We visited this zoo and loved the size and all the large animals. It was clean and so were the bathrooms. A few negatives that management should look into: When you walk in there are picnic tables and a few signs that's say no food beyond this point, food to be in designated picnic area. With driving an 1.5 hrs to get there and spent $111 to enjoy this place with three little ones, we were sadly turned off by the owner or manager. There were people sitting at all three picnic tables having snacks and he comes over to our table and says "what is this? Can you wrap this up? There's no eating here. I don't have a permit for that, wrap it up Please" I said the signs don't say anything about no eating it says no food beyond the picnic area. He says ONLY when there are food venders present you are allowed to eat in the picnic areas. WELL then I think you need to update your signs. As a place for little ones i think the No Food rule is a little outrageous since kids need snacks. I understand not walking around the animals and eating but why not at the picnic tables which are far from the animals???! This is a great place but make sure to eat ahead of time otherwise you will have to walk back up the hill to your car to enjoy a snack then head back down. This discourages is from wanting to go back sadly. read more

This is a great little zoo that you can walk through and see it all in 1-2 non-hurried hours. Animals are well cared for and staff is very friendly. My son and I had a great visit. read more

The zoo was lit and all but the prices were INSANE, also half the animals WERE NOT IN THE CAGE. Staff was not very jolly. The lions I could barely see and the panthers were not in the cages! Lowkey don't recommend coming here. read more

Love this little zoo! Great for all ages! All the animals are retired entertainment animals and the lemurs are extremely funny when they want your attention. read more

Monterey Zoo - White tiger - Zoos Near Me - Salinas, California

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One would assume that a long time Bay Area resident would know of the existence of the Monterey Zoo prior to last week. It is also fair to assume that a place with the term "Monterey" in its name would also be located in the city of Monterey. Well, living life under assumptions is a mundane and uninspiring way to go about things. The interweb sparked a curiosity within me to see a Floppa (caracal cat) in person. It was during this search to find one on exhibit is when I first discovered that there was a Monterey Zoo. Tucked away in the south western part of Salinas and neighboring agricultural land you will find animals from different continents, of air and land. Admission is $35/adult and with the child fare being $25. While this experience is more expensive than the Oakland Zoo, it might be the better zoo to take younger kids on as it is also smaller and more manageable from a time/energy perspective. Additionally, the drive over will allow the little ones get to see where the produce in the grocery store comes from. read more

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The day we went so many of the inclosures had no animals in there and of the few that did most of the animals were sleeping. It was really boring. One of the baboons was coming up to the glass to see us but he had sores on him and had lots of foam inside his mouth he kept smacking on. One of the mountain lions paw was red and had flies on it, camel with large patches of hair missing. Really disappointing experience and it's so expensive and a lot more than we paid for another bigger better zoo. $37.70 per person Over 15 and 27.50 for children ages 2-14 (children under the age of 2 are free-$8 stroller fee) read more

My family and I had a great experience overall. We were amazed with the variety of animals we saw, although we caught most of them sun bathing or taking a nap we enjoyed admiring they're beauty. Definitely recommend for a family get away. read more

Monterey Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Salinas, California

Cute little zoo, you can tell the zoo keepers and staff love there animals. There are lots of rules posted everywhere so that people/kids behave. My kids are older so it doesn't bother me but if they were little it would have stressed me out. read more

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Great clean zoo! The animals are easy to see and are well protected and cared for.. Price is too much but I like to support the small business and they seem to really understand how to care for the animals in a kind compassionate way. The stroller "wear and tear" fee of $8 which translated to $16 for our two grand babies seemed unnecessary and would discourage me from going again. read more

The animals all look well cared for. They all seem like they've been bathed, brushed and blow dried they're so clean! The young lady in the front office was very friendly and explained how it worked. While we were by the bears, there was a employee pressure washing the cement. Everything was so clean! We went later in the day on a Saturday and there was hardly anyone there, it was amazing and I'm sure we'll be back. read more

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I bet you didn't know Monterey had its own zoo. It's located on River Road off of Highway 68 in Salinas. We opted for their bed-and-breakfast package which included a day at the zoo. We stayed in bungalow #4 - Giraffe Manor. One of the ADA cabins. I wish there was more information on giraffes at Giraffe Manor. Maybe a few books about giraffes? Posted everywhere are signs indicating that the knickknacks and other articles are inventoried daily and will be charged to your account if any are missing. I personally thought The multitude of signs was a little over the top. This room had a Queen-sized bed complete with an overhead net for decorations only no bugs and a double futon mattress. The mattress was very lumpy and didn't quite fit on the frame. The pillow was fantastic. We had a mini fridge and a coffee maker. Unfortunately, the thrill of having an elephant bring you breakfast in the morning or another animal - a camel, perhaps, did not happen. There are no elephants at this time because they the zoo had only one and animals being social heard animals need to have at least one other elephant. The zoo is actually looking for another elephant for now the camels are the big draw. A side note, in this particular room, the "giraffe' floor lamp is connected to the overhead light so there's no way of actually reading by your bed, in this case futon, without leaving the overhead light on. The room was warm we did not use the heater and the mattresses have a lovely electric pad underneath the sheets very comfortable. This is "glamping" And it was delightful. The bungalows are very solid. It's a bungalow with a balcony perfect for viewing the animals they brought by between 3:00 and 3:30 PM. This is the alpaca that came to say hello. The staff it's very helpful an answered several questions I posed. I was disappointed more animals were not shown. We had a monkey of some sort adorable and the alpaca come by about 3:30 PM. The zoo itself is very clean the signage is very readable with the ability to take your smart phone and a Q reader for more information on the exhibit. Not much to report on their very small gift shop. An abundance of stuffed toys, over priced postcards at $2.99 each , overpriced ornaments at $10 each. I would've preferred more educational books and information on the zoo itself. If you're looking for a little something different, romantic getaway, or just a fun day, the Monterey Zoo would be a great idea. read more

For $35/ per person this zoo is extremely small and can be completed within 20 mins. The front desk lady was extremely unfriendly upon arrival and when we left. The worst part was how sad the animals looked and how tiny their cages were! They were no more than glorified boxes. We had just visited the SF zoo a few months ago and it was much better- go there instead. read more

I spoke with one lady who was so friendly, great customer service. I wasn't able to get her name. However, she wasn't able to assist me with what I needed so she transferred me to her manager Angie? Angie has the must RUDE, unprofessional, horrible customer service. The way she was speaking to me, admitted they over charged me by 60 dollars. But said I should have read the fine print? Ummm excuse? WHAT FINE PRINT!! I've spent so much money here, but the way she treated me makes me not want to go back. Angie I hope you're reading this, you need to really work on your customer service. I was not being rude at all. I didn't even want my money back. I was just asking if there was a way I could get credit since THEY OVER charged me. I'm very upset on how I was treated by "Angie." read more

Pretty fun little Zoo in Salinas. The Zoo is located in a remote area and definitely missed the entrance when driving by the first time. The fun starts right when you drive up. When you drive up there are already animals to look at. Camels and Lamas on your right and Zebras and Goats on your left. I believe pre-covid you were able to feed some of those animals. They have some handicap spots and just a handful of spots in the front entrance, but additional parking driving up hill. There are signs and arrows so all is good! Just looking at it, I feel like the additional parking has about 50ish spots. Maybe more or maybe less but handicap parking available as well. To get down to the entrance there is a path to follow. Not that far of a walk at all. There is also a huge circular tent that you will definitely notice at the additional parking area. Not for public access, but does look intriguing to enter. Would recommend to print your tickets out before as they say so on the website, but you could also pay for your tickets there. The process just takes longer. With printed tickets ahead, it was seconds to enter the Zoo. You also get a green paper wristband when you enter the Zoo. lol so little souvenir I guess. The Zoo itself was pretty decent. It was cool to see such a variety of species and animals. Upstairs is the Lions, Tigers, and Bears, OH MY! Grizzly and American Bears, African Lions-female and male. Tigers and White Tigers! Have never seen a white tiger before but was pretty cool. Downstairs was a variety of animals such as birds, elephants, zebras, monkeys, deer, and others. Here is my Con about Monterey Zoo and why it does not get a 5 star from me: BATHROOMS, BATHROOMS, BATHROOMS! There was 4 total bathrooms and only 2 of them were working for the most part in a 10,000 square foot Zoo. There is 2 bathrooms upstairs and 2 downstairs. All are all gender bathrooms. The 2 upstairs are baby changing rooms. Upstairs only one bathroom was open, but the water/sink did not work. Luckily there is a decent amount of hand sanitizers around the Zoo. There was also no seat covers for the bathroom. Downstairs by the entrance are 2 bathrooms. Little nicer bathrooms and the sink does work. But only one bathroom was working. The other was out of order. Would recommend to hit this Zoo. Little pricy in my opinion, $35 for about 1.5 hours for a Zoo. Oakland Zoo is way better and a little cheaper. But good to support the community. Bathrooms are not that much a problem, but would be good to have more options available. read more

