What's firstly amazing about Jungle Island is how missable it is after driving by it on this island…read moreFOR YEARS. Just makes finally having visiting this venue so much more special with how incredible it is. Secondly, amazing is how big it feels despite its size and location (granted, I visited at night for a special event, so your mileage may vary) - though I admit, the exhibits seem too small for some of their fauna inhabitants. Third and finally, visiting it for said special event, Luminosa, was ABSOLUTELY wondrous. Made the visit absolutely worth it (even if my bus almost missed the stop). Plus, the staff is so kind and accommodating. We as a society need to invest and support spaces and places like this that not only offer incredible experiences, but also give back to all its visitors and urban spaces they inhabit - even if they're on a small, missable island (jajaja).

I spent $20 on parking, $200 on tickets, and 45 minutes signing waivers just to walk into the…read moresaddest, most depressing animal facility I've ever seen. They promised an 11:30 "show" and even texted me to be on time. The show was a skunk that immediately ran away three times, and a snake that looked dead and never moved. The conditions were shocking: birds crammed into tiny cages stacked next to each other, kangaroos trapped in small empty pens, and the largest tortoise I've ever seen stuck in an enclosure the size of my living room -- with another tortoise. Every animal looked stressed, sad, or neglected. My kids were so upset we left early. I'm ashamed I spent money here, but I'm glad I saw it so I can warn others. This place is cruel, depressing, and should not be allowed to operate.

We had a really great time, we got to see a lot of different animals including otters, wolfs,…read moretigers, panthers, different type of monkeys. We fed the otters and moneys and even got to pet an owl, lemur, gators and snakes and even a skunk! The skunk was the cutest one to me. Our tour guide was very informative and well spoken, we learned a lot of things about all the different animals. I highly recommend this place if you're not afraid of animals and it's great for kids and adults.

I'm always hesitant because I'm such a lover of animals and zoos are not necessarily my favorite…read moreplace so I'm worried about the state that they are in. While I was here many of the animals had a fair amount of space and were definitely more taken care of than their original situation. For example, some of the monkeys were lab monkeys and other others were owned by civilians who thought they could take care of exotic animals when they clearly couldn't. I do wish the lions have more space for that many being in one enclosure, but it looks like all they did was lay down and sleep in the sun basking so they may just be happy like that The price is a little bit expensive for a general tour, but I don't think it's not worth it. We took the general wildlife experience and were able to have a tour and then also visit with a couple exotic species, including a couple of ball pythons, a really awesome spectacle owl, which was my favorite and some other reptiles. Overall, I think it was worth a visit, but I'm not sure I'd come back again since I feel like I saw everything unless it was for an encounter. The otter encounter seems the most interactive so I'd recommend that one. Our tour guide was Mikayla, and she was very honest and gave facts that she knew and nothing that she did. I do wish the different enclosures had labels on them to give us an idea of the names of the species and where they're originally located as the tour guide wasn't able to answer one of our questions about them but gave what she knew. I kind of like the idea that people aren't allowed to go roaming around the property on their own banging on enclosures and trying to stick their fingers through bars. I think it's just a really good safety precaution. You will be limited to about an hour worth of a visit overall I had a great time.

My wife tells me we're going to the Monkey Jungle Experience. WHAT??? But we went and it was great…read more We got there about an hour and fifteen minutes before closing and had plenty of time to see everything and a couple of talks by their Rangers. We really enjoyed the explanations and feeding the monkeys. This is a must see if you are in the area. So glad she talked me into it.

Despite living in Miami for 17 years, I had somehow never been to Monkey Jungle. I finally stopped…read moreby on a recent trip and I'm glad I did. It's smaller than I expected, but still a lot of fun and definitely unique. Pro tip: arrive early in the day. Once the heat picks up, the monkeys tend to stay out of sight, so the earlier you go, the better your experience will be. Pro tip 2: The signage for the bathroom is awful. The bathroom is located in area where the monkeys are over the water. The exhibits were interesting, but the highlight was feeding the monkeys through the cages and watching them cleverly lift the little food trays really entertaining to see up close. The staff was friendly and informative, and the whole visit felt relaxed and enjoyable. I'd definitely recommend it, especially if you're looking for something a little different to do in Miami.

