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I had looked this up online a few times before coming, but I didn't understand how expansive it is! There are so many things to do here! This is definitely a place to take the kids and spend a full day doing activities.
I wasn't sure where to start when I arrived, so I made my way to the general store where they have lots of signs and information on activities and prices. I was a little disappointed that the staff inside the store were not wearing masks, but otherwise it was relatively empty so I wasn't that stressed out.
We only had a morning to explore with my toddler (about 2 hours), so we chose to do the petting zoo and the treasure hunt maze. The prices were reasonable and my toddler was free since he's not three yet.
ABOUT THE PETTING ZOO: You have the option to buy a small $2 bag of food or a larger $3 bag of food to feed the animals at the petting zoo. We bought the $3 bag and they gave us a ticket at the general store.
The petting zoo is a little bit of a walk from the general store. If you're going in the morning I'd recommend trying to find any paved path because the grass was really wet.
When we got to the petting zoo, we went inside and gave the staff our ticket. She gave us the $3 bag of food which has animal crackers on top for the deer and green on the bottom for goats and the other animals. She kindly explained please only give the crackers to the deer, and to feed the goats and other animals from inside a fenced area. Grain/feed isn't allowed in the large fenced park area where the goats and other animals wander freely.
They have a great fenced and gate system, and signs that are very clear on where to go and what to do. We went and fed the deer first, and we were able to go inside their living area but followed instructions on the signs that said to stay on the deer path. The deer will come to you, and some of them are not shy. They have some nice wooded space off the deer path to wander or walk if they are shy or not trying to take your animal crackers. My little one loves deer, and so it was a really nice experience for him to feed and pet them, and we were able to even feed a fawn.
Afterwards we went and fed the other animals, which included goats, pigs, sheep, and a small humpbacked cow. The bag of food they give is quite a lot so it was more than enough feeding time with the animals. The goats are also kind of greedy and always coming up to you at the fence.
When all the grain was gone, we went into the large fenced-in park area where the animals are and were able to walk around. There were Bridges where we followed some goats and an Iroquois longhouse that we could observe from the outside. They also have other cages with chickens and rabbits.
At the entrance and exit of the petting zoo there is also a very nice washing station. It has two sets of three sinks that are connected and at different height levels for kids of all ages. Lots of soap and lots of paper towels so I was really happy to be able to wash well after petting and feeding the animals.
ABOUT THE TREASURE HUNT MAZE: For the treasure hunt maze, we got three tokens at the general store and were told to find three treasure stations within the maze. The maze is wooden and well constructed, and was enough of a challenge and also rewarding. We ran into lots of dead ends but were able to find all three treasure stations. The treasure stations were token machines and the things we got were a plastic little ninja, plastic animal keychain and an arrowhead. I wouldn't let my toddler play with arrowhead, but it was a nice touch.
ABOUT THE RESTROOMS: The restrooms were very nice and clean, and easily spotted and visible from different areas of the park. And the women's restroom they're about 4-5? stalls and three sinks. It wasn't that crowded at the park so there were always some...
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We just returned from an incredible visit to Olentangy Caverns in Delaware, OH, and we couldn’t wait to share our experience! From the moment we arrived, we were pleasantly surprised by the variety of activities available for the whole family. Seriously, you could spend an entire day here and still want to come back for more!
First off, let me give you a heads-up: the caverns tour is stunning but not handicap accessible due to the steep steps involved. That said, the cool air and beautiful formations inside are absolutely worth it! We took our time with a self-guided sheet that pointed out all the key spots—it really helped us appreciate the unique beauty of the cave. The lighting created such an uplifting atmosphere; we found ourselves completely immersed in the experience.
After exploring the wonders of the caverns, we ventured into the maze! It was so much fun hunting for the vending machines scattered around. Each coin allowed us to unlock a prize from different vending machines—think arrowheads, ebony animals, and cute little vials of gems. There’s something magical about winning treasures like that!
Next, we wandered along a nature trail, enjoying the serenity of the woods while discovering intricately carved wooden animals. Nature and art combined? Yes, please! 🦌✨
But the highlight of the day? The petting zoo! They provide you with a cup of feed, and we had the best time feeding goats and deer. Hannah was absolutely in her element, giggling and interacting with the animals—this was definitely her favorite part!
We also squeezed in a round of mini-golf, where Hannah showcased her skills and totally kicked my butt! 😂 After that, she had a blast playing on the playground, complete with firetrucks, swings, and slides.
Before wrapping up our adventure, we indulged in some gem mining. Hannah uncovered some fantastic gems! 💎
On our way out, we stopped by the gift shop to pick out a few gems to take home as keepsakes. A note for parents: the restrooms are impeccably clean, and there’s a lovely picnic area with bottled drinks, chips, and candy available for those looking for a snack.
If you're searching for a day filled with fun, adventure, and memories, we highly recommend visiting Olentangy Caverns! Here’s to more family adventures! 🎉
1779 Home Rd,...
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Went on a Saturday around 12, started to get pretty busy around 12:45-1:30. Which makes the cave/cavers very tight to walk through.
While your down there your using a provided map to guide yourself around and match the corresponding areas ( Ex; A to A or 1-1 ) We went after it had just rained the night before, so everything was VERY wet. Wear waterproof/walking shoes if you plan on exploring. Be prepared to get dripped on by very cold water coming off nearby rocks, and the “ceiling”. Coming down the initial very steep stairs is a beautiful view of different levels of rocks decending into a tunnel/cave where the rest of the cavers are. Tons of puddles all over the ground from collected rain water and the “droplets”. Most the areas are about big enough for one person to walk through the tunnel areas at one time, and if your a larger person i DO NOT recommend going down there. Some areas are extremely tight and really only accessible to someone under 4’5 and around 100 pounds or less. (Im 5’4, 140 and some areas i almost got stuck cause it was too tight going through the rocks.
It is neat to see though, i dont think id want to do it again as it is just wet rocks and the furthest tunnel was closed from the previous year that occurred from some heavy rain water. (The water collected, over time causing a collapse). So that was kind of a bummer but i get it for safety reasons.
The gem mining was fun, definitely loaded with a lot of “gravel” type rocks so that was new for me, Ive only ever had ones with dirt/sand that yield rocks/gems/shark teeth. We found some really interesting gemstones in each tray.
The petting zoo was great. I thought it wad Going to be boring and smelly, and i was happily wrong. The goats were adorable, when we came in a baby jumped through the fence and was following our group. And when we came inside the “pen” to pet them he ran back in it was very cute!
The deer were a little skittish but very sweet and gentle. The treasure hunt/maze was VERY fun we enjoyed getting different prizes snd trading them...
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