The only zoo here in Austin. has a cappaberra and easy for me (78) to get around. Family friendlyread more

TLDR: Small private zoo that's in obvious need of some repairs/upgrades (and has received safety…read morecitations in the past) but nonetheless has a rustic charm. I'd still remain vigilant and aware of surroundings as a result. No handwashing station at the petting zoo so make sure you either walk your kids to the nearby restroom or bring soap sheets (more below). Open daily including holidays (365 days a year) 9-5. They offer a variety of animal encounters for a fee. CONDITIONS: This small private zoo is definitely a bit run down and unkempt. The ramp from the office/reception area to the zoo had broken wooden boards that seemed like they were heading toward collapse. Felt a bit nervous pushing our stroller wagon over it. The owner should definitely address that. I got the vibe that the owner does really care about the animals but some of the cages did seem too small. The owner also told us he wanted to construct a train (which is always nice) but I think fixing up the zoo/improving the habitats should be a priority. Some of the exhibits seemed confusing -- there was a sign for a bear but the area seemed overgrown and inaccessible. I don't know if the exhibit was just removed or what. As far as the provenance for the animals -- I think some are rescues but not all. They are also a breeding facility for endangered animals. CITATION HISTORY: I did a little bit of digging and it turns out the zoo has received citations in the past. In 2022, the USDA issued an official warning to the zoo regarding inadequate enclosure fencing. I was able to track down the official document in APHIS. I also found a reference to an official warning in 2013 that noted inadequate veterinary care for underweight animals, inappropriate feed/diet, repeated problems maintaining facilities in good repair, sanitation/cleanliness problems, and inadequate pest control (resulting in a financial penalty). I was not able to track down the official document for this, only a senate filing (regarding an accreditation association) that referenced the warning. In theory, they could have pulled it from PETA, who has published a 10-page "fact sheet" online that details countless other USDA citations and claims that in 2022, a dog broke into an enclosure and killed 4 cavies and 1 muntjac (to simplify, rodents and deer). I have not been able to verify the dog attack claims and don't have the time to look into the other alleged citations. Ultimately, PETA is a special interest group with a dubious record. PETTING ZOO/SAFETY: It's not the sort where you can go inside but you can feed the animals through the fence. There is no handwashing station but the restroom isn't that far. Make sure you take your kids to wash their hands right after. Watch smaller kids carefully to ensure they're not putting their hands in their mouth while/after interacting with the animals. You can use hand sanitizer immediately after but you really should wash their hands ASAP. I believe hand sanitizer can kill e.coli but will not kill cryptosporidium (parasite that can be carried by farm animals). You can buy soap sheets that are good on the go (Fomin is the brand I have, available on Amazon). You just pour water and the sheet becomes soapy and then you rinse. There was some charm here -- for instance, the farm animal area was chaotic in an amusing way -- pigs and chickens and peacocks and little prairie dogs trying to steal food -- it was cute pandemonium. The talking macaws were fun and the hippo put on a show for us -- opening his huge maw. Zoo experiences are a bit subjective in that sense, depending on how the animals are feeling when you arrive. Mornings seem to be best as it's cooler. Keep your expectations low -- it's a place to see animals and entertain your kids for an hour or so. Just remain vigilant and keep an eye on surroundings for safety reasons. They also offer a variety of animal encounters which we did not partake in. Ultimately, I do hope that they take any USDA citations seriously and allocate sufficient capital to improve/fix their facility.

I didn't know what to expect from this place. Some science centers are kids-only affairs (despite…read morenot being billed as such) while others have more to offer visitors of all ages. Fortunately, the Austin Nature & Science Center ended up falling in the latter category. The main building houses an assortment of bones, shells, and rocks (as well as an axolotl tank) and another building is home to various reptiles. Outside areas include a dino pit (where kids can dig for fossils) and several animal enclosures. What makes the latter unique is that the animals are rehab/rescue cases. They include everything from a bobcat to a porcupine to a 34-year-old one-eyed owl (!!) and more. Granted, Austin Nature & Science Center does offer more for a younger crowd, and it isn't particularly easy to get to by bus, but it's hard to argue with a chance to take in flora and fauna for free.

Great FREE option in Austin for kids!…read more One of the best parts is you can see an axolotl (two, actually) in their visitor center building. Then you can head over to the birds of prey, the reptile/fish building, and the animal enclosures. There's also a little lake and a large sand pit (dino dig). There's a cool room in the visitor center that has all sorts of nature items (bones, dead bugs, shells, rocks, etc.). You can bring in your own stuff to trade! Is it a huge amount of things to do/see? No but for a free attraction, it's pretty great. Parking is across the street -- lot is shared with Zilker Park and all the nearby attractions so it can get busy.

Our visit here was wonderful! Farmer Preston was kind and had a lot of information to share. The…read morekids had the opportunity to feed the animals and were thrilled to see such a variety and learn more about them at the farm and then when we got home. We will be back again. Highly recommend!!

