If we experience life through the eyes of a child, everything would be magical and extraordinary. Let our curiosity, adventure and wonder of life never end - Akianne Kramarik
I'm a kid at heart and love animals. Lionel's petting zoo let's you get up close and personal with many different kinds of animals. I made my way around the pens twice feeding, petting and taking pictures of my favorites. The most docile animals were the deer, llamas, alpacas, donkeys and the pig.
TIPS:
- Go during the week and early so it's not crowded and the animals are hungry.
- Bring cut up carrots, celery, lettuce, apples and bread without seeds. They seem to like the fresh stuff as opposed to the dry feed that you can buy there.
- Cut the fruit and veggies long enough for the animals to grab it with their teeth without your fingers getting in the way.
- Go with a friend so you can take turns feeding the animals and taking pictures.
- There's an alpha animal in each pen that will try and hog up all the food and push the other animals away. If you and your friend feed the animals at different ends of the pens, it will cut down on some of the bullying.
- Have the animals put their heads between the slats of the fence or feed them so that they place their forelegs on the top of the fence to make it easier for you to pet them.
- Don't hand feed the birds, their beaks are sharp. Instead put the pieces of bread close enough to the fence so they can grab it. Please see video.
- The animals usually move away from you when you run out of food or when they're full. The best way to pet them is for your friend to feed them, then you can sneak in and pet them.
- Do not let kids stick their fingers through the holes in the fence, they'll get bitten because the animals will think they're food.
I'm only giving this place 3 stars because there's no staff walking around to answer questions; you're outside the pens not inside like other places; some of the animals can be aggressive in snatching food out of your hands, so you need to keep a close eye on young children so they don't get bit.