Thank you April, Liz, Travis for an amazing experience. We all had a very relaxing, enjoyable time. It was great, being able to enjoy every animal for as long as we wanted to spend time with. Every animal seemed to have their own fun personality. A must visit, the rules are simple and you will love this place. It is well cared for! You can bring snack, and water and there is seating throughout the property for you to relax and enjoy at your pace❤️❤️❤️🙏, well done!

This was a great little outing my girlfriend and I had. It's just opposite the next you take to get to Julian which was a nice surprise. It's HUGE! I believe it's 20 acres and most of that space goes to the animals. They have a lot of room to roam and they are very well. The staff are delightful and always willing to answer questions or offer help with anything. They offer military discounts which was a very nice gesture on their part. For $5 a bucket you get to feed the animals and that's a MUST! I couldn't imagine visiting here and not feeding then. We spent two and half hours here and would gladly spend more. Stop on by and see all that they have to offer.

Long drive to find the most beautiful place lots of animals very active. Each animal has her own story there how they rescue the animals from all over and giving them a place to live. You make a reservation and you get a bucket to feed the animals food and snacks available with extra purchase lots of bathroom it’s very kid friendly kids can roam there for free without getting hurt . Displays in a desperate need of donation so every time you go and visit they make a little bit.

The Retreat is such a magical place. I’m so happy that we discovered it. We visit often and bring new friends and try to attend their special events. There’s something so peaceful about feeding and engaging with the animals. You can explore at your own pace, feed the animals through or above the fences, and even bring a picnic lunch. We also enjoy getting an ice cream treat from the snack bar too. I love that all snacks and toys benefit the foundation. It’s a must visit!

What a fun little place! I’d much rather take my kids here to experience animal life than the zoo. The animals all seem really happy to be here and excited when the saw my kids with their buckets of hay. They also have these adorable little kittens that followed us around the whole property and we’re sweet as can be! We had so much fun and everyone was super friendly and helpful. As for the price- It’s completely reasonable due to the expense of running this place.

It was refreshing.

Wonderful place. The owner really cares and it shows with the animals. You can have a guide bring you in to the pens and pet and play with the animals. The also have quite a verity of animals from birds that talk to huge turtles.

Wonderful, outdoor destination for all ages! Spending a few hours breathing fresh mountain air can be downright therapeutic. Paired with an unforgettable opportunity to learn about unique and beautiful animals that you can feed by hand is priceless. How many people can say they've touched a zebra? I have. You have no idea how large an ostrich really is until you've looked one in the eye. (Caution: You might strain your neck!) You think tortoises are slow and steady? Guess again! Or better yet, come out to the farm and see for yourself. Wear closed toe shoes and expect to get a little dirty. It's worth the drive. You won't regret it!

Feeding all the animals was so cool!

This place is amazing!! The animals are all well taken care of by friendly and intelligent caretakers and their enclosures are spacious and designed for their needs. All of the animals from the horses to pigs to tortoises to goats to camels to ostriches are all now acclimated to friendly human interaction and it was such a blast feeding them. Agnes has made an amazing retreat and if you are in the area this is highly worth the visit!! Double bonus: we went for a personal encounter and chose the tortoises, which just happened to be our guide Sue's favorite. It was amazing get up close with Thor and Big Daddy and help make them Sue's Secret Recipe Salad and go in and feed them!! Go support this amazing place in Alpine!! They have easy and effective social distancing measures in effect and even with other folks there it never felt even remotely busy or crowded and was so relaxing. You are missing out if you don't come check this place out!! 10/10 we will be going back!!

Definitely worth come with your little one, enjoy a day with the farm animals

Such an incredible place. Please visit and support Agnes! Ended up purchasing a membership on the way out. We have been back at least 5x already. Grab a bucket of hay for $5 and head towards the horses, camel and sheep to feed them. Restrooms are very clean, and they have a handful of picnic tables so bring your lunch. They have snacks for purchase in case you forget to pack extra.

My boys said, "This is more than amazing? What words are better than amazing?" It's a neat rescue that allows you to take the time and enjoy the animals without the crowd. The $5 feeding bucket is totally worth it!

Love the nature retreat, they really encourage interaction with the animals in a safe manner. Bring a picnic and make a day of it.

