ZooWorld Zoological Park

My family visited here for the first time this summer and had to stop by the zoo! It was very intimate and we were closer to the animals than expected! We loved getting to feed the gators and the lion exhibit was awesome. The gift shop has really cool art and great gifts/souvenir items! Highly recommend for a fun day that’s not centered around the beach!

Loved this place. Such a great place for the family. Everything was clean and well maintained. The animals were very well cared for and the staff were very friendly. Petting the crocodile with Santa was neat as well. Keep up the great work!

This place was wonderful!! 3rd time in Florida and I refused to leave without holding an alligator. This faculty not only offered a fantastic gator experience but also offered a wide variety of other educational animal experiences. The animals are clearly well treated and the staff were incredible.

My family was lucky enough to experience this park on a slow day and as a result had some quality time with some other beautiful animals as well. The husband got to meet their sloths, I had the pleasure of meeting and holding a beautiful baby Capybara and we all (including my son) were able to hold one of their feisty alligator girls.

Great prices for the encounter all the way around. Would go back in a heartbeat!

Visiting ZooWorld was the highlight of our trip to FL. We had some chilly/cloudy weather for most of our trip, and wanted to find things to do as a family outside of going to the beach. This was such a treat. The zoo is very clean, and well maintained. The staff of very friendly and helpful. The animals are in some of the best condition that I've ever seen. Very alert and active. Very healthy and notably cared for. I cannot recommend highly enough! Please take your family here. You won't be disappointed.

An excellent zoo to spend time with the children, even if you’re there for the beach quest.

The lions are located on the same area with the hyenas, but they don’t let them come out at the same time of course, so that means you can either admire the lions or the hyenas but not both at the same time.

Take some coins (quarters) with you to purchase additional alligator food from the dispensers.

Have fun!

Wild Georgia Safari Park

We love this safari!! I have been multiple times and we it’s always fun! You just pay your entrance fee and buy your food inside the gas station then you walk in the petting zoo area to feed all the animals! You can also do a safari ride to the back which is cool too! We had the bus all to ourselves! It’s rained on the day we were originally supposed to do our safari ride and they let us come back the next day! They have also added in a new park area and carousel since we have been so we are definitely going to make the trip back!

Just stumbled across this place stopping for fuel. Very sweet. The smaller birds are stressed which was heart breaking,  they were plucking out their own feathers. The others seemed quite happy. We didnt stay long, just  fed the emu and alpaca (?).

This was a neat stop. Grandkids really enjoyed it. We didn't get to take the full tour but we stopped in to feed the animals and play!

Great safari ride to feed the animals.  So many to see and the owner is very knowledgeable about them all.  Great day for my 4 and 6 year old grandsons but I enjoyed it just as much!

Amazing experience! We were able to interact with a lot of animals. Will definitely go again!

Wild Adventures

Great place! I've been as a child and as an adult and it's a great place for all ages. Rides for almost all ages. My 18 month old could only ride a couple of rides but she still had a great time. We went for the Christmas lights and they are beautiful! Little to no crowds. I wish there were more bathrooms, especially close to restaurants. December 2023

I've only been 1 time so far but I enjoy it. The drive and parking is much easier compared to Orlando theme parks. A few thrill rides for adults and plenty for kids to do. The Christmas themes are beautiful. The animals look well taken care of. 2 rides broke down while we were in line but you can't be too upset because the lines aren't too long. I enjoyed, will return.

This will definitely become a yearly Christmas tradition for us. It was the very best light display we’ve ever been to including Callaway Gardens. There were so many Christmas activities and the atmosphere was so festive. Even though the temp was in the 40s that night. We had a blast with our adult children and our grandkids. The lines for the rides weren’t very long, either. We recommend getting the Christmas tasting card which is a great value and enough food for 2.

Most of your time is spent waiting in lines for quick rides and mediocre food. If you buy an animal feeding package make sure you get there early and check the times on the pamphlet because a lot of the animal activities close early and they don't inform you when purchasing. Paid to feed several animals, only fed one. Most of the animals we were able to see were huddled up next to heat lamps to stay warm and Molly was pulling out her feathers. Enjoyed the time with my family and the Christmas lighting and decorations were great but don't recommend.

Our 7 year old LOVED Wild Adventures!  It has a great combination of rides, roller coasters, animals, shows, play areas and a water park in the summer.  The park is very affordable relative to other theme parks and you can often catch 50% discounts related to special events, food drives and other promotions.

