Experiences with animal obsessed child

[Anonymous]

My 7 year old loves anything to do with animals. I am looking for neat experiences and trips both near and far that offer unique animal encounters. The entire trip doesn’t have to be centered on animals- like a safari or the Galapagos.

Things we have done in the past that have been huge hits include releasing baby turtles into the ocean, snorkeling with manta rays and dog sledding. We have done classes at local nature centers, and visited several zoos including the San Diego Zoo and the Monterrey Bay Aquarium.

We are new to the DC area, so local ideas are welcome too.

[Anonymous]

Discovery Cove
Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Both in Orlando and both excellent

[Anonymous]

You can rent a house in Crystal River, FL and kayak and swim with the manatees. They're still there for spring break.

[Anonymous]

The Baltimore aquarium is amazing. We also did the Brooklyn zoo and Seaworld in Orlando.

But when he gets older, the galapagos is amazing and we took our animal obsessed kid when he was maybe 14 and he loved it.

[Anonymous]

If your child wants to cuddle cats, Crumbs and Whiskers in Georgetown allows children 7 and up accompanied by an adult.

[Anonymous]

Chengdu to see panda nursery

[Anonymous]

Does she like horses? Dude ranches can be really fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Baltimore aquarium is amazing. We also did the Brooklyn zoo and Seaworld in Orlando.

But when he gets older, the galapagos is amazing and we took our animal obsessed kid when he was maybe 14 and he loved it.

Find experiences where you don't stress out the animals. Does your kid like dogs? There is a golden retriever experience in Vermont

https://goldendogfarm.com/products/golden-retriever-experience

[Anonymous]

Central America for howler monkeys in the middle of the night.

[Anonymous]

The Amazon. We fed manatees at a rescue center, stayed at an ecolodge with birds, monkeys, capybaras around, fished for piranha, saw boas, pink dolphins, tapirs, and sloths on excursions. You can also do a cruise.

[Anonymous]

Double 8 Ranch llamas in Purcellville VA
East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue in PA
Wolf Sanctuary of PA

Frying Pan Farm— it’s not super exciting but it’s free. When my son was little we went several times a year and he enjoyed getting to know the specific animals well and seeing them grow or change or have babies.

[Anonymous]

The Atlanta aquarium has some:

https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/animal-encounters/

There are places around the world where you can swim with whale sharks. Mexico is one. I think near Holbox.

There have been a few discussions of whale watching on this site.

Glamping in Baja Mexico to see gray whales during the birthing season is the fanciest.

There are many different whale watching day cruises out of Massachusetts, Maine, etc.

People here have recommended the Tadoussac area in Canada.

I did a bunch of animal-related activities with my kids in the Bar Harbor area. There is a small private aquarium there that has unique lobsters. And a boat cruise for kids called Diver Ed. In addition to being able to walk on the sandbags at low tide to collect shells.

https://www.diveintheater.com/

[Anonymous]

Please avoid sea world and other places that keep huge mammals in tiny prisons. What we have done to these majestic creatures for our entertainment is just awful.

[Anonymous]

^ sandbar (the Bar in Bar Harbor)

Also a new post reminded me that I once took my kids to an "Alpaca Festival". It was like a dog show (alpaca beauty contest) combined with a craft show.

[Anonymous]

Falconry at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs