This place is so so much fun! we brought a 17 month old, 3 year old and 10 year old and they all…read morehad a blast. The owner was so nice and welcoming, the space was so clean and literally had every toy imaginable. 90 minutes went by so fast but you can spend as much time as you want, and I could easily see 2-3 hours having fun. Washrooms were clean! wifi! Had a great time

This place is so awesome. It's a one-of-a-kind contraption, a boat lock of sorts, but it's a…read morespecialized rail car that takes boats up over the Big Chute waterfall. At the time we visited, the visitor's center was closed, but next year I really want to visit when it's open. There's an observation deck there to watch the boats being hauled up and down. There's also some nice parkette areas to have a picnic at, and some walkways to view the Big Chute and the lakes. A must see if you're anywhere nearby!

If I could give the Elmvale Zoo more than 5 stars, I absolutely would…read more The BEST zoo in Ontario. Hands. Down. Seriously, this is one of those places you leave and immediately find yourself talking about. It's the kind of experience that stays with you. I came here completely last minute with my boyfriend's family, not really knowing what to expect. I've only ever been to the Toronto Zoo, so I assumed this would be a much smaller experience. I couldn't have been more wrong. This zoo is incredible. The entire place is beautifully laid out, easy to navigate, very accessible, and most of the pathways are shaded, which makes exploring so comfortable even on a warmer day. The variety of animals honestly surprised me, and so many of the exhibits allow you to get incredibly close in such a special way. Feeding the giraffes, goats, and pigs was something I'll never forget. There are so many opportunities throughout the zoo to safely interact with the animals and create memories you simply don't get at most places. I also loved seeing hand-washing stations available at every feeding area -- such a thoughtful touch! But what made this visit truly unforgettable wasn't just the animals. It was the people behind them. Because the zoo is outside the city, I had almost no cell service... which was honestly refreshing. Everyone in the zoo was disconnected from their phones and completely connected to their families, and the animal exhibits. Ironically, a bunch of important work calls all came through at once, and I desperately needed to get in touch with my team but couldn't. I asked if there happened to be Wi-Fi available, and instead of simply saying they didn't know the password, a staff member went above and beyond. She brought us into the office and kindly let me use their landline to make the calls I needed. Afterward, I thanked her and told her how amazed I was by the zoo. That's when I found out she was Michelle, the owner. We ended up talking for over ten minutes about animals, life, and sharing plenty of laughs. Within minutes, it was obvious this isn't just a business to her -- it's her life's work. She grew up here, knows every single animal personally, and genuinely loves them all. They truly are her babies. As an incredibly generous surprise, Michelle gave my boyfriend and I complimentary feeding baskets so we could enjoy even more of the animal interactions. It was such an unexpected act of kindness, but what stood out most was seeing how passionate she is about creating lifelong memories for every family that walks through those gates. That kind of care is rare. Something else I think deserves to be shared is the reason the zoo doesn't allow outside food for feeding the animals. At first, I didn't know the reasoning behind the policy, but after learning more, I completely understood and respected it. The animals' diets are carefully monitored, and the feeding baskets are specifically prepared to be safe, chemical- and pesticide-free, with carefully controlled quantities. They are distributed throughout the zoo so that every animal -- not just the giraffes -- receives proper nutrition. That isn't a cash grab. That is responsible animal care. After hearing the thought, effort, and love behind it, I have nothing but respect for that decision. (They allow you to bring your own food for you & your humans! And, have tons of picnic areas!) Throughout the day, we kept running into Michelle and other family members checking on the animals, chatting with guests, and making everyone feel welcome. We even took photos together before we left. That level of genuine care and connection is something you simply don't find often anymore. You can feel the love that has been poured into every corner of this place. The habitats are thoughtfully designed, the animals are happy, active, and clearly adored, and the entire zoo has such a warm, family atmosphere that it's impossible not to smile while you're there. Hi Charlie!!! This wasn't just a day at the zoo -- it was one of the most unexpectedly wholesome and memorable experiences I've had in a long time. Thank you, Michelle, for your kindness, your generosity, and for sharing your beautiful home and incredible animals with all of us. We can't wait to come back, and we'll be recommending Elmvale Zoo to everyone we know. Some places are worth visiting... Elmvale Zoo is worth experiencing.

