Wow! I got more than I expected and had a ton of fun. This is the cutest place I've been in a while. I love the location and it really feels like you are on a safari. The canvas cabin was clean and maybe we just got lucky but the temperature was perfect! Not too hot during the day and not too cold at night. We got there around 1 and did our tour of the zoo. It seemed rushed, but I get it, the zoo isn't actually open yet and some people in our group were rude and weren't listening to the guide. After, we headed to our cabin viewpoint and waited for our animal encounters. We got to meet Stitch a lemur who entertained us with her territorial calls and Bert a cavy. That evening we were able to hear the spotted hyena, Ed, make noises. He got pretty loud too! The next morning we got breakfast which was more than enough for 2 people which included juice, fruit, yogurt and pastries. Then we headed over to feed their elephants. We got to feed Butch, their big boy, and he was amazing! So much power in that trunk it's crazy! He posed for some photos too and we got to see inside his mouth. There are several extras that you can add onto your experience. Bed Time with Butch, Chow Time with the tigers, the bathing of the elephants, and a VIP tour. We paid $35 extra per person and did Chow Time with Richard and their four tigers. It was so much fun, Richard is amazing has great personality, is very energetic and is extremely knowledgeable. Being a dog trainer and dealing with behavioral issues I was a little surprised he put himself in the position to have Titan supposedly resource guard towards him. But maybe that was just for show. The tigers are still very new to the zoo and even newer to ChowTime! And it was great to be able to experience the feeding routine behind the scenes and get to feed them ourselves! All in all it was an amazing experience and I recommend anyone that wants to go to a safari but can't get to Africa to give it a try. You won't be disappointed. Even if you don't add on any extras it is well worth it! read more

We loved this place! The bungalow was awesome and well equipped. Surprisingly we stayed warm with the space heater and heated mattress pads. Incredible to hear the lions at night and look across at the zebras and water buffalo from our deck. On our arrival day, the staff walked a few animals by the bungalows and spent a few minutes talking to us about them. We did a private tour and it was so enjoyable with the staff being friendly and engaging and the zoo was immaculate! Breakfast was a generous box filled with various pastries, fruit, and yogurt. I was very impressed! We enjoyed our stay so much and highly recommend Vision Quest! read more

We had the best time here. My husband and I did the pachyderm package and were treated to a nice little tour of the zoo. The trainers were great dealing with the elephant! With the pachyderm package we were able to wash the elephant, be hands on, take pictures with and feed the elephant. We also lodged overnight. Our room was pleasant, nicely decorated and overlooked the elephant yard. The walls are made of canvas so it got a bit cold at night. I would suggest maybe bringing an extra blanket with you. They do supply a small heater that plugs in and the bed had heated blankets. (Not sure ours we're working). All in all we had a wonderful time! We will visit again and take our children next time (We attended when the fires were going all around San Francisco so the smoke was blowing this way... also during covid so masks are required at all times except in your room or on your patio. They have hand sanitizing stations set up everywhere for your convenience). read more

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My boyfriend and I stayed one night and I have to say...I absolutely LOVED the experience! If I could I would've told him to stay two nights. We're from Los Angeles, so the drive was about 4 hours with no traffic. We left super early that day and arrived Super early as well. I loved everything about it. We participated in the Crunch Time & Butch's Bed Time and that was amazing...at least for me because I love elephants. I was in a daze being able to touch and feed the Elephants. Feeding the Tigers was so much fun as well. I think that's the closest I've ever been to a tiger. Hobbs was adorable. It was interesting knowing that their tongues can reach your bones by the 3rd lick!!! The Cabin. We stayed in 'The Big Cat House' and it was cozy and I liked the fact that it wasn't over the top. It was a straight cabin/tent. The covering of the tent is ALL CANVAS. At night I would get so scared because you could hear the wind against the canvas. But I got use to it and I actually found it relaxing. At night I went out on the patio and I had never seen so many stars in the sky. It was beyond amazing. Hearing lions roar at 2am was absolutely exciting. Considering our tent was the closest to lions den. The staff mentioned during 'Crunch Time' that people that have stayed the nights would call and tell them to turn off the recording of the roars. People actually thought it was a recording when in reality it's the actual lions. That experience was amazing as well. Breakfast delivered by Elephants is so much fun. You thought you could get close to Elephants during 'Butch's Bed Time.'? Oh!!! Just wait for the breakfast delivery. You're extra close to the Elephants. Above all it was an AMAZING and fun experience for me. I would definitely come back and stay longer. I am definitely bringing my daughter to this once she's old enough. ( no children allowed under 4 :( ) read more

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I'm between a 3 and a 4 on this place so to be fair and give the benefit of the doubt I'll give it a 4. This place has some cool things to offer and the tour isn't super pricey, though the bungalows are on the priceier side. I'd say that the staff I've met were fairly helpful and friendly and they do their best to accommodate what needs that can meet. The addition of the tour and getting to feed the elephants in the morning is a good touch, I personally think feeding the elephants is the best part of this place because it's so interactive. Overall, I'd say if you can, wait for a Groupon for the place because it is a bit pricey but it's an experience worth having! read more

This place is great! The website is confusing and misleading and they really need someone to completely redo it. Here is what it SHOULD say: "This is a small zoo with canvas-tent bungalows where you can spend the night. We will bring a box breakfast by in the morning for you. You can pay extra to feed the animals at night, in the morning, or both. The price of your overnight stay lets you walk through the zoo on your own." Ignore all the "VisionQuest," "bed-and-breakfast," "safari" stuff on their website, it is needlessly confusing. There is no safari. You will not be going on a vision quest and gaining enlightenment. You will just spent an enjoyable night at a zoo. We looked at this place many times and never stayed because trying to figure out what the whole place entailed was such a headache. I have a friend right now who is thinking about staying, but she also found the website to be such a wordy mess that she couldn't figure out what a stay there would actually be like. (After I gave her the rundown and sent her pictures, she decided to stay. ) Another thing to note is that the pictures on the website are awful and make the place look really tacky. In reality, it is actually lovely. The tent bungalows are clean, attractive, and comfortable-they got rid of all the tacky claptrap when Covid hit. The bathroom has running water and heat. My kids enjoyed feeding the elephants in the evening and the morning. The big cat feeding was less thrilling. The staff throw meat on the concrete and you shove it into the cage with a long pole. With the elephant feeling you get to actually hand the carrots to the elephant, so if you're just going to do one of the extra features that you pay extra for, I would do the elephant feeding.. The zoo was small but wonderful, and we spent a very peaceful hour walking through the next day. I would highly recommend this place. Despite the name, it is actually not in Monterey, but half an hour outside of Monterey near the town of Salinas. It is smack dab in the middle of farmland, so there's not much to do in nearby. It is an easy drive to Monterey if you spend the weekend here and are looking for something to do during the day. I recommend booking one of the bungalows that has a nice view of the elephant play yard. It was a great experience and I would not hesitate to go again. I have recommended this to everybody I know, and everyone has loved it. This is truly an undiscovered gem in Northern California, and I think that if their website more accurately portrayed how great this place is, they would have visitors from all over the world clamoring to stay. read more