Fantastic experience. The staff were extremely friendly and welcoming, you can tell the animals are loved and well taken care of. I will definitely be coming back here to support the good cause of this foundation.

I took my son here on a whim and he had a lot of fun, the staff was nice and the grounds where as clean as good be with the animals there, my son and I also like that we could feed/pet the animals and the feed is covered in the cost of admission.. so if your looking for something to do on a Saturday or Sunday this is a fun little place.

Great place to go take your little animal lover! Everyone is super nice and it's nice and peaceful out there.

Such a cute animal sanctuary! Super happy we were able to support this non profit and hopefully help them a little to stay afloat. ❤️ Loved the added ability to feed all the animals

Went there with my girlfriend for our for years together and we absolutely loved it, it is something very different you can find not so far from San Diego. The staff was very amazing and helpful and also very Informative of the animals, you can tell they really love what they do and how much they care for all the animals. I will definitely spread the word of this place to friends and family and will be sure to be back soon.

What a wonderful place for all the animals. Our family enjoyed roaming the paths through the large enclosures. The black horse is amazing!! We love pigs, and there were several nice pig areas with big water holes. The peacocks are beautiful. There are places to rest and an area to picnic. Highly recommended!

I have been wanting to visit for years. There is nothing more satisfying and wholesome than supporting animals and those who dedicate their lives to rescue. The whole experience fostered feelings of empathy, tolerance, and respect. This is a perfect place to instill these attributes in young people. The weather was perfect. No dust. Our first experience was with the sweetest peacocks 🦚 He got up and ran over to us. You can't feed any bird species, including the ostriches, hens, mallards, crows, blackbirds, turkeys, roosters, and peacocks. You also may not feed the mini ponies. They are watching their figures. 😘 Before entering the sanctuary, you are shown an informative video about how to safely feed the animals. They also touch on the heights of the fences if they are over 6 feet? Don't place your hands over to feed such for the ostriches, bison, or camels. Never place fingers, wrists, forearms, or arms between the holes in the fences. They also show you how to pet the zebras through the fence. Don't take selfies with the camels. Don't race the zebras. They have food and drinks for sale. They also have a cute gift shop area. They also have ice cream! You can rent red radio flyer style wagons for those with toddlers. The property is tatefully decorated for spooky season 👻 There is a beautiful garden with fresh greens. They cut us some long, fresh stems of PERFECT Kale for four dollars. We also purchased the "spicy greens" for 3 dollars. We bought their raw honey. We made a salad for dinner last night and OMG! They had a large pumpkin patch. You can purchase a pumpkin. Instead of purchasing them from big box stores. It brings awareness to youngsters about sustainability and environmental awareness. Who knows, it may spark a passion in some for gardening. We were followed by these barn kitties. We went into the Olive maze. The kitty followed us, and we sat down and hung out with the kitty. The pigs and ducks were so cool. We also met their gorgeous corn snake. This was so important. It shows kids that snakes and other reptiles deserve their love and respect, just like their furry friends. We met some sassy alpacas and llamas. I wish we got pics. We were so caught in the moment that we forgot to document. The same goes for the hilarious goats, regal horses, massive steers, and sweet cows. I had never touched a sheep before. 🐑 There was this playful kid (goat) that just had to get all our attention. The feed goes so fast. But so worth it!

Awsome place! We need to advertise better no one would know it was there

Wonderful experience here. Took my 2 year old and she loved the real farm experience. Highly recommended

Definitely a must see for the kiddos. It was a lot of fun seeing the different animals and being able to pet them.

A beautiful place with a variety of wild and domesticated animal - cows, zebras, horses, goats, sheep, dromedaries, bison, a variety of African cattle as well as peacocks, geese, ducks and other fowl. More importantly, one of its main missions is to provide a space for children to experience nature, so schools are especially welcome

This is one of my favorite places to go in San Diego! I highly recommend this wonderful experience for adults and kids alike. There are plenty of unique animals you can get up close to and feed. If you’re wondering if it is worth the drive, it definitely is!

What a peaceful and beautiful place for children to experience sweet animals!!!

