Considering the current situation, my family and I had a blast! Very educated and friendly staff and the Birds were amazing. We all need to do what we can to keep places like this going. read more

Just went a couple days ago! I took my 2 4yr olds and my almost 2 yr old. It gets quite loud and they were a little scared but they were still brave enough to hold the tin bowl out to feed the birds. The Koi fish are huge but watch out they splash! read more

Visited Free Flight Del Mar based on a write-up in "Places to Visit in San Diego". Did a Google search for it and it sounded very cool. This place was even better than we imagined! Huge shade trees cover the whole site. If you like exotic birds, come for a visit. Parking can be tough and tight. When we visited, there was an on-site kids camp going on and it was obvious that the children learned a lot about the birds, how to treat them and how to respect them. read more

It's a great place but they don't have bathrooms. Seriously, my 2 year old can't use your bathroom. Done.

I visited Free Flight today with a five-year-old boy and we ended up staying for several hours. It's an exotic bird park attached to a veterinary office. Admission is only $2 for children under 13 and $5 for adults. It's not very large, but there are many great birds that you can hold, pet and feed (25 cents a scoop, self serve). The birds have ended up there because they had owners who under-estimated the responsibility of caring for an exotic bird, or the birds used to be used for breeding, etc. There are also several birds who are just visiting, as Free Flight supports itself by providing bird boarding and grooming services. The attendant was very helpful and told us anything we wanted to know about the birds. In addition, there was a wonderful koi pond that the kiddo was very interested in. It's a fun and economical afternoon out, even if you aren't necessarily a bird lover. Just a little note: There isn't really a cashier to collect your entry fees, just a box with a slot in the top. You should definitely bring cash with you, and exact change is helpful unless you don't mind donating a few extra bucks to the park. read more

We had a great time. some of the birds were really affectionate and we talked and danced with them. Staff was helpful and informative and clearly cared for the birds as well read more

Great little spot to take your kids for an hour of fun! The place is small but the lady that works here is super nice and answers all of the many questions my daughter asked her! My daughter has asked to come back which is always a good sign :) read more

I like the mission behind this place. My toddler was a bit freaked out by how loud some of them were, but he doesn't like loud sounds, so that may not apply to all toddlers. It was cool being able to hold the birds and their colors were amazing. If you're in the area, it's a great place to visit! read more

I am not a bird lover, but our daughter loves animals so we came to Free Flight. The humans were so nice....stayed with me the whole time to make sure they were ready to return the bird to the perch if I asked. The birds are friendly and social and it is really peaceful...Afterward, we drove over to Lockwood Cafe, which is about 5 -10 minutes away and had a delicious lunch..What a peaceful day! read more

i highly recommend a visit, even for someone like me who is afraid of birds. beautiful exotic birds and a sanctuary in the true sense of the word. the koi are also amazing. this is a great place for a hands on experience with exotic birds. a unique place for events with many different services offered. donations of all kinds and memberships are how free flight exists so get involved and see how you can help today:) read more

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Love it! Nice and cheap = great spot to chill with your kiddies for a while. There were a few kids of different ages there .... I brought my 8 month old and she loved watching the birds and the koi fish. read more

A great place to go by yourself or bring the family. Get in touch with nature and the various multicolored parrots. Here is a rare opportunity to actually hold a parrot. Learn about avian behavior and feeding. this is a MUST SEE attraction. Getting one of your kids to hold a Real live parrot and take a photo. Admission is very reasonably priced. $5.00 for adults, $2.00 for the kids. Now I also volunteer for a parrot rescue. Brittany below does bring up some good points. The parrots don't have any toys in the cages or perches. There are no food or water cups, and the birds rely upon some good soul to feed them as they pass by. Nonetheless, the birds do seem very well adjusted, healthy, and most are very friendly. Please visit, donate, and become friends with a parrot. It is an opportunity you will cherish forever. I also spent some time teaching, guiding, and helping other visitors, but then again, I enjoy working with the birds. read more

Very fun afternoon! Decided to spontaneously go on memorial day with my boyfriends-ended up staying there nearly 2 hours, which is a lot longer than most of the people we say there. Most were really friendly-just be careful when approaching them. When they showed signed of not wanted any contact, I just walked away. Later they came around and allowed being petted. Their claws don't really hurt at all then they are on your arm. The people that worked there was really friendly read more

