Anonymous
10/20/2025 14:38
Subject: Re:Experiences with animal obsessed child
The National Aviary in Pittsburgh is a hidden gem. They have private animal experiences with a sloth and penguins, but even the regular exhibits get you surprisingly close to the birds. There is a jungle room where they do regular feedings conducted by staff that bring the birds very close to patrons, and on good weather days they will do a presentation with the raptors (hawks, owls, other birds of prey) that is really amazing.
Just FYI that Pittsburgh actually punches well above its weight as a weekend destination with kids that is drivable from the DC area. Several other great museums, the incline, good food, very affordable and pretty easy to get around (including option of getting many places on the T if you get a hotel near one of the stops).
Just FYI that Pittsburgh actually punches well above its weight as a weekend destination with kids that is drivable from the DC area. Several other great museums, the incline, good food, very affordable and pretty easy to get around (including option of getting many places on the T if you get a hotel near one of the stops).
Anonymous
10/20/2025 14:34
Subject: Re:Experiences with animal obsessed child
OP here-
Wow these responses and suggestions are just wonderful, thank you all so much!
Wow these responses and suggestions are just wonderful, thank you all so much!
Anonymous
10/20/2025 14:25
Subject: Experiences with animal obsessed child
For big trips, I’d suggest a safari in sub-Saharan Africa. Tanzania is a very special place and great for families. However, if you go somewhere like South Africa, you can add on aquatic animals as well, like sharks and whales.
I’d also suggest the Amazon. The Peruvian side (near Puerto Maldonado) is very accessible, and there are great eco-friendly lodges where you can spends lots of time with rescue animals, as well as do some hiking.
I’d also suggest the Amazon. The Peruvian side (near Puerto Maldonado) is very accessible, and there are great eco-friendly lodges where you can spends lots of time with rescue animals, as well as do some hiking.
Anonymous
10/20/2025 11:33
Subject: Experiences with animal obsessed child
A cheaper alternative to Galapagos is espiritu Santu near Cabo in Mexico.
Anonymous
10/20/2025 11:28
Subject: Experiences with animal obsessed child
We did a boat tour last October from Chincoteague, which takes you along the coast of Assateague. We saw dolphins, eagles, and of course, the horses.
Anonymous
10/20/2025 10:27
Subject: Experiences with animal obsessed child
Anonymous wrote: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.
Yes to Double 8! They have a few different experiences: https://www.double8alpacas.com/alpaca-and-llama-encounters/
Georges Mill Farm in Lovettsville, VA, has baby goat feeding and snuggling in March/April. South Mountain Creamery in Middletown, MD, has a baby cow bottle feeding experience in the spring, too.
Loudoun County hosts spring and fall Farm Tour weekends (fall just happened this past weekend). The website shows which farms have animals and what activities will be offered, so you can plan to hit up several in a day.
Anonymous
10/20/2025 10:21
Subject: Experiences with animal obsessed child
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Zoo Camp at National Zoo was my animal obsessed child’s favorite.
I was gojng to suggest this but are they still running it since the death of FoNZ?
The Smithsonian natural history museum has really interesting animal displays if they aren’t bothered by taxidermy. You’ll never get so close to a giant sloth anywhere else!
The zoo in Baltimore use to let you feed the giraffes. The Tucson zoo also does this.
Speaking of Tucson, the Sonoran desert museum is a great place to learn about desert animals.
If you are up in PA, zoo America at Hershey is actually a cute little zoo focused just on American animals so includes some you don’t see at other zoos.
Some people do farm stays in Lancaster — we never did that.
Does the NPS site at oxon hill still have cow milking?
Another freebie — the old Maryland farm at Watkins Park in PG and the nature center at the same location. The nature center has tons of rescued raptors and tjrtles and does good presentations on raptors and reptiles. The zoo part has pony rides and some other farm type animals. Add in the historic carousel, mini train, and the wizard of oz themed playground and this is a great day out.
Frying Pan Park in Virginia at least sometimes has cow milking.
Anonymous
10/20/2025 10:18
Subject: Experiences with animal obsessed child
The National Aviary in Pittsburgh has multiple animal encounters available. Some you have to be older, but there are a number 7 year olds can do.
At 13 they can meet/ handle a raptor at the World Bird Sanctuary near St Louis.
Animal care volunteer at Hidden Pond Nature Center in Springfield at 13 also.
At 13 they can meet/ handle a raptor at the World Bird Sanctuary near St Louis.
Animal care volunteer at Hidden Pond Nature Center in Springfield at 13 also.
Anonymous
10/20/2025 08:32
Subject: Experiences with animal obsessed child
+1 to a farm stay in Lancaster. There are lots to choose from and it's an easy trip.
Anonymous
10/20/2025 07:57
Subject: Experiences with animal obsessed child
Anonymous wrote:Get them interested in birding. Download the Merlin app from Cornell. It's very cool! You can identify birds by their sounds or from a photo. There may be birding classes from the Audubon Society or other groups.
We did a science fair experiment when my kids were that age where we suction cupped a clear feeder to our kitchen window, divided it into sections with different kinds of seeds, and tallied up what kind of birds ate what seeds. My kids loved it, it was the highlight of breakfast for a month, and it got them interested in different kinds of birds.
Anonymous
10/20/2025 07:53
Subject: Experiences with animal obsessed child
Whale watch in August out of Provincetown MA.
First warm night in spring after a rain go on a walk in the woods. All the salamanders come out. Spring is also a great time to go out exploring with a net any wet woods near here - there will be tons of frogs and tadpoles in any ephemeral ponds.
Curious Nature Adventures in Alaska will take you out to see bears in Katmai. Truly amazing and more off the beaten path than Brooks Lodge.
