Amazing! Where else can you hold a baby kangaroo, an otter and tiny baby monkeys. What a great…read moreexperience and super friendly and knowledgeable staff/owners! It was very clean and the animals look loved and cared for. We highly recommend and will be back!

From the owner: Wild Encounters is a hands-on exotic animal experience located in Alachua, FL. We offer private,…read moreinteractive encounters with a variety of friendly and well-cared-for species, giving guests the chance to learn, connect, and create unforgettable memories. From otters and kangaroos to parrots and farm favorites, every visit is educational, unique, and tailored to all ages. Book a personal encounter and experience wildlife up close in a safe, fun, and welcoming environment. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @wildencountersfl Facebook: Wild Encounters Inc.

Wild Adventures is without a doubt one of the best local parks in the country as it packs a whole…read morelot to do in one awesome place! I've been to this park a few times now for their seasonal events as well as just regular days and I gotta say that every time I leave I count my days tell I can come back because I every time I come here I have a ton of fun! The park has a few roller coasters with the best one of them being Twisted Typhoon a Vekoma SLC and I must say this is one of the best versions of this out there as it's not that rough and very much so a Wild time! They have a handful of good options here everything that I have tried here has been delicious and flavorful especially when they do their food festivals, with my favorite of them being the Pumpkin Spice one as they had soo many unique options packed with that yummy flavor! The animals here are seriously one of the coolest parts of this park as you can feed a variety of them and get very personal encounters with them that is hard to come by anywhere else which makes for a really cool experience as well as an educational piece. They have a handful of rides here including a train and a Farris Wheel leaving something for everyone to enjoy! One of my favorite areas of the park has to be their swamp area where they have a boardwalk that takes you down a path around some animals and deep into the swamp nature making for one peaceful and beautiful experience that leaves you wanting to spend more time out here as this is a great way to forget where you are as it really doesn't feel like your at an amusement park while your out there. They also have a Waterpark in the back of the park that has a handful of slides as well as a lazy River that perfect for those hot days! Every time I come here everyone has always been super nice friendly which makes for a great experience every visit! Overall this is a truly great park that has something for everyone it is a great asset to the local community as well because it provides a positive experience for anyone that comes here! Totally add this to your bookmarks as it is a great destination park to spend some time at as they do also offer places to camp and park your RV at in the back, with that said I'm sure I'll be back here sooner than later as it is definitely time well spent in a wild way!

Overall a really good time at Wild Adventures Theme Park and a solid value for the entrance fee…read more Parking was easy with plenty of space which made getting in and out simple. The park has a good mix of rides and water attractions so there is enough to keep you busy. They also had a wide selection of animals on display which was great to see, though some of the habitats could have been a little bigger. The concert area looked legit even though we did not stay for the Taylor Swift cover band. Their lineup of performers also looks pretty strong so that is a nice bonus. The train ride to see the animals was worth it. We only waited about ten minutes but the line filled up fast so expect a longer wait if you go later. Lockers were also reasonably priced which was nice. The biggest downside was Waters Edge Brews and Bites. It seemed like the only place to get beer and it was pricey. More importantly it was very disorganized. It took a long time to get drinks and my stepdaughter waited a while for food as well. Everyone was friendly but it felt like no one really knew what was going on. I did not try the food myself so I cannot fully judge it. The park could also be a bit cleaner especially some of the bathrooms. Overall it is a fun park and worth checking out. I drove up from Gainesville and enjoyed it but would probably only come back if I was local or if there was a concert I really wanted to see.

Great place for the kids and family. They have a lot of animals for the kids to pet. The staffs are…read morevery friendly. When we were leaving, the owner greeted us and allowed my kids to pet the baby kangaroo he was holding. Now the kids want to come back again.