Very pleased with the presentation given by the folks at Crowes Nest Farm to educate the folks in…read moreour area about wildlife and helping the children ace their state mandated tests! All the animals are rescued and kept their for their own health and safety that run off of donations, sponsors, and special events to keep afloat. My favorites are the birds of prey! Definitely recommend for the experience, knowledge to be gained!

What an amazing adventure! Purchase tickets in advance online or at the small drive thru hut upon…read moreyour arrival. We saved $3 per ticket by purchasing online! Kids under 3 are free-- also have additional prices for active duty military and seniors. Feed bags are very generous and an additional $4 per bag. Animal information brochures are provided with ticket purchase and show interesting facts and information about many- but not nearly all- of what you will see. The drive through park is a bit shorter than some when comparing to others around Texas and you are encouraged to throw feed and not hand feed. But the boardwalk and activities in the middle section (called Explorers Retreat) more than make up for it. The boardwalk has an additional walk through area where you can feed and view more animals and you can grab another animal brochure in your way in. This area is stroller and wheelchair friendly. The explorers area also has other fun activities like food trucks, gemstone mining for $10, feed Puzzles the giraffe for $4 or $8 depending on the feed you choose, a bar, porta potties, a gift shop, and free petting zoo. Though many of the additional activities cost $$, the boardwalk walk through and petting zoo is free and included with your ticket purchase and it's definitely worth getting out to explore. Gemstone mining was $10 and included a gem card and a large bag of dirt and gems to clean in the moving water table. Marilyn, the woman in charge of this area, made it more than worth our money by drawing out the activity and engaging the kids. She really added to the experience. Feeding the giraffe was fun but quick and could have used some more positive interactions, facts and information about giraffes from employees to enhance the experience for the kids. You are able to drive through as many times as you want after buying the day pass and we took advantage, driving through 3 times with our two bags of food. Pro tips- change drivers and seat positions during each new drive through for different perspectives, bring cups to separate food and give each person their own cup full, bring cameras and binoculars. We absolutely loved our experience and would have purchased season passes if they were a little more affordable. We can't wait to go back!

We went here for a vacation get away outside the city. The animals were so pretty and the staff was…read moreall so kind!

Absolute best experience of my entire life…read more I pet a Zebra, a camel, and a kangaroo. This would've been worth any amount of money to me. You get a bucket of buckets of food. We only used one. I think one or two is fine. $5 a bucket. If you have kids they would be blown away. It was $40 for two of us. You take your own car. You must do this.

OMG! I loved this place! If you are debating on the Franklin Safari or the Auggieland Safari…read moreFranklin wins hands down. Its about half the price and you can feed the animals out of the buckets! So many variety of animal's! The Zebras and the Camels were my favorite! Bring romain lettuce to feed the Giraffe's they were so tame and amazing! I am for sure going back! Aggieland Safari you can only put the food on the ground you cant feed the animal's out of the buckets!

Small and neat spot…read more We try to hit a local zoo wherever we travel and this one was such a good find. The staff here were all so kind and welcoming which made the whole experience even better. Of course the train was a must for me lol and it did not disappoint. We caught a glimpse of almost every animal which is rare for a smaller zoo. The birds had us laughing and there are some really gorgeous wild cats here. It even started raining on us and nobody cared. Somehow made it more fun. Fun fact: this is actually a rescue zoo, not a traditional one. Most of the animals here were saved from other facilities or private owners and given a second home.

We enjoyed this animal sanctuary, it wasn't a traditional zoo. It's a non profit that takes rescues…read moreand we were surprised by the large animals they had - several large cats. There were several awesome peacocks roaming around. We enjoyed the reptile area as well. It was very hot when we visited so we didn't stay long. I didn't notice any concessions here so bring water if it's hot! The drive to this zoo is through the hill country and was really beautiful. It is a little ways from Austin though so keep that in mind; I think it took us about 30 mins from downtown. We realized we were pretty close to Salt Lick bbq in Driftwood from here, so we went there for lunch.

Linda at check in is a superstar Tanya in the field super…read morepolite and a true Gem with his tidy treat people. Not yelling or barking at customers. Kathy at checkout was awesome. I shall return. Super fun picking strawberries myself. Kenny G

We have been visiting this place for years, and our kids love it. It was great during COVID because…read moreit's huge and maintained distance. Since then, this place has come a long way. They also had a flood and had to rebuild quite a few things. Since a great place to spend a weekend. Their baby goats are adorable. Make sure if you want to feed them, buy it online; otherwise, the wait is hours.

Courtney brought a dozen or so small animals to my ten-year-old's birthday, and it was magical…read more She's so good with children and knows her animals' temperaments so well that the event stayed safe, orderly, and fun. I would give 10 stars if Yelp would let me

If I could leave zero stars I would! I booked a service with this company a month in advance and…read morethey didn't show up on the event date. The company's poorly managed business had the wrong date even though on their personal deposit paid contract, all the info was correct. Courtney was absolutely no help! Not even a apology, flat out confusion all on her part. Not organized, no communication, such a complaint disappointment!! I deserve my deposit back and some kind of apology. I'll be waiting!

Thank you for sharing the Harriet Tubman traveling exhibit. I do wish that it was better publicized…read morewith more information on the City's website.