If you're little ones have surpassed the excitement of pet stores, but they're not ready for a long trip to the zoo, Reptilia is your next step. After last Christmas, my husband and I took our three-year-old daughter to Reptilia, located in Vaughan, Ontario. A helpful mom from the Adventures in Baby Savings Facebook Group posted a Groupon deal for Reptilia, which was $7 per person (free admission for kids under 3 years old). Adult admission is regularly priced at $15, so this was a pretty sweet deal!
So here's what we observed during our visit to Reptilia, Vaughan's 25,000 square foot facility reptile zoo:
1. It's small but not claustrophobic, which is THE place for NOT worrying about your tot's safety as he or she runs around – or away.
2. Unlike large zoos, you can get a closer look at reptiles, including anacondas and tortoises. I've never seen alligators up close, which made my visit to Reptilia extra special!
3. We were lucky enough to be around for the alligator feedings, BUT here's the problem – since it's a small venue, it gets crowded very quickly. You may not see a thing during crowded feeding times.
4. In all honesty, it took about an hour to walk through the zoo, but you can stretch it to two if you stay for the feedings and "meet the reptiles" shows (hey, you can touch a snake here!).
So final thoughts? If you live near Vaughan, take the kids to Reptilia – you'll get a kick out of it, too! But if you live close to an hour away (I'm about 40 minutes away), then plan it as an excursion to Vaughan – stop by Vaughan Mills Shopping Centre to make it worthwhile.