My Arsenal Observatory Lodge in Costa Rica plus a safari float down the nearby river. My 5 and 7 year olds LOVED it.
Tide pooling on any rocky coast (west coast is great but NE too)
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge on the Eastern Shore during spring migration. Bring binoculars.
Crabbing and clamming on the Chesapeake Bar. All you need is a string, a chicken neck, and a net. My nature loving kid will crab for hours and digging for clams in the sand with your toes is fun too. Assateague Island is a great spot for it with the wild horses.
First warm night in spring after a rain go on a walk in the woods. All the salamanders come out. Spring is also a great time to go out exploring with a net any wet woods near here - there will be tons of frogs and tadpoles in any ephemeral ponds.
Curious Nature Adventures in Alaska will take you out to see bears in Katmai. Truly amazing and more off the beaten path than Brooks Lodge.
My Arsenal Observatory Lodge in Costa Rica plus a safari float down the nearby river. My 5 and 7 year olds LOVED it.
Tide pooling on any rocky coast (west coast is great but NE too)
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge on the Eastern Shore during spring migration. Bring binoculars.
Crabbing and clamming on the Chesapeake Bar. All you need is a string, a chicken neck, and a net. My nature loving kid will crab for hours and digging for clams in the sand with your toes is fun too. Assateague Island is a great spot for it with the wild horses.
Anonymous
10/20/2025 06:39
Subject: Experiences with animal obsessed child
I just tried to find the Zoo camps and it does look like they do not offer them anymore. What a bummer. That was the highlight of my son’s summer every year.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Zoo Camp at National Zoo was my animal obsessed child’s favorite.
I was gojng to suggest this but are they still running it since the death of FoNZ?
The Smithsonian natural history museum has really interesting animal displays if they aren’t bothered by taxidermy. You’ll never get so close to a giant sloth anywhere else!
The zoo in Baltimore use to let you feed the giraffes. The Tucson zoo also does this.
Speaking of Tucson, the Sonoran desert museum is a great place to learn about desert animals.
If you are up in PA, zoo America at Hershey is actually a cute little zoo focused just on American animals so includes some you don’t see at other zoos.
Some people do farm stays in Lancaster — we never did that.
Does the NPS site at oxon hill still have cow milking?
Another freebie — the old Maryland farm at Watkins Park in PG and the nature center at the same location. The nature center has tons of rescued raptors and tjrtles and does good presentations on raptors and reptiles. The zoo part has pony rides and some other farm type animals. Add in the historic carousel, mini train, and the wizard of oz themed playground and this is a great day out.
Anonymous
10/19/2025 23:04
Subject: Experiences with animal obsessed child
Anonymous wrote:Zoo Camp at National Zoo was my animal obsessed child’s favorite.
I was gojng to suggest this but are they still running it since the death of FoNZ?
The Smithsonian natural history museum has really interesting animal displays if they aren’t bothered by taxidermy. You’ll never get so close to a giant sloth anywhere else!
The zoo in Baltimore use to let you feed the giraffes. The Tucson zoo also does this.
Speaking of Tucson, the Sonoran desert museum is a great place to learn about desert animals.
If you are up in PA, zoo America at Hershey is actually a cute little zoo focused just on American animals so includes some you don’t see at other zoos.
Some people do farm stays in Lancaster — we never did that.
Does the NPS site at oxon hill still have cow milking?
Another freebie — the old Maryland farm at Watkins Park in PG and the nature center at the same location. The nature center has tons of rescued raptors and tjrtles and does good presentations on raptors and reptiles. The zoo part has pony rides and some other farm type animals. Add in the historic carousel, mini train, and the wizard of oz themed playground and this is a great day out.
Anonymous
10/19/2025 20:48
Subject: Experiences with animal obsessed child
Zoo Camp at National Zoo was my animal obsessed child’s favorite.
Anonymous
10/19/2025 20:30
Subject: Experiences with animal obsessed child
I am your child 30 years in the future 
. Favorite experiences where I interacted with creatures:
llamas at dawn at Machu Picchu
Night swimming with massive manta rays on the big island in Hawaii
Manatees in crystal river Florida
Hawking on the west coast of Ireland
Sting ray city in grand cayman
Pigs on the islands in the Bahamas
And where I just saw them:
Sloths and monkeys and iguanas everywhere in Costa Rica
Tracking down a moose in Rocky Mountain National park
Puffins off the coast of Maine
Turtles on the beach in Hawaii
Locally:
The Baltimore zoo has “encounters”—I did the penguin one for my 30th birthday and it was awesome! A dozen little penguins running around my feet to feed and pet
There is an alpaca farm out 66 that does tours and lets you pet the critters and learn about them
The drive through safari park down near Lexington is hilarious. The llamas will stick their heads in your car
There is a “cat cafe” across from George Mason where you can play with adoptable cats and kittens
On my to do list is the capybara cafe in Florida.
. Favorite experiences where I interacted with creatures:
llamas at dawn at Machu Picchu
Night swimming with massive manta rays on the big island in Hawaii
Manatees in crystal river Florida
Hawking on the west coast of Ireland
Sting ray city in grand cayman
Pigs on the islands in the Bahamas
And where I just saw them:
Sloths and monkeys and iguanas everywhere in Costa Rica
Tracking down a moose in Rocky Mountain National park
Puffins off the coast of Maine
Turtles on the beach in Hawaii
Locally:
The Baltimore zoo has “encounters”—I did the penguin one for my 30th birthday and it was awesome! A dozen little penguins running around my feet to feed and pet
There is an alpaca farm out 66 that does tours and lets you pet the critters and learn about them
The drive through safari park down near Lexington is hilarious. The llamas will stick their heads in your car
There is a “cat cafe” across from George Mason where you can play with adoptable cats and kittens
On my to do list is the capybara cafe in Florida.