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I've loved elephants since I was a little kid so several years ago when I read about a bed and breakfast where an elephant brings you breakfast I knew I had to go eventually. A quick Google search on "elephant breakfast" brought up Vision Quest. What luck, it was only a three hour drive from home. Thanks to Yelp reviews I knew which bungalows offered the best views of the elephant play yard. Darn it that Pachyderm Palace does not have optimal viewing. We found a night that had an opening in a bungalow near the yard and booked the Zebra Zone (bungalow #5) We arrived at the Wild Things/Vision Quest Ranch office/gift shop in time for the 1 p.m. tour of the Monterey Zoo. The zoo is only open to tours, which are offered at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., or custom tours can be purchased. The tour was free to B&B registered guests. We paid the $5 per person extra for the elephant feeding. This is a very small zoo and most of the animals were rescued from private owners or other zoos. Even though some of the cages appear to be small, the very large staff really seem to care about each and every one and spend time interacting with them. A new tiger environment has been completed and the tigers were relocated there to acclimate them before a grand opening of the area so we were unable to see them. They are raising funds for large environments for their other big cats. The stars of the show, at least for me, are the five African elephants. During the day they have the use of a huge play yard which they share with two water buffaloes, a zebra and an ostrich. For the elephant feeding all participants had to first use Purell to clean their hands to not spread germs to the elephant and then were given four strips of carrot. You could hand Butch, the only male elephant, all four at once, or to prolong the experience, one at a time. Guess what I did? When you didn't give him your carrots fast enough he would pinch the end of his trunk in a "more more" gesture. Once the tour was over we returned to the office and were given the key to our bungalow and instructions on how to enter the B&B compound. All the bungalows are tents on raised wooden platforms with a deck area. They have canvas walls and ceiling, windows that open, and a good sized bathroom. The tent was quite large and was cutely decorated with zebra furniture and knick knacks. In addition to a king-sized bed there was a futon couch and two chairs, tables, a TV, a small refrigerator and coffee maker. The bed had a pillow-top mattress and was quite comfy. At 3:30 p.m. two staff members come to each bungalow with an animal. Guests must stay on their decks and look down on the animals. We were visited by a Malaysian bearcat and then by a rescued opossum and a skunk. We drove to Salinas for dinner and then returned to relax in our bungalow. It was quite windy so the bungalow would shake and rattle but the wind died down for the most part overnight. We did hear lions huffing loudly in the late evening and early morning but not over night. One of the side businesses of the company is a dog kennel near the office building. During the day the sound of barking dogs was constant but the dogs are brought indoors at night and we heard no barking. On to the highlight, our breakfast. Starting at 9:30 a.m. a wagon is loaded with boxes containing a continental breakfast. One staff members pulls the wagon and the other leads one of the elephants. They stop by each bungalow. After cleaning your hands with Purell you are invited to feed the elephant fresh fruit and carrots from your deck. We were encouraged to rub the elephant's trunk should we so desire. Boy did I! Coarse hairs on it. Then the entourage heads on to the next bungalow and we ate our breakfast. Breakfast was yougurt, bagels, pastries, apples and bananas. Individual bottles of orange juice were already in the bungalow. The overnight experience cost a bit over $300 but it was worth it. Both from the experience and to support the animals. If you want to have a good overview of the elephant play yard, book bungalows #8 (leopard's lair, looked like the best viewing), #5 (zebra zone), #4 (giraffe manor) or #3 (big cat house). Avoid if your schedule allows it #6 (Josef's Jungle, this one is the most remote and the parking is not right beside the bungalow), #7 (Bear's den), #2 (monkey manor) and #1 (pachyderm palace) read more

Every year I seek out something cool, unique and utterly unusual to do for my husband's birthday. This place was the piece de resistance that turned an average birthday into something completely wild - literally! After a whirlwind trip to Vegas to see Elton John and a few days in Santa Barbara riding bikes on the beach and drinking champagne, my hubby thought this birthday might just end like an average vacation unlike the weird and wild birthdays past. That's when I blurt out, "We have to get to Salinas by 5 o'clock!" Say what? Salinas, California? What could possibly be in Salinas? *tee hee hee* We jump into the convertible and head north like the wind. We get to Salinas around 4:30 and hubby hasn't a clue as to what's going on. We pull into Wild Things (the name of the company) and wind our way through the sheep and goats, pulling up to the nondescript trailer. I go inside, get the keys and instructions for how to enter into the "area." We pull out, go around the corner and up the back road to the Tiki God. We enter the magic code and the large, wooden gates swing open just like in King Kong, revealing to us a different world filled with elephants, lions, ostriches, bears, and a whole bunch of other wild animals. As we drive along the dirt road, an amorous ostrich takes a fancy to me and decides to challenge my husband for mating rights. Of course, the Nissan 300zx won and my place next to my man was secured for the night. We got to the tent and went inside. It was gorgeous, like something out of Africa except with fewer bugs and a really nice King bed. A lion roars and an employee approaches with one of the critters to show us at our tent. We get an up-close and personal look at a few of the residents before settling in to watch the moon rise over the hills and drink some wine. All night long we could hear the lions roar and it felt like we were lost in some safari. Morning comes with an elephant bringing us breakfast and us giving the elephant the bag of fruit I brought along. We take the tour of the grounds and hear how the animals had all been saved by being brought here from bad homes. It's a heartening way to end a perfect birthday trip. For a unique experience you'll never forget at a reasonable price, Salinas is the place to go. Yup, you heard me right. Salinas, California. read more

The bed and breakfast is just that, a bed and breakfast. Don't make any assumptions that this is anything like a real African safari. Heck, this is hardly a substitute for a trip to the zoo. The Los Angeles Zoo and the San Diego Zoo are far more animal oriented than this place. Better yet, visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium which is a 20 minute drive away from the Vision Quest Ranch. The animals are kept in tiny wire cages with concrete floors and can only be viewed during their scheduled tour at 1PM. The setup looks much like the way zoos used to keep animals back in the early 20th century. It looks ugly and makes me feel sorry for the animals as they pace back and forth. On the other hand, my friend said she likes that she can see the animal clearly versus modern zoos where the animals get so much room to roam that it is hard to find them. The elephants are kept in an outdoor yard. I thought that, given the size of the property and the vastness of the central valley, the elephants would be free to roam as they pleased. I was wrong. Our cabin was cozy. It had all the comforts of a hotel like hot showers, running water, warm beds, and heating. The novelty is that each cabin looks like a tent and is dressed up with an animal theme. My cabin was called the "monkey manor." My bed had a monkey bedspread and monkey pillows. The nightstand had a monkey carved into the pillar and there were plush monkeys hanging from the coat rack. This place is a great alternative to the traditional hotel. If you want to get up close to any of the animals, it is an extra charge. $200 to get close to an elephant. $25 to feed a big cat with the end of a long pole. I decided to save my money. BTW, Bring a flashlight, this place is pitch black at night. read more