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Amazing zoo! Lots of animals. Large cages . Relaxing atmosphere. Worth taking the kids there. Also employees were helpful and friendly read more

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So in the 2 decades that I have came to Salinas/Monterey, I did not know this zoo existed until this year, how that is possible, I have no idea, but it was super cute and we will totally be back. The entrance was easy to find, some of the places I thought were a little tricky to get to, I still don't know how to get back to the animals at the entrance, but once you get in, it's easy, there are maps everywhere, with Covid they were pretty good at spacing people out and sanitizer everywhere, the animals cages were big and seemed really nice and just soo fun! also the houses there where people could stay or have breakfast that seemed awesome! Oh my gosh if it wasn't for Covid, I would love to do that! read more

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Very nice place first time here and definitely not my last so clean and so fresh what a hidden gem a must come by visit a bunch of great animals there lazy one but great the lions and cats are beautiful but the bears are great and the have a hyena bad ass please stop and see the badger TIG way coool read more

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What a fantastic experience our family had at this wonderful zoo last weekend! We were able to observe every animal in very close proximity and the grounds and habitats were beautiful. Staff was knowledgable and eager to answer any questions we might have. The highlight was a ring-tailed lemur who did perfect backflips repeatedly if you clapped and cheered him on. We will definitely return for one of the private animal experiences soon. There are also many picnic areas around the enclosures with tables and benches - perfect place for lunch on an nice day - views all around are spectacular. read more

Visited today for the first time and loved it. At one point we were the only ones there, imagine having an entire zoo for just my wife and I. Well worth the drive . read more

I had been here years ago, it was really nice to return. Most of the big cats were sleeping when we were there. I loved the lemurs, zebras, rhinoceros, bald eagle and others. No elephants currently. The place is immaculate. Highly recommended if you love animals. read more

We had 6 adults & enjoyed the place immensely. Not crowded as it is new which for our group was great. Groupon has great discounts & it's only 11 mins from Cannery Row. Defia great date day. Now I can't wait to bring our grandkids. They have tours, guides ect... & there's a bed & breakfast. The giraffe exhibit is being developed now. read more

If you haven't visited the Monterey Zoo than you definitely should plan a trip! This was second time visiting the Zoo and it's just wonderful. All the animals are visible and their enclosures look more spacious than the average Zoo enclosures. I will definitely be back next time i'm in the area. read more

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A fun little zoo on the outskirts of Monterey. My family and I went a few times near the end of the pandemic in 2021 and it was amazing how much space there was. They have two main areas, with the lower area housing smaller and medium size animals like wallaby's and Sphinx cats. While the higher level houses the big mammals like lions, tigers, and bears. When I went the first time the tigers actually followed me around along the fence and even chased me as I ran away! My family and I were the only ones at the higher level and there weren't that many people overall so I'm guessing they had gotten lonely during the pandemic. During the later trips they had started doing private tours where they let guests get really close to the animals, still separated by fencing of course. The elephant exhibit was also set up for private viewing only, which was kind of disappointing. Overall it's a great place to spend an afternoon, just make sure to leave your stroller in the car because they charge you extra for bringing it in! read more