Where else can you feed a giraffe!…read more This place is cute, not as enriching at the Toronto Zoo but it's small walk around outside with opportunities to feed some animals. I was excited to visit this place and feed the giraffes and zebras, anything else is a bonus. Was impressed and also sad, they had two kinds of Lions, leopards, tigers, cougars and a bunch of other animals. The enclosure for the big cats was not stimulating for them and you can't help feel bad for them, but they are mostly sleeping the whole time. The entrance is also the gift shop and exit. Ask for change into loonies specifically there, to pay for coin operated pellet feed at three locations throughout the park. What's neat and unique here, is they sell cute plastic souvenir buckets with simple food for the animals. It's $10 to start and you keep the souvenir bucket or $7 for a refill. We got one banana, a romaine leaf, shredded/slim carrots, (no ice cream) cone. You are not allowed to feed the animals food from home for safety reasons. Feeding some of the animals was difficult as there is separation 3-4 ft from the cage and wires. You can see failed attempts that bounced off the wires onto the ground, that some animals cannot reach. Find a stick and help the poor little animals get their snack. Some animals were more hungry than others. Some of the monkeys could even catch your banana chunk if thrown to them. TIP: giraffes are hungry and interested in the morning, but by 2:30pm, they seemed full and migrate to the opposite side of the fence. They go inside at night, so they seem to wait there until then. Washrooms: only one building in the whole park, it's flushing and clean enough. Smells like washroom chemicals. Near the tigers by the entrance. Two foot pump washing stations around the park by the goats and giraffes. Food: nothing inside the pavilion, bring your own snacks or picnic. There's a food truck outside, fair prices for ice cream($4-6$ and hot dogs($5)

Beautiful scenery especially in fall. I come on week ends and not crowded. Book ticket in advance…read moreif u come on week ends. Bring food

Great hike! We did the loop starting behind the Dorset Heritage Museum. It was a bit steep at some…read moresections but very manageable. There were lots of spots to sit and even have a picnic. There's a small shop at the top of the hill under the tower that has various souvenirs and shirts. We did this on a Sunday in late August and there were a handful of people there also.

OVERPRICED- RUDE STAFF- DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME AND MONEY We…read morerecently moved to the area and purchased three season passes for our family -- that are quite pricey, which we were happy to pay based on the staff's promise that grandparents could use the passes if our husbands couldn't attend. However, when we visited with the grandparents, we were told this was not allowed, and were forced to pay over $100 extra at the gate -- despite being clearly told otherwise when we bought the passes. When I contacted the park about this, I received a patronizing response and was told there would be no compensation. Unfortunately, this attitude reflects our broader experience with the staff. During two visits, we encountered rude and unprofessional behavior, particularly at the ice cream shop and gift shop. I even witnessed a staff member aggressively yelling at a child with special needs and saying incredibly inappropriate things to his mother -- behavior that left other guests, including my own children, shocked. This park advertises itself as family-friendly, but that wasn't our experience. What should have been a magical and welcoming place for kids turned out to be a series of disappointments and poor treatment -- made worse by a total lack of accountability from management. We had hoped to make Santa's Village part of our regular family outings for years to come, but after how we've been treated, we won't be returning -- and I'll be advising friends and family to spend their money elsewhere

This place is so unique and unforgettable. It's perfect for kids 2to 7. They have a myriad of…read morekiddie rides, boat rides, mini golf, aerial tree top trekking, elf school and cookie decorating. Probably more but we didn't get through everything we wanted to do before it closed and we were there 11 to 3. My kids absolutely adored this place. Definitely a must stop.

Such a great place for the whole family. There is a zoo for all the ages, then in the summer there…read moreis a splash pad and a little train. Also there are several playgrounds for kids of different age. And all of this is absolutely free!! Large parking lot and picnic areas.

This park and zoo is fantastic - lots of playground space, a small splash pad and zoo keeps the…read morekids busy. The playground space is large with many play areas and smaller ones for toddlers. The splash pad is not as big but gets the job done. The zoo has many interesting animals like camels, goats, capybaras, alpacas, otters and many more. There is a train at the far end of the zoo for a short but fun train ride at a minimal cost. Price of admission is $0! So even if you're there just a short time, it's totally worth it if it's on your way. Parking can be limited on weekends or holidays due to how busy it gets.