This is a wonderful place for kids. The staff are always helpful and will answer any questions…read more Great place to spend the day. We have been multiple times and are never disappointed. My grandson absolutely loves the cotton top tamarin, and my granddaughter is the same about the Black and white lemurs. We always average being there 4 to 5 hours. Their just never ready to go. They are always acquiring new animals and birds, so the experience is never dull. Always something new to see The only downside is there is nowhere to purchase food. The nearest food is an Arby's in a gas station off of highway 19. So, if you're planning a full day pack a lunch, especially with young ones.

The place wasn't fully done. A few exhibits were closed. The animals were cool though. We went for…read morea field trip, I didn't really learn anything. It was a cool experience!

This is such a fun place! There's a nominal entry fee on the weekends for $11. It's free for…read morechildren 3 and under. During the week they're open for field trips. We came on a Sunday around 4 and the farm closes at 6 but two hours was plenty of time to explore the 100-acre space. The animals, some exotic even, are all pretty friendly and the signage is clear of which ones to stay away from/not to feed. Emus, highland cows, Tortoise, goats, bunnies, birds are the ones I can recall. The staff is very friendly. There are activities and foods for the entire family to enjoy. I can't wait to visit again in the Spring.

This was was our first time going here and their first time opening in the spring. They usually…read moreopen in the fall with a corn maze. This spring they had beautiful field of flowers and their usual animals (goats, cows, alpacas, ducks, chickens, etc.). It's was pretty fun, certainly more fun for children with a tractor train ride and corn pit. They have concessions and take card for payment. Not as fun as other farms I've been to, but I would go aga

We headed up to Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo this past Saturday. They were having a Party for the…read morePlanet Day. They threw a party for the animals and celebrated Earth Day. There's a lot to see at this little zoo. We saw lemurs, a tree kangaroo, Visayan Pig, squirrel monkeys, gibbons, Caracals, owls, a beautiful bald eagle, Herons, Cranes, Emus, Kookaburras, Gila Monster, tortoises, a Wood Stork and more! Hard to get photos through some of the fences. What a fun time!

Well worth visiting if up in Gainesville for a medical appointment as we were…read more Cleo the caracal was our favorite. Many exhibits with much vacant land awaiting "The Master Plan". Numerous helpful staff who I think are students at the college. Paths are unpaved and leafy, not wheelchair friendly, but fine for walking. Gift shop had minimal adult sized shirts and none featuring caracals. Yellow parrots nice eye candy.

I love Single Vision and been a supporter of Carl's endeavor since Bruiser Bear was on his little…read moresurfboard many years ago. Anyone who loves wild animals who have been abused, abandoned, or unable to be released back into their habitat will enjoy seeing that they are special and loved by Carl and the employees and volunteers who care for them. Wish that I lived closer, but feel so fortunate that I was able to visit several times. Single Vision is worthy of your support and donations!

Amazing place! All the animals are rescues or zoo "rejects" that have found a wonderful forever…read morehome! The people who care for them absolutely love what they do and these animals are a top priority to them! The tour was glorious and safety if their priority! They could use the donations so recommend giving more than they ask for as their work is very worthy!

I've been to Rooterville Animal Sanctuary twice, and both visits were totally worth the 2 hour…read moredrive from Orlando. The animals are well taken care of, the people working there are so nice and helpful and booking a highland cow cuddling session was amazing. You can even stay on site if you want that real "outdoorsy" experience - but it's perfect even for a quick day trip. Can't wait to come back again!

The best experience for a minication. I was lucky enough to not know where I was going for my…read morebirthday and it was the perfect surprise! (My wife did great!) Not only is the location a perfect portal to a different type of Florida , but the wagons are all the way in the back so it's perfect privacy. There's also a tent outside to sit and watch pigs take a bath in the fountain. The wagon room we got was the Piggies room! Perfect decor and amenities inside(towels/shampoo/conditioner/tissues/coffee mugs /even games!) Huge bathroom with incredible shower.There is ac but we spent most of the time with the screen door and bathroom window open & it felt great. Included inside:mini fridge, toaster, coffee/tea (included),microwave and a small heater. Plenty of plugs to charge & a full length mirror. We love that there was no tv because we got to watch highland cows instead !! We also got to sleep to rain and it was so peaceful especially waking up every morning to new friends like pigs and sheep! We also saw: 4 highland cows!! , 2 different types of pigs, a family of sheep (+Anya the sassiest girl), cats, dogs, goats, turkeys (that like hugs but scared meee), guinea fowls, chickens and hens, mini horses and a peacock that sounds like Kevin from UP in the nighttime !! All the staff were super friendly including miss Elaine! Truly an incredible place to visit and get to feed pigs all day.

