allow me. You have to pay $700 to accompany your child, whether or not they have a disability. read more

Nurture by Nature has been on my bucket list for quite some years. Last month I finally decided to book it. Today was my day. The day I had counted down to. My husband and I drove down from Whittier, California. It took us about 2 hours. The drive once you get off the freeway is simply beautiful! We were welcomed into the facility by Dylan. Once inside, we met Wendy. They gave us a brief overview of our day. I cannot explain to you how amazing the facility is. I've been to a ton of animal experiences. Some of which the places were dirty and smelled undesirable. None of which was the case here . This facility was so clean: the animals are very well taken care of-- and it shows. We got to meet a paca, sloth, two types of armadillos, a golden eagle, a bald eagle, lemurs, fennec foxes, baby capybaras, and of course, otters! I cannot say enough good things about the entire experience. The animals are not forced to interact-- if they don't want to, then they don't . They have the choice. The staff is in tune with the wishes of the animals. If anyone is on the fence about booking an experience, I say do it. I am already thinking about the next time! read more

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A good place to learn about and interact with animals, Don't just show up: call ahead to book a time and activity. Their website lists available activities: capybara encounters, armadillos, otters, and more. Staff are knowledgeable. The place has a nice vibe. See if you can spot the re-used Home Depot shelves. Clean bathrooms. Backup bathroom (porta potty) available in the parking lot. read more

Nurtured By Nature - Baby otter - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Pauma Valley, California

My expectations were exceeded on SO many levels so Ive made it my mission to spread the word! Did you know that a healthy otter is a sign of a healthy ecosystem?! Well now you do! The staff, the property, the animals, the animal care, & education to name the highlights, were top notch. It was a completely personal encounter with only 6 other people in our group. There were no lines, or trying to see around others, everyone got to feed each animal, and best of all there were NO kids. Hear me out.... At first I was confused by the 16+ age requirement but I now know that it is the animals that they want to have the best experiences. It was also the first time in probably 10 years that my husband & I got to be fully present in an environment surrounded by the coolest animals. The experience was ours & not the kids, it was fantastic. The day was not interrupted by a bathroom break, a meltdown, a snack, or someone else's less than thrilled children. It was glorious. The people at Nurtured by Nature-Wendy & Sara, Mandy & Dylan, truly care about each & every one of these animals. It is so clear that they each have personal relationships with them. This is NOT a cash cow, there are no hidden fees, not a dime was spent once we got inside. Although I would have gone-off in a gift store, they haven't set it up yet since moving to their new property. It was sincerely the best day spent interacting with so many cool animals & then a full hour + swimming with the otters, my new favorite animal. The donation price was so worth it & all the money goes to protecting the animals & conservations worldwide. I'd recommend Nurtured by Nature over & over. I can't wait to go back for Cappy-Hour!! #nurturedbynature Nurtured by Nature https://nurturedbynature.org read more

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one of my absolute favorite activities I have ever done in San Diego area. Birthday gift to myself- complete animal lover and enjoyed the interaction as well as education. very special day, can not recommend enough. staff went above and beyond to make this unique experience even better! read more

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We had the most incredible experience! Wendy and her team were great, informative and welcoming! We loved getting to meet and interact with the animals so closely and we respected the boundaries set for the safety of the animals. For the otter swim encounter, you get to engage with several other animals and the team helps assist you with getting great pics in the water so you can just focus on the otters! It was a wonderful experience!! read more

