We love MacDonalds Ranch! This is our happy place! We adore the animals in the petting zoo. I…read morerecommend Macdonalds Ranch to all my friends and family because it is such a rare gem in Arizona. The petting zoo is free, but they do accept donations. We enjoy petting the goats, sheep and little ponies. We were especially excited to see 3 baby goats today- they were the cutest. We love supporting this local business- go check them out! You can also hold company events or parties here too! We also love coming here in the fall for their pumpkin patch!

We had a great field trip but it was just SO SMELLY I wish they picked up after the animals more…read more I've been to plenty ranches and they never smelled this bad :(

We had such a fun experience here today! We came from out…read moreof town and wanted something fun for the kids today and this place hit all the marks. Train, playground inside and outside, splash pad, carousel and lots of lunch picnic tables. It was great to see everyone out enjoying summer. Bathrooms easily accessible for the littles. Great experience overall! If we lived closer we would definitely be here more.

WOW !!! Way more than expected when looking for something to do with an extra day in Phoenix area…read more Decided to visit on a whim (saw Free, Trains, Park). Really glad we did as we spent the better part of the day with no kids/grandkids (hope to bring them one day) enjoying the park. The locals are really lucky to have such a gem near-by to enjoy. So many things to enjoy from a train ride ($3) per ride or you can buy a day pass for $12 which includes the Carousel (pretty sure). There is a shaded playground and splash area (free) with picnic tables located throughout the park. We saw several parties going on at different covered areas (assume u can rent), and there is the Family Circus pavilion with tables near the snack bar Snack Bars (2) - one building and one in a Caboose near playground. The prices are really reasonable and a nice menu (chicken tenders, corn dogs). The ice-cream sucked us in with "Superman" which takes me back to childhood in the mid-west. Prices were great and the Staff even greater as they were super friendly (could be a name of a new ice-cream flavor). Tables located inside if needed to beat the heat. There is a gift shop with unique items to the park(t-shirts. stickers, stuff animals, puzzles etc.) a museum with the history of the park & the Family behind it. We spent the best part of the morning walking around the park, riding the train and exploring the miniature train building which in itself is amazing and beats some that we paid to visit. They have all the sizes on displays that I am sure a lot of spouses are happy that they are there and not in the basement or family room. These dioramas are intricate and beautifully done for each gauge of train with historic scenes to cool pop-culture ones. You could walk around a dozen times & probably see something you missed each time. They definitely spend a lot of time, money & energy to keep it up. Restrooms located throughout the park, easy free parking and a lot to see & do, if you have kids or grandkids or just a big kid yourself.

The highlight of our trip to Buckeye! It's $10 to get in and the money is well worth it! The…read morepetting zoo is perfect for any age. There are piggies and goats to greet you when you get there.. if you'd like to feed them, it costs a little bit extra to buy veggies and snackies for them.. but it is worth it! They are so cute and so friendly! They even had tiny baby piggies .. they had some horses, a burro, and a cow. All of them were so friendly!! I highly recommend visiting the farm!

Great lil adventure ,hosted by a welcoming family. loved all of the animals and they were very tame…read morefor animals. Would definitely recommend

How could anyone not love this place? Yes, Carl's Damaged Pet Warehouse is the actual name and no,…read morethis is not an outlet store where the pets have minor cosmetic imperfections and are 40% off. It's actually a little animal rescue tucked into the backyard of a private property, where you can visit rescued Highland cows, pigs, goats, donkeys, tortoises, ducks, sheep and assorted other members of the Island of Misfit Pets. It's completely free to visit. You stay outside the fence for safety, but you can still pet and feed the animals (and it's okay to get emotionally attached to them!) Sometimes Carl leaves food outside for visitors to hand out to the "damaged pets" or you can bring your own approved snacks like apples, zucchini, carrots and cucumber. Basically a very wholesome BYOS situation. I posted a photo of the full approved-food list so you too can trick some furballs into becoming your new best friends. You can also leave a monetary donation to help with the cost of caring for the animals. You can visit at any time, but remember this IS someone's private property, so obviously be respectful of the home and neighbors.

Finally decided to stop by and feed these cute animals! It was pretty busy when I stopped yesterday…read moreafternoon and many people were there also feeding them. I saw two turkeys, a rooster, ducks, goats, donkeys, a piggy, and a bull. *Free, just follow the posted rules

The food was excellent, great service. Seating is outside and it feels very relaxed. Would go…read moreagain.

This feels like a hidden gem in Phoenix. It's the perfect place to come with kids! So much space to…read morerun around and spend an afternoon. There are animals around for the kids to look at and lots of grassy areas to rest. The restaurant can get busy and it's pretty pricey, but worth it for the convenience.

As a butterfly fanatic, I was in heaven!! There are so many beautiful species in the garden, there…read moreis no bad direction to look in. The staff were so knowledgeable and truly cared about all the animals in their care. Highly recommend, especially as a break from the heat!

