The Santa Barbara Zoo is a gem and super fun activity to do if you are ever in the area. Definitely…read moreallocate a good couple hours to spend here as there is a lot to see. Compared to other zoos, this one really highlights conservation and has many animals you often do not see at other zoos. Capybara supremacy!

FALSE ADVERTISING My…read morewife and I have had some lovely visits to the SB Zoo over the years, but our last one... wasn't. We entered the zoo at around 4pm, and by the time we got to the back to see the lions and gorillas (our favorites), they had been put to bed. We learned from staff that the "superstars" of the zoo (lions, snow leopards, mountain gorillas, etc.), are put to bed at 4:30pm! This meant we'd spent $80 and wouldn't see what we came for. We brought this to the attention of a guest relations staffer who told us it was just bad luck, that they move in and out of their enclosers. The internet revealed the lie, "The Santa Barbara Zoo's lions usually start heading off-exhibit and into their behind-the-scenes holding areas between 3:30 PM and 4:00 PM, though the specific time can occasionally shift depending on the season and the keepers' daily routine." And the zoo's own site says the gorillas aren't visible after 4:30pm! We contacted Tanner, the Guest Experience Manager, and he reiterated the lie. That same lie is repeated on a poster at the entrance, where a picture of a lion at magic hour advertises "Twilight Hours until 7pm" (see attached pic). I cc'd the CEO of the zoo about the matter and received no response. So, go visit the animals, but know that the Twilight Hours is an easily proven con job and the management could use some serious improvement in guest relations.

We used tawni in march 2025 for my daughters birthday party…read more She was very responsive and answered all my 500 questions since I had never gotten ponies or an animal petting zoo. She assured me everything was set! LIt was. Her daughter came on time with assistants who helped our kids ride the ponies around our cul de sac. The petting zoo was super cute too. I really am glad we went with Tawni as we had zero issues. Thank you!!

We recently used Tawni's Ponies for my daughter's 6th birthday party and it was an absolute hit!…read moreTawni and her team arrived right on time with a fantastic assortment of friendly animals-- mini goats, chickens, ducks, a sheep and even a mini pony--that had all the kids giggling and engaged for hours. Everything was so well-organized, clean and safe, with the handlers patiently teaching the children how to interact gently with the animals. It turned our daughters birthday into a magical farm adventure she hasn't stopped talking about her new "furry friends." Tawni was professional and kind and went above and beyond to make the day special. If you're planning a kid's event, this is a must-- I highly recommend booking Tawni if you want to create unforgettable memories!

I went to visit the alpacas for my birthday on Valentine's Day, and I can honestly say it was one…read moreof the best experiences ever. From the moment we arrived, everything felt so peaceful and welcoming. Getting to see the alpacas up close, feed them, and just spend time around them was absolutely magical. They are the sweetest, most gentle little fluff balls I literally fell in love. Each one has its own personality, and being able to interact with them made the whole experience feel so special and personal. It was such a unique way to celebrate my birthday, and it made Valentine's Day even more memorable. I truly had the best time and left with the biggest smile on my face. They completely stole my heart... so now I guess I'll just have to go back and get it! I already can't wait to visit again. If you're thinking about going do it. You won't regret it!

Such a great experience! Stopped by this beautiful farm to see the Alpacas before my stop at Santa…read moreBarbara. I purchased tickets online before and it was very simple. They send you instructions and the tickets to get in by email. The animals were so cute and friendly enough to take pictures. During the tour they tell you what you can and can't do. They also tell you a little about the farm. The tour is one hour and that's a great timeframe for the whole experience.

Incredible staff. The cutest, sweetest, most perfect animals. Everyone at the party raved about The…read moreMini Barn!

Mini Barn was the best, and was able to help me out last minute. I'm thankful for them and most of…read moreall Skipper, for making the night a special one!Thanks a million

One of my favorite spots in the valley. Awesome wines, even more awesome food and fun for the whole…read morefamily with a dedicated area for the kiddos. Really amazing people work there as well! Thanks to Jared and Bobby for always treating us so special! There is some construction right now, so you have to go a little out of your way, but I promise you it's 100% worth it and a must stop when you are in the valley!!!