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I am a true animal lover and interacted with, dolphins,manta reys,sharks,swam with a whale shark, swam with manatees encountered with octopus and penguins and turtles. Today was the best encounter I have ever had WITH OTTERS in the water. Before I tell you of my experience, let me give a bow to the staff. They made the total experience so enjoyable. You can tell how much effort Wendy has put into this incredible habitat for so many animals from the clean cages and the props she uses for animals are completely made from nature. The deco is also so creative and beautiful from the decorated metal gates and the areas are are semi covered with plants and trees making your experience beautiful The employees are amazing, caring, they engage with the animals and the guests Now the otters; everyone gets into a warm pool and they let the otters come out. They are so full of energy and want to visit everyone in the pool,playing , snuggle, feet in your face and little hands showing you their toys. You rotate every 5 minutes and the staff grabs your camera and takes videos and pictures of you. I counted over 100 pictures not to mention the videos.......I could write page after page of how amazing this experience was and the interaction with the staff and animals. The animals are so well cared for, they DO NOT over work or exploit them When people mention the price, it is worth every penny to experience, laugh, love,touch not only otters but other animals as well If you are on the fence of pulling the trigger to go...GO YOU WILL NEVER EXPERIENCE ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN YOUR LIFETIME My experience was amazing as well as the staff You can donate to them; go to their website Thank you for making this an experience I will never forget Cheryle Clinite read more

Such an amazing experience! My boyfriend and I went for Capyhour which was 3 hours long and we got to see and interact with so many different animals. All animals were very comfortable around the staff and very well cared for, the trainers/staff were great and very friendly. Going to have to go back for the Otter swim! read more

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We had such an incredible experience with the otter swim, highly recommend! The Nurtured by Nature team took great care of the animals and the guests, it is truly a special experience that we will never forget read more

Amazing experience! We loved our tour of Nurtured by Nature. We interacted with capybaras (feeding and petting), foxes and lemurs (feeding), armadillos (petting - surprisingly cute!) and a sloth (petting), and saw a number of other amazing animals. The highlight of course was swimming with five adorable otters for an hour! Very friendly and knowledgeable staff, absolutely wonderful memories. Would recommend 10/10 times! read more

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Absolutely Amazing. We have travelled from Australia 3 times and are planning our 4th visit to Nurtured by Nature at the end of the year. Wendy and the team are knowledgeable, kind, caring and very awesome. We can't get enough of this place. See you all again soon. read more

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Took my mother here as a Mothers Day gift. She loves otters, so swimming with them was something I had to make sure she got to do. We also got to meet other animals as well, and got a bit of a tour (along with even more animals). The staff were incredibly kind, friendly, and knowledgeable. They made sure every person in the group felt included. They truly go above and beyond! 5 stars is not enough to describe how wonderful the experience was! read more

One of the best experiences of my life. Otters are my absolute favorite and this experience was #1 on my bucket list!! I had wanted to do this for so long and when I finally was able to go I feared it would not live up to my expectations. Let me tell you, it far exceeded them! My boyfriend, who isn't really an animal lover, really enjoyed it as well. You must experience this at least once!! read more

I could not love Nurtured By Nature any more. My wife and I went here last year and had one of the best days of our lives here. We had interactions with kangaroos, capybaras, sloths, and otters. A truly spectacular place to interact with animals. It's totally worth your time to go. I could not love Nurtured By Nature any more. My wife and I went here last year and had one of the best days of our lives here. We had interactions with kangaroos, capybaras, sloths, and otters. A truly spectacular place to interact with animals. It's totally worth your time to go. read more

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This experience is just beyond incredible! It's been over 24 hours since my visit and I'm still running off of a serotonin high. It far exceeded my expectations and they were pretty high to begin with. For starters, yes this is a bit pricey but worth every penny if you're an animal lover. This isn't some cash grab- they use the money to fund their conservation and care for their animals while also being proud sponsors with Make a Wish. Second, they LOVE their animals. Like, truly love them. Their animals are incredibly well cared for which is why it makes sense it's 18+ (with the exception of make a wish kids, of course) because kids can be a bit grabby and put the animals in distress. Not to say all kids are like this but it's a completely normal thing for kids to not fully understand how to be gentle and this place clearly doesn't want to take any risks with their beloved animals. Third, they're so friendly and informative! It was hard to focus on everything they were saying because of the adorable distractions but they had so many fun facts and Mandy and Wendy were so delightful. Fourth, OTTERS! They were so stinking cute and playful and being able to interact with them is an experience I will treasure for life. Plus when they gather the otters to come into the pool they go into their enclosure and say "who wants to play??" And the ones that get excited are the ones they choose. They are super respectful of their animals decisions and boundaries and always make sure that they are comfortable. I absolutely recommend putting this place on your bucket list as you will leave with the biggest smile on your face. There were 3 other pairs in our group all from different places but every single one of us left looking like we were walking out of a laughing gas factory. 10/10 read more