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Fall asleep in a giant over-stuffed feather bed to the sound of lions roaring. Sleep like a baby and when you wake up, wrap up in a fluffy spa-style robe to have breakfast on your front porch -delivered by an elephant! What a simply divine weekend! Vision Quest Ranch is home to hundreds of animals which have been rescued or work in the film industry. Someone had the brilliant idea to add a bed and breakfast. It was like nothing we'd ever done before. Visit Africa for a weekend! Your "tent" has all the amenities of a top-rated B&B. (Even a nice big bathroom in the "tent".) You actually get to interact with the animals --including dozens of big cats. There are only 4 guest rooms or tents and they are acres away from eachother. You really feel like you're on the African plane. This place is probably one of California's best kept secrets. Don't let their outdated website fool you. Everything about this adventure is absolutely first class and unforgettable! I've included pictures from our trip. It's also just about half an hour to Monterey. read more

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I loved this place. In September I bought a groupon here for a one night stay on a whim, and when December 27th rolled around, I was very excited to use it. We arrived by 1pm so we could do the safari (it's more of a zoo tour, to be honest) which took a total of about 1.5 hours I think. I have to admit, the animals do have small enclosures. This is obviously not ideal but I was happy to see that they were in the process of building 3 HUGE enclosures - one for tigers (already complete and housing 4), one for lions and one for bears. This sort of thing takes time, luckily they have 51 acres and I'm happy to see my money go towards helping these animals get bigger enclosures. Our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable about the animal and their back story; many come from irresponsible exotic pet owners or other zoos. Although the enclosure situation is far from ideal, I'm glad they're working on improving this, and the animals seem to have a good quality of life aside from that. At the end of our tour, we were given the option to feed the elephants (which have a HUGE enclosure, that they share with a zebra, 2 water buffalo, and an ostrich) for $5. We definitely did this and it was great! After this, it was about 2:45 and we were able to check into our bungalow. We checked in, settled into our bungalow and at 3:30pm, the staff began bringing around a few animals to each bungalow! While we are not able to interact with the animal, it was great to see a Bear Cat up close and personal and learn about them, along with a skunk and opossum. At about 4:30, it was crunch time aka time to feed the big cats! for $30 each (cost if you're staying the night, $35 if you're not), we were able to feed a Siberian Lynx and 2 Bengal Tigers - a great experience and definitely something you wont get the opportunity to do anytime! After feeding the tigers, we left the property to get some dinner - there is no where to eat on the property so I HIGHLY recommend you bring snacks (no microwave or stove is available, but a fridge is in your room) and plan for dinner. After dinner, we arrived back to our bungalow and settled in for the night. The big cat bungalow was heavily themed with big cats. The bungalow is made of a very strong durable nylon tent type material, comes with a wall heater, a space heater, electricity, tv, fridge, bathroom, and heated mattress pads. The fridge came stocked with an apple, orange juice for 2, and 2 small waters, all which were complimentary; along with coffee and creamer. In late December, it was VERY COLD - about 37 or so at night and the two heaters were literally doing nothing to help warm up the place past 42 degrees. The heated mattress pads, sweats, and socks, were what kept us warm! As we laid in bed and through out the night, you can easily hear the roars of the lions and the laughing of the hyenas - a great experience I loved! Really feels like you are out in the jungle. At 9 am, we began anticipating the arrival of breakfast via elephant! 2 retired circus elephants make the rounds to each bungalow for you to feed, while a trainer/volunteer brings you a lovely box of assorted fruit, pastries, and such. At 10am, we were packing up to leave and head back home. Overall, this was a great experience and I look forward to coming back and seeing the new enclosures! We really enjoyed being submersed in all of these great animals, and watching the elephants from our deck. Please give this place a try and know that your money is going to help fix the problem of small enclosures - the more money = the faster they can build! read more

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Very mixed feelings. The staff was knowledgeable and nice. Staff stated the ranch will undergo an expansion within the next few months. I look forward to returning and seeing the animals in larger cages. The animals were kept and looked healthy, but the cages were so small for their size. Tour group was too large. I was hoping for a smaller more intimate group. read more

Vision Quest Ranch - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - Salinas, California

We stayed in the Zebra Bungalow last night (12/26/17). It was exactly as we expected. Two beds, a full bathroom mini fridge stocked with OJ, waters and coffee creamer, and a coffee maker. There was a portable heater and a floor heater, both of which worked perfectly. It was chilly - about 40 degrees- last night, but between the heaters and the heated blankets, we were very comfortable. The shower pressure wasn't great, but hot water was perfect. It took us a second to figure out that the sink's handles were backwards- hot water on the right. The location of the Zebra tent was great- close to the Elephant enclosure but far away from the kennel which is at the main entrance. The other reviews are correct, those dogs barked almost non-stop from 8am to 9pm. The staff was all super friendly. We were greeted by a warthog and Patagonian cavy (large rodent) on the walking tour to our front porch. We opted to leave before the 1pm tour, but were told that we can return another time to attend the tour to see the rest of the animals. We also opted out of Crunch Time and Butch's Bedtime. Breakfast was wonderful (pastries, bagels, fruit and yogurt) and brought to our porch by Paula and Christy (elephants). We got to feed them several carrots while one of the trainers took pictures. Overall, super fun night. Kind of glorified camping, but worth the experience and memories. Missing a half star for the barking dogs that do take away from the ambiance. read more

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Very clean, well organized place. Animals are well kept and friendly. The last time i went there they had elephants, bears, lions, camels, zebras, and many other animals. Entrance fees are decent. read more

This is truly a hidden gem. We stayed in their tent cabins and enjoyed the Monterey zoo on the premises. What an experience. We woke every morning to zebras, rhinos and water Buffalo playing in the savanna right outside our front deck. Each afternoon we got experience two animals up close and personal and every morning we got to feed carrots to camels. The staff were amazing. Each knew the animals personally. It was an absolutely awesome time that I highly recommend to all. read more

This review is for the special Walk with the Animals tour where you get to hold some of the animals. All the pictures I downloaded are not from the regular tours. Pros: -bathing Butch the elephant -it was totally private with just me and my husband -taking Butch the elephant on a walk -they served us a good lunch and an afternoon snack with wine -playing with a baby baboon (well...offering her food. she wouldn't come near us) -playing with a baby Lynx -they gave us t-shirts with our names embroidered -comfortable beds with tons of blankets -very knowledgeable tour guide/trainer -animals are well taken care of Cons: -the baboon and the monkey wouldn't go near my husband. The trainer said they weren't fond of males. I felt so bad for him. -I have to admit I was a little disappointed that there wasn't more contact with the animals. Although we got to hold a monkey, it was very staged and uncomfortable because we had to keep are arms stiff in a cradling position and couldn't move. When they brought out the black leopard and the Lynx, we had to stand behind them and only touch one part of their back. -They said we'd get to spend as much time with any of the animals we wanted, which wasn't true. The monkey was only out for a minute. -this special tour is a HUGE amount of money for what you get -our t-shirts were mailed to us 2 months later -an elephant does not exactly deliver your breakfast. It stands there while a staff member brings it to you. -you don't spend time with most of the animals I put that this tour isn't good for kids because they don't allow kids on it. They said it's because a couple animals they bring out have an innate drive to attack small things. They made it seem like we'd get to spend a leisurely time with the animals - petting and cuddling and such, which really surprised me because you usually only find that in Thailand, definitely not in America. I was right. Of course they don't let you do any of that because they are wild animals and are only trained to do so much with strange people. They get stressed being out so long. I totally get it. Unfortunately I was made to believe otherwise. And I understand that the elephant doesn't HAVE to hand you breakfast. It's just little things that all in all weren't advertised correctly. If you've been to a zoo, you don't need to pay thousands of dollars to have a monkey be bribed to sit in your arms for 10 seconds. Famous athletes and Miss Australia got to hold every single animal at the zoo, which is what I was expecting. I guess they paid a million dollars to be able to do whatever they wanted. I suppose if I want full, albeit possibly dangerous contact with animals, I have to go to Thailand. Sign me up for THAT. read more

