Best Valentine's Day ever!!! Of course the elephants were…read moreamazing but so were the staff. Incredibly well trained and you get a sense they truly care about the animals. We got to wash an elephant, feel the bottom of their feet and take several pictures with the elephants, especially Becky - whose artwork we purchased. Katie was superb in providing information and everything was so well organized. Cannot recommend more highly. Thanks!

An amazing up close and personal experience. If you're an elephant lover, you need to go. I didn't…read morewant to share any personal photos but there are many photo ops with the elephants.

We just spent two days at the YO Ranch and it was spectacular! Jordan took us on a tour to see all…read morethe different animals they have and she was super fun and very knowledgeable! Highly recommend the animal tour. We got to feed some of the animals and learned a lot! Who knew Zebras and donkeys could mate and make a Zorkie?! So cool! She also introduced us to Patty and Thor the pigs in the petting zoo area. And all the other cuties in there! Lisa was so sweet also! She introduced us to "Sissy" the capybara. We got to feed her several times and it was so neat to call her name and have her come swim up to us! We were there for our anniversary and Lisa made us feel so special and even provided us all the fixin's to make s'mores on the fire they had lit the whole time. I'm a vegetarian and Luis really took care of me for each meal! Very much appreciated! The food was fantastic and he was great to chat with! Being able to take our dogs was just another bonus! We always love anywhere that's dog friendly! They loved all the new smells out there and they also had a blast! We will definitely be back!

We stayed at this Ranch last week last week while we were in Texas. My husband booked it on a whim…read moreoff Expeida - we were actually planning on going to Fredericksburg but ended up there. Lisa was amazing - super friendly and helpful. We were only one of two couples there. Room was great and the grounds were fun. Amazing animals everywhere!! The donkey's were so friendly and the Capybara was so cute and friendly. Lisa gave me some lettuce and an ear of corn to feed her! Funny she is a "rodent". What a sweet rodent! Its a real hunting lodge, so if you are not into that sort of thing, it may not be for you. The only negative was that it is really far away from anything. I mean far! 7.5 miles once you hit the main gate and there are no restaurants near by, no stores, nothing so we went with the $100 per person dinner that Lisa told us about (which was almost inedible). I guess in our minds we were thinking oh its a Ranch, they will have BBQ or good food!! Wrong.... I would just recommend bringing your own food or eating prior to getting there. It by far was not worth $200 for chicken fried steak, flavorless mashed potatoes and canned green beans! Breakfast was just scrambled eggs, bacon and toast. Save the $$$$ on the food for sure, 100% not worth it. Amazing spot though if you bring your own food and I would totally recommend going there if you want to see beautiful animals.

It's been my dream to come to Longneck Manor and see the giraffes. It is tucked in the pastures…read moreoutside downtown Fredericksburg. We spent a lot more time with seeing rhinos than the giraffes. Longneck currently has 3 rhinos and 9 giraffes (2 are babies!). I got to pet a rhino, even touch his horn! I got to feed various giraffes. You cannot pet giraffes though. With the amount of animals you can interact with, it's worth the visit and cost. The grounds are beautiful as well! You can see the animals when you park.

We took a day trip to this manor. It is a wonderful reserve for giraffes and rinos. Hernando was…read morean excellent guide, made it very clear how we were to interact with the animals. The animals were happy and fun! Worth the adventure! Awesome date!

What a fun filled day!…read more The Exotic Resort Zoo. Wow! This family owned safari park was so much fun! You can drive through or take a guided tour. Definitely do the guided tour! You get up close and personal with over 700 animals representing 45+ species. There are many species of deer, kangaroos, camels, llamas, emus, ostriches, antelopes, water buffalos, bison and more! We saw two new baby bison! One was born about 2 minutes before we arrived at their pasture. Another was just under a day old! You can feed the animals too. Look at the tongues on those highland cows and bison . There's also a petting zoo. We had a small group and our tour guide, Nicole, was fantastic!

We surprised my best friend with tickets for her birthday weekend since she absolutely loves…read moreelephants--and it turned out to be even more incredible than we imagined. From the moment we pulled up to the gates, we were filled with excitement. The elephants are clearly very well cared for, and the staff was both knowledgeable and genuinely friendly. One of the highlights was purchasing a piece of artwork created by Rosie, one of the elephants, which made the experience even more special. Everything about the day felt unforgettable. The staff went above and beyond, even helping us capture tons of photos by always offering to take pictures with our phones. It was truly an amazing experience from start to finish.