When we walked through the front gate we were greeted by several animals/keepers that immediately captivated us.  There are animal exhibits everywhere ranging from meerkats to tigers to birds!  Don.’t miss the train ride in the back that serves as a safari to see even more animals.

If you’re the ride type, the roller coasters are a great mix with a couple kiddie coasters, an intermediate mouse coaster and the Boomerang or Twisted Typhoon inverted coaster with tons of inversions that will satisfy the thrill seekers.  There are a ton of kids rids in the heart of the park as well as some grown-up flat rides for the more daring.  Scattered throughout the park are also several kid play areas, mini splash pads, slides, rope bridges and the such.

We went during the Christmas season and the shows were awesome.  They ranged from a fun short musical to an elf training academy to a puppet show.  There were also light shows on the lake every 30 minutes after dark and a walking trail through some woods that had one of the most spectacular Christmas light displays I’ve seen.  Because it’s winter the water park was closed, but can’t wait to check that out and the fact that it’s included with a regular ticket is a crazy good deal.

If you’re passing through Valdosta or live nearby, do yourself a favor and stop at Wild Adventures!

Oatland Island Wildlife Center

Every few months my two best friends and I meet to share a weekend. We did some really fun stuff in Savannah. I was prepared for the Wildlife Center to be a sort of sad place with rescued but unhappy animals. Nope! I was impressed the minute we drove up. The building and grounds are just lovely; the building itself has a cool history, built as a retirement facility by the railroad union for their members. The animals were very well cared for; the snakes were just gorgeous, and the staff were friendly and quite helpful. The variety of animals was impressive; the walks were beautiful and manageable even for folks with disabilities. It seemed there were places for the animals to be away from people or be out close and interact with people. It’s almost always hard to see animals in captivity, but since these creatures were rescued and can’t be released, we were all glad to see they were so well cared for. You’ll see bison, wolves, panthers, bobcats, the aforementioned snakes, many fowl, possums, alligators and more. We had a terrific of time. Did I say admission is only $5? Check it you!

My family and I have visited twice and we love it. The staff hace been welcoming and knowledgeable. My son loves looking at all the animals and having free space to run, play, and explore. Multiple spots to sit and eat too. Bringing a sack lunch is recommended. It's a beautiful trail with animals and beautiful scenery to see during the walk.

This place was so much fun when exploring Savannah. So many walking trails through beautiful trees and so many exhibits for a small zoo. It was beautiful and fun with my little kids. My 4 year old did great with all the walking and it took us about 2 hours to go through. It was inexpensive and a fun way to explore with children.

We had an amazing experience here for our first time coming, I highly recommend!! This place is beautiful and so peaceful. To me it was more of a nature trail walk. Most of the animals we were expecting to see were either hiding or sleeping in their dens the day we went. But only $5 for adults?? Totally worth it! It was still entertaining to walk through! Make sure you wear a comfortable outfit & comforting shoes because it’s about a 2 hour walk if you actually take your time.

I took my older teens, my 10 and under nephews and my sister. We all had a great time and loved seeing the various animals and plants even though it was kind of chilly. If you take littles be sure to bring a stroller and take lots of pics.

Leesburg Animal Park

Leesburg Animal Park was a fantastic stop with the little! We were able to enjoy the Fall Festival which had so many bounce houses, bounce pad, little train ride, tractor ride that took you through the trail that had Halloween decorations around, loved the tomb stones “Emma Goner” “Noah Scape” LOL!!!! The animals were so active and playful! Had pony rides which I’m glad we paid for 2 rides which was was less than $7. Definitely recommend to be last in line, my little did not have to get off her pony and wait back in line to get her second ride. There was a momma and baby donkey, baby was only 1 week old!!! The staff were super nice and helpful. This was a delightful stop, price was great, under $20, for all the activities that were offered. To feed the animals it’s $.50 from machine, or you can buy a souvenir cup with bag of food for $5 and refill bag $3.50. This was an awesome stop so glad we found this place to hang out. We stayed for 3 hours and our little ran herself the whole time! Thank you for the wonderful memories! We will be back when we visit the area again!!!

Great place for kids! We went on early Sunday without our granddaughter. She had so much fun with all the animals and amenities in this location. Feeding some animals and picking up pumpkins. They give you an apple cider with a cookie, and you can take an apple with you. Going early will make it easy to park, visit all the animals, and take pictures with no crowds.

This is my daughter's favorite place to go no matter what season! Although fall time it is just a must! They do such a fantastic job from moon bounces, face painting, magic shows and even apple cider and pumpkin shapes cookies! Come for the amazing animals and stay for the fall fun!!!