Vision Quest Ranch - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - Salinas, California

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Stayed here with the family on the recommendation of a friend, so didn't do any research. The one nice thing I can say about the experience is that the "bungalows" are pretty cool. Unfortunately, that's about it. We spent $395 for a family of three, basically to get the lodging and a free continental breakfast, and a free tour of the facility. One problem - you can only check in from 3-6 and the free tour is at 1pm, so you either need to arrive early and then wait after the tour, or stay through lunchtime the next day (there are no dining facilities in or around the ranch) and basically blow another vacation day. There is absolutely nothing to do at the ranch outside of sleeping or hanging out in your bungalow - no common areas, no hikes, nothing but a view of adjoining farmland and a paddock with two water buffalo, a zebra/zdonk, and four elephants for part of the day. Optional feeding/petting tours are available for additional fees (pretty high) at the check-in time, so pretty inconvenient to people arriving and trying to get settled in. The breakfast delivered by elephant was a clever sounding idea poorly executed - one person walked up on the deck and handed a box with bagels and pastries to us, along with some fruit slices to feed to the one of the two elephants they brought up. The elephants were attended by two other people who looked and acted really pissed off, like they had drawn a short straw on elephant detail. The whole experience seemed very inhospitable despite our efforts to have fun with them. Finally, the living conditions for the animals they keep at the ranch are disgusting, based on what you can see from the road. They have all sorts of big cats, plus hyenas and other creatures in small cages over concrete slabs. After our visit I looked and it appears that this was observed and commented on as much as 8 years ago and the owner claimed that they were working to improve. Progress seems to be zero. The general air of the place is that it is some kind of rescue facility and they even solicit donations like they are some sort of non-profit charity, but it looks like they are actually a for-profit venture that cages animals and provides them to people making movies, commercials, whatever. I think the animals would be better off euthanized than living there. Waste of life, time, and money. read more

Fantastic overall experience! I didn't know what to expect when I booked this getaway, but I wanted something different, out of the norm. My boyfriend and I arrived on a Sunday for the 1 PM tour which was an hour long. It was a rather informative, engaging tour. We walked around and saw numerous animals in cages including Bengal tigers, a lion, kangaroos, baboons, a binturong (which cost them 20k to purchase), a porcupine, a hyena (our personal favorite), a jaguar, and more. The tour ended with walking out to an open area with 5 elephants, an ostrich (Fred), a zebra (Ms. Jasmine), and a water buffalo. :) People who had purchased a $5 add-on got to personally "meet and greet" the elephants and feed them snacks. We're in our 20s and we both found the tour to be fun. Afterwards, we checked in to our bungalow at 3, Monkey Manor! When we walked into our bungalow, we were blown away. It looked like a scene out of an African safari on the spot. There were little stuffed monkeys hanging around and all the furniture, including he comforter, were monkey themed. The room came with coffee and tea packets and a mini fridge. Our biggest mistake was not bringing our own food with us. We assumed there would be a little cafe on site of some sort but there is no food available close by to Vision Quest unless you want to snack it up at the Shell gas station. Be sure to check-in at 3 because around 3:30, they start bringing by furry friends to all the bungalows. We got to see the binturong and one of the baboons up close. Have your camera on you as you'll get many solid shots. :) After that, we headed out to the elephant viewing area where you can see the elephants from the tour earlier on just hanging out and being playful. I got numerous amazing photos here of the ellies, ostrich, zebra, etc. When the sun set, we retreated back to our bungalow and flipped through the TV and snuggled up in the comfy bed. We had opened all the flaps on our bungalow so we were able to watch the sunrise in the morning. There's also a heater provided in the room so you can have the flaps up and still be warm through the night but get the "open tent" feeling. We slept underneath the mosquito net (even though there were no 'squitos) for the full safari effect and had a very restful night. It was phenomenal to hear the hyena howl every so often!! They said you can also hear the lion roar in the mornings but I don't think he roared the morning we were there. :( Around 10:30 in the morning, we were awoken to Malika the elephant bringing us our breakfast. While the breakfast wasn't anything extraordinary (typical continental bfast of oranges, bananas, bagels, and pastries), It was beyond precious! We got to feed her yams and oranges and pet her trunk. Great photo opp! :) The staff was friendly and knowledgeable throughout the whole experience. We didn't do any of the extra add-on options they had, but I imagine they would be a great experience as well. Check out was at 12. I couldn't resist picking up a stuffed animal for memory's sake on the way out. We're both from the Bay Area but we felt like we had gotten away from the world for a day and a half. What a peaceful, relaxing, fun retreat! read more