Manage your expectations if you choose to visit the Austin Zoo. It is a very small zoo - more like…read morean animal rescue. I knew this going in so was prepared for what to expect and really enjoyed my experience. I visited on Presidents' Day holiday with my daughters (6 and 2). Tickets were under $20 which I found reasonable and felt good to know that the money is going back to maintaining and preserving the zoo. I thought the size of the zoo was perfect for younger children. My daughters loved seeing the animals without massive crowds, within a restively small space. They particularly loved seeing the Galapagos turtle, lions, and snakes in the tiny reptile house. There are gorgeous peacocks roaming the grounds. They have the option to feed some animals (goats, farm animals) which we did not do this time. They also offer tours, educational programming and some extra cost activities. What I think could be better - - Their website doesn't mention that their train has been down for a long time, and requires major repairs. This was disappointing to find out there. My girls were looking forward to it. - No cafe or proper concessions stand - Parking can get crowded and require long walks to the entrance

First, I just wanted to address the recurring complaint in many reviews regarding the zoo not being…read morestroller-friendly. We left our wagon in the car due to those reviews and later regretted it. You can get by with a sturdy stroller here (with robust wheels). A flimsy one might struggle in some areas. Most of the walking areas are flat (not paved though) but there are a few gnarly areas that are pretty rocky and situated on an incline. I'm posting photos for reference although it might be a bit tough to see. The zoo could really smooth these areas out to make things easier and safer for visitors. Ultimately, the zoo is fairly small -- I had my youngest in a front-facing carrier while my 3YO walked. Second, I wanted to note that the Austin Zoo is not affiliated with the city of Austin. They are a private non-profit organization that does not receive city funding or have any management by the city. They are a rescue-based zoo wherein their animals come from seizures and surrenders, etc. They really should change their name -- I think many visitors expect this to be a city zoo (setting their standards high, only to be inevitably disappointed). I am having a hard time rating this zoo. It is a non-profit that seeks to help animals and it seems like they don't receive funding to do so. At the same time, this place generally seemed a bit run down/dirty. Some of the animals seemed sad/stressed (saw a monkey and an ostrich with missing fur/feathers). Now, I know these are rescues so I can't confidently attribute that stress to conditions at the zoo -- possible that it's related to their past experiences or just general adjustment to a new place. Last but certainly not least, many of the enclosures are way too small for the animals they're housing. This is alarming. I know they're being rescued but perhaps there's a better home for them. The tickets are not exactly cheap. Although children under 2 are free, 2+ tickets are 16.95. That's only $3 less than adult pricing. I get that they don't get city funding but at those prices, I'd at least expect the grounds to look less run down than they did. Also, they don't give you a map nor did I see one posted anywhere (you have to rely on an online map on their website). Once again, they really could invest some revenue toward enhancing the visitor experience. Don't miss the train ride since there are some animals (like the porcupine) that can only be viewed from the train. The conductor (also ticket salesman) was super nice. He also very politely asked my husband to switch spots with my toddler (so she wouldn't be on the open side of the train car). I appreciated that greatly. The gift shop was surprisingly cute and had a bunch of great souvenir options. Beautiful peacocks roaming the grounds is a nice touch. Ultimately, a bit of an uncomfortable visit given the sad animals, inadequate enclosure size, lack of general upkeep, and relatively expensive tickets.

Fun experience for the whole family…read more A FEW NOTES/TIPS FOR VISITING: --An early arrival is likely best because the animals will be hungrier. We came at 10am and had plenty of interaction. It seems to reason that a late arrival might offer tired/full animals that may not approach as easily. --Before you enter the safari, set up your kids. You will likely have to loosen safety standards for a bit but you're driving 5MPH so I felt comfortable doing it. I held my 1-year-old on my lap in the front passenger seat. He wouldn't have been able to see much otherwise. We also had to unbuckle my 3-year-old's seat belt so she could shift up otherwise she had trouble feeding the animals. --You're not supposed to hand feed the animals. I don't recall them telling us that but there's a sign saying it. It's hard to avoid because some of the animals will literally stick their head in your car (zebras and donkey, I'm looking at you). They're gentle and I had no issue hand feeding them. It felt necessary to get them to back off a bit (my kids got scared though, lol). The little deer were also gentle and easy to hand feed. Anything with big horns -- we definitely just threw the food on the ground. Same for the emus -- do not hand feed those -- they will chomp your fingers hard. Ultimately, they must know people hand feed some of the animals. I'm surprised they don't do liability waivers. --Watch for animals in front of your car or even swarming the side. Throwing a handful of feed away from the car helps move them away. --Get enough food, depending on how many feeders you have. We got a $10 bucket (3 people feeding) and it was plenty (with some left over for the petting zoo). We were conservative with it though. I'd say get more than you think you need since you don't want to run out. It's also helpful to have extra feed to throw when you want the animals to get away from your car. You can always use whatever is left for the petting zoo. They gave us an extra bucket (small one) for our daughter to use in the backseat. I'd ask if you want extra ones. --The goats at the petting zoo are pretty aggressive. If you walk in with a bucket, they will literally swarm you. Maybe it was because we came early in the day and there weren't too many other people there. My toddler got scared, lol. I'd recommend staying outside the gates and feeding through there or having one person stay outside to hand the feed over from the bucket. Ultimately, a great way to spend a couple of hours and entertain the kids. It's a little pricey since you pay per person (including 3 and up) but it's all good. The beautiful peacocks roaming around definitely enhanced the experience. The gift shop was a bit scarce -- could have been stocked with more items. I also wish they gave us a brochure about the animals upon entry (I saw reviews about people grabbing those at the gift shop; we had no idea they existed). Clean bathrooms and ample parking.