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What an incredibly special place! I took my husband here for our anniversary and it was everything we'd hoped for, and more. I had been following their Instagram for some time, and was so happy I could book an experience. It's a wonderful family run business that gives back to the community, because the community helped them. Kind of renews your faith in humanity. The animals are amazing, of course, and the whole day is planned and timed perfectly. I would definitely go again with family or friends. read more

Nurtured By Nature - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Pauma Valley, California

An incredible experience and I have no doubt this will be a core memory for the rest of my life. Wendy and her team were nothing short of spectacular. This was a conservation forward and educational experience and I left with such a deeper appreciation for these animals and the work that Wendy and her team do day in and day out. The otters experience was genuinely a highlight of my life and I am so excited to continue learning more about these incredible creatures. read more

My husband and I are all about experiences and creating memories. This was definitely a day to remember. Wendy (the owner) and her staff were friendly, knowledgeable, and funny. They love and care for these animals from a place of love. All of her animals are well taken care of and loved. They are spoiled and people comfortable. This is a non profit conservation organization. The money you spend for the experience goes back into the exceptional care for the animals at the facility. Is it pricey? Yes. Is it worth every penny? Also, YES! You definitely get what you pay for. Shout out to Wendy's daughter for carrying the animal loving torch. 2nd shout out to Sarah for her photography skills. read more

Nurtured By Nature - Otter play time. - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Pauma Valley, California

Wendy and Mandy hosted my son who had recently transitioned to palliative care. He particularly loves capybaras. They made this such a special experience for us and it is something we will cherish forever. Please consider visiting or supporting this wonderful organization. read more

This was the most amazing and special day! It took me years to get a reservation but it was worth it to me to see what a great birthday gift it was for my boyfriend! Yes, it's pricey, but it is also helping care for the otters and all the other animals there. Of course the highlight was playing with the otters, but the other animals were fascinating too! We met a sloth, armadillos, kangaroos, Paca, Capybaras, lemurs, foxes. Now I hear they have a new Snow Leopard cub named Stormi! Almost went again for my birthday. That's how much we enjoyed it! I bought a t-shirt and I wear it proudly! Thank YOU for a most memorable day! read more

Nurtured By Nature - Waiting for the Otter swim for Bill's birthday present! - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Pauma Valley, California

Incredible adventure in learning about so many different creatures, the otter experience is not something that you can even describe. The people that give you the tour and teach you about all of the different critters they have are very knowledgeable, and very kind. Worth every dollar spent. read more

One of the best experiences of my life. Hands down. I had been following Nurtured by Nature since mid 2016, but did not manage to get a reservation before they went viral and immediately filled up until the end of 2017. I waited and waited and ultimately booked 8 spots for my friends and I immediately when the 2018 calendar opened up :). We are all from Texas and planned a trip to San Diego mainly for the otter swim. We were all so incredibly excited. A couple of months later, we had one more friend who wanted to join, so I contacted Wendy via their facebook page. She was very friendly and accommodating, and we added an extra person with no issues. When we arrived, the staff patiently explained the entire day to us, and we got started pretty immediately. Throughout the day, we could all tell that the staff really loved and cared for all of their animals, and that meant a lot to us. We didn't feel rushed at all and got to spend a lot of quality time both with the animals and learning about them. We got to meet/feed/touch fennec foxes, otters (of course!) both in the playroom and in the pool, kangaroos, lemurs, armadillos, pacas, a porcupine, and a sloth, which was completely beyond our expectations. In regards to the otters, we got to spend about 30 minutes with the babies/teens in the playroom on land and got to spend about an hour with another set of otters in the pool. Overall, it was incredibly fun and a great learning experience. We got lots of amazing photos and lasting memories. The staff was fantastic as well. It's well worth the price, especially since the money goes towards caring for all of their wonderful critters! Thank you so much for the once in a lifetime experience! read more