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Vision Quest Safari was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had! My wife and I went for our anniversary, and though it was a bit pricey, it turned out to be worth every single penny. The highlights: Our bungalow! We stayed in Giraffe Manor (#4), and it was super cute. Because their website is a bit janky, I had no idea how close this one was to the Elephant Playpen. It turns out, it's right in front of it, giving off the most incredible views of the resident elephants, Butch and Buffy (also two water buffalo and a spunky zebra named Jasmine) just doing their thing. If you plan to book a bungalow, keep in mind that #3 also has fantastic views and sits near Giraffe Manor. Breakfast for us: We were pleasantly surprised at what a lovely breakfast this turned out to be! We figured it would be pretty basic but were happy to find some pastries, bananas, apples, a bagel with cream cheese spread, and yogurt in the box delivered to us. We noticed the fridge had two complimentary bottles of Orange Juice in it when we checked in along with two bottles of water (which we used for the coffee maker), so that rounded out our breakfast quite nicely. A nice lady delivered our food, and that brings me to something very important to share: they DO NOT bring your food to you with animals in tow. Apparently, this was something they did in the past but no longer do; however, they haven't removed that information from their website. I was a bit disappointed to find this out since this was one of 3 primary reasons we decided to do this for our anniversary, but trust me when I say the rest of the experience more than makes up for it. Breakfast for Butch: We got to feed him carrots the next morning, and Oh. My. God. Even though Butch was behind this barrier thing, I was so overwhelmed with both excitement and fear that I got emotional. Elephants are incredible and powerful creatures, and that energy was very apparent. It was overwhelming in a good way. Butch, if you see this - we love you! Pachyderm Package: we purchased this extra package to go along with our experience, and it was so worth it. We had a small group with us, and we all got to take turns bathing Butch after breakfast. The ranch workers are SO nice and offer to use your phones so they can take photos and videos of you while you do it, so don't worry - you will have memories of this forever! Side note: make sure you fully charge your phones the night before you do the Pachyderm Package and have plenty of space for photos and videos - they take tons for you! After we all bathed him, we got to take turns giving him more treats and taking pictures with him, and this time NOT while he was behind a barrier. Yes, that's right - get ready to get a photo taken of you hugging his trunk or gazing up lovingly at him - or if you're like me and have a healthy fear of even your favorite large animals, getting a photo of you about a foot away from that trunk. He's gorgeous, and it was amazing, but I was always ready to run. He is HUGE! Tour of the grounds: this was so fun! Wear good shoes though; this place is pretty big. My Chucks probably weren't the best decision because my feet hurt after a while. On our tour, we got to see a bunch of different animals, and the staff was knowledgeable, friendly, and funny, especially our Tour Guide, Linear (I may be spelling that wrong, but I do think that is how you pronounce it). She's a laugh riot, full of energy, and has a passion for what she does and the animals at the ranch - and it shows. Things you need to know: We visited in October, and they weren't kidding when they warned us our bungalow would get cold at night. Luckily, we heeded that warning and brought two thick blankets from home, and with them, the comforter provided, the conventional heater, the plugin wall heater, AND the heated bed - we stayed comfortable. If you're here during the fall/winter months and didn't bring extra blankets, you're gonna have a bad time. The water heater is not your friend! Turn it on, wait until the second it gets warm, jump in, and quickly do your thing. Do not let the water run for a few minutes before actually getting in, or you will end up taking a cold shower as we did. My bad. There are a bunch of great restaurants nearby, but we ended up at one on their recommendation list for dinner: Tarpy's. It was excellent and you can see my review on their page. If you're looking for an intimate, beautiful experience with exotic animals then book with Vision Quest. Even if you feel it's on the expensive side, keep in mind that all of the money goes right back into caring for these majestic creatures, so you're doing something really great AND getting an epic return for your money. Thank you, Vision Quest! We will be back one day! read more

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This place is astounding! I received a trip here as a birthday present, and to celebrate we decided to go all out on the tours. The safari is located in the hills, mere miles from downtown Salinas and residential areas. Upon entering you are greeted with the sight of llamas and camels, and some other smaller animals. The gift shop is cute and offers a wide variety of stuffed animals, shirts and paper products. The staff was incredibly friendly and took the time to give us precise instructions to our bungalow and answered all of our questions. We opted foe the VIP tour which is a 4 hour tour plus one on one interaction with two animals. There was only one other couple on the VIP tour, but there was another tour, called the Pachyderm Package, that we got grouped with. This made our tour an hour shorter but they compensated by giving us time with a third animal. That was totally fine with me. The tour guides were very patient with the group and did a great job explaining about the animals and facility. The majority of animals housed there are retired from the entertainment industry. The cages may seem a bit small at the moment, but they are working to make the zoo a wonderful spacious eden for the animals, and have already done so in their lion, bear and tiger habitats (called "Oz"!). On top of that the animals are taken for walks when possible. I loved seeing all the different animals and their reactions to us. Part of our package included bathing and feeding a massive male elephant named Butch. That was an experience of a lifetime! At the end of the walking tour we were ushered into a room near the gift shop where lunch awaited us. Since it was only 4 of us in the VIP we were able to ask questions to the two guides and learn a lot. Then it was time for the best part- the animal interactions! I admit that I do not remember what the first animal was, but his name was Ernie and he looks like a cross between a deer, rabbit and kangaroo. We got to spend time on the grass petting and feeding rose petals to him. The guides took lots of pictures for us and got him to pose looking at the camera! Next we got to meet the two young red lemurs. This was my absolute favorite part. They were so inquisitive and climbed all over us, exploring our hair and face with occasion little lemur lick kisses. I will remember the incredible softness of their fur forever. Lastly we got to meet the bearcat, Doc. He smells like popcorn! Its an adaptation for the wild, since that's not a typical smell in the rainforests. Again the guides took lots of pictures and videos for us to make the trip extra memorable. We finally made it to our "Monkey Manor" bungalow, which was situated a few hundred feet from the lions' night time enclosures. That meant we very clearly heard their growls and roars through the night. We could see the huge male tigers from our deck as well. In the evening we headed down to "Butch's Bedtime" and "Crunch Time". The Bedtime package meant we got to feed 3 out of their 4 elephants and see their evening meal rituals. Crunch Time had us feeding their Siberian lynx and huge male tiger. To be so close to those animals was sobering. There are a myriad of restaurants near the safari to have dinner at, and we opted for a place called Patria. Breakfast was provided in the morning and consisted of bagels, fruit, danishes and yogurts. Vision Quest Safari is truly an amazing place. Although a bit pricey it is worth every cent. The money goes toward the few staff they have and the care of the animals. Every worker there really cares about the animals, and that makes for one amazing and unforgettable trip. read more

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We had an amazing time . We checked in and you see a few animals up front. But, the bungalow entrance is around the corner. The Bungalow itself is great. We had 2 animals walk through a one eye rescues raccoon - wink and a bear cat , I forgot his name. The trainers really have developed a tremendous bond with Jess creatures.We came during the winter and they provided a heating blanket , a couple extra throws & a heater. DRESS WARM and BRING AN EXTRA BLANKET. It was still cold. Don't forget to bring warm shoes or slippers to walk the bathroom in the middle of the night bc the floor is very cold . You are basically in a yurt. You go to sleep listening to the lions roar, elephant trumpets and cheetah grunts. It was awesome. Early in the morning they dropped off a breakfast box of yogurts, bagels , pastries, and fruit. It was perfect. We fed Butch the elephant in the morning. The trainers are so knowledgeable . Later that day we did the guided tour around the zoo. They rely on donations. They are making a sanctuary for these animals and they don't have a lot of funding. So, please come visit. The woman who guided us in the Lions/bear area stated she put the fence up herself . They love and see value in the zoo. Most of these animals are rescued or injured and couldn't survive in the wild. This was such a great experience and I implore you to stay in the safari bed and breakfast . read more