Our first time visiting, and this was such an amazing experience. The animals were friendly and all…read morethe children seemed to be having a great time. This is a drive through safari and there is an admission fee per person. The drive from Round Rock was a little over an hour, but definitely worth it if you have small children. You will have an option to purchase food for the animals, or just drive through and soak in all the wonderful scenery.

My 5 yr old grandson and I did the VIP private experience with tour guide Tucson along with the…read moreRhino experience , after which we drove through on our own.. This did make it more expensive, but for us it was worth it...We have been able to feed many giraffes, but never have met a rhino up close and my grandson loved being able to brush them and touch them.. I chose the private tour , so I could relax and enjoy it without having to drive...and all the info Tucson gave us on all the animals and all their programs made the drive back through on our own a lot more interesting. I was very impressed with their setup and how many babies they have.. I would recommend getting their early...The tour was a wednesday at 930 and we only had one other car on the road with us....when I drove back through , there was a lot of car stoppage , cause of course every car wants to stop for every group of animals and I will say the group at the entrance gate holds you for ranson so you better have food for them so you can get thru.. Didn't try the food , but the fudge at the restaurant was really good. The only thing I was disappointed in was the avairy...If you just want to see a lot of beautiful budgies and a few chickens, then go for it, but they had no interest in the food sticks and just flew away from it for the most part...We are used to the lorikeets that land on you, so my grandson was just bored with it...

We had a great time at Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch! Took our 3yo daughter and 1 yo son last…read moreweekend. I thought the safari drive was just okay. First, I was a tad disappointed in the quantity of the animals out there. There were long stretches of the drive where I caught myself thinking, " there's nothing out here". Second, don't bother buying feed. A lot of the animals were more interested in food provided in their troughs than the passing vehicles. And, I have a feeling they're fed well enough ...they don't care if you're throwing food. Third, cars tend to bottleneck to look at NOTHING. I think the staff should do a better job explaining you can pass. At least I hope you can, because I did. I wasn't waiting for some of these people. Other than that, I thought the facilities themselves were clean, well lit, and impressive. They've got a great restaurant where you can have lunch (although I felt the prices were exorbitant as they often are with these "tourist traps"). They've got some great exhibits with monkeys and you can get pretty darn close to some giraffes. My little girl had a particularly good time in the aviary. Seeing her face as that bird landed on her stick was just the best. Solid gift shop. Overall, felt the cost was higher than necessary, but solid family outing. It's worth going.

My family has wanted to check this place out for a long time and we finally made the drive. Lots to…read moresee and my granddaughter was over the moon with the capybara encounter and petting one of the tiny foxes. Then there are the baby goats in the petting area. So cute! Plenty of shade available on a warm day and several educational moments.

Animal World and Snake Farm was a surreal experience. The most impressive part was how close and…read morepersonal you can get to the animals. Seeing the lions and tigers up close was absolutely beautiful and unforgettable. We also watched the big cats interacting and playing with each other it was incredible to witness. The park itself is on the smaller side, but it is definitely small and mighty. What makes it special is the proximity and visibility of the animals. You really feel connected to the experience rather than far away from it. The monkeys were especially cute and fun to watch. If you enjoy close-up animal encounters and unique photo opportunities, this place is well worth the visit. We would definitely go again. 4 stars only because I thought the facility was quite small, despite having such mighty animal presence and you run through all the site seeing so quickly.

Great store! The owner is always happy to answer any questions you may have about the hobby! They…read moredo water tests and will recommend how to fix any problems your tank may have!

Tried to contact them over Facebook to get some info before I go and they are literally no help…read more They didn't answer my questions, could recommend products, and would flat out not respond for a crazy amount of time. I tried to give them a chance and tried going during posted business hours and they were closed. Absolute disgrace of a business. They need to learn how to treat their customers better and how to over all run a business properly.

Great FREE option in Austin for kids!…read more One of the best parts is you can see an axolotl (two, actually) in their visitor center building. Then you can head over to the birds of prey, the reptile/fish building, and the animal enclosures. There's also a little lake and a large sand pit (dino dig). There's a cool room in the visitor center that has all sorts of nature items (bones, dead bugs, shells, rocks, etc.). You can bring in your own stuff to trade! Is it a huge amount of things to do/see? No but for a free attraction, it's pretty great. Parking is across the street -- lot is shared with Zilker Park and all the nearby attractions so it can get busy.

The Austin nature and science center is one of our favorite places to take our 4 kids in Austin and…read moreeven better, it's totally free! But when you do go, please make sure to scan the QR code to track and log your visit. It helps with their funding and takes less than 2 minutes. My kids spent close to 30 mins in the Dino dig area alone. There are so many different sand pits for them to dig and use brushes in. The birds of prey area is awesome! And while the indoor reptile area is small, my kids always have fun finding where everything is hiding nonetheless. The indoor welcome center has so much for them to learn and touch, and they love bringing things to turn in to the front desk to collect points and coins to use in the "shop". I highly recommend! Great for a homeschool field trip too :)