We had so much fun here!! I bought it on a Groupon, although the entry fee is quite nomal so it isn't necessary to get on Groupon. My better half really loves birds, so I thought it would be a fun day activity, with a stop for a beachside lunch on the way home. What I love about this place, is that it's a sanctuary and rescue organization for birds. They also board people's pets, but most of their birds are abandoned birds or hurt. You can feed them, you can hold them (the nice ones), and you can take lots of pictures with them. The venue itself isn't entirely huge, so it can get crowded quickly, but it's absolutely a hidden gem in San Diego. You can take as much or as little time as you want, but I encourage you to check it out. They also have a volunteer program if you decide you just can't get enough, and want to spend hours upon hours! Can't wait to go back and play with some more birds! read more

As a bird parent I was always interested in what this place had to offer. I finally got to see what it was all about! Pretty fun I have to admit:) got to hold all kinds of exotic parrots for how-ever long I liked. Some birds didn't want to be held and I can respect that, haha. We stayed for about an hour feeding these birds (25 cents a scoop of seed) and just hanging out with them. The only thing I didn't like was the parrots were hungry, they only had water out for them. I also saw some rusty cages and felt bad for the poor little guys. Overall I do believe they take care of the birds here, and probably just keep them out during the day without food so they will eat treats from guests. Had a blast and definitely will be back to visit soon. read more

Awesome place if you're looking for something to do in the area. Beware that you touch or let the birds climb on you at your own risk. Some of them like to and some just want to be left alone. Either way, it's a cool experience. Also, keep in mind that parking is very limited. read more

Definitely worth stopping by. I found them through groupon and so glad I did. Very nice place and such a friendly environment. There is birds in and out of the cages. There is food you can buy to feed them. (50 cents a scoop which is plenty) You can even take the birds in the cages out. All birds seemed friendly with everyone. I was a bit of a scardy cat with some but other people had no problems with any. The one that I really bonded with was Casper. Such a sweetheart! he was also the only one that would "step up" and get on my arm. But you will see that even if they stepped up to someone else they might not step up to you. Let it be their choice. The staff is very friendly and open to help you with any questions. I was there for a good hour and a half. It took me a while to feel comfortable in petting them and once i did I wanted to touch all of them! I will definitely be coming back! read more

This place is great! Wonderful birds and fish! You can enjoy the company of the most beautiful birds in DelMar here. There is one Cockatoo that loves to be scratched under its wings and I always manage to when and before I leave. Its only a 5$ entry fee for adults so it's worth it. I have a membership not only to get free access but to help the birds also. Great place to come to learn about the parrots, adopt, or sponsor. Or if you're hungry for some parrot knowledge. read more

The birds are so well cared for and happy and alive. And getting to interact with them and see their individual personalities was thrilling. Highly recommended - can't wait to go back. read more

Amazing place Amazing birds only 7 dollars for entry. Food is dirt cheap. Perfect for people visiting San Diego. Love coming here

Went with two young kids who loved feeding the large Koi fish and talking/dancing with MiMi and Peanut, their two favorite birds there. Had a blast! Highly recommend it. A bit smaller than we thought, but staff was great. Parking a bit tight... read more

This is truly an amazing place with the most gorgeous animals you can find. Unfortunately, if you show up during posted hours, the girls that have been left to monitor the birds will ignore you... Its 10:30 a.m. they open at 10 a.m. . I've been standing at the gate for 30 minutes... No acknowledgement... No hello... No it'll be just a few minutes... No come back later... No smile... and bless their hearts they both look like they hate their job. it's a real shame because the animals are worth the trip. I've been many times and I wanted to try my new camera this time but perhaps I will do a little more research and see when a different crew is working. read more

