We are Seniors and loved Tiger World, but it's great for any age. Parents with young children were…read morealso visiting when we were there. We were amazed at how many tigers we saw, plus many other animals. The best part is we didn't have to walk great distances between the enclosures, like at the Asheboro Zoo. This zoo is definitely Kid AND Senior friendly. There are ample benches and places to sit to just enjoy nature and watch the animals. We also loved the fact that this is a non profit sanctuary for animals needing rescue, rehabilitation, or medical treatment. The staff is very friendly and willing to talk about the animals. You can purchase feed cups and throw the peanuts to the monkeys, which was a lot of fun. We enjoyed being so close to the animals, yet it was still a safe distance. I was able to get great pictures and we marveled at the size of the tigers' paws. Go in the morning when the tigers are more active - but make sure you go... this is a place you don't want to miss!

I have to admit that the first thing that came to mind was the Netflix show a few years back but…read morethis place is mad legit. It's not like the NC Zoo experience but the amount of big cats here and how close you are to them is extraordinary. You can tell that they really care for all of their animals and if you get the chance to talk to one of the keepers, they will talk to you with relevant information to the point you could have a BS in zoology. It's cheaper to get in here that our local Science center and way cooler. I'm not a cat person but these cats are awesome. They even had a timber wolf which was really cool. Well worth the trip from Greensboro area and again, you can tell that they really care for these animals.

Such a GORGEOUS park in the middle of small town North Carolina just outside of Charlotte. Lake…read moresports, fishing, children's parks and events, the place is HUGE. Camping hours locks you in after closing with private access should you need to exit. Ranger is a friendly bloke that was so helpful. Peaceful, full hookups and onsite black tank disposal. Note, it's a public park - so you're not going to have control over whom your neighbours are, but we got lucky and the possible problem guests were leaving as we arrived (yay!).

Nice, spacious park!!! The playground areas, alone, is worth the drive, it's huge and great for all…read moreages!! There's also a carousel, a barnyard to pet farm animals, an aquarium/exhibit with live animals inside of it in the nature center, a splash pad, mini golf, trails for walking, and some wildlife habitats outside that have wild animals as well. We didn't get to do the train, as it was closed; but there was still so much to enjoy at the park. Me and my bestie brought our kids and they had a blast! We spent a solid 2-3 hrs there and had a great time. It's also very inexpensive!! Some things that I will say is that the bathrooms are not very clean and don't even work but it's an old place, so that's to be expected and we're not there to use the restroom, we're there to play! Bring cash for extra things, like carousel, barnyard, animal exhibits, etc...sometimes their card reader doesn't work and they can only accept cash. There's even a cute place to shop where you purchase tickets for everything with toys and snacks inside! All in all, we had a great time! Keep in mind this place is old, but it definitely still has charm, and stands out against the other parks around. The animal exhibits, including the barnyard petting activity is a hit or miss, because this place is not a zoo. The animals have plenty of room to hide and/or roam to get space, which is a great thing!!! But some people might be upset after paying and not really being able to see the animals. Highly recommend!!! Go if you haven't!!!!

The North Carolina Zoo is one of our favorite places to visit as a family. We have been coming here…read morefor years, from when our children were young to now bringing our four year old granddaughter, and it never gets old. The experience is always enjoyable. The zoo is clean, well organized, and offers a very interactive environment that keeps everyone engaged. There is a lot of walking, but that is part of the charm and allows for a more natural setting for the animals. Food is about what you would expect from a large attraction and can be on the expensive side, but the overall experience more than makes up for it. We have never had a bad visit here. It is a place we will keep coming back to, and we are excited to see the new Asia section they are adding this year.

We got to the zoo when it opened on a Sunday. 9 AM. In my opinion, if you can't get there early,…read morethen don't go. We parked in Africa and we thought the animals in Africa were great ! Maybe because it was early and they were pretty active. By the time we got to the North America side, the animals seemed to be less visible. It was hot out. We only stayed until just after NOON. It got so crowded !!! A lemonade was $10 ! No idea how much the food was but ---- NO !!! Bring your water bottles and snacks. Employees were friendly and beyond helpful. Restrooms are pretty spred out so plan accordingly. After just over 3 hours, we walked over 9000 steps. Go EARLY !!!!!