The Miami Seaquarium has and will always have a very special place my in my heart. Opened in 1955…read moreI have such fond memories coming here as a child. Now with a family of my own, my children have been coming here for decades. Miami Seaquarium is located on beautiful Virginia Key and spans across 38 acres. The highlight of our visits have always been the Dolphin and Sea Lion shows. The Marine Life Encounters always very nice too. I do love learning about marine conservation and how we all can help the animals. Thru the years Miami Seaquarium added events to the calendar , like Summer Camp for the kids. I always wanted my kids to come here for Summer Camp, but we live in Broward so the distance was to great. However we looked forward to Bunny Palooza at Easter Time each year along with other special events throughout the year. While I understand the Miami Seaquarium has faced financial challenges along with some pretty severe allegations, I do pray for a solution for help. The Miami Seaquarium has served generations of students on school field trips, offering a rare chance for hands-on learning about marine biology, ecosystems, and conservation. "For many local kids, this is their only chance to see marine life up close." I Pray for Help to bring this long time Marine Park and Oceanarium back to it's glory. I pray for Help that measures may always be put in place for the health, safety and well being of all the animals. I Pray for the Miami Seaquarium.

When we were there a few years back we saw how poorly it was handled compared to the price. We saw…read morea lot of sea animals sad and just pretty much all over the place. I did not like how everything was so expensive so if it is really closed I would not be surprised..

Crandon Park is popular for its beautiful beach, rich coastal environment, unique fossilized…read moremangrove reef, protected wetlands, birding sites and extensive range of sports and outdoor activities. Crandon Park is home to various ecosystems, from dunes and mangroves to coastal hammock and seagrass beds and rare plants like the Biscayne prickly ash and beach peanut. Underwater, fossilized reefs and colorful sea life give divers and snorkelers plenty to explore. Crandon Park comprises the northern portion of Key Biscayne (almost 7 miles southeast of Miami). The key began as a coconut plantation, before being donated with the stipulation that Miami-Dade County uses the land as a public park. With its golf and tennis facilities, unique eco-adventures and breathtaking beach, Crandon Park offers something for everyone Parking: Weekdays $7 and Weekends $10

I was here as a child when it was a zoo. I'm happy to see it remains a park with beach access…read more More importantly, the beach often hosts some endangered migratory birds, Piping Plovers. These birds are adorable, but they are threatened by habitat loss. There is a volunteer who regularly checks for Piping Plovers during migration, and she looks for bands that reveal the path of the bird's migratory flight. It's important that we have places for these birds to forage, and I hope the city continues to protect this beach for that use. The bathrooms were a welcome amenity. I had problems paying the parking fee, it was a complicated process. There were about 10 peafowl (peacocks) that roamed the park, a remaining vestige of when this was a zoo. There were many wild birds throughout the park.

This is a planetarium, museum, aquarium all in one!…read more Place is very close to the Miami port. We had several hours to kill in Miami but had four large carryon bags. They luckily hold onto the bags while we explore the museum and this worked perfectly for us. In addition to the 4-5 floors and two buildings worth of area to explore, there are amazing view of Miami from most of the floors. Kids thoroughly enjoyed seeing the Florida gators and other reptiles. The aquarium has shark and a huge turtle in addition to several other varieties of sea life. Kids spent several hours in the flight museum and the interactive universe simulator model as well. We also caught one of the shows in the planetarium, make sure to reserve a spot during a time slot of your choice well before hand. Perfect stop if you have a few hours in Miami.

My husband and I visited this museum as part of our day trip to Miami. I wish parking wasn't so…read moreexpensive ($18 flat rate). It took us about 2.5 hours to explore the entire place including the planetarium show. The show that worked out best with timing was called "How to Die in Space: An Interactive Adventure Through the Cosmos." The girl leading it was wonderful but as you may figure by its name, the show was not a peaceful experience. There were a number of explosions that I think scared some of the kids in attendance. The other exhibits included one about flight, the human body/mind, an aquarium, dinosaurs, and general Florida wildlife. I can't say I learned a terrible amount of new information but it was fine. I appreciate the museum's mission and it probably would be cool for toddlers-little kids.