The birds in the sanctuary were very beautiful but unfortunately they weren't well kept, you could tell by their feathers that many of them needed to be showered. This is coming from a bird keeper, I have been around birds my whole life because of my dad. I came in to the sanctuary yesterday with my boyfriend & we met a lovely volunteer named Charlotte, she was very knowledgeable & she even recommended we adopt an albino cockatiel named Blizzard because we talked to her about how we already have an albino cockatiel at home whom is hand trained, sweet & social. As soon as I got home I filled out the adoption application, submitted it & returned to the sanctuary the following day. When we got there we spoke to other staff members about adopting Blizzard & they turned us down right away because they believed we weren't "a good fit" they were very prejudice, they didn't even take the time to get to know us or hear about our lifetime experience with birds. After letting us know we wouldn't be able to adopt him, they informed us about a membership that we could purchase in order to see if we "might have a chance" of adopting him. They were very hypocritical, they would inform us about how it is always better to adopt a bird rather than to buy from a breeder yet they are prejudice against who is able to adopt without getting to know the person, instead they decide based on appearances whether someone is fit to adopt or not. They have now left us with no other option than to buy from a breeder because we are ready to welcome a new feathery friend into our home. read more

DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH!!!.. and will never do business with again not a company that will hold true to what someone has purchased even if a situation if out of my control and I would have been bringing 4 others with my 6 in total but won't honor a groupon that would be 4 days past expire day good job you just lost even more money =) read more

It is a small place, but they do have quite a few birds, nice outdoor area with a pond. Gorgeous, exotic birds that you can feed, hold and huge koi fish you can feed too. It is $5 for adults and $2 for 13 and younger. $0.50 to feed either the birds or the fish a scoop of food. Birds can bite so exercise caution. A bit difficult for very younger kids like under 4, since the birds are high in perches, but it's safer and the koi feeding is great for them. The birds will talk, whistle and sing to you! It was an enjoyable little experience. read more

Talk about going in the wrong direction. First off, it's no longer by donation. It's flat out 20 bucks at the gate, collected by a big guy who doesn't show or teach anything - you're just left alone to wander and figure it out for yourself. The best thing about free flight used to be the older woman who walked you around the small space and taught and interacted with everyone. Now it's just a tourist attraction I guess. You'll be ignored instead. Sad. Maybe sometimes the older lady will come back and give the place it's spirit, because the new employees don't get it. read more

Great place to give snuggles and interact with some great birdie personalities. Volunteers/employees are nice and helpful. They take good care of these birds. :) read more

SO cool. This was an awesome experience. I had such a great time learning about all the birds and their different temperaments! The birds were so beautiful and I loved looking at each of them. I opted to buy the bird feed and was able to feed the birds we were allowed to interact with. Many of the birds will come up on to your arm if you hold it out to them. The volunteers were very helpful and came up and gave more insight about each birds likes/dislikes. I loved learning about this organization and their mission of re-socialization and adoption of these beautiful birds! I was in a great mood the rest of the day after coming here. It was such a unique experience as I've never gotten to interact with so many birds before. It was an awesome way to spend a couple hours and I definitely recommend it! I now follow them on Instagram and Facebook, I love all the little GIFs and videos the volunteers/staff make - so cute! I will be back. read more

This was a pretty disappointing trip. We drove 40 minutes and paid $20 for admission and bird food. My daughter got bit twice by two different birds and was crying. They had two schools with groups of kids visiting which were extremely loud in such a small area. The birds were overwhelmed and had kids shoving bowls of food in their faces for hours. We found it very discouraging that we had to wait to see certain birds because one of the employees told us "they were reserved for the classes only" after we had been waiting an hour already to see them. The employees only observe, they don't offer hands on assistance to visitors and when we asked for help they acted very hesitant. It was extremely odd. My daughter only wanted to pet and hold a few, she was very calm and attentive to instruction, yet she still got bit twice and not one employee asked if she was ok as she's crying or offered us help. They definitely need to be more hands on especially for guests who don't know how to handle these birds and also they should only allow field trips on certain days and be open to the public on the other days. read more

Great place to interact with parrots and other birds. The staff was very friendly, helpful and answered our many questions! The birds all seemed very nice and my 3 year old enjoyed looking at and talking to them. It's nice to support a non profit and it's obvious they really care about the well being of the birds. read more

The birds were beautiful. Some have plucked their plumage for various reasons, but still neat to see. The visit only takes about 30 minutes of so. Poor parking if you drive a full size vehicle. There is no restroom, so plan ahead. read more

