We stayed at Blue Hills Resort on a whim and had the best time. There were so many animals to…read moreinteract with and meet. Mostly they are nice but can be a bit food motivated and come right up to you expecting some snacks. The cabin we stayed in was just enough for our needs since it was just my husband and me. We did the guided safari and was amazed at the vastness of the area. Ryan our guide was amazing and so knowledgeable. We had a great time. Matt was extremely helpful. The entire staff is kind and willing to listen.

We had an amazing time at Blue Hills Ranch in Waco, TX- I highly recommend a trip out there to get…read morethe up-close and personal experience we enjoyed with all the amazing animals! Fantastic staff, happy animals, well-kept facilities...what an incredible day we had. It feels like a dream. Easy day trip outing with the family or as a date- book your animal experiences online like we did at https://www.bluehillsranch.com . The staff was flexible to shift timing of the experiences so we didn't have to wait long in between- they were extremely accommodating and we never felt rushed either. The otter swim/playtime experience was originally what drew us, and it was even better than I'd imagined. Worth every penny! Then we got to feed and pet the capybaras, which were way friendlier than I thought they would be! The babies enjoyed some extra belly rubs too. Bottle feeding the kangaroo was so fun too- little Dundee was SO soft and loved all the pets, even gave us kisses! The giraffes were super friendly and greeted us every time we were nearby; feeding and getting quality time with them was an extra treat. The safari ride tour was also amazing- 5 of us fit comfortably and got to feed/see lots of animals that we wouldn't normally get to experience. We were surprised at how this place wasn't crowded at all in the middle of July when it is peak vacation season, so it really felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. They also have a beautiful main lodge area that is comfortable and welcoming with additional animals to enjoy.

This cave system is breathtaking. To hear the details of how long each formation took to form, to…read moreseeing fossils of creatures that once existed there.... Really puts things into perspective! I've been to this cave 3 times in my life and I learn something new every time! P.s. if they ever do the Ice Age Tour with (the fantastic!!) Dr John Moretti, don't think.. just purchase your tickets and be prepared to learn from a very passionate human. 11/10!

If you like science and learning about the natural world, I feel like visiting this cave teaches…read moreyou so much more about how they are created than a documentary or graphic would, simply because physically being there and witnessing each fracture, vein, and formation is so enlightening. Standing there and experiencing "cave rain," taught me a lot about the environment and understanding how our actions above affect our drinking water down below. We just booked the basic cave tour, but apparently there were a couple of other routes we could have tried which explored the cave more in depth. Overall, I had a lovely time and would recommend this to anyone--but I do believe that people with an affinity for science and the natural world would enjoy this experience much more. The only thing I must warn you of is that the cave is very high in humidity, which can be uncomfortable.

Three years later we are back and brought family visiting from out of town. The captain was great…read moreand very informative without it being boring. We were a group of 11 ranging from age 11 through 94 and everyone liked it. You can either park on the street for free or at the Hyatt. If you park at the Hyatt, Capital Cruises will give you a coupon so the What a fun experience!

We rented a swan paddle boat for an hour. Since free parking can be tricky, we parked in the River…read moresouth parking garage for a flat fee for the day. It was a short walk after that. The paddle boats are first come first serve and since we were there on a school day mid afternoon, there was no wait. The staff took great care of us and got us on our way quickly. The boat worked well even in really windy conditions. It was fun to just relax on the lake while getting a little leg workout! This is a fun, quirky experience to do on the lake!

This is your tour company! Dianna and Lou helped make a special surprise birthday celebration even…read moremore special. They had EVERYTHING covered for us- comfortable and safe transportation, a wonderful agenda and experience, no worry handling of our many purchases, tips for future options, etc. Thanks for new great memories!

I highly recommend Amber & Amethyst Tours for your next event. I contacted them as I was looking…read morefor a wine tour option for my mom's surprise party. They were so accommodating from the very beginning. They made great recommendations on where to go and what would work for our group, and were so flexible with the timing of our event. Other places I had called were strict on a time limit: four hours, three wineries...Amber & Amethyst Tours said they would work with us and our schedule...we never felt rushed to move on to the next spot and had time to sit together and enjoy our wine at each spot! Every place we went, they were ready to open the door for us, help my 92 year old grandma get her walker and get to the entrance, and they even labeled and packed all our snacks and wine bottles purchased along the way. Dianna and Lou were so kind and so much fun! I'll be contacting them again!