Flamingo Gardens is one of our favorite places in South Florida. Honestly, I'd even call it a…read morepeacock garden because there are so many of them wandering freely throughout the property. I especially love visiting during the winter months when the weather is cooler. It's the perfect time to slow down, enjoy the beautiful scenery, and have a little picnic with the kids. There are plenty of peaceful spots to sit, relax, and watch the peacocks walking around. The grounds are always clean, and the staff is friendly and welcoming. When you buy your tickets, you can also purchase bird food. We fed both the flamingos and the peacocks, and while it was a fun experience, here's my little tip--don't feed the peacocks from your hand unless you're ready for a pretty strong peck! I learned that one the hard way. There is also a small café, guided tram tours, and on weekends they often have live music, especially in the evenings or during holiday events. Around Christmas, the gardens are beautifully decorated with lights, making the whole place feel even more magical. If you're looking for a relaxing day surrounded by nature, Flamingo Gardens is definitely worth a visit.

Hoping I can offer a yoga or soundbath class here one day !!! Crossing fingers…read more Flamingo Gardens is such a beautiful hidden gem The gardens are gorgeous, the animals are amazing, and there's so much to see beyond just the flamingos. I especially loved seeing the peacocks roaming around, the wildlife, and taking the tram through the gardens. It's a peaceful, family-friendly experience and also a great place to visit if you just want to spend a few hours surrounded by nature. I really appreciated the educational aspect and learning more about the animals and the sanctuary.

I love spending time in nature and visiting Pinecrest Gardens made for such a fun weekday activity…read more It's so peaceful with so much to do. It's full of beautiful lush greenery with beautiful nature trails. I also loved the children's playground and splash pad. My son had so much fun and made a few friends. They also have a section with farm animals, which he also enjoyed so much. This is such a great spot to go alone and have some quiet time in nature or for a family fun day. I can't wait to come back!

We were excited to visit this place but unfortunately left slightly disappointed…read more All of the exotic bird cages through out the gardens were empty. The landscapes were beautiful but we were excited about the animals too. The gardens close at 5:30 pm but they take the animals (donkeys, cow, goats and pig) away at 4 pm, which we didn't know. So they were being put away as we got there. The playground is nice, although not very big, my girls enjoyed it. The water park closes earlier than the rest of the gardens too. Overall a lot of the "experiences" seemed to be closed on the Sunday we visited. Not sure it was worth the drive.

Im waiting the answer dor my first experience! I would really like to participate in the volunteer…read moreprogram.

Well, I must have come on a bad day. Maybe the animals were tired. Maybe the staff were tired. I…read moredon't know. All I know is I felt like I was at my cousin's house and they happened to have animals. There were no directions or explanations...until it came time to pay. Now that part was explained perfectly. Honestly, I probably could have seen the same thing at my local shelter and saved $30. I'm hoping the money goes toward helping the animals, but it's really hard to tell. They have goats, plenty of birds, llamas, pigs, and horses. I wouldn't call it a true petting zoo because most of the petting is done through a gate. If you want a horse ride, you have to ask. No one offers or tells you about it. Everything looked like it could use some updating or repairs, and the overall vibe from most of the staff was, "Please hurry up so we can get back to what we were doing." A couple of employees were pleasant and helpful, but they weren't going above and beyond. They simply gave us what we asked for. Overall, I probably won't be back. At least my $30 went toward helping the animals...I hope.

I was able to afford the opportunity to attend this beautiful location because I am a local and…read morehave a library card. Therefore, through the event programs I decide to get a museum pass and see the amazing place for myself. Personally, I absolutely loved it and thought it was totally worth it. Similarly, I appreciate Juan (a tour guide provided free with the purchase) who made the experience much more enjoyable. I recommend seeing the park for yourselves and taking a tour with him or David... really nice. And remember to enjoy the fruits, the space and the sights this park has to offer.

Hello.. well its been 8 years since my last review and crazy to say this experience was better. The…read moreplace still needs some updating. But in all was a great experience. This time around we finally got to ride the tram that has two tour times. One being at 11 am and the other at 1:30pm. I highly suggest you spray yourself with bug spray. We got to taste a variation of like 6 different mangoes, even got to have some red Jamaican cherry. Definitely a spot to come in the summer and to bring the little ones.