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I highly recommend the Nurtured by Nature experience.  For start to end, it is just a joy to learn about all of the animals and the conservation efforts that Wendy and the staff are doing.  This was a bucket list item for me and getting to pet and swim with river otters was a once in a lift time experience.  One of my favorite memories was when the staff asked us "would you help us out to teach these BABY otters how to swim?"  Ummm... yes! The two baby otters were the absolute cutest things in the world.  Curious, playful, and fun, we held a towel in the water to help them get used to swimming.  They were so good and once they got comfortable, ventured out into deeper waters.  What do baby otters feel like?  They are surprisingly soft, and they make the cutest little sounds.  The adult otters were fun because we got to play with them and  all of their toys.  The staff do a really good job of rotating everyone in the small group of 8 to make sure everyone is having time to play with the otters and take pictures.  Skittles is my favorite otter; she loved to socialize and play with us.  The water in the pool was nice and warm so it was very comfortable for the otters and the humans.  There are a lot of other animals that we got to see on our journey.  My next favorite was the Capybara and the baby Capybara.  It was fun to feed them their favorite foods and pet them (they feel like petting a very cute broom).  Such friendly animals.  We also got to witness the absolute delight of these two cute Armadillo running between us as we sat on the ground.  The majestic sloth was something to behold.  We got to pet her on her back and then watch as she made her way around the room.  The staff are so knowledgeable and passionate about working with the animals. Thank you to the Nurtured by Nature staff for working so hard to protect these animals, especially the otters.  Nurtured by Nature is on Amazon Smile, so you can also support them that way.  They do a lot of work with the Make-A-Wish foundation which I think is just amazing.  This experience is definitely worth it. read more

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Worth every penny!!! This was an experience my family will always treasure having. Not only did we get to swim and play with the otters, we met so many other cool animals. The staff was so nice; it truly was a VIP experience. I love how the animals are looked after and loved. For example, when we fed the Lemur, he took a few bites then left us; they didn't push it and moved along the tour. We got lucky with the otters, they were in a very playful mood and I think we got close to an hour in the pool. The staff never rushed it and let them play as long as they wanted. I'm recommending this experience to everyone as a special gift to treat yourself or anyone you love. P.S. They are using the masks to protect the otters right now. My boyfriend and I thought at first that it would hinder the experience, but after the swim we decided we really liked them. It was great to dip your face in the water at anytime and watch them swim. We think it actually added to the experience! read more

Nurtured By Nature - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Pauma Valley, California

My mom and I did their otter swim,l experienceGreat staff who truly love what they do! Their new facility is very nice, spacious and clean! The animals were all so amazing, and taken care of. Had such an amazing time swimming with Cabaccino and the otters! Exceeded expectations, once in a life time experience!!! read more

BEST MONEY SPENT!!! Bucket list! These people take the best care of their animals and are all about preservation! I can't think of a more fun thing that I have done in my life. Thank you Sarah, Amanda, Kevin & Wendy!!! Can't wait to come back. read more

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Amazing experience full of fun, education, and animals. Nurtured by Nature is a conservative company who takes excellent care of their animals, respecting their desires and providing treats and positive reinforcement to have the guests interact with each animal. Only doing small groups and a few a week is great. The entire team is amazing! Highly recommend it! I would do it again in a second. read more

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Our experience at Nurtured By Nature was ABSOLUTELY MAGICAL!!! From the moment we arrived we were welcomed wholeheartedly by an incredibly kind and caring team of animal educators and advocates. They thoughtfully guided us through interesting and meaningful hands-on interactions with a variety of fascinating animals, while simultaneously being considerate and respectful of each one's unique set of boundaries. While all of the animal encounters provided us with amazing and memorable interactions, our time in the pool swimming with the otters was by far our favorite experience and exceeded our hopes and expectations in every way! The sense of absolute joy and pure bliss we felt as we were surrounded by those sweet, curious, playful, and hilarious otters is unrivaled, and honestly life changing in the best of ways. We highly recommend Nurtured By Nature to anyone looking to learn more about and genuinely connect with all of these incredible animals! read more