In my day…read more. I have been to so many Vineyards & even a few Farms too. But this place.. Is a twofer! Yeah, baby! A Vineyard AND a Farm! Beat that Napa Valley! Ok, Ok.. I know Napa Valley is like THE Mecca of Wineries, at least in California, & going there once before, I kinda understand, kinda. But is it really that much better? In my humble opinion.. Ehh. It was whatever Sure, I'm down dropping a nice crispy Benjamin to get that aged, vintage 2013 Cab.. But will I really care, or even notice once that bottle is depleted & I'm now ordering the 2nd least expensive Chenin Blanc on the menu just to wash away all my worries. (Suddenly, Every wine snob, wine aficionado & novice sommelier enters the chat) But, But Lance, it's Napa, How dare you speak against this Holy Land of all Superior Wine. And to that I say, I get it. I truly understand that not all wine is created equally, but also that not all of us have the BIG BUCKS to continuously drop $100 big ones on that prized Napa Cab. Hey, call me crazy, but to me, it's not just ALL about the wine that is produced, but more about the overall experience. It's the vibe. It's the way you are treated. & it's definitely about how they made you feel. Anyone else getting Maya Angelou vibes?? IYKYK ;) **All Wine Snobs have left the Chat** *Vega Vineyard and Farm has entered the chat* Alright team Vega, sit back, kick your feet up, & just listen while I brag a little about you. It was a BEAUTIFUL November afternoon just 4 days prior to Thanksgiving. We were heading back south from Paso Robles & decided to make a little pit stop before getting all the way back home. So my wife looked up wineries in the area that were kid friendly & Vega was at the top of the list. Walking in, we noticed that they had a little restaurant right at the entrance, so we went to put our name down for a table. Unfortunately, the wait time was a little longer than we wanted to wait, only because we had the kids with us, but the hostess suggested if we didn't want to wait, that they had more food on the other end of the farm in "Pops Place". Other than the wine itself, eating the food in "Pops Place" was probably the best move we could have unintentionally made that day. (I'll explain in a bit) So we slowly made our way towards the other side of the farm/vineyard & all I can say is, what a gorgeous property it was. The farm life, the outdoors, the weather, & I was with my Fam. It couldn't have been a better day! Once we got to Pops Place, it was like we entered into a whole new world. A huge area for kids with a jungle gym, stations for outdoor games & activities, benches to sit, even private cabanas you can reserve (not sure if there is a cost) & of course a little shack to order food and wine! So remember earlier when I said eating in Pops Place was probably the best move we could have made that day, Well here are 3 reasons why! 1) We ordered the George's Greek Gyro Pita w/fries (a beef gyro with lettuce, tomato, onions & tzatziki wrapped in a pita) and.. OH. MY. GAWDDD It was so flippin' GOOD! It was so good, that I didn't even have time to snap a pic, let alone set it down after taking that 1st bite. It was complete perfection! 2) Chicken Strips & Fries from the kids menu w/a side of ranch.. Let's just say, The kids loved 'em. 3) We washed it all down w/a beautiful, crisp, perfect for a fall day, 2024 bottle of their finest ALBARIÑO. & it was, EXCELLENT!! After we sat & ate, let the kids get out all of their energy, the fun at Vega continued. From there, we headed to feed the livestock on the property (lettuce sold onsite for a few bucks). There were Chickens, Goats, Pigs, Emu's & Sheep, and the kids and myself had a blast feeding 'em. After that, we stopped off at one of their gift shops to browse all of the fun stuff. Of course, we got the kids their requested candy! The staff we interacted with while at Vega were all so kind, welcoming & made us feel apart of the extended Vega family. Because of this, we will definitely be coming back next time we pass through. So, & this is where YOU come in! The next time you are passing through Buellton, do yourself, your spouse and your kids, if you've got them, a HUGE favor: Come check out Vega Vineyard & Farm and tell me that I was right!

Stopping at Ostrichland USA on our way home from Solvang a few weeks ago was a must on our…read moreitinerary! Pricing was $7 for adults and $3 for kids under 12 plus $1 for each person wanting to feed the Ostrich and Emu. You enter through a gift shop and then out to where all of the birds are - they even had a couple of bunnies and a cat. There were so many Ostrich and Emu spread out everywhere. They come right up to you and just start pecking away! Tip: if you walk down further where the Emu are, there is more room to move around and plus there are lots of birds to feed. I think the Ostrich at the front of the entrance get most of the food - we felt bad not going to where the others were. The whole area was pretty cool - it kind of felt like we were on a safari with how picturesque the mountains and land were. The lady running the gift shop who also explained the rules was very nice! I highly recommend if you have small kids or just need a place to stop and stretch your legs! They offer bathrooms as well! Check them out!

A small place that visitors can visit with or without their dogs. Entry fees are reasonable…read more People can also feed the Ostriches and Emus by adding $1 extra. People feed the Ostriches and Emus in the front but there are lots more in the back. The staff should let people know there are more in the back.

Well I can see the reason as why these negative reviews were posted…read more Madison is simple she doesn't send you a contract, she takes a small deposit $100 and that's it, you don't hear from her till you reach out to her I did have to email and call her few times to lock in the date which I was worried it may not come through Her animals are adorable clean friendly she brings a lot more variety of animals compare to other mobile petting zoos and her prices are far below market rate We had some hiccups but it was resolved and The kids had a blast playing and feeding the animals we had a good party at the end of the day and that's all it mattered.

UGH!! That's the last time I go against negative yelp reviews! I hired Maddison giving the benefit…read moreof the doubt. I like to support small biz and this seemed like a good opportunity. I normally hire Reptacular animals and have always been happy. BUT Madison said they would send two baby piglets and my 5 year old really wanted piglets so I went with it. NOT only did the promised piglets not even show up, roughly half the animals promised didn't show up. She said 5 guinea pigs would come- not one guinea pig. 3 bunnies instead of 5. Less chickens, the whole thing was just not good. They also came 20 minutes late so instead of setting up before the party, he set up after people were already here. The guy they sent didn't interact with the kids at all, nothing was said about the animals, there was no interaction. Just standing around. It was sad because it's not cheap!!! Maddison did discount me $150 but I spent nearly $600 that I wish I could take back and do something good else with Sorry, but this was not a good experience and when it's your kid's birthday you want to not have to worry. If you're looking for a great petting zoo experience for a party, this isn't it.

While in Summerland last weekend we passed by this place and stopped to see what it's about…read more Omg.... So many birds. Beautiful and colorful. So this is a non profit organization that rescues, rehabilitates, and provides a home for unwanted abused and orphaned parrots. They offer walk in tours for $15 for adults and $10 for kids. My husband and I enjoyed meeting the parrots one by one. Some of them speak and made our experience very entertaining. It's a great place to visit with kids also. Educational and fun .... Love supporting a great cause.

My daughter's best friend's mom, who volunteers here, invited us to visit the bird sanctuary…read more Although it appears smaller from the outside, the sanctuary offers a large, beautiful, and green space full with birds. Some of these birds are even talkative, making it a fun experience. Additionally, we noticed that some birds are for sale, along with items like food, cages, and toys. It's definitely a place worth visiting at least once.