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I usually love going to the Zoo and it was my first time at the Monterey Zoo, formerly known as, Wild Things Animal Rentals. This is the saddest zoo I've ever been too. You can view the whole park in under an hour. They have a lot of exotic animals but their cages are too small, too enclosed. Many of the animals looked bored, sad, and pacing back and forth in their cages. I never seen so many different types of animals pace back and forth in their cages and after reading some of the reviews before writing this, it looks like this has been happening for years. So sad! The Hyena cage is still so small for him, there was no grass, dirt, or shaded bush to lay on, just concrete and a couple of decorative rocks. The lions, tigers, and bears on the hill have no natural shade or trees. It was weird to see seagulls and squirrels in these cages and it should feel like that for all of those animals. No animals belong in these small wired cages. The more research I do on this "zoo", the sadder it gets. I can't believe THREE ELEPHANTS have DIED at this zoo between 2019 - 2021! It's not right. There was no memorial plots for these elephants either. Before coming here, please do your research. Giving a two star rating because the lemurs and turtles looked happy. For more information on the elephants, please refer to this link. https://support.peta.org/page/17997/action/1?locale=en-US read more

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Literally had no idea this "zoo" even existed. My boyfriend said it was depressing right off the bat which is was but I kept trying to love for the bright side. You will not get a "zoo" experience here. It's not exciting and the animals look quite miserable. They are well taken care of tho! read more

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Great experience, it was pretty calm We took our toddler for his birthday and he was very happy the whole time, the staff was very nice! read more

Monterey Zoo - Animal exhibit - Zoos Near Me - Salinas, California

Amazing!!! Clean, animals looked happy and you can get closer to the animals than anywhere else we have ever been!!! 6 stars!!! read more

Monterey Zoo - Baboon! - Zoos Near Me - Salinas, California

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Pros: Saw many animals we haven't seen at other zoos. Very friendly animal handlers. Clean facility. Easy parking. Not too crowded. Cons: No COVID precautions (no temperature check, nobody wears masks, no distancing). Rude/sassy front desk staff. No food and drink options. Isolated - 30 minutes away from Cannery Row. Animals we saw: Tigers (Siberian & Bengal) Lions Bald Eagle Black Leopard Kangaroo Porcupine Leopard Black Bears Zedonk (half zebra half donkey) Camels Emu Fox Hyena Lemurs Zebras Donkeys Monkeys Other big cats Turkey Vulture And more! read more

Took the family here a couple of weeks ago and we had a good time. It's small so don't expect all the animals but also no big crowds. No food so be sure to eat before going or have plans to eat after. Very clean and the staff if friendly. No stroller or wheelchair rentals. Like I said, it's a smaller zoo. read more

Wonderful zoo to visit. You can really get an up close look at the animals. The staff are really helpful and the facility is very clean. Great to bring your littler kids for a more personalized experience. read more

My friend lives just down the road from the zoo, and he hears the animals all night long. They even have a safari area where you can rent a room for the night. Just like out in the jungle. I have taken several school groups to the zoo. They do a really good job taking students on tours and explaining all about the animals. A great educational experience. read more

Super clean and nice zoo. We've been to almost all the zoos in Northern California, and this one was probably the cleanest next to the Fresno zoo. But very pricey for the size zoo that it is. $70 for one adult and one 14 year old. read more