Wish I could give them more stars. This was a 10/10. A lot of places over -promise and under-deliver. This was not one of those places. I couldn't believe how much hands on time we got with so many animals. We got to pet capybara, armadillos, and a sloth, and of course the OTTERS! And we got to feed a black and white porcupine, some ring tailed lemurs, and arctic foxes! The otters (Betsy and the Chaos Crew) were so playful and amusing. The staff was knowledgeable and clearly love the animals so much. I am mobility impaired and use a cane and they made sure to have a chair for me in all the enclosures and they didn't rush me. I really appreciated it. We will definitely be back when the capybara lazy river is finished. Money well spent for this incredible once in a lifetime experience. I can't say enough good things about this experience. read more

Amazing experience with amazing people who have created the perfect animal friendly environment. They show so much love and care for every single animal they have on the property. They truely believe in conserving and protecting all species which shows in the passion they bring in the experience they provide. A beautiful property and great set up. I was so lucky to have had multiple as close as close you can get to Baby Otters, Grown Otters, a Sloth, Armadillos, a Lima, Desert Foxes and Kangaroos. A MUST DO!! read more

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Not only is it a very special program but an A for Covid safety. The whole program is outside and a session is small enough to keep each booking separate. There are lots of animal surprises. Of course, the otters are the highlight. The masks are comfortable. The otters are playful and enthusiastic. With so many activities shut down, this is truly a special activity that feels very safe and a chance to be very present. Absorb every minute. read more

Nurtured By Nature - They jump like lambs when they are happy. This large rodent was very happy. - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Pauma Valley, California

I do not want to write a long review because I think it will spoil a lot of the surprises. Completely worth it! Expect about a half day with the ability to play and feed a lot of different animals. You of course get breaks in between, and they provide snacks and food. The entire staff was personable and extremely friendly. Take a look at some of the pics. I would recommend that you bring your go-pro/waterproof camera case if you can. Once in a lifetime experience! read more

Nurtured By Nature - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Pauma Valley, California

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THIS WAS THE BEST EXPERIENCE EVER! Before today my bucket list had many unfulfilled activities such as: Shake a kangaroos hand Pet a sloth Swim with the otters Play with an owl AND I GOT TO DO ALL OF THOSE! Not only did I get to interact with many unique animals, I also got to learn a ton about them! Everyone who worked there was incredibly knowledgable and truly cared about each and every animal. Meeting the silly and clumsy owl was hilarious! I got to roll the ball around and watch him pounce awkwardly on it. The otter swim was to die for! The feisty and ADHD otters kept my friends and I laughing he entire time! They tried to stick marbles in our shirts whenever they got the chance. They also never stopped moving. I haven't laughed this hard in a long time. If I had it my way- I would spend every day here with the amazing critters and wonderful people. read more

Nurtured By Nature - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Pauma Valley, California

Amazing time at Nurtured by Nature. Wendy, Kevin and Mandy were phenomenal hosts. They were knowledgable and shared stories to make learning fun and engaging. You could see how much they cared about the animals. Most importantly, they were so focused on ensuring we had an amazing time. We discovered this gem as a result of their partnership with Make a Wish which is awesome that they do for kids. My son got his wish to be able to engage with so many different animals and to swim with otters was truly a remarkable experience. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves animals and wants to learn and experience them in such a unique way. Thank you Wendy, Kevin and Mandy for taking so much time with our family to make that day so memorable! read more

OUTSTANDING EXPERIENCE!!!! The owners and workers are obviously amazing people who love what they do, and their love of the animals truly shows. We thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated every single second of our visit. read more