This is a great place to take your children for a family outing

Great place to take the kids. They give you a bucket of fresh grown barley to feed the animals. My kids just loved interacting with the animals and getting up close, especially the tortoises and pigs. Can walk thru the park in a little over an hour, and they have picnic tables by the zebras to eat lunch at. Definitely recommend going here.

Loved it!!! Planning on coming back. My son is only 1 but he had a blast looking at the animals and egg hunting on Easter day. Even have a chance to feed the animals. Good covid 19 protocols and there's an area to wash your hands.

Amazing place! The animals are happy and they are really well cared for! We enjoyed our time there!

We had such a wonderful time at the San Diego Animal Sanctuary and Farm! This was our second visit, and we wish we lived closer so we could go more often. My 11-year-old daughter did the "Be a Keeper for a Day" experience, and it was just perfect. Everyone was so kind and friendly, and it is such a beautiful place to spend a day. The animals are so well-cared for and loved. It truly is a "sanctuary" for animals and for people!

This place is amazing and way easier / more fun than schlepping the kids to the Zoo or Wild Animal Park. They have so much fun getting up close to all the animals and being able to feed them. Highly recommend!

The Serenity Sanctuary is an absolute gem. I can't express how thrilled I am to have stumbled upon it. We frequent the sanctuary and take delight in introducing our friends to this hidden paradise. The serenity that engulfs you while feeding and interacting with the gentle creatures is simply unparalleled. You have the freedom to meander at your own leisure, feed the animals either by reaching through or observing from above the fences, and even relish a picnic lunch amidst the tranquility. Indulging in a delectable ice cream treat from the snack bar is an added pleasure, knowing that the proceeds contribute to the noble cause. Trust me when I say, it's an experience you absolutely must not miss!

We came for the behind the scenes tour. WOW!! Such a great up close and personal tour with the founder, Agnes! She was very knowledgeable about every animal, and took great care of the sanctuary! We were able to feed, pet, hold, and love on all the animals, and were given plenty of time to take it all in. Can’t say enough good things about this place! We will be back 🖤

Nice place to bring animal lovers. It's not too big or small. People here are friendly. Make sure you buy a bucket of animal food. It was so much fun interacting with them. The restrooms are clean and plenty of picnic benches for a break.

Couldn’t have had a better time, everyone was so friendly & sweet -especially Amanda! Our son had the best time adventuring and seeing all the different animals. Great pricing, we got two feed buckets and went to town giving all the animals a snack! We will bring anyone who visits us in San Diego here, highly recommend. Can’t wait to go again.

Utterly incredible place. The summer camp opportunities are an incredible way for kids to learn and interact with all kinds of animals. You can not only see but *feed* (and sometimes water) animals that you'll likely never see anywhere else. The staff are amazing, too.

This place is absolutely amazing! It’s a short drive from San Diego city center, only a little bit over half and hour. The animals are amazing and well loved and cared for, and the staff is super friendly and very sweet. I highly recommend going inside one of the enclosures. The animals will be so grateful for it! Give them all the snacks and pets! I had a truly amazing day here, and I cannot wait to come back.

Animals are loved and well cared for. A lot of thought is put into this sanctuary. Produce is organic and delicious Bring your walking shoes. It's a nice little walk around the property. Got to pet a couple of animals that I've never even seen up close before! That was very cool. Good for kids to see the animals in person

Great for the kid mine had lots of fun...

We went today with our children for Valentines Day and it was absolutely wonderful. The owner was sweet as can be and so welcoming. The animals would stop eating their food to come up to the fence to eat our food.

This place is great! Kids will love it. All the animals were friendly and you can feed all of them.

Such an awesome place to bring kids for a day out with the family. You can take your time looking at the animals and interacting with them. We will definitely return.

Awsome place to take the kids. Very tranquil atmosphere. I have taken my 2 year old grandson twice and we will definitely go again. Also its never very busy which is great and you could walk around the entire place in 30-45 minutes which is just enough time before the kids start getting tired.

Great experience for the little ones. Clean, animals are well cared for. You are able to get up close and personal with them and feed them.

Wow 3 years looking for places to take my kids to feed animals and I've never heard of this hidden gem. SO WORTH IT. Animals are very friendly, easy to feed, amazing for kids any age, so much space makes it an amazing place during this pandemic life. My kids had a blast, I had a blast being able to feed some zebras and buffalos are you kidding? Amazing place overall. Just be safe with the heat 🔥😥 gets hot and there's little shade when walking around to get to the different animals.

