No entrance fee, unless you park inside…read more From Corndogs to Tacos, there is a variety of food to select. Most of the vendors work off tips. Many activities like pony rides, bounce houses, and fair rides. There are performances in the amphitheater. You can visit the animals....this part is bittersweet. All caged animals look sad.

This was a fun experience for me and my kids. There was animals, train ride, fair rides, and great…read morefood. Everyone was so friendly and the park is huge great for a nice walk or run.

BEST FROZEN MARGARITA OF MY LIFE…read more Get the mixed one with strawberry, mango, and lime.

I haven't been to the San Diego Zoo since I was a little kid, so coming back about 25 years later…read morewas such a cool experience. A lot has changed, but at the same time, so much of what I remembered was still there! I brought my DSLR with me specifically hoping to get some great pictures, and the zoo definitely delivered. First things first: be prepared to WALK. This zoo is massive! I highly recommend starting with the guided bus tour if you want to get a good overview of the park before exploring on foot. The roughly 45-minute ride takes you past a huge portion of the zoo and mixes in fun trivia, history, and information about the different exhibits. I actually learned about the full-service restaurant up in the treetops from taking the tour first! Afterward, I spent several hours walking around and taking pictures. I was really impressed by how active so many of the animals were, and everything appeared to be very well cared for. Compared to some other zoos I've visited where there wasn't much happening, there was plenty to see here. I ended up getting some really cool shots of several different animals. There's also no shortage of places to grab a snack, sit down for a meal, or do some shopping throughout the park. I even managed to snag a really cute sweatshirt for 50% off! My only disappointment was that the pandas weren't out during my visit. Obviously, that was completely out of anyone's control, but I was still a little sad because the pandas were 8-year-old me's favorite part of this zoo! All in all, I had a great time coming back as an adult. It was equal parts nostalgic and completely new, and I'm glad I finally returned. Hopefully it won't be another 25+ years before my next visit!

This is the most special place I have ever been to, I've never been more happy. If you love animals…read moreyou have to check this place out! First off it's huge and you are allowed to feed and pet ALL of the animals! They have so much to see! Cows, pigs, camels, and even a zebra!! I never thought in my life I'd pet a zebra, this experience is just incredible! They even have turkeys and peacocks that roam and even came up to us for some food! All of the animals were super friendly and adorable. We even saw the smallest mini horse ever that was so cute. There are also cats that roam the property and one of them followed us throughout the whole place. Can you ask for a cuter tour guide?! They also grow their own produce and sell eggs. We picked and cut our own pumpkins and left with some duck eggs as well! Overall this was just the most fun experience I've ever had. I regret not purchasing the membership because ever since I left I keep thinking about how bad I want to come back! This is definitely a hidden gem and a fantastic experience.

If you love animals and want to support a truly heart-driven cause, Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm is…read morethe place to visit. I've been in touch with Agnes, the owner and operator, for a few years now and she does it all. It's inspiring to see how much love and effort goes into keeping this sanctuary running for the animals who call it home. They offer family-friendly daily tours where you can feed the animals directly- horses, pigs, bison, goats, ducks, tortoises, camels, bulls, and more! Pro tip: go early in the morning before it gets too warm. Hours are 10 AM - 5 PM, 7 days a week (closed Thanksgiving & Christmas). They also host birthday parties and private events. I actually celebrated my 37th birthday here with about 25 friends and kids. We got a private tour with Agnes herself, and the best part? Our donation was tax-deductible since they're a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. It felt meaningful knowing our celebration helped sustain the farm's mission. To help fund operations, they also grow their own vegetables, herbs, greens, and squash onsite. You can text 866-612-6520 to get on their weekly veggie list and orders can be picked up at the farm or Wednesdays at Kohl's in Santee. They even offer volunteer opportunities year-round. We brought my 16-year-old nephew once to help clean the goat area. It was a hands-on, memorable experience to give back and see the difference a few hours can make. If you're looking for something wholesome, local, and purposeful......this is it!!

t's seven am and I'm currently sitting by a babbling waterfall listening to the rooster, the wild…read moreparrots and the street dogs sing the songs of their people. A hummingbird nearly took my eye out a few minutes ago and I couldn't be happier. This place is very special. "Hidden gem" doesn't do the journey to find it justice but the hunt really paid off in the end. A perfect place to hide, unplug and really relax. Not too fancy but quintessential charming. The staff is hard working and very happy to be here. And Jim and TJ work their butts off to make sure everything is just right. I would recommend this oasis for reunions, corporate retreats, family getaways, destination weddings, and so much more.

We ended up renting a 4 seater for $150, and my 3 friends and I each had an opportunity to drive…read more The vehicle was in great condition, well maintained and mighty fast!! Our guide Jose was excellent! He never ventured too far ahead, always making sure we were right behind him. We ended up popping a tire in the middle of our excursion and Jose changed our tire in addition to making sure we were all calm and uninjured. The terrain was a mix of hills, bumps, rocks, and portions of flat dirt road - not to crazy for us first-timers. Halfway though our excursion we stopped at Rincon Tropicana, a beautiful resort in the middle of the canyon we were driving through. The resort featured a monkey and other animals, in addition to beverages! Would definitely do this again! Highly recommended!