This place was SOOOOOO much interactive fun!! My boo took me here for a date and we had a blast…read more Took so many pics, it is ridiculous. It was a very different kind of experience as I have never been through a drive through animal park where you can feed the animals. I enjoyed it greatly! All types of animals - zebras, giraffes, donkeys, baby piglets, ostriches, llamas, alpacas and more. I would totally go back. So much fun and everyone that works there was awesome, friendly, informative!

We had the best time! I was worried coming to a place like this if I would feel sad for the animals…read moreand I didn't! There was so much space to roam, SO much. I loved how a lot of the animals interacted and roamed free. I HIGHLY recommend the wagon. The animals are so much more accessible.

I did the Kit & Caboodle tour for my birthday and it went above and beyond expectation. Most…read moreimportantly the animals were very well cared for. They were all healthy, bright eyed, active and well socialized. Their enclosures were spacious, very clean, well maintained, species appropriate and provided enrichment. All encounters were careful to put animal and human safety first. I've worked in vetmed/animal rescue for 30 years so seeing animals well cared for and accustomed to their handlers gave me confidence Darby Farms is a place I can support. Now to the tour itself: Do it. Book it right now. You get SO MUCH for such a reasonable pric. We got two hours of personal interactions, petting and feeding, with over 30 species! Our guide Ryan was incredibly informative and knowledgeable, even taught us hardcore animal nerds some new facts we didn't know. He was skilled at handling even the squirmiest of creatures gently. It's absolutely magical to be able to touch and connect with animals I've only seen from behind glass in zoos. Thank you to Darby Acres for providing this unforgettable experience

Darby Safari went so above and beyond our expectations. We love zoos, but this was so much more…read morethan just staring at a bunch of animals behind bars - instead we had multiple opportunities to get up close, touch and feed the animals. In addition, some free range friends walked along with us humans on the tour and literally wanted to eat out of our hands. Our guides, Maddie and Shane, were fantastic! Extremely knowledgeable about the animals, and excellent at making sure everyone in the fairly sizable tour group had an opportunity to see or feed each animal they introduced. We bought the "Kit and Kaboodle" package which was so incredibly worth it! Some zoos allow you a "personal encounter" with one species, or by holding up an animal and letting you pet it,... but in the encounter room, Maddie and Shane spent an hour or more introducing us to at least 10 animals, all different species, in very interactive ways. We held armadillos, hand wrestled a mongoose, let a tiny monkey jump from shoulder to shoulder between us eating Fruit Loops, fed and high-fived otters, and so much more. I truly can't say enough about how happy we are that we included Darby Safari in our first ever trip to Charlotte!

Great time with the family on Father's Day with the one-on-one primate experience. Brought my sons…read moreand hubby and the staff was so prepared and welcoming. We sat in the concession building for a bit exploring before our session started. Once they scooped us up we were escorted to a private indoor area and got to meet and connect with red leemers, an armadillo, a sweet baby spider monkey and one more primate I can't recall the ame. Our trainers were very knowledgeable and so good with the animals and us. We spent about an hour with the animals and then walked the property to checkout the giraffes (we were warned not to get to close), sleuths, kangaroos, tigers and so many more animals. Highly recco if you have an animal lover amongst you.

We absolutely love spending the day at Zootastic. The petting zoo, the safari, gift shop, employees…read moreall are fabulous! There is a huge variety of animals and they are mostly super friendly and not food aggressive like the animals at the Lazy 5. Everything is well kept and it is easy to navigate your way through the park. Excellent value for a great fun day!

Great activity for troop of highschoolers. Highly recommend the fire pits as great roasting hot…read moredogs, marshmallows and hang out spot.

Im so glad I found this pumpkin patch while searching on Google! You park in a field and then start…read moremaking your way to the tractor that comes every 10 minutes. It takes you to where all the activities are located! They have a huge snoopy maze and a smaller maze for younger kids. We did the big maze and were done in about 40minutes. Such an awesome time! Thry do have a pumpkin patch where you are able to select from small, medium and big pumpkins. They have a variety of free games such as cornhole, sack races, board games, jenga and petty zoo! They also offer a lot more variety games with ticket purchases but even if you just go and not purchase ticket, you will still have a great time. They also have bonfire sections where you are able to reserve and then come out and bring your own snacks, food and have a great TIME! They offer food such as hot dogs, BBQ ssandwiches, fries cider, hot chocolate and its all very very tasty! Im definetly coming back here. Such a great time!