Brilliant animal park. Such an amazing mixture of animals. I use a wheelchair bit can walk behind it, it's hard on the gravel and bumpy if in the chair but I could still get around the whole park. There's food service where you can buy crisps, lunchables, snacks and cold drinks. Staff were very welcoming. Good little gift shop too.

This is definitely a nice place for kids. They have animals like Sheep, Pig, Goat, Camel, Pony, Sloth, squirrel monkeys etc. They also offer the option to host birthday party which is definitely a hit for the kids. Finally, the animal interaction is very thoughtful.

Catoctin Wildlife Preserve

My mom got annual passes for my nieces, so she got me a pass as well so I could take them.
I enjoy going myself and the kids always have fun seeing the animals. (They are 1.8 and 3 years old, so they sometimes need help and encouragement while feeding the animals, but it is good to start socializing them at a younger age.)

It is best to time your visit around hot days, as there is a lot of walking. But there is shade on a good portion of the paths and water at the snack shack.

For strollers, unless you have a jogger with bigger wheels, don't bother bringing it. Besides the main path, most everywhere else is gravel or dirt and hard to push the smaller sized wheels over. They do have wagons and some other tools of convenience for rent.

We enjoy seeing most all of the animals, but my favorites are the Japanese section, the Lynx, and the Wolves. (The new enclosure for the wolves finished recently)

My 9 year old nephew recently enjoyed the alligator presentation and loved getting to pet the baby (more like the alligator equivalent of a toddler.)

Every staff member I have met over our 7+ visits have been at least polite and helpful, to enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Even when they are dealing with difficult customers or a busy crowd on a hot day.

Ever since we went on the safari, my 3 y/o niece  keeps asking to go again.

Love this place, will definitely return.

Lovely outing for the kids and parents. They have a great collection of wildlife here and the setup is pretty good. Unlike many zoos where you stare at empty habitats wondering where the animals are, there was only one no-show in the whole park. I would definitely go again.

Now, the price is rather high, so I recommend looking for a coupon in those little ad packets that come in the mail. The concessions however were rather inexpensive for the type of venue this is. That said, if they really wanted to increase the dollar value of the ticket, I would recommend that they include at least a small safari ride. There was no way I was going to pay ANOTHER 17 bucks for a safari ride on top of the almost 30 bucks for the entry.

Overall we enjoyed the day at the wildlife preserve.

Pros:
Close to home
Good amount of parking
No line to get in
A good bit of animals to see
Facilities were clean
Gift shop prices were decent for what we looked at.
Lots of areas to sit and have lunch.
Food to feed at the petting area ($5 per cup) plus there are small food dispensers at some sites with food (.50)
Porter potty throughout as well as hand washing stations

Cons:
Entry price a little on the high side.
Navigation throughout the site was complicated if you wanted to see everything.  When we arrived there were no maps available, very limited amount of signs throughout the site. No footprints to follow so we ended up using the map on the website to navigate, which helped but could have been better with more visual signs.
The safari animals ( camels, zebras, biason, deer) and I think a few other animals are tucked away in an area where they can only be seen on the safari ride unless you find the out in the field by the wolfe enclosure. This was a huge disappointment because we couldn't even pay to ride because my son was maybe 3 inches to short of 3ft. Yep you have to be a certain height.
Only saw 3 employees the 4hrs we were there ( the person at the gate, one person cleaning an enclosure and one working the Gift shop)
There were some signs on some exhibits indicating someone would be talking about the animal at a certain time. However there was no way to know that unless you happened to be there while they were there. No food options but there are drink vending machines.

I took my grandson here for some fun. We both love animals and he had a blast. There is a good variety of animals. The paths are well kept, and all the animals were able to be seen. He loved the safari ride and all of the opportunities to feed animals. The staff were all very friendly. Even had free water and snacks while waiting to ride the safari.

Arrival: The earlier, the better. We arrived around 10am on a Saturday, and it wasn't super crowded. We had options to take the 12pm and other rides after.

Parking: We found parking to be pretty easy. There was street parking as well as some parking lots (one that was even marked as overflow parking).

Tickets: We ordered tickets online. That process was fairly easy. When we got to the entrance, they just asked for your name to pull up your tickets. You would then purchase your safari tickets there as well.