We took advantage of our Florida State Park Pass (saved us the $6 entrance fee) and took a drive to…read morethe park. This is a beautiful park to drive or hike. The drive in and to the visitor center is so pretty! The trees make a nice, shady canopy. You can see various animals from the observation tower, open range or hiking. It was late afternoon and hot when we were there so we didn't see much (one deer!) and I'm sure the animals were in the shade somewhere.

A great place to start your adventure and exploration of the Prarie…read more I recently stopped by the Payne's Prairie Preserve State Park Visitor Center in Micanopy, Florida, and it was a fantastic experience! Yes, you do pay the $6 per vehicle entrance fee to enter the state park, and it's a bit of a drive from the main gate along the park road to reach the parking lot. From there, you walk a short distance to the center itself. But once you arrive, it's absolutely worth it. The Visitor Center is very nice and modern building with large floor-to-ceiling windows directly across from teh entrance offering great views of the prairie itself. The staff, specifically Brad, was very helpful, The sets of displays provide an good overview of the prairie's natural and cultural history through interactive exhibits. There is also a short film in the theater room about the location. I really liked the observation area and spotting scopes. One scope was perfectly trained on a bald eagle perched about two miles away. I thought that was an incredible sight! It made the whole prairie feel alive and gave us a real sense of the wildlife that calls this special place home (wild horses and bison live here too). There is a small gift shop, restrooms, and the building provides easy access to trails and an observation tower nearby. It's a perfect starting point to understand and appreciate this unique place. If you're in the Gainesville area, make time for Payne's Prairie. The Visitor Center is a hidden gem that turns a simple stop into a memorable visit. I highly recommended it.

They really treat these creatures like human family. Was such an experience. Got to ride and feed…read morethem. There is so much room for them to roam more than any lame Zoo. They have a thing where you can bathe them. The people who run this are amazing. I know they have been through alot over the years and goad they are able to keep moving forward one giant paw at a time.

A wonderful place to learn about elephants (and the world) from Patricia…read moreI recently visited Two Tails Ranch in Williston, Florida. You have to reserve a spot online before you go. They will respond with a date and time to show up. The sign in the gate when you arrive says they open the gates 10 minutes before the showtime so you may be sitting in your car along the dirtroad if you arrive early. You are directed where to park and then choose what options you want (feeding, picture, ride) and they give you tickets for each item. If you are going to ride the elephant you cannot be over 200 pounds (there is a scale at the ticket counter). Once everyone is done buying tickets you go to the first top. Our group of about 20 sat in rows of chairs under the shade right in front of the elephant pen with Zika the elephant and Patricia Zerbini. She has decades of hands-on elephant care through her family's dedicated efforts. She is the real deal. She stands in front of you and will answer any question in a straight-shooting, authentic, and honest manner, no punches pulled. She shared her experiences about elephants past, present, and future while teaching us about their care and the importance of their current issues. After that, you move in a group to another enclosure with a different elephant where people can feed, get a picture and ride an elephant. I chose all three and found them each well worth the time and money. They are once in a lifetime experiences that I'll remember forever. Patricia then walked us around the ranch, showing us her tortoises, zebra, and lemurs. She will answer any question as she is touring the group around. We ended at the little museum and gift shop, packed with fossils, artifacts, and elephant memorabilia. Two Tails Ranch is a real hidden gem run with love and purpose. If you're even remotely interested in elephants, this is a must-visit. Patricia and her family are doing wonderful work. I highly recommend visiting and supporting their efforts.