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I stayed at vision quest this weekend with my dad. We got there around 1230 pm and waited a bit in the gift shop until the 1pm tour. We saw some of the most awesome animals, we're able to take great pictures see animals id never seen. Our tour guide was amazing! Very informative, upbeat, and funny! She said she's only been there a few months, but could have fooled me. Our room was amazing!!! We stayed in monkey manor. Cutest decor & super spacious. Beds were so comfy and there was a heater when it got a little chilly. After settling in, we went to the viewing deck. At 330/4pm the trainers bring my different animals. We met a skunk names flower (so cute) and an 8 month old black bear named Martha. Right after, we went to "crunch time" where we watch, and help feed the cats. What an incredible experience!!! I learned so much about the lions, tigers, and others. SO COOL! Following that was "butch's bed time". This was, hands down, one of the coolest things I've ever done. We went in to the barn and waited while the elephants came in. We watched them eat dinner, fed them snacks, and got to feel one's tusks. Truly incredible. The next morning we awoke early and sat with coffee on the porch. It was incredibly peaceful. Around 10, the elephant and trainers came by our cabin with breakfast. We were able to feed him some snacks and take photos. The breakfast was on point!! I was not expecting so much. Bagels, fruit, yogurt and multiple pastries. There was orange juice in our fridge and plenty of coffee, teas and hot chocolate. I would HIGHLY recommend this to everyone!! The people working here are phenomenal. seeing animals so close was the coolest and I learned so much! read more

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My family really had a great time. We stayed the night and paid extra to feed the tigers, which was worth the extra money. Everyone was very nice that worked there as well. We cant wait to visit again. Thank you read more

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Great experience. Where else can you see this spread of animals on the west coast. All these people complaining are idiots. Here is the real scoop... on the zoo... small animals are in fairly big cages and definately better maintained than a zoo. Large animal enclosures are very large. The new big cat remodeling is great and will get better for sure. The elephant space is enormous so I dont know why people are crying about the treatment, staff were happy, animals were all around. I guess some people just like to complain. Maybe they want an elephant to come up and tie their shoes and dance with an ape... they seem to be as smart as one. Here is the scoop on accommodations... yes it's super cold, that's why God made blankets. You sleep in a yurt style tent so cold is what I expected. Bed is comfy, blankets are warm and there is even a heated bed liner for each side of the bed. Kinda dirty and spider webs in places but whatever, there are elephants outside my window! We fed tigers, put the elephants to bed and woke them up in the morning... you can't do that at a Hilton. Breakfast was good, yummy pastries and bagels. Some people are just stupid and came here expecting a Hilton... dude get your head out of your butt and appreciate something real! Improvements... get rid of spider webs, spray for ants and let us keep the fuzzy robes and pretty cups. Thanks for a great night. I highly reccomend for all animal lovers. City slickers and wanna be weekend adventurers, stay in the city and watch your life, and nature, waste away. read more

Vision Quest Ranch - View from our deck! - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - Salinas, California

I had the most amazing one night stay at the Vision Quest Ranch B n B! I have been wanting to stay at a park like this forever, and it totally exceeded my expectations. We arrived on a Friday just a few minutes before the 1 pm tour of the zoo which is included in the stay. The guide Alex was very knowledgable about the animals, and we enjoyed seeing them during the one hour tour. I see some people have complained about the conditions of the animals, but it's important to know many of these animals are very old and fortunate to have a place to live out their golden years. Plus they are working on an amazing new big enclosure for their tigers! After the tour we hung out a bit and then checked into our room, the Zebra Room, at 3 pm. It was so cute! Totally nice considering it's like, a tent. It had a heated mattress pad and space heater which was nice because it got pretty chilly at night. It had a mini fridge with coffee creamer in it for the morning, coffee maker, and all of that. There was plenty of hot water and a nice bathroom. And a TV, if you wanted to listen to that rather than the animals. The hyena was very noisy at night but it was fun! In the afternoon, they bring animals to visit you at your room. I think that one of them was a skunk was pretty lame, but not enough to go down to four stars. We drank wine on the patio and enjoyed the visits! We opted to do the extra crunch time tour where you can see them feed the big cats and you actually help feed them! We got to see all of the cats, and they fed the lion, make tigers, and one other cat. Totally worth the extra money because the animals were much more active at this time versus 1 pm because it was cooler, and probably because we had tons of meat ha ha. In the morning, we made coffee and enjoyed the elephants in their big enclosed area with a zebra and some buffalo. They have great viewing areas for bungalows that are further back. Then around 9:30 am they brought is a fabulous breakfast AND an elephant to feed off of our porch! We got to give him a good amount of snacks and the trainers took photos of us the whole time on our camera which was so awesome. The breakfast was really substantial too - croissants, bagels, cream cheese, fruit, and yogurt. Totally exceeded my expectations. Everything about our stay was fantastic and I can't wait to go back! Next time I want to do the (pricy) VIP tour because I loved getting up close to the animals here!! read more

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I took a long time to write this but finally decided to do so because every time I thought about this moment, it angered me. As my mother lay dying in the hospital, they wouldn't refund or credit our booking. They reiterated their policy of no refunds on cancellations for any reason. My booking was for March 23/24 2017, my mother died March 29, 2017. I was by her bed from March 21 until her death. My friend called to explain the circumstances, there was no sympathy or help. My friend offered to trade the room with someone that didn't have children so she could take her grandchildren instead of me going. She was told it wasn't possible, they wouldn't even try. There was no solution offered to help, just the repeated policy of no refunds, for cancellations ,for any reason. Believe them. read more

My husband and I stayed here recently and we loved it. We're huge animal lovers so this place was right up our alley! We started our experience off with a hour long tour of the zoo. It's not a very big zoo, by any means, but it's a nice experience because the guide explains the back history on each animal you see. The only negative here is there are not many animals and they're cages are kinda small. Then we checked into our canvas tent, which was fittingly named the pachyderm palace. First off, it's more of a hotel room with canvas walls than a tent. It was huge, with a spacious bathroom equip with all amenities, a queen sized bed, TV and small efficient space heater. It was glorious! And the coolest part is being close to the animals and hearing the lion roar at night. At 3:30 in the afternoon the trainers walk around a couple of animals, which they walk by the tents and you get to hear their story and take pictures. It's pretty awesome. If you're feeling frisky you can pay a little extra and go feed the big cats and put the elephants to bed- which I highly recommend! We did both and it was a really awesome one on one experience with the animals. The icing on the cake for me was there is an elephant that comes around in the morning and delivers each tent breakfast! You also get to feed it and take some pictures with it. It was a phenomenal experience, especially it you love animals and what an up close and personal experience. I would recommend vision quest safari to everyone! ... And they have plans to expand their Zoo! read more

Vision Quest Ranch - This beauty brought us breakfast! - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - Salinas, California

This place was awesome! Such a fun, great find! Located in Salinas, this bed and breakfast is centered around an animal reserve. The cabins are set up like tents, with canvas walls, but comfy beds and running hot water (you are essentially "glamping"). From most of cabin's balconies, you can view the center area that has numerous elephants, water buffalo, a zebra, and moody but cute Fred the ostrich. Twice during the day, the staff walks around different animals right up to your cabin or specified viewing stations so you can see them up close and personal. Included with the bed and breakfast is a tour of the back so you can see all the other animals they house here. They offer Crunch Time, where you can feed a few of the big cats, and/or Butch's Bedtime, where you can interact more with the elephants, for an additional fee. The tour was cool, but A LOT of the animals, especially the bigger cats, were napping and not really inside in the afternoon, so I would highly recommend Crunch Time because everyone is out and about and in view at that time. It is sad to see these beautiful, large wild animals in relatively small cages, but you can tell they are well taken care of and loved here, and Vision West is in the process of expanding. The themed cabins are really cute, and the best part of the stay was getting our breakfast delivered to our tents by elephants! And we got to feed them and pet them right from our balconies. It was a great experience to be up close and personal to these magnificent creatures, and although one night is enough, it is a wonderful experience for an overnight getaway! read more