This experience starts with a 3D movie about the migration of monarch butterflies, then a stop in…read morethe Emergence Gallery, where you can see caterpillars and chrysalis (aka cocoons). From there, visitors can access the Conservatory through the doors. Though a bit humid, it is such a magical environment with concrete pathways, a few seats, a koi pond, and lots of greenery. Various plants creating a beautiful setting, including flamingo flower, panama rose, purple heart, and sandpiper vine. And informative signs are posted throughout, educating visitors about the conservatory and butterfly care. Visitors are given a butterfly guide in the beginning, but some of the butterflies fluttered their wings so quickly nonstop, it was sometimes hard to identify. The big blue one (blue morpho, I believe) looked like a bird as it soared in and out of the plants and overhead. There were so many butterflies in the air, on the leaves and flowers, they even had signs noting how you could get them to land on you as well. The random music in the background wasn't too loud. At some point, the Harry Potter theme song came on, and what an enchanting vibe in the conservatory! They had bees in there too (behind glass). Once you exit the butterfly conservatory, there was much more to see. The Rainforest reptile gallery included awesome turtles (like the mata mata turtle camouflaged with the rocks), snakes, and even amazing axolotls on display. And the Tropical Waters room was delightful to view, with fish, stingrays, and more. There was also a gift shop, cafe, and vending machine selling edible bugs. Butterfly Wonderland is great for all ages, and I had such a memorable time here this past weekend.

Enjoyable zoo. Lots of different animals and has an Aquarium. On the downside it's a little pricey…read more Try to use a discount. Had lunch there at Dillons Will definitely return

It's a giant zoo & the aquarium has some really cool features. However, I just don't think it's…read moreworth the cost. I purchased the annual membership and it costs more than the family plan at the Phoenix Zoo. As a stay at home mom, I was looking for things to entertain my daughter during the week. Most of the restaurants and exhibits were closed the days I came by. I purchased a membership so of course I want to come on a day other than Saturday to avoid the huge crowds, but I felt like I couldn't use my membership to its full advantage because it was practically deserted during the week staff/amenity wise. Could only buy a drink/food at one of the food courts at the front of the zoo which was frustrating considering how huge this place is and when it's hot, the rides were closed most of the time (plus they cost extra, even for members), and the giraffe feedings weren't ever available either. I tried multiple days during the week as well and had the same experience. I'm not sure if the little snack shacks & places are open on Saturdays or if they are closed permanently, but there were a ton of unused/unopened spaces that look like they'd be cool... if they were operable. $261.59 felt like a lot to just walk around in dirt to look at animals in an outdated space. Plus only I could take my daughter alone or else we would need to spend an additional $262 for my husband to have a membership. If you have kids 3+, it would be an additional $133 per child! Greeeeeedy if you ask me considering the Phoenix zoo prices. We didn't renew and will make the drive to the Phoenix zoo. The gas money will be worth the much lower membership price over there.

Really good experience for a backyard birthday! Animals were a great hit and it was a very easy…read moreprocess. Would highly recommend!

Petting farm for prisoners! St Clare of Assisi Catholic…read moreChurch provided a visit from Carter's Petting Farm for some of the women inmates at Arizona state Perryville Women's Prison. It was an AMAZING event. Carters staff worked diligently with the prison staff to make it happen. Zane Malouk was the animal handler and was efficient, careful, respectful, enthusiastic, entertaining and educational. The animals were delightful. They all seemed happy, relaxed, friendly and fun.

We will be back for sure!! This experience was unforgettable for our kiddos and was so intimate for…read morethe kids getting one on one up close, hands on encounters with Nicole's animals. Their favorite was giving her pigs belly scratches and Norman the Highlander cow could not be cuter!! Nicole the owner is an incredible human being and cares so well for these animals...and the people she's helping with the power of animals love and touch.

From the owner: Welcome to Rebel Hearts Ranch, a serene and welcoming homestead nestled in the heart of San Tan…read moreValley, Arizona. At our ranch, we believe in the transformative power of animals in healing and enhancing the human spirit. Our mission is to foster a harmonious environment where individuals can experience the therapeutic and nurturing bond between humans and animals. We understand that each individual comes to us with unique needs and aspirations, and our goal is to tailor an experience that resonates with and benefits each person. Please note we are by appointment only.

I visited OdySea Aquarium in Scottsdale, AZ after-hours as part of a work-sponsored event (not…read moresponsored or related to Yelp events) while I was visiting in town, and my first impression was how colorful and unique each aquarium was. The facility itself is pretty dim, which really makes all the bright fish and aquatic creatures stand out. The staff even brought out a live baby penguin to view and watch for a bit, which was absolutely adorable!! I am not entirely sure this part was a standard part of general admissions or was incorporated as part of the work event I attended to be honest, but it was quite the experience. I had never been so close to a penguin before! I will say, you can get through the entire aquarium pretty quickly. Unless you really love seeing fish and plan to stop and read each of the wall plaques describing the different sea creatures, it's going to go by fast. Also, please be mindful when taking photos of the aquariums. The sea animals are sensitive to flash, so make sure your flash is turned off. Overall, I would describe OdySea as something you try at least once, especially if you really enjoy fish and other aquatic animals or have kids who may be impressed by all the bright colors and unique aquariums. I enjoyed the experience and I'm glad I got to see it, but personally, I probably wouldn't return for a second visit.

If I could give this 1000000 stars I would!…read more I come here every week..sometimes twice a week! Haha. It's such a calming place, and I always end up learning something new. The animals are clearly well cared for, and there's so much to do for kids and adults alike. You never get bored because they're always changing things up, adding new experiences, and giving you a reason to come back. They have some really unique fish, including piranhas, which I believe are only legally displayed in a few places like Arizona and Florida. You can even swim with some of the fish if you're looking for a memorable experience! And don't skip the shark tank bathrooms--they're absolutely fintastic! They also have a Starbucks, and for the adults, they even serve alcohol. Whether you're visiting with family, on a date, or just exploring on your own, there's so much to see, learn, and enjoy. I always have an amazing time here!