We had a very mixed experience here. Starting with the good: We did the VIP tour on the first day of our visit to the Monterey Zoo. Our Zookeepers and tour guides Madison and Megan were incredible. They are clearly very passionate about what they do. They were easily able to answer any questions that our small group asked (even the wacky ones) and had abundant knowledge about the animals in their care. There are very few staff members at the zoo and most of the team can be found serving multiple roles throughout the day. The zoo is incredibly lucky to have such dedicated staff. I hope they will continue to grow in their professional journeys! Our tour and time with them was the best! They do NOT use bulk hooks on their animals. The elephant keepers do use canes to nudge the elephant gently while also giving verbal commands, only if the verbal command does not work alone. As someone who works with animal wellfare I feel confident that their animals are safe and healthy. These are not animals that would be able to survive in the wild, and they are likely quite comfortable in their enclosures. None of the animals we visited were pacing or seemed to feel uncomfortable with their living quarters or with the keepers who care for them. We booked a 2-night stay at the bed and breakfast and by 3pm the second day (check in time) I became extremely ill. We visited a local emergency room in Salinas and ultimately had to drive back home that night so I could be seen in a more advanced hospital. We had to contact the owners to return the key late that night I and I am very saddened by their response. Rather than express concern about the situation or show a little empathy, they reiterated that we should not expect any kind of refund on our visit even though we only had our room for an hour or two. We drove 5-hours back home overnight and I spent 3 days in intensive care, and the owners of the company only cared to specify that we were not entitled to any money back. We spent well over $1,000 on our visit including upgrades and tours, and didn't see this as a negative because the money supports building larger enclosures for the animals that need them. Unfortunately, the greed of the owners permeates the air around the zoo and bed and breakfast like branding. There are signs in the gift shop from the owners saying they'll assume you want to purchase any toys your children decide to play with. There are signs inside the tents warning you against taking anything, everything, inside. They even send a checklist to make sure nothing is missing. Every contract for every tour and room reservation makes it clear that there are virtually no refund options regardless of what happens. I get it, they're a small zoo and need funding. But the way they handle things is a huge turn off. Initially I was planning to bring my extended family back over the summer or fall for a reunion. I thought the zoo would be an incredible place to gather the adults in our family for VIP tours and other unforgettable animal experiences. Unfortunately, our experience with the "don't think you're getting any money back" bit has really turned me off of wanting to come back. There are so many other organizations that are saving animals that we can donate money to instead. I would have just liked a little bit of humanity on the part of their owners. When we asked various employees about their bosses and about work life in general, in spite of their textbook answers, it was clear from their voices that working conditions are less than ideal. The employee working the gift shop is also the only office employee at the time, and she mentioned that they have a very hard time keeping people staffed in that position. No one directly said anything negative about their bosses at any time, but it is clear from literally everything about how the zoo is ran, that the owners are more of a burden than a blessing to the operations. We wish the best of luck to all of the amazing staff here, and are so thankful for all you guys and girls do for the animals in your care! We hope that the owners will realize the value of their company is not themselves or their exotic animals- it is their employees and guests. read more

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Wonderful zoo! Very clean. Animals were very well taken care of. Large variety of animals. Animals were very active and happy. Be sure to bring water, gets quite warm. It is a bit pricy, but seeing as it's a rescue organization, had no problem paying the admission price. I can't recommend a visit to this wonderful zoo higher! read more

Monterey Zoo, formerly known as Vision Quest, is an experience with exotic animals unequaled by any other we have experienced in the world. To have been able to hold and interact with majestic and unusual creatures we would never have been able to touch or even see up close were experiences so beautifully ineffable as to be indescribable. And all of this is made possible by the incredibly gifted and knowledgeable caretakers whose dedication flows throughout the experience and the atmosphere in which the animals are housed. The 'zoo' itself is among the most beautiful I have experienced, but much more warmly interactive than the San Diego Zoo where there is more of a supervisorial energy from the people who oversee the animals. And the animals at the SD Zoo did not feel to me to be as comfortable as those at the Monterey Zoo. We go for the VIP tours wherein we get to see all the animals in the zoo and also have individual or small group private time with the animals of our choice, in our case feeding and helping to bathe Butch, the bull elephant who stands 11 ft. tall and is 13,500 pounds of gentle giant. Our experiences have been made all the more wonderfully meaningful, warm, and interactive because of Lanier Fairchild, "ZOOKEEPER" and LEAD in the EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. Lanier is a gift to every creature at the zoo - and to the world. She has virtually encyclopedic knowledge about all of the animals in the zoo, many of which she has helped to raise. It is always heartwarming to experience her dedication to the welfare of all of animals living at the Zoo along with her warmly energetic teaching and interactions with those of us who visit them. And it is important to mention Megan Smith, who is also a warm and dedicated caretaker whose company we very much enjoyed and whose energy and knowledge are wonderful assets for the zoo and those of us who visit. read more

Well run zoo with a great variety of wildlife to see. It's far enjoy away from the coast to have great weather.