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Vision Quest Safari Bed and Breakfast was THE WORST overnight experience we have ever had!! I wouldn't go back even if somebody paid me. In short, we wasted close to $300 to deal with terrible customer service, the staff and animals walked around like the Walking Dead, there is no grass like the pictures demonstrate but rather everything is brown and dead and our room was TWENTY SEVEN DEGREES F (-2.8 degrees celcius) the ENTIRE evening & night to the point that we were forced to leave!!! Upon arriving at 3PM, we tried to ask three people where to check in, all of whom directly ignored us or pretended not to hear us (wtf?). We found the front desk and the lady was actually super nice (yay!). This trip was a surprise for my husband so I was extra excited and optimistic about our stay, trying to point out how cool everything was! We really really really did want to enjoy this place... We get to our room (it's pretty much a tent) and it's FREEZING. There wasn't even a real door but rather a screen door. They didn't take the liberty of pre-heating the room for us and even warned us that the hot water switch "is probably on but to double check" so we immediately turned the space heater and wall heater provided to max and turned on the bed heaters. We go to our balcony to enjoy the animal meet and greets. These staff were friendly, phew! Although their choice of "safari animals" included a baby warthog (cool!) ...and a skunk and possum (not so exciting nor safari-like)... So at this point, already $300 down for an ice tent alone, if we want to see any elephants before morning, we have to pay minimum $100. Instead, still optimistic, we leave to get dinner (not too far, only 15 minutes away and the town is cute). Getting back from dinner and expecting the room to be somewhat warm, we realize their heaters have provided ZERO warmth. The room is ICE! We came prepared with plenty of warm clothing, all of which we were wearing, layers upon layers, but we still froze. There was nothing to do besides hide completely under the covers, bundled up, and it was still so cold. You couldn't sit on the toilet seat without shock and there was zero chance of getting undressed for a shower. We tried to stick it out so we could at least see an elephant in the morning, but there was no chance. Not only were we so cold but our tent sounded like it was about to collapse all night long from the wind and lack of real walls. So cold and sleepless, we couldn't take the torture anymore and were finally forced to leave at 4AM to check into a proper hotel to defrost, sleep and shower. I really don't know how this place has so many great reviews. Even in the summer months it seems like the biggest scam there is. $300 is the minimum you can spend per night and up to $780 nightly if you include their additional packages. According to other reviews (photos attached), the breakfast is crap, the animals are kept in small cages and treated poorly, and honestly the list goes on... This entire night felt like nothing but robbery, and then topped off with a big slap in the face the next morning when trying to express my concerns via email. I emailed the owner to let him know that we had left in the middle of the night and that our key was inside the tent. Of course I included my very valid concerns about our room being 27 degrees F and the heaters provided being insufficient to heat the room even just to a somewhat bearable temperature. His reply included nothing but accusing us of not being prepared enough for the weather and it wasn't his problem that we were too cold, having been provided with heaters. I completely understand he doesn't control the weather, but do not keep your establishment open for business year-round if you don't have the resources for an enjoyable stay. A door, better heaters, real walls, proper blinds, ANYTHING. It wasn't just unenjoyable, it was UNBEARABLE. I can't imagine a family with children being able to safely spend the night! And on top of that, learn some proper customer service! I'm not here to just bitch at this company, but most businesses use constructive criticism to improve their services, not accuse their customers of being unprepared. I truly hope this review prevents somebody from experiencing the same awful experience we had because Vision Quest Safari sure won't do even the bare minimum to make sure your experience is pleasant. read more

I will try to keep this brief, though I believe that to be impossible. Booked my lady and I here for her 40th birthday. She and I are animal lovers (not vegetarians, though). We bought the whole package. One night in a bungalow and every possible tour, including the VIP tour. We arrived and checked in to our bungalow, which overlooks the elephant/water buffalo/zebra playpen. Amazing being hundreds of feet away from such smart and majestic creatures. We took two tours in which we fed wildcats with a stick (Siberian Lynx, Bengal Tigers). It was great. We also did Butch's bedtime, where you get to meet the elephants and feed them carrots. Wonderful experience, getting used to the elephants in a "caged" environment. The elephants all had their own personalities. It was great. We had permanent smiles on our faces for hours. Went to dinner, grabbed a six pack, watched some olympics, and went to bed in our electric-blanketed king bed. Very comfy - it got pretty cold and the heaters don't do nothin'. The next day the elephants came to our bungalow along with our breakfast. We were able to feed the elephants from our deck. We then took our pachyderm package tour which included a whole zoo experience, seeing all of the animals they had. Memorable were Doc, the Binturong (seriously the most adorable unknown creature I've ever seen), Ed the Hyena was surprisingly cute too, and the lions were all awesome. The capybara, the Patagonian Mara and the baby mountain lions were highlights. The warthogs and porcupine were awesome. The Fennec Fox, the other fox... just so adorable. Afterwards, we picked up Butch (large male elephant) and he had his spa day, where another couple and us took turns giving him a shower and scrubbing him down, feeding him and taking photos with him - all of which was done without barriers. He could've stomped me to death if he got scared. It was AWESOME. After the tour we had lunch with two of the trainers and thus begun our VIP tour, where we got hands on with 3 animals. First, we met a squirrel monkey (Patty?). She was adorable, jumping all over our table, knocking over the pepper shaker, licking my hands and letting us pet her and scratch her cheeks. What a ball of fun that little monkey was! Next, they took us to meet and greet with Doc, the binturong - my overall favorite experience from this whole excursion. Doc is a bearcat - and his natural body oils smell like buttered popcorn - which means after you get hands on with him, you leave smelling like a movie theater. Delicious. Doc crawled all over us, and even got comfortable enough to lie on his back and let us pet his belly, all while gently chewing on our hands and playing with our hands like a cat with a yarn ball. Doc was outstanding, friendly and fun. He will eat sniffing my head in the photo I am posting. After Doc sadly had to go back to his cage, we met Ernie, the Patagonian Mara. He didn't do much, like Doc. Wasn't playful but was very friendly nonetheless, eating grass out of our hands. He was adorable - another animal I've never seen. Megan (I believe was her name) and Kristen were our tour guides/animal trainers. These ladies were incredible, knowledgeable and fun to hang out with. They eased us into every situation with each animal explaining everything they would do (for example, Doc will endlessly bite you - but gently - just to get a better sense of you - which he did. Glad they warned me or I may have been thrown off by it. Doc was a gentleman the whole time, nibbling on my arm and hands). We appreciated their hard work so much, but we forgot to get cash for tips. When our entire experience was over, we drove 10 miles out of town to the nearest bank (local ATM was down) and came back to be sure we showed our gratitude. Take your significant other here. This is not for kids and most children aren't allowed (good, they would really piss off the baboons). Thank you to Megan and Kristen, and thank you to the founder of Vision Quest for providing an experience that still leaves a smile only face nearly a week after. read more