The newest elephant valley was fantastic, I love it so much. There are probably over 8 elephants, I…read moredidn't count specifically, but I love that the elephants have lots of friends and can enjoy each other. I was also lucky enough to see lions and tiger walking around. The Africa tram took us to see a bunch of wild animal, it's very educating and fun to see them walking in their space freely! I love the place and I love animals, My only complaint is that there wasn't enough signs at the trail to know exactly where we are going, even with the map it's very hard to tell, we had a 2 year old and my mom us 70, because we end up looping around in the wrong direction, we end up missing a chunk of area because we were too tire to walk back.

We recently bought our resident zoo pass this year and have been loving it! Before that, I'd only…read moreever been to the Zoo by Balboa before. We went with some friends, and we all had a blast. It was a boiling hot day and really appreciated that they had misters set up everywhere. It definitely helped. I just wish that they had a few more water refill stations (or better signage of where they were). The park has also been designed with families and accessibility in mind. It shows! One of our group has a wheelchair, and had a generally good experience. Walkways are wide and are well paved for strollers and wheelchairs. There's a lot of places to stop and rest with benches and seats. We took the accessibility shuttle back to the top of the park at the end of the day. If there's one thing to do while you're visiting, I would say to go on the Safari Tram ride. We saw a lot of giraffes and Rhinos. It was amazing! It's super informative, but in a way that is still fun for kids. As for the animals themselves, well you can't deny that they're in good hands. Just look at all the conservation initiatives that the Safari Park are a part of! Overall we had a great experience!

If you think you've seen it all, think again--Paipai in Ensenada is an absolute once-in-a-lifetime…read moreexperience! From the moment we arrived, we were blown away. The staff are not just friendly--they're genuinely engaging and make you feel like part of the family. The animals are incredibly well cared for, and you can tell this isn't just a "look but don't touch" zoo. We got to interact with monkeys, tigers, leopards, capybaras, giraffes, hippos, and lemurs--hands-on, feeding and playing with them! The baby leopards and the albino lion literally crawled on us and showered us with love--it was surreal and unforgettable. On top of that, we had a tequila tasting that was out of this world--the walnut flavor is a must-try! Convenience? They pick you up right from the cruise ship terminal and bring you back, making the whole experience effortless. Easy to find, unforgettable, and absolutely worth every second. If you're visiting Ensenada, Paipai is non-negotiable on your bucket list! Thank you Max and Julian our guides

Paipai was one of the coolest experiences of my entire life! Worth every penny. The animals seem…read morewell cared for too! Definitely check it out It isn't the biggest park so i think the ~4 hours you get with the tour is perfectly fine. We paid extra to play with the baby jaguar and it was INCREDIBLE

This aquarium is TERRIBLE! The aquatic animals in their are being neglected. The aquarium gives off…read morea dirty, unsanitary feeling. The fish tanks are not fit for the fish there and almost NONE of the fishes have the proper tank set up. They have FAKE CORAL PLANTS that are made of PLASTIC which are HORRIBLE for these animals. Not to mention the shark they have there has the WORST tank set up out of ALL. Also the turtles in the pond also have a rough set up. And one of the fishes was SICK, it was also missing some fins, overall just rough. Please DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY HERE!!

Not enough sea life to view and enjoy. A few fish tanks and your out in the blink of an eye.read more

Wonderful collection of local rescued animals! Park and take the shuttle bus to the center.read more

My friend who needs a wheelchair to get around arrived and their shuttle could not accommodate…read moreher!! Nowhere on the website does it say that they do not accommodate nor does it say that we should call before coming to make sure she would be able to enjoy the center. It's so disappointing that at this day in age, Living Coast did not think about individuals like my friend. Thanks you for your reply. Perhaps the information you relayed on my post can be added to the website? Also, what is your on-site address? My friend was dropped off by MTS access and following the adress provided on your website.

Incredible experience feeding yesterday! Ryan, the guide, was most helpful and had plethora on…read moreknowledge about all the "babies" and regulations that go along with having them at CWC. I'm so glad I'm a member and look forward to the big changes ahead! Thank you all.

Definitely visit California Wolf Center when you are in the area. The wolves are simply majestic!…read moreAnd the volunteers, Jenna to be named in particular, are so passionate about what they do, as well as informative. Learn how these amazing creatures are an important pillar of a healthy ecosystem.

A beautiful wildlife preservation site where you can enjoy animal encounters with exotic animals!…read more - PARKING - We parked on the hill past the entrance of the business, and walked down. Pretty steep but it's a short walk. - SERVICE/ENVIRONMENT - Book your visit online! There are group rates and additional attendee rates, so just make sure you have the right count of people! Staff was very friendly from start to finish, and I loved seeing the enthusiasm shine through their work. It's not a huge site, so not a ton of walking involved, but there are some steps if you're worried about accessibility. Make sure to wear closed toed shoes! - EXPERIENCE - We booked a Wallaby encounter, and initially I thought it was only going to be a single animal experience but I was pleasantly surprised we were taken on a tour around the area! We did get to feed and pet the Wallaby, but we also walked to see all the different animals in captivity. They also brought out some animals for us to pet and see up close! - OVERALL - A wonderful wildlife preservation site, and amazing staff to take care of them all!

We spent our anniversary here for their Sip & Paint event. Great different wines to sip and snacks…read moreto snack on. Great staff. And we had a blast! Great group of attending people too, had a lot of laughs together. The painting teacher walks you through the techniques so even though I'm not even good at stick figures, I didn't do that bad! My cheetah looks more like a racoon, but that's ok ha. Mine is on the right & my wife's on the left.