My daughter and I did the wild cave tour. We were part of a group of 9 first-timers, plus our…read moreguide, Misty. Misty"s confidence and years of experience eased any appreciation I had regarding this adventure. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and her knowledge about the cave, both geologically and historically, kept our group engaged. Everyone earned their t-shirt! We got good and muddy, proving we got our money's worth!

Pictures don't do this place justice!…read more On this beautiful Saturday, I was seeking adventure! This tour is such an amazing deal. My tour guide Eryn was amazing and so funny. Caves are so interesting and there is so much to learn about them . Longhorn Cavern offer 3 different tour options. The cavern walking tour is just like a casual walking tour. The black light tour is where you wear hard hats and walk with a light. The Wild Cave tour is for the extreme explorers who are okay with tight spaces . I chose the cavern walking tour. I highly recommend shoes that have a tight grip. The gift shop has really good options for keepsakes. Also, if you get thirst drinks are available to purchase. I saw a section for pizza, but it was sold out. I had amazing time during my visit. The cave is beautiful and there is so much to see.

We had incredible, unforgettable time at the Caiman, Pantanal. Jorge at Amazon Adventures set up…read moreeverything perfectly for us, was always helpful and responsive and ensured that the whole experience was magical. Everything went smoothly, from the welcome at the airport and the transfer to the hotel, to the hospitality, accommodation, delicious food options, friendly staff, the location and facilities. Of course, the highlight was the day with Onçafari. Our guide and driver were superb, and thanks to their expertise and dedication, we got the chance to see - but not disturb - two of the collared adult females, one with her cubs, and one uncollared adult male. It was an awe-inspiring experience, and so important to be able to support this vital initiative. Thank you to Amazon Adventures for setting it all up.

After seeing the movie "The Embrace of the Serpent", we wanted to see the place where it was…read morefilmed: the Mavecure Hills in Colombia. Amazon Adventures was able to arrange a 5-day tour for us, it went really well - even when we missed our flight out of the jungle (no cell coverage and they moved the flight earlier!!) we had a hotel arranged and a flight the next day. Spectacular trip. Would definitely use this company again!

It's cool that the town has a ghost tour. It's a short walk and wheelchair accessible. It is the…read moremost boring ghost tour I've ever been on. A history tour might be better since the stories of haunts are so bland. It's kid and pet friendly. The meeting place is in a cool gift shop with restrooms. There's also history to read about while you wait.

The staff is incredibly friendly, and the check-in process couldn't be easier. The train cars are…read moreimpressively clean and well-kept, and we really enjoyed learning about the history behind the ride. It's a unique and nostalgic experience that takes you back in time. While I do wish the views along the route were a bit more scenic, the overall experience was still absolutely worth it and I would gladly do it again. If you're looking for something different to do around Austin, please support this train. It's a special kind of adventure you don't find every day.

