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    Wild Encounters

    5.0 (1 review)
    Closed 12:00 am - 12:30 AM

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    2 years ago

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    Coon Hollo Farm - Hungry Cow

    Coon Hollo Farm

    3.7(6 reviews)
    37.5 mi

    Coon Hollo Farm is a family run farm. It has been in the same family for 5 generations. This is the…read morefirst year that they opened their farm to the public and created a corn maze, had hayrides, a "farmyard" playground, and small pumpkin patch. I took my 2 year old son on Halloween. It was surprisingly not very busy that day but, apparently, that was not the norm. My son was too tired to explore much and just wanted to be held. So I decided to take him on the hayride. It was a nice ride out to a pasture where a herd of cows were grazing. The driver took us right into the middle of the herd and they swarmed us, knowing it meant food. Alex was scared by the cows, but I was impressed and enjoyed feeding the cows the feed they provided. I would say we were out there for at least 10 min before they took us back. Again I tried to get Alex to play, unsuccessfully. But we did take a short walk through the corn maze which he seemed to like because it was an easy path to follow. After that, he explored some tractors they had set up in the play area. I tried to get him interested in romping around in the hay play fort, but he wasn't very interested. The farm offered another little ride which we got on and I think he liked it. I know I did. I'm such a kid at heart. We didn't hang out long after that because Alex was just exhausted and so was I. I feel like it was a nice time shared with my son. It had potential to be much better if he had taken a nap that day and was well rested. I thought the pumpkin patch was small. The play area was really nice. They did offer a concession stand. One of my coworkers said the burgers were great and a good price. Sadly, I didn't get a chance to taste them myself. Since this was their first year, I definitely see room for improvement. It definitely has potential to become something really great. It was definitely worth the $8 spent.

    What a great place to spend an afternoon outdoors enjoying fall in Florida. The $10 admission…read morecovers the maze, putt putt golf, a corn pit, hay ride, and several other entertainment activities. My kid had a blast playing for hours. The food is good (they have a barn/cafe) and plan on spending $10-15 on drinks, ice cream etc.

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    Coon Hollo Farm - Hay Ride

    Hay Ride

    Coon Hollo Farm
    Coon Hollo Farm - Fun fall day.

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    Fun fall day.

    Rooterville Animal Sanctuary - Baby lamb

    Rooterville Animal Sanctuary

    4.6(18 reviews)
    42.5 mi

    The best experience for a minication. I was lucky enough to not know where I was going for my…read morebirthday and it was the perfect surprise! (My wife did great!) Not only is the location a perfect portal to a different type of Florida , but the wagons are all the way in the back so it's perfect privacy. There's also a tent outside to sit and watch pigs take a bath in the fountain. The wagon room we got was the Piggies room! Perfect decor and amenities inside(towels/shampoo/conditioner/tissues/coffee mugs /even games!) Huge bathroom with incredible shower.There is ac but we spent most of the time with the screen door and bathroom window open & it felt great. Included inside:mini fridge, toaster, coffee/tea (included),microwave and a small heater. Plenty of plugs to charge & a full length mirror. We love that there was no tv because we got to watch highland cows instead !! We also got to sleep to rain and it was so peaceful especially waking up every morning to new friends like pigs and sheep! We also saw: 4 highland cows!! , 2 different types of pigs, a family of sheep (+Anya the sassiest girl), cats, dogs, goats, turkeys (that like hugs but scared meee), guinea fowls, chickens and hens, mini horses and a peacock that sounds like Kevin from UP in the nighttime !! All the staff were super friendly including miss Elaine! Truly an incredible place to visit and get to feed pigs all day.

    I've been to Rooterville Animal Sanctuary twice, and both visits were totally worth the 2 hour…read moredrive from Orlando. The animals are well taken care of, the people working there are so nice and helpful and booking a highland cow cuddling session was amazing. You can even stay on site if you want that real "outdoorsy" experience - but it's perfect even for a quick day trip. Can't wait to come back again!

    Photos
    Rooterville Animal Sanctuary
    Rooterville Animal Sanctuary
    Rooterville Animal Sanctuary

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    Petting Zoo Ocala - There was an alpaca, but it won't let you pet it without treats.

    Petting Zoo Ocala

    3.6(40 reviews)
    53.3 mi

    I visited the zoo yesterday. I first called to see if I could do the camel ride, but then I found…read morethat need at least 3 people for the ride. So I decided to pon.... Er... Camel up the money for 3. I arrived to the barn a bit early for my ride. It was 14 for admission, 16 per person for the camel ride (42 total), and 5 dollars for a generous amount of feed. There was a small barn when you enter, but the horses and ponies were not feedable as barriers were too high. Instead, the outdoor portion had many animals eager to enjoy the feed like the goats, sleeps and cows. They were able to be petted as well. Around 1sh, the owner and her assistant got the camel ready for me to ride. They had the steps and mounting the camel wasn't too difficult. The had handles to hold on and I was lead by a person. The ride lasted for five minutes and was fun. It was a bit bumpy and definitely not like riding a horse, but the seat was comfortable and the barriers kept me safe. Plenty of pictures were taken by request. It was an expensive ride, but well worth it! After the ride, I visited the other areas of the zoo. Most of the animals were farm animals, but they also had some more exotic animals in cages like monkeys, lemurs, and birds. Unfortunately, they were a bit small, and some looked a bit bored. However, it looks like the barn tries their best by adding toys and engaging objects. There is also a place to picnic, a small playground for the kids, and even a kiddie ride. There is a small shop where you can get ice cream as well. The owner was friendly as well as her relatives and helpers. The explained that many have been rescued, and how the owner used to be in the circus. It looks like she takes as good care as possible for the animals, and not trying to make a huge profit from them. I am glad that I visited the zoo and was able to have the camel ride. The staff were friendly, most animals seemed alright, and the spaces are large enough to enjoy at least an hour. There are rules in the zoo, so be sure to respect them. Parking is free and wasn't too difficult. Definitely worth a nice outing, especially with kids.

