Went on a Saturday around 12, started to get pretty busy around 12:45-1:30. Which makes the…read morecave/cavers very tight to walk through. While your down there your using a provided map to guide yourself around and match the corresponding areas ( Ex; A to A or 1-1 ) We went after it had just rained the night before, so everything was VERY wet. Wear waterproof/walking shoes if you plan on exploring. Be prepared to get dripped on by very cold water coming off nearby rocks, and the "ceiling". Coming down the initial very steep stairs is a beautiful view of different levels of rocks decending into a tunnel/cave where the rest of the cavers are. Tons of puddles all over the ground from collected rain water and the "droplets". Most the areas are about big enough for one person to walk through the tunnel areas at one time, and if your a larger person i DO NOT recommend going down there. Some areas are extremely tight and really only accessible to someone under 4'5 and around 100 pounds or less. (Im 5'4, 140 and some areas i almost got stuck cause it was too tight going through the rocks. It is neat to see though, i dont think id want to do it again as it is just wet rocks and the furthest tunnel was closed from the previous year that occurred from some heavy rain water. (The water collected, over time causing a collapse). So that was kind of a bummer but i get it for safety reasons. The gem mining was fun, definitely loaded with a lot of "gravel" type rocks so that was new for me, Ive only ever had ones with dirt/sand that yield rocks/gems/shark teeth. We found some really interesting gemstones in each tray. The petting zoo was great. I thought it wad Going to be boring and smelly, and i was happily wrong. The goats were adorable, when we came in a baby jumped through the fence and was following our group. And when we came inside the "pen" to pet them he ran back in it was very cute! The deer were a little skittish but very sweet and gentle. The treasure hunt/maze was VERY fun we enjoyed getting different prizes snd trading them within the group.

Lots of things for kids to do. Large play ground area, mini golf, cave tour, petting farm, maze,…read morepre purchased bag for gem panning. We paid $145 for our family of 5 to do all the activities

We visited this zoo during our cross-country road trip with our two young boys, ages 4 and 5. We…read moredidn't visit the water park, so I can't comment on that portion of the attraction, but the zoo itself was one of the highlights of our trip. Admission and parking were definitely on the expensive side, and we initially questioned the cost. However, once we got inside, it quickly became clear that the experience justified the price. This is an exceptional zoo with beautifully designed exhibits, an incredible variety of animals, and excellent viewing opportunities throughout the park. One thing we especially appreciated was the food selection. There were several good dining options, and a special shout-out goes to the restaurant near the Savanna exhibit for serving fresh watermelon slices--a perfect treat on a warm day. The zoo also features small playgrounds scattered throughout the grounds, interactive learning experiences for children, and even a small aquarium, which was a pleasant surprise. There's so much to see that you could easily spend two full days here if you wanted to explore everything at a relaxed pace. The only areas that gave us pause were the penguin and tiger habitats. We felt the penguins would benefit from a larger, more enriching environment. The tigers also seemed eager for additional stimulation--they repeatedly ran alongside the glass as our kids moved, almost as if they wanted to play. While it was fascinating to watch, it also made us wonder if additional enrichment opportunities would be beneficial. Overall, this is a spectacular zoo and one of the best we've visited. The thoughtfully designed exhibits, wide variety of animals, family-friendly amenities, and engaging experiences make it well worth a visit. If you're traveling through the area, this is an attraction we would highly recommend.

There are other zoos/aquariums in the area. This facility is…read morenot accommodating to special needs children. Whilst signage and platitudes say they accommodate, they do not. Further (and worse), they shift interpretations of their policies, depending on which staffer one speaks to. As a father of one autistic child and grandfather of another, it's disgusting to realize their employees have no training for special needs children, and they can be downright verbally and actionably abusive against these children. I've also recently learned they are suing a parent for speaking out about how HIS child was mistreated at this facility. Find somewhere else, somewhere more inclusive.

I absolutely love this place! I've been coming here every year for their Wine Craze Corn Maze…read moreevent, and it never disappoints. The farm is huge, beautifully kept, and has so much to do -- it's the perfect spot for a fall day with family or friends. From hayrides and putt-putt to the giant corn maze, pumpkins, farm animals, and playgrounds, there's truly something for everyone. They also have a charming country store filled with seasonal goodies, local products, and fall décor, plus plenty of food and drink stands to enjoy while you explore. You can really feel that it's a family-run farm -- the staff is always so friendly, welcoming, and eager to make your visit a great one. Van Buren Acres has become one of my favorite fall traditions, and I can't recommend it enough if you're looking for a fun, festive, and wholesome autumn outing!

Went for a school event. $15 per family; not sure if that is the standard price. For that you get…read moreloads of games and activities: hay ride, bouncy thing (sort of a country trampoline, not a bouncy house,) pig races, duck races, corn maze, petting zoo, conk the crow, obstacle course, and much more. And they sell pumpkins, cider, hot chocolate, and 4986 doodads in their gift shop. K loved it. All the kids loved it. It was somewhat fun for adults. Everything is spread out, so my legs were worn. Staff were friendly and helpful. We'll definitely be back someday. Barely half an hour from central Columbus. K did not want to leave.

What a wonderful gem of a place. Immaculate care of the grounds and for the animals. It felt like…read morewe were in a Hallmark movie! The animals had such personality and the people who run the farm were top shelf as well. I can not recommend this place highly enough!

Always a lot of fun. The food for the animals is a bit overpriced but we always have a great time…read moreand staff is always friendly.

Highly recommend this place, ESP if you love OWLS! They have so many & all different kinds!…read more Watch their FB page for events! Also check out their website if you love owls or homeschool for all of the neat options for close up experiences & learning! We went for a meet & greet with "Willow" the baby owl from Berkeley Springs, WV when she first arrived to the sanctuary. We had decent seating, learned a lot from the speaker, & could get right up to the table where she was at & take pictures! A lot of information thrown out & a decent amount of time to just watch her.

This time, i checked the days they were open and hours so i could visit. This is 21/2 hours from…read morehome, so i can rarely come. But I had the opportunity to spend 2 nights in the area, and this was someplace i wanted to return. They have several birds in small caged areas ... i guess they were injured or couldn't be returned to the wild. It's always sad to see birds unable to fly. I did see a few hawks i hadn't seen before, but pics in the cages aren't great. They had eagles, crows, hawks, and owls. They often have a time they bring a bird out of the cage on a staff persons arm. Give so info about that bird. Today, it was a bard owl. But my goal was to enter the aviary... they sell small cups of food you can feed the birds. They dont put much in it, but the birds will come eat it, which can be fun. But birds weren't interested in the food, so they must be well fed. I had fun watching the birds and the kids trying desperately to attract them. There is a blue jay or 2 but the one who was super friendly escaped years ago. Didn't see the Is Quail that was in review... but still several birds to see. Excellent place for photos of birds or to bring kids. The staff are informative and helpful. The fee was only 5 dollars and they greatly appreciate donations to keep it running. They accept donations of fresh fish ect to feed the birds. The bird watching in this whole area was good .. especially around the lake. Saw lots of hawks and waxwings.

Michelle at Dream Maker Farm is great! All of Dream Maker's animals are rescues and well loved!…read moreThey make it priority to ensure the zoo is a 'last stop' for their furry friends. Dream Maker has ducks, bunnies, ponies, offers unicorn/pony rides. The staff is knowledgeable about the animals and is a great addition to any birthday party or festival.

You cannot go wrong having Dream Maker Farm at your event. Michelle and the girls were so…read morewonderful! Every animal is a rescue living their best life with Michelle. They love their fur babies. They were very good working with the children. Everyone enjoyed themselves. thank you again for a great day!!!

They are turning into an every day farm festival with their additions. Now they have the store,…read morebakery, kettle popcorn, foodtruck, gift shop, paid petting zoo, buggy rides, and the expanded parking. Their fry pies are great, huge longjohns, delicious produce, and lots of samples. Plus, you can get half off on the reduced rack w/ 1.50 pies.

This was a fun stop. The property is large and has a lot of amenities- petting farm, gift store,…read moregrocery store, and kind of a snack bar. Our visit was mostly the gift shop and grocery store. The grocery store was a great stop for snacks. They had some delicious pies. At least the cheese and blackberries one I had was delicious. And since the crust is great, I would imagine they were solid choices. They had a nice selection of Amish popcorn and maple treats too. The gift shop is large and has a good selection of items. The yard decor and patio furniture were all fairly impressive. Some things were even Buckeyes themed! The leather goods were the other highlight. I thought the rucksacks were great and had me wishing I could take a hobbit adventure But, the highlight for my sister was a real/ nice belt that she is excited about. My highlight was the pecan turtle I had for dessert. It's a great spot in Amish country and the service was very pleasant.

We attended the Holidays on the Farm event. It was lots of fun but a bit pricey. I saw later that…read morethere was a small promotion, however, it was not widely publicized. Even so, we enjoyed seeing the lights, animals, and Santa Claus. We also purchased cups of hot cocoa and a s'mores kit. Our girls took advantage of the pony riding and playground. Overall, it was a great time with plenty of activities to choose from.

After watching the promotional video on their website, I was excited to come to Parky's and pet…read moresome animals! When we arrived, I quickly realized the video must be old/pre-covid. There were several horses, cows, chickens, goats, and pigs; however you cannot get close enough to pet them. There was also no hay rides while we were there. The grounds need some upkeep, as there was lots of animal poop around. The kids in my group hardly looked at the animals and instead went to the large jungle gym and spent almost of their time there. It's nice for a free outing, but we will not be coming back.