I've known of this place for years and we finally decided to visit. I really wanted to the the b&b stay to get a more 1-1 experience with the animals. But we were short for time so opted for a tour. Tours are daily at 1 pm. The facility looks really clean and they're building new enclosures for their animals. Our tour guide was really cool and bubbly. I wish we had more time to look at the animals and take photos. She does wrangle the group and wants everyone to move along. The tour lasted for an hour and she will give you facts about each animal. All the animals look well taken care of and we were lucky enough to see the bears play and wrestle. My favorite part was feeding the elephants. The elephants knew the routine and one was even dancing for us. It was such a memorable experience and I would love to have spent more time with them. read more

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The ZOO is great, clean, animals have snack nice enclosures and were content. I am sorry I cannot say the same for the employees. We had 4 interactions with employees all appeared angry and provided minimal answers in short phrases. When you enter the gift shop you begin to understand the negativity as multiple signs tell you to only touch merchandise that you are buying (since most of the stock is stuffed animals aimed towards children this makes little sense) You then enter the ZOO where no food is permitted (unless you have purchased an expensive personal tour). If you try to have a snack you will be sent back to your car which is up a steep hill 1/4 mile away to eat it.) No food is available even in the food court which is separated from the animals, there are several signs that say beyond the food court no food is permitted but the rule seems (as conveyed by the ticket seller to be no food even as far as the Gift shop. Multiple signs throughout the ZOO remind you to keep your children under control at all times (they best not get excited about seeing the cool animals) I must recommend the aquarium, happy hollow or San Francisco for children to experience the joy of animals. Monterey ZOO is really for adults they do not like children. read more

This zoo started as a different organization for a private collector of animals who trained animals for Hollywood appearances. His collection started with Joseph the Lion, who appeared in commercials and was the basis for The Lion King. Eventually, his organization and collection transformed into what it is today, a zoo. It is still very young but has a huge variety of animals and offers very intimate private tours - something different from other zoos that are too massive to offer this feature. The zoo has limited hours, but if you plan your visit in advance, and are an animal enthusiast, you get to see many of the animals very close. You also get the benefit of a zoo keeper who can tell each animals story of how it got to the zoo. It may have been rescued, acquired through purchase, or gifted. The zoo is still too young to participate in breeding programs, but it is evident these are goals. Over the last couple years the zoo has expanded habitats for many animals, and continues to work on this. The zoo keepers are very busy working around the clock with each animal to ensure they are cared for. Most of the animals on the tour interacted with the zoo keeper positively. The zoo keeper tour guide was passionate, positive, and had a lot of information to share. When people broke the rules he wasn't shameful, he was polite with his reminders and was always very welcoming. He made sure everyone had a good time and would enjoy their view of the animals. He genuinely liked his job and interaction with the animals and giving the tour. This zoo seems to really specialize in the cats. Their habitats are very large and they are worked with each day. I highly recommend visiting this zoo. Be mindful that it is still growing, and that hours are limited. It is worth taking the tour to see some animals that are not even at the San Diego zoo! You do have the opportunity to feed the elephants and get great pictures while On the tour! This is why I give it 5/5 stars. Through their other business, Vision Quest B&B, you can stay overnight at the zoo and have some animals walk by your bungalow, feed the tigers, and put the elephants to bed. I have a review and description of this experience. And yes - worth every penny!! read more

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I would highly recommend the Monterey Zoo. I've been there on three occasions and have enjoyed every one. If in Philippines are clean and up-to-date and the animals are very very well cared for and loved. I brought my family and friends with young children and they had an absolute blast! Charlie the owner is passionate about animals and it is obvious that he loves his job. We will be back!!! read more

Monterey Zoo - Glass areas are very good for those with physical challenges to still be able to get up close and see the animals - Zoos Near Me - Salinas, California