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!

Fun place to take the grandkids! All the animals were friendly and there were a few piglets running…read morearound you also can buy veggies to feed the animals which my grandson enjoyed doing

Carl's Damaged Pet Warehouse is such a unique experience in Gilbert. It's a private rescue farm…read morewhere you can get up close to Highland cows, donkeys, pigs, and the cutest rescue pup I've ever seen. I don't know who Carl is but he is quite generous to share his property with the public--he even provides buckets of carrots and pellets to feed the animals and a sink with soap and water to wash your hands. A few things to know before you go: Because this is at a private residential home, there are no public bathrooms available, so plan accordingly! It's also a bit out of the way on a dirt road, which adds to the rustic charm but can be a surprise if you aren't expecting it. It's a wonderful, low-key way to spend 30 minutes with some very happy animals. Donations are highly encouraged but not required.

I enjoyed stopping by this farm. The animals are well take care of and sure do eat pretty well. You…read moreare allowed to bring in food to feed them and they have a sign up of what you can not feed them. So nice this is available to the public!

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

2/28/26: it was disappointing eating lunch at The Farm. Years ago we had eaten at Quiessence and…read morehad a lovely time. Wanting to try another of their restaurants before the ungodly heat arrived, we decided to stop in for lunch. Parking: can be a bit nerve wracking, especially parking in the dirt lots east of the place. You have to walk across 32nd St & if you know Phoenix drivers, this can be dangerous. There is a pedestrian light now, though, so that helps -- but oddly enough, there's no "walk" signage. It's merely a blinking yellow light for north- sound-bound traffic so you have to pray to the universe drivers are paying attention & actually stop for you. Ordering: a bit odd. The main door we went in was more the middle door that didn't really take you to the beginning. There's a drink station then the food station. We skedaddled to the right of the main doors for the drink order, only to discover there's another door that people walk through to place orders. So we joggled w/ another customer trying to figure out who was there first. It honestly felt like a school cafeteria, a bit chaotic, as well as cramped. The patio was pretty large & well shaded, but it was also full -- and this particular day also the ONLY SHADE. We were left to sit at one of their many tables on the grounds with no shade. Food: not worth the $77 we paid. I get it's a working farm, & though we try to support local as much as possible, the food we ordered was not good enough that we will stop by again. The strawberry fields salad was a typical salad, no wow factor there. The Italian sammy was dry. There was a minuscule amount of some kind of dressing on it, but def not enough. Dessert: red velvet whoopie pie was so overpriced it's not funny. If it tasted great, I wouldn't complain...it did not taste great. The pecan pie was abysmal; not enough filling and very bland. Two "specialty" drinks, a salad, a sandwich, & two small desserts, for $77? No, sorry, not again.

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.

The butterfly part is neat, here is what I have a problem with:…read moreMy daughter and I left incredibly depressed after seeing all of the lizards, birds, and snakes in teeny tiny cages, some of them completely alone. Imagine not ever in your life being able to stretch out your body...that is what many of the animals in this place go through. We felt physically sick. They don't even let the moths go out with the butterflies since they hide during the day, also very sad. As beautiful as the butterflies were, we left extremely sad. Our visit was over a week ago and we still talk about it. Do better or release these animals that deserve a good life.

Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park is not a "quick stop" zoo -- it's a full-on adventure…read moreday. First of all, this place is massive. You need time, comfy shoes, and realistic expectations because there is SO much ground to cover. Zoo, aquarium, safari park -- it really does feel like three attractions in one. The aquarium section honestly surprised me. That massive prehistoric-looking fish (looked straight out of a dinosaur era) was unreal. Between the giant tanks and the variety of species, it didn't feel like a small add-on -- it felt like a legit aquarium experience inside the zoo. The animal variety is wild. We saw everything from vibrant macaws perched up high greeting guests, to monkeys lounging in the sun, to antelope practically close enough to admire their horns in detail. The white tiger was stunning, and the big cats pacing in their enclosures definitely command your attention. You're not just looking at one or two showcase animals -- there's a LOT here. It's not super polished or ultra-modern like some major metro zoos, but that's kind of the vibe. It feels expansive, a little rugged, very Arizona. More spread out, less theme-park aesthetic. A couple things to note: it can get warm and it's a lot of walking. Food options are typical park-style fare -- nothing I'd go out of my way for. Pricing can add up with admission and extras, so plan accordingly. Overall, a solid four stars. If you're looking for a full day with serious animal variety -- from aquarium tanks to safari species to big cats -- this place delivers. Just come prepared to explore.

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.

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.

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

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.