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Loved this place!!! I was excited before we even went there. They did not disappoint. Our drive took longer than expected so we missed the animal walk. We got there in time to so crunch time and bed time for The elephants. It was just us and another bungelo guest we did a small tour and then feed the cats. We fed a lynx. We got to feed them 3 meatballs. Our tour guide had great info and you can tell she loves what she does :) Then to the Tigers. One was being fasted so we fed the other one and she has them stand up to see the full size of them Then we went to the elephants There were 3 in the barn. One has a belly ache that day. We for to see them get dinner and hear about them. They are not circus animals and not and abused. We got to feed them carrots. It tickles when you feed them as they grab them from you. Then went to the room which was awesome. We stayed in Josef room which honored the lion there Room and view was amazing. Best part was the elephants bringing breakfast in the morning. Just watching them was awesome then got to feed them again. And enjoy the deck. We didn't do the zoo tour just because we had to head out to our next adventure This place is awesome. Will be back and will donate to support them read more

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Overall experience was a little disappointing. I read the website thoroughly to have a realistic understanding of what would happen. We paid for 1 night in the bungalow and got to the zoo when it opened. We had scheduled Butchs bedtime and crunch time for the same day. 1- we loved the zoo, everything was clean and well kept. 2- we were able to check in to our bungalow 30 mins early. The bungalow was very nice and cute. Hot water, good water pressure, heaters and heated blankets were plenty to keep us warm in February. 3- after checking in we went to our viewing deck we went to wait for the animal walk around. The animals were over 30 minutes late. 2 animals, a lynx and a large rodent type. This gave us less than an hour to eat before we had to go to Crunchtime. 4-do not expect to be anywhere near the animals unlike photos on the website. When feeding the tigers the employee throws a piece on the ground and you push it under the fence with a pole. When it's not your turn you have to stand far back and they will keep their eyes on you while making condescending comments about stupid people in the past. I get they have to be vigilant but I'm an adult and paying customer perfectly capable of following instructions. It was all adults in this group. Butchs bedtime is the same, you get to quickly feed carrots into his truck. 5- I was under the impression a smaller animal(s) brought breakfast since the elephants cannot, and that didn't happen. Breakfast was a decent size box with 4 pastries, yogurt, fruit. There is a small complimentary water, juice, coffee, tea and hot chocolate in the room. 6- Feeding Butch breakfast is very similar, I was told we'd get a good photo and that didn't happen. One person at a time feeding the elephant quickly and then stepping back so me and my husband weren't able to get a single picture together. Butch seemed over it and non cooperative and I don't blame him, I gave him all my carrots in one trunkful to get it over with. All in all, nice clean place. I would return for the bungalow and zoo but I wouldn't pay for the extra add ons unless I had a child that was into it. read more

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We loved everything about our stay here. This place, zoo and bungalows were all very thoughtfully designed and well maintained, quite impressive! Great for kiddos and families having some relaxing, educational, and fun times with animals and each other. Do some research on their website to plan as it provides a lot of good information and helpful tips. Good customer service at the visitor center/gift shop too - don't worry if you can't digest all the info on the website as they will highlight all for you upon check-in. We left happily and plan to revisit in the future! read more

Our family had a great time at our one night stay with VIP package! We surprised the kids and drove up to the ranch for a VIP tour. Our tour guide ... forgive me.. Lineah.. I hope that is correct... anyway, she was awesome. She was very knowledgeable and personal with each animal, she really loves the animals and you can tell. We really enjoyed our tour and our one on one time with the animals. The food is delicious, the "rooms" are great, we just had a wonderful time and thank you read more

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Wonderful abd fantastic zoo. The grounds are beautifully maintained, No crowds to speak of , Gor a nice close parking spot and the staff was very helpful and friendly. But the biggest treat of all was the young baboon we encountered. He or she walked right up to the window. of the enclosure , sat down and proceeded to charm the socks off.of my grandson, daughter and myself. He or she was obviously very curious about us humans, and we thoroughly enjoyed visiting with him or her. That sweet baboon was the highlight of the visit for.us. i look forward to visiting again not only our new baboon buddy , but all the rest of God"s beautiful creatures very soon Thank you fir prividing.my family with a.teruffic and unforgettable experience. Gratefully, Kerry Brown read more

My wife and I recently stayed here for our one year anniversary. The bungalow was nice, for a tent building. Obviously though the real reason you go here isn't for the bed or the breakfast but for the elephants. If you want to interact with the elephants more than once, purchase the Butch's bedtime package. Totally worth it. Feeding the elephants was by far our favorite part. They are such peaceful beautiful animals and my wife's face while she feed them was worth it all. read more

Vision Quest Ranch - Feeding the elephants in the morning. The staff makes sure your pictures are A+ - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - Salinas, California

The tent cabin was attractive, clean, with a modern bathroom that was greatly appreciated.  It had a great view of the large area with the elephant, water buffalo.  The heating pad on the bed along with the thick comforter were perfect in keeping us warm during the 40 degree night without our having to don any special warm pajamas. The delivered breakfast was plentiful with fresh fruit and pastries. Our VIAP Package was well worth the money:  Feeding and washing the elephant, personal guide of the zoo and up close meeting with the Mara and the cat with big paws.  Our guide was very knowledgeable and personable, as was the assistant guide. In general, all the staff were friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. read more

Everything about our stay here was amazing! Elephants are my favorite animals and my (now) fiancé surprised me with a trip here. I've been dying to be around elephants for years and he proposed right in front of Butch the elephant, his trainers, and other guest. The zoo welcomes you with some donkeys, goats, and a few camels. Once checked into the vision quest ranch you drive around to find your cabin. It's a tent turned cabin with a bed, electricity, and running water. Each room has a different theme but surround the pen where the elephants hang out all day. It was wonderful to just sit at watch them play. Thank you to everyone at vision quest ranch who helped make my dreams come true! read more

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Pros- beautiful animals The bnb is worth it! Affordable and beautiful scenery Cons- too large a crowd Only one tour a day Not enough time to capture decent photos bc the tour guides block your view sometimes also bc there are too many people u don't get enough time. You're rushed through also people take longer to capture photos and if you're last in the group you're rushed ahead so u miss shots. read more

Vision Quest Ranch - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - Salinas, California

I found this place via yelp, I was staying a night in the Monterey area and decided to find a near by zoo. Quest ranch Is amazing, I've been here more than once. I Paid an adult admission and an addition of 5$ for the meet and greet. Which you get the ability to feed an elephant carrots :) The staff are friendly and knowledgable when it comes to information about the animals. read more

Vision Quest Ranch - Meet and greet :-) Feeding The Elephant carrots! - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - Salinas, California