    So many animals to see and was so fun to walk around and feed them and take photos with. Staff was…read morenice. There is even a store for gifts but more for kids.

    Photos
    Petting Zoo Ocala - They require 3 people for the camel ride, so I paid for 3. It was expensive, but worth it. I was very happy to sit on the camel.

    They require 3 people for the camel ride, so I paid for 3. It was expensive, but worth it. I was very happy to sit on the camel.

    Petting Zoo Ocala - Kid petting the animal

    Kid petting the animal

    Petting Zoo Ocala - I had to take a selfie on the kiddie horse.

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    I had to take a selfie on the kiddie horse.

    Crossroads Farm & Apiary

    Crossroads Farm & Apiary

    3.0(17 reviews)
    15.5 mi
    $

    Since Amber Brooke Farm's closure, my mom and I were looking for a new U-Pick farm. After seeing…read morethis place advertised on Instagram, we have made Crossroads our new home. It's pretty simple, and more cost effective especially if you're picking pounds. It typically cost about $4/lb which is standard. The field is huge and plentiful, and you will find some juicy, sweet berries. We stopped by on Tuesday after a weekend of rain - which meant ripe berries. We picked 9 lbs in 30 minutes. This farm is great for families as they have a playground and covered seating. Also, they have additional items that they sell like produce and jams. After coming here a few times, I will say if you can come during the week - definitely make the trip versus the weekend where they will more busy. Hopefully in the future they will have flowers, produce, and other fruit like blueberries for U-Pick and really grow the local farm.

    I was looking forward to go to Roger's Farm today for their U Pick Strawberry season…read more My friend, her 2 year old son, and I arrived to find they were closed. We didn't go out of a whim. We checked their website, Instagram, and Facebook before making the trip to make sure they were not out. Their website listed times for Sunday from 11am to 3pm for u-pick. Their Instagram and Facebook had the same posts. Their latest post said they will reopen on Saturday, March 13th and no follow-up post if they were picked out. I even sent them a DM asking if they would be open. I called on Saturday (3/13), early Sunday (3/14) around 8am, and again at 10am & 10:30am to make sure we weren't going to be arrive and then be out of strawberries. When you call the message speaks about closing dates for February, and then says their inbox is full. We got there at 11:33am and found the gate closed. We drove around thinking maybe there would be another entrance, and came back to their only entrance. There was nobody around. We called again; no answer; voicemail full. We checked their websites and social media again for an update -- alas, nothing. My friend's 2 year old was so upset. It was just so disappointing to drive out that far. We think maybe they forgot to "spring forward" with daylight savings, but as my friend said...isn't daylight sayings time meant for farmers? Either way we got there at what would've been less than 30 minutes to open. They should've updated their website, social media, or phone system at the least! We can't support local or farmers if we don't know when they are in business.

    Photos
    Crossroads Farm & Apiary
    Crossroads Farm & Apiary
    Crossroads Farm & Apiary - From: #BayViewSamanthaRWilsonRehabilitationCareCenter To: #RogersFarm

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    From: #BayViewSamanthaRWilsonRehabilitationCareCenter To: #RogersFarm

    Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary - Bozo, the sleeping fox

    Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary

    4.7(213 reviews)
    73.2 miNorthside

    I went there for a visit on a night time feeding. It was a neat concept. They have to feed the…read moreanimals anyways, so why not invite people to educate and raise money for the sanctuary. The animals seem well taken care of and happy. The have mostly tigers but also a lion and some smaller cats. They even have two foxes and two bears! This is different than a zoo, because they have these animals as a way to save them. Some of them were from private owners and some were form closed zoos. The workers and volunteers were all happy as well.

    You've never been to a place like this before... and at first, I wasn't even sure what to expect…read more The sign outside is nicely done, but when you walk in, the tables and chairs look like they're 50 years old... clean and organized, but the area clearly needs an upgrade. But that's actually the point... every dollar this nonprofit earns goes directly to animal care, facilities, and expansion. Nothing is wasted on appearances. And that mindset defines everything about this place. We signed up for a tour and arrived early to walk around a bit on our own. By chance, we ran into Curt Logiudice, the founder and owner of the sanctuary... a remarkable man who has devoted his life to this mission. Hearing him explain how it started, how it's grown, and his vision for the future was inspiring. Watching him interact with the bear they have was priceless... playful, natural, and full of trust. You couldn't tell who was enjoying it more... Curt or the bear. What they're doing here is truly admirable. Their mission is the rescue of exotic animals from serious and often tragic situations. Once an animal arrives at Catty Shack Ranch, it has a home for life. They do not breed, trade, sell, or buy animals. The sanctuary is home to tigers, a bear, lions, pumas, leopards, lynx, foxes, and coatimundis... all cared for with dignity and respect. The guided tour is absolutely worth it. The staff is knowledgeable, the experience is educational, and you get surprisingly close to the animals while still feeling completely safe. The atmosphere is calm, respectful, and not overcrowded. I noticed families with kids whose eyes were wide with amazement... it's that kind of place. This is privately funded, and even veterinarians volunteer their time to care for animals in need of medical treatment. If you see Curt on the grounds... and you probably will... stop and talk to him. His passion, humility, and genuine love for these animals is unmistakable. Please visit. Please support this place. What they're doing here truly matters. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

    Photos
    Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary
    Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary
    Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary - Improvements ahead

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    Improvements ahead

    Wild Encounters - pettingzoos - Updated May 2026

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