Vision Quest Ranch — Attraction in Salinas

We weren't sure about booking the Giraffe Manor (Unit 4) based on the dingy-looking photos online, but we are SO glad that we did! The bungalow was clean and bright and it was a joy to spend time in it. I think it had been renovated since the photos were taken. The bungalow had a view of some of the animals from the private deck.

This is very "glam" glamping - the only real "camp" part of it is that the walls are mostly canvas. It had multiple electrical outlet locations, like you'd expect in a fully-built cabin. Great lighting, great bedding, full private bathroom with shower and (limited amount of) hot water, plus space and wall heaters which kept the temp perfect overnight. It even had a very small TV with local channels, which we did not use.

Make sure you don't miss any of the animal viewing opportunities! Here's everything we saw:

3:15pm - "Animal walk." If you're in an inner bungalow (like the Giraffe Manor), they bring animals by your private deck for a quick viewing and educational session. Outer bungalows congregate on one of the public decks. For us they brought a pair of ball pythons and a brown-fur skunk. Complimentary.

4:30pm - "Crunch Time." We fed three tigers in a small-group setting. When we went, everyone including the kids took turns using a long metal tool to push raw meat into the habitats for the hungry tigers. Lots of educational value, and lots of photo ops. If there's one thing you really don't want to miss on your trip, it's this tour. Extra fee.

5:00pm - "Buddy's bedtime." We learned about how Monterey Zoo sent off their last elephant to be with other elephants in another zoo, and how the elephant pen was converted and rhinos were introduced to this zoo. We got a chance to pet a rhino through the pen bars - they have a surprising skin texture! Extra fee.

Next Day

8-9am - Continental breakfast box delivered to the bungalow. Ours had, for each of us: a bagel with cream cheese, a yogurt cup, a banana, a bakery item (plus an extra croissant). Orange juice, coffee maker, and powdered hot chocolate was in our room already at check-in. There may have been one apple there too, I can't remember. Complimentary.

9:30am - "Animal encounter." We fed carrots to the camels while learning some camel facts. Also a great photo op for us. Complimentary.

10am - Public zoo opens. Your B&B reservation includes zoo tickets. They have some very cool animals here, and we saw everything within a couple hours or so. I believe you can use the included zoo day-pass any one day of your stay, including check-in or check-out (where we used them).

10:30am - "Walk with Rhinos". The only private group event we didn't do. Leisurely educational walk around the perimeter of the rhino enclosure.

It was all a fantastic experience and I would definitely recommend it. It's a little pricey especially if you add on the tours, but it was absolutely worth the cost. It's like a donation to help fund this fantastic zoo, provide for all these animals, and keep this incredible resource available...

I was honored enough to stay on one of the worst weather days this region has seen for sometime. The wind, rain and cold did nothing to dampen this incredible experience! I have Multiple Sclerosis, so I will never experience African elephants in their natural habitat (heat). What vision quest has created is the most incredible and serene, positively REMARKABLE experience of my life. My husband set up a 1 night stay for me in the pachyderm palace (of course- where else!) And the stay from start to finish was textbook perfection. The staff is kind, helpful, knowledgeable and unbelievably efficient. Every moment of their day is planned and utilized and their expertise shows and shines through. Their facilities are beautiful and well kept. Their animals are obviously cared for well and I saw multiple animals with obvious signs of recent veterinary care (I've been in emergency and critical care veterinary medicine for over a decade so my mind is trained to see medical issues. These animals had none that werent addressed). Their staff manages to walked a tightrope fine line between kindness, friendliness and firmly ensuring safety of all patrons.

I spent a couple of hours just watching the elephants be elephants in their 5 acre yard. I took a wonderfully informative tour of their zoo facilities and was introduced to dozens of their animals. I helped give dinner to some incredible big cats while learning about them. Best of all, I got to spend a few minutes watching and enjoying the African elephants bedtime routine. It's worth noting so well, that butch didnt want to participate. He wasnt wven cajoled into doing so. His wishes were respected and no pressure put on him to participate just to please us onlookers. and... beyond anything I could ever hope or imagine, I spent a few minutes bathing Butch, their 42 year old resident. I might have died and gone to heaven in those moments. (And handlers and trainers, if you ever read this, I have never envied anyone in my life more than i envy you!). The observation decks over the yard were magical. It was a completely peaceful and life changing view. I got to watch them enjoying themselves and unencumbered by small spaces or the pressure to perform. My bungalow was spotless and beyond adorably decorated!!! I wouldn't have changed one single moment of my trip, . except adding a lot more time sitting watching and enjoying these magnificent animals if I could. Thank you, Madison, for a superb learning experience! You were a top notch host and they are so lucky to have you. Thank you to all staff, handlers