Very fun. Great staff. Everyone had a great time.

My family loved it. Not only was it super fun for my daughter, but the money goes to good cause of helping the animals

This was a great experience for anybody not just for small children. My husband and I also loved feeding the animals. My daughter got to pet some of smaller animals and got to be very close to a lot of the smaller goats and potbelly pigs. The staff was super friendly very easy-going and it was not very busy which made it very nice. Lots of big shade trees and a cool breeze made this hot day very manageable and easy.All the animals are rescues, and the mission statement is that they found their forever home. This is a great cause, and a great way to spend your day. Bring a picnic lunch and be prepared to have a really nice time.

Very fun and friendly place to enjoy a family day

Make sure to get at least 2 buckets of feed. This was such a nice experience, we went at at noon which is good because any later and the animals might be full and less likely to interact with guest.

Perfect place to visit with your family. Great deal for all u can do.

Very fun place to visit the staff here is very knowledgeable. The grounds were very open spaces and beautiful and overall fun time.

Beautiful, well kept, and the animals are super happy all surounded by a gorgeous environment.

Great way to spend the day!

Friendly staff that cares deeply about animals. Enjoyable place to feed and visit animals.

(Translated by Google) We had a good family and different day! (Original) Pasamos un buen día familiar y diferente!

A fantastic place for people and animals. A magical place where anyone can learn to love and love to learn. Reconnect with nature or connect for the first time. Find peace and take it with you.

A great social distancing activity for kids.

A great place to visit very peaceful and I love the animals specially be able to feed them ❤

LOVED!!! We just had the best time feeding all the animals. Remember to save some food for the sweet bison at the end of the map. He is absolutely adorable. The Fresians (I call them the Kardashians because they are a little bossy and they have a cute attitude! ahahha). We met the owner and she was so nice. Everyone there is so amazing. Thank you all we had a wonderful time.

I took my best friend here for her birthday. We had a great time here! We went last Friday on the hottest day of the week! They had several benches under trees! Plus they had areas that were shady under trees and some tables have umbrellas. They have a small snack shop with water and gifts too! After you park, there is a ticket hut, and the woman that greeted us was very friendly and wearing a mask. NOW, the best is yet to see! All 130 animals are great and in different paths and farms! It was an awesome day!! Not a lot of people plus you are outside and they reccomend you go in a one way direction for social distancing. They also have hand washing stations for you to use. Now, back to the animals!! They are so beautiful, big, so many of them! No problem spending the day here with nature! The staff is very nice, friendly and informative!! I even got to love on the owner's(I think) dog!! My best friend had a wonderful birthday here!! We would definitely come back here again!!!!🐴🦓🐖🦃🦚🐢

This is a great place to visit in Alpine. They have many different types of animals. Children really seem to enjoy this place.

This place is awesome and soo beautiful with lots of fun loving and kind animals who are eager for your presence and to eat : ) we took my niece and 14 year old autistic son and they both loved it! you can tell the staff take very well of the animals and have a great passion for animals and their well being, definently will be going back for some more animal love :)

Such an amazing experience for all ages!

Great place to take your kids.

This place is amazing! Staffs are very friendly here. We were each given a full bucket of food to feed the animals. Almost all of the animals will approach you when they see food (except the ones that cannot be feed). 2 puppies named Belle and Athos kept us company along the way, they are so sweet. We will definitely visit again!

Lovely place!

My family and I had such an amazing time. Staff is incredibly friendly and being able to feed the animals is an experience my girls will never forget!! We will definitely be back and letting our friends know about this little hidden zoo

This place is amazing! Great hospitality! I learned so much! Feeding the animals was so the coolest thing! This place should have 10 stars! Thank you all for a wonderful day!

What a fun and relaxing place! They limit daily attendance so it's never crowded or noisy. The animals have unique personalities and it's so fun to watch them interact. They're all used to people and come running over for food so you actually see them up close. You can wander around at your own pace visiting mini horses, zebras, sulcata tortoises, camels, pigs, goats, and much more. I highly recommend doing one of the "up close and personal" options or the other special tours. Such a great value, and what a unique experience!