This was my first time to Free Flight and it did not disappoint me. I have been looking for some type of bird sanctuary or rescue to volunteer so I decided I wanted to check this place out. I had a younger gentleman give me a tour of the place and he was very friendly, helpful, and genuinely seemed like he enjoyed what he was doing. He was very knowledgeable of all of the birds there. I had interactions with a couple other staff members there who were also very friendly. The sanctuary itself was clean and the birds seemed happy with the exception of Riley who wanted me to make sure I knew who the boss was. lol. He was great though. Provided some extra entertainment for me. I would recommend anyone thinking of making the trip to do so. Even if you can't, I encourage anyone to donate to this organization. There are lots of expenses and a lot of work that goes into taking care of all of these birds. I am sure they can use help to keep these birds as happy as they were when I visited. Will definitely go back and hopefully possibly volunteer some of my time with them. read more

Just a head's up for parents: this place is probably a lot of fun for older kids but has potential dangers for younger kids and toddlers, even with close parental supervision. My son and I were looking at the crowned crane from at least a foot away from its cage (the cage was not in my aon's reach and he was not touching or reaching for it) but the bird was able, in a split second, to stick its head through a gap between the chain-link section and the door to the cage and peck my son's face (very narrowly missing his eye). When I reported the incident to the employee there, she told me that "that bird is wild and grouchy" and "we should probably put up a sign." If you bring young children, please be aware that the crowned crane can reach 1-2 feet outside of its cage and it bites. read more

Free Flight has somehow remained one of Del Mar's hidden treasures for years. I used to spend hours upon hours there as a kid in (my own private zoo) taking in all of the knowledge I could. I would recommend it year round to people of all ages. Services at the sanctuary include adoptions, a great alternative for those looking to avoid buying from a pet store, boarding/grooming for your bird if you have one, and fun education for the kids. The staff is also very knowledgeable, honest, and willing to answer any questions. Make it a point to go, truly a pleasant surprise! read more

I volunteer for a rescue - and these people should be ashamed of themselves. They display parrots in small, antiquated cages outdoors to anyone willing to pay the entrance fee. Some birds will sit on the top of their cages or perches all day waiting for people to walk by with food dishes and feed them - others have to wait their turn in tiny cages without toys ( or food dishes for that matter). A lady got nipped by a parrot while I was there simply because there are too many people and not enough volunteers to explain parrot behavior. Children and adults are jabbing their fingers at the birds- and approaching large birds without respect! I was distressed to see birds on display like this! It is a petting zoo and not even a well kept one! These people claim that they rescue, protect or adopt but their tame and sweet birds are labeled " animal ambassadors" that have to perform for people and can be sponsored but not adopted. Strange for a rescue not to adopt out their easy going birds to make room for birds in need of rehabilitation - there are so many parrots out there in need of a home! In 20 years of volunteering I have never seen anything like this place - this " sanctuary" is for the entertainment of people - I feel sorry for any bird that ends up in this place! read more

It was fun to meet the different birds. Some would step up on your fingers/hand and let you pet them. The 2 white cockatoos liked to have their head/neck petted, while the talking pink cockatoo liked to have his back petted. The green birds weren't connecting with us, but we saw others handle them. You need to be careful as you are interacting with the birds on your own and some bite. We came here using a Groupon and we look forward to visiting again. read more

Good place , IF you are already in the area. Do not drive here from afar for the purpose of the visit, it is very small and casual. Also, do not go in if it is "busy". Birds would be overwhelmed and so would be semi-volunteering staff. They hiked the admission ($7 adult,$3 kid, 50c per tiny scoop of food), so borderline worth it for mom-and-kid visit. But fine to step in if you are already around. Such as after Del Mar beach or Pelly's mini golf read more

Very fun for kids and adults. make sure they stay with you and don't open cages on their own!

It's only about 15 birds in an enclosed yard. But, it's still fun to see the colorful, pretty birds, and it's fairly inexpensive. ($5 per adult when I went. But, I had a groupon, which made it cheaper than that.) Some of them are also very affectionate, so it's safe to hold and pet many of them. A great place to be up close and personal with various parrots, cockatiels, etc read more

My loving but demanding Cockatoo is a frequent flyer ( boarder) at this well-established bird sanctuary. I trust the folks there to give her the extra TLC that she demands, and they do not charge extra for "TLC" as so many places do! My bird enjoys the attention of the visitors and no doubt profits from the daily interactions. I don't have to worry when I leave her at "bird camp" for a week or so. Highly recommended! read more