Being a train enthusiast I was a bit excited to go on the "Noth Pole Flyer" out of Bertrum TX on…read moreDecember 13, 2025 with my two grandkids and thier parents, six people in total. So this is a grandparents perspective. Upon arrival to the depot area, there is no indication of event parking as the lighting was very poor at 6:15 at night. The web site mentioned free parking but had no maps of the area. What I saw coming from the east, was a long row of cars parked in a Hodge podge fashion along the tracks. We ended up parking by the library across the highway. (Short walk with a light to cross with). I'll mention this again later. I came across a small sign in the middle of a crowd that says "no alcohol, no weapons licensed or otherwise." Would be nice to know before this Texan shows up armed. So had to run back to the car to secure my weapon. Ehh, minor inconvenience. BTW, the rules are on the web site. We pick up our tickets at will call and wait. The train comes up and parks. The engine was a short haul/swicher unit, no steam, with very beautiful vintage passenger cars. My family's car just happened to stop right in front of us, #41. We boarded and it was like going back in time. We found our seats easy enough. However, keeping in mind, either people were a lot taller and thinnier back then, or they have tall tables and do like airlines and add extra tables. It was tight. Little wiggle room for an adult. If you are in the window seat, you get to look forward and to the side. You cannot turn around to see what is behind you. If you adjust your seat, you are bumping the person behind you. And trust me, every car is packed. Being a night trip, there is nothing to see outside. So bring stuff for the kiddos to do and snacks and drinks. The two hour trip is loud. Kids are loud, and you have adults talking over the kids. My train enthusiast self went on an exploring expedition through a lot of the other cars. Some like mine had 4 person tables, others 4 person commuter recling seats with no tables. Some had one bathroom available others had two. I stood between two cars and just watched the scenery go by. It was a refreshing change to the snot-monsters noise in my car. The endless coco was good. Very hot. Eventually a minstrel came out and started some interactive Christmas carols. Pretty good. Simultaneously, a balloon guy came out making hats and the sorts for the kids. Then out came the forgetable part, a story teller. Hard to hear, not well versed in the story and choppy in her reading. Alas, Mrs Clause with some very different tasting, highly addictive cookie for everyone, saved the day. The highlight of the adventure was Santa. The staff had his appearance very organized and orderly. Each table had a chance to take photos with the big guy. The most unimaginable gift was given. A wooden train whistle to about 15-20 kids, my own grandkids included. Imagine if you will, about 30 minutes left in the trip with the incessant "tweet-tweet-tweet" penetrating that one nerve that goes from your ears to your feet and makes your spine want jump out of the window. Now, after a engine switch from one end to the other delay, we headed into the depot. We didn't exit the way we got on. We got on the depot side (city side), and exited on the parking lot side. Well that's fine and great. But if you park on the city side, you are blocked by the train with only two ways to get to your vehicle. Oh yes, I said a bunch of nasty, nasty cuss words. You either wait for a full train to disembark and hope they let you walk through, or, you walk around the shortest part of the train and back to the crossing light I mentioned earlier. So that's the trip review. But now to the staff. Man those cats get 5-stars. Friendly, informative and in character. I can't imagin doing that trip 5-6 times a day. They made an otherwise blah trip much, much nicer. This is a one time experience with kids. Maybe, someday, my wife and I will try a romantic trip through hill country or something like that.

When Steve and I were planning our trip to Austin, Texas we realized fairly quickly that we didn't…read moreknow the city very well at all. In previous vacations we took bus tours to get a little bit more familiar with the city and that is what we did with Austin. Only this time we rode a Double Decker bus! I have seen this kind of bus tour here and there and have seen it when I am in Seattle. Officially I think after this particular bus tour it was my first time riding a Double Decker bus. The weather was typical spring weather on our entire visit but the day we chose to take this tour it was nice and warm and a perfect time to go ride this bus followed by rain for a few days (This took place in April). The ride was so much fun and the tour guide was great! Austin is definitely a different cut than the rest of Texas and that was reflected in many of the people we met. Open mindedness being one and we really felt that with the tour guide. He was so knowledgeable of the city and the neighborhoods and all that made this bus tour all the more amazing. But of course they would probably have staff with personalities that would be compatible in this way. Riding on the top of the bus was so much fun. A few times we had to duck from tree branches and I lowered my head a few times from the traffic lights but that was just me getting nervous with being that high to a light. You see all the sights, famous buildings, museums, local culture, restaurant recommendations and so much more while on this tour. So this was a great experience! I was in Austin proper once a very long time ago and saw just how much it's grown. So it was cool getting acquainted with the city one more time thanks to this bus tour!

I was so looking forward to finally taking a tour of the city. I've been coming here visiting my…read moreson for the last dozen or so years and I've never done it. At first, I sat on the upper level. It was wonderful to be out in the fresh air. However, the sun was a little too much for me so I had to move down to the inside area. I was the only one down there which was fine, but it was really quite filthy. There was thick gray dust on the top rail of all the seats and the fabric on the seats themselves was all thick with black grease. The tour guide was really wonderful. Entertaining and knowledgeable with one exception that was actually kind of disturbing to me personally. When we got to South Congress he talked about the "I love you so much" wall. His story of a husband painting it for his wife could not have been more wrong. It was in fact done by an artist named Amy for her then girlfriend Liz an infamous Austin hotelier and restauranteur. It is an incredibly iconic part of Austin history and if it's told it should be not fiction. I hope for sure this can be corrected for future tours.

We visited over the weekend for the grand reopening of Joanne Land Playground and it is truly…read moreamazing. It has so many wonderful obstacles and slides for the children to enjoy. I don't want to upload pics due to children are present but please go check it out because you won't be disappointed. The main stage is nice and there is a pavilion for you to just sit and enjoy the atmosphere while reading a book or just taking a moment to chill. I always enjoy coming here to cycle or walk but really appreciate the playground upgrade for the children.

My preschooler loves the kids playground at old settlers. Its well kept and keeps kids entertained…read more The location by the pond makes it so scenic. Also, this park has so many events going on.