I just bought a house with a pond in the front. I did not know how to take care of it. I had a…read moregreat conversation with Pond Country where I explained the service that I needed and the problems I was seeing with the koi fish. They ordered the parts necessary and were very communicative about when they would be there to fix the pond. The repair was done in an excellent way with constant communication which I appreciated since I was out of town at the time, the pond looks great and the new pump is keeping the water crystal clear.

I've been here twice and I've been delighted with the selection and the customer service both…read moretimes. Brian is super knowledgeable and had great suggestions. He tested my water, made some recommendations and helped me select the right plants and fish for my pond.

A Hidden NC Gem for Families…read more We had the most amazing time at Aloha Zoo in Cameron this week -- it felt like we had the entire place to ourselves! From the moment we arrived, our toddlers were wide-eyed with excitement, and the fun didn't stop. We explored exhibits featuring monkeys, hyenas, tigers, crocodiles, giraffes, and so many other animals -- each one more fascinating than the last. A highlight for our little ones (and us!) was getting to feed the animals -- it's such an interactive, up-close experience that they'll be talking about for a long time. But hands down, the most unforgettable part was the drive-through safari. Where else can a camel stick its head through your car window and nearly steal your taco bowl? This zoo is a perfect, family-friendly adventure with a personal, welcoming feel. Highly recommend it for anyone looking for a fun, memorable day trip. We'll definitely be back!

This is such a cool safari park... its a hidden gem TBH. They have farm animals which you can pet…read moreand larger animals you can observe and get relatively close too. Of course their big attraction is the drive thru animal park which you take your own car along a dirt trail and can feed (if you choose) various animals. The price for this place will not break the bank. A couple of observations to improve: 1) It needs to be maintained more... some of the exhibits just feel like add-ons on top of add-ons and it feels dated. 2) A refresh and modernization to the walking trails would be good. 3) A proper cafe or even drink stations with covered seating would be nice. Something more than just random popup trailers. 4) A more permanent (possibly lit) sign off highway 87 would be nice (if possible) Again this place is awesome, would come back!

The Animal Park at the Conservators Center is a non-profit wildlife center in Burlington that's…read morededicated to abandoned and rescued exotic animals. It's a sanctuary with a focus on the animals' well-being where the residents get to live out their lives with genuine dignity in a safe, caring environment. If you are looking for a typical zoo experience where you can show up without planning ahead and gawk at caged animals for entertainment, this isn't the place for you -- and that is exactly why I love it. What makes it special to me is the meaningful mission and intimate guided walking tours of 10-15 participants led by dedicated, knowledgeable volunteers that last 1 1/2 to 2 hours. You aren't just looking at animals, you're meeting survivors. Most of the residents -- from lions and tigers to wolves and lemurs -- come from difficult backgrounds or private owners who couldn't care for them. If you're lucky, you'll hear the lions vocalizing -- a deep, rhythmic sound the staff calls "oofing." It literally vibrates in your chest and is something I'll never forget. PRO TIP #1: Reservations are a must. Because it's a wildlife sanctuary, you have to take a guided walking tour led by volunteer guides that share the individual backstories of the animals and answer (or find someone on staff who can answer) any questions you may have, which makes the experience so much more impactful than a self-guided walk. Limited weekend-only hours and required reservations mean you have to plan ahead due to volunteers' availability. PRO TIP #2: The habitats are designed for the residents' comfort and enrichment, not for yours. Expect unpaved gravel and dirt paths, so wear mud-friendly shoes or rain boots if it's been raining.

All the animals looked content well fed and clean! Probably the healthiest specimens I have seen…read morewhen visiting these types of places. The place is clean and is a supervised walking tour. There are no hands on or petting and feeding here. No loose companion animals. This is a very serious place with more rigid rules and expectations than similar experiences. Affordable and enjoyable if you are interested in various species of cats! Trail is not paved so mobility could be hard for some.