The Tour: It was self-guided. I read plenty of reviews saying it's a lot of walking. Eh....yes and no. You are walking the whole time, but for me, it was no different than walking the zoo. The only difference is that this place wasn't as big and had benches that weren't all occupied. Then, you got a walking break during the safari. What made this experience much better than the zoo was that it wasn't super crowded and you got to interact with the animals. We got to feed and touch animals (emu, kangaroo, cow, bison, koi fish, crocodiles, and more). It was an experience that we'll never forget.

Safari: The Safari ride was AMAZING!!! Our instructors were nice and awesome and kept us laughing and entertained. ***Make sure to bring animal food on the ride. The safari ride does indeed give you (1) complimentary cup, but you have (3) stops to feed and touch animals on the ride. Trust me when I say it's hard not to interact and run out of your first cup on the first stop. If you have wooden tokens, you can trade them in for food on the ride.

Animal Food: The food at the front is $5.00 or throughout the Preserve, and you'll find areas where you can pay 50 cent for a handful. We opted for the 50 cent food.

Food: There was no actual food for us to eat, but we packed sandwiches, snacks, and drinks and ate after the safari ride. They do have sanitizer throughout the venue, but we still brought our own. Wipes are a good investment as well if sanitizer doesn't make your hands feel really clean.

The Smell: I saw plenty of reviews complaining about the smell. For one, I didn't smell anything out of the ordinary. Animals smell, so I was so confused as to why it was even mentioned. Also, there was no repulsive smell throughout our visit. Please ignore those reviews.

Bathrooms: We actually didn't see any actual restrooms, but there were plenty of porta potty's. We had children, so we used them. They were clean. I'm not sure if it's because they are really sticklers about cleaning, or we went earlier enough where there was no room for people to dirty it up. Anywho, it worked out for us.

Overall: We are already planning to go back! This was a great experience.

Sierra Nevada Zoological Park

Love , love, love our little Zoo. We take our grandchildren a few times a year. The cages are too small, the animals pace back and forth from boredom, and that's sad. But it's a nice little Zoo - they need money / help for improving. It's so much fun to feed the llama, goats,cow,and deer. Price is well worth a visit. Anymore, and we would stop going. They just really need money to help these animals ! To see some of the negative reviews on here really upset me. We go here quite often , the workers are always very friendly,  very knowledgeable,  very eager to tell my grandchildren about the animals and NEVER RUDE ! Read the negative reviews, but then read their other reviews- most are negative, unhappy people who enjoy complaining. I just wish people would donate !

Relatively small, but plenty big enough that they have a good variety of cool animals!
I was recommended to visit for the Liger but, even though the Lion-Tigers are rare and interesting, there are many very intriguing creatures to view. A big bonus is spending an extra dollar or few to feed the animals at the petting zoo. Especially great for kids, but fun for everyone!

Some of my favorite animals were the frogs, hissing cockroaches, monkeys, and the big cats! I definitely recommend visiting. They get different animals too, so even if you’ve gone before, you can visit again and still have tons of fun.

We visited from Sacramento with our two girls about a month ago because we heard there were cows to see. I can tell you that they thought it was the coolest thing to be able to feed and pet so many eager cows and goats. We saw peacocks just roaming and were lucky to see a momma and her babies cruising along the path. While the big cats looked a little sad, I'm sure if it was cooler they would have been more active. Overall, it definitely made a lasting impression that they have yet to forget. We are making another trip soon with our nephew so he can feed some goats too. Definitely a wonderful little sanctuary who is doing the best they can with the resources they have. The Aloha Shack just down the street also helps cement this place as a must visit place.

I like zoos but seeing the lions was just sad , they look so unhappy . I'm not saying they are mistreated but they def don't have a big enough place , they do have another enclosure to walk around in, or as someone else put it they get tier time which made it even more sad cause it's true. but there is so much open desert behind them give them some more room . I don't know much about housing a big lion but the deer has a bigger enclosure. But staff is super nice .

This is the only local option for a Zoo and it's small but they are caring for the animals. We went for an easter event.
Lots of goats, deer, cows and others to feed and pet. 12 dollars per adult is not bad.

NOVA Wild

I have been coming here since I was a child, I have brought countless kids here.  with the New ownership they are making some major improvements.  Enclosures are being upgraded and all animals are getting bigger spaces. We can DRIVE our own car thru the park and feed the animals- like a mini safari!  The bucket of food cost a bit, but it is a big bucket and you can share it. They failed to mention no camel rides on Monday on the website. I can see where they will be adding exhibits and I look forward to coming back again and again.  5 stars when I come back and see more upgrades!!

I didn’t buy tickets ahead of time. I just showed up. Tickets are bought inside the black building. You will get red wrist bands and a bucket to feed the animals.

Once you have your wristbands and food you get back on your car and head over to the safari to drive around a loop. You get to see llamas, donkeys, cows, bulls, deer among other animals.

Total for 1 adult, 1 senior and 1 child was $71.20. I don’t know if I was charged an extra person or if the food is $20. Since it was only 3 of us.

Adult admission is $20
Senior $15
Child $15

I was excited I didn’t notice this until later.

My MIL, my son & I had so much fun!

Don’t let the bad reviews keep you from coming here.

We did come on a weekday like around 10.30ish am.

There was no wait. The animals were eager to fed, they came to the car fairly quickly.

I was a little nervous to feed the cows but once I got over it it was amazing!!

We noticed someone dropped the food bucket which caused some of the animals to try to gain control over it. Please don’t do this. There is a stand in the front to return  the bucket.

I didn’t see restrooms other than a porter potty. And to wash our hands there was a portable wash station. Not much water came out so glad we had extra water bottles with us. Plenty of soap.

We brought our own food and eat inside the zoo under shade.

Would definitely come back again.

Super fun! The staff and animals were so friendly and pleasant. We really enjoyed driving our own vehicle through the range and feeding the deer, bison, and the other larger animals.

Fun local zoo. Great for kids. Drive through safari was a great time. Be sure to get the animal feed so you can be up close and personal with the critters...it also helps get the geese out of the way as you're driving through 😉

1/3 of the zoo is still in construction. Drive thru safari is open & can feed animals. Recommend to have some wet wipes ready. I arrived there about an hour before closing time, but camel ride & aviary were already closed.

Amazonia

The most fun I've had in a while. Definitely a wonderful place for families and out of town guest .

This place is AWESOME!! It wasn't very crowded on a weekday, but it was also Friday so it was a weekend/weekday mix. It is located inside the zoo! Very calm animals, photos are allowed, this place had a VARIETY of animals, including poison dart frogs! You should DEFINITELY visit. It's worth the money! I mean, there's lions, tigers, porcupines, snakes, fish, turtles, OH MY!

Great experience! Really enjoyed the electric eel exhibit. Really informative exhibit about the frogs of Panama and the Chytrid fungus. The largest spider in the world resides in the Amazon.....why no exhibit about the Goliath Bird Eating Tarantula? 🤷🏾‍♂️

I always love this place. It is my favorite exhibit at the zoo! The collection of animals is amazing and all the animals are healthy.

Perfect for fish and lizard lovers. Tons of fish and amphibians very good and a much more chill and leaning experience

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore

Ticket prices are half price in the winter time. So I enjoyed a leisure Sunday with my grandson. The zoo is compact but every cage is filled. He was able to ride the carousel several times along with the train

We have been this zoo multiple times. Its really a great place to go with kids and friends. Lot of wild , african animals, birds , farm animals as well. Train ride was not that worth. We saw giraffe so many snakes , lion hippo, zebra, gorilla , polar bear elephant. It has been an awesome amazing experience . Its now under construction so you need to walk from entrance to the actual animals areas. However its good . Need to plan for 3-4 hrs to cover everything atleast. Food is available inside .

Went to the Baltimore zoo during my stay in the city and I was glad I did! As you can expect it's pretty fricken expansive in all avenues,  easy to move around in and very well kept! The animals are awesome,  well taken care of at a glance and if I had to pick my favorites? It'd be the rhinos, elephants wart hog and tortoises! Staff were great, nice to talk to and knew their stuff,  great people work there! If I had any gripes about the zoo ot was the entrance price is a little steep, the construction was annoying and...I wish i got there earlier to see EVERYTHING! Aside from that though, I had a lot of fun there and highly recommend it to people visiting Baltimore!

Pictures are of the wide outside expanse of the zoo, gift shop, Souvenir I got and VARIOUS animals I saw!!!

It had been years since a zoo visit, and it’s awesome to see all of the renovations and changes that have taken place. Zoo volunteers were well-spaced, friendly and helpful. Though we are local, the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore remains one of our favorites in the country!

It was good. Niece wishes there were foxes and wolves. The historical older cages weren't all that appealing and there was a snow owl that arguably was not in a correct habitat and just had a fan to keep it cool. It was not ideal that we had to pay to ride the train when we paid admission for the zoo. Also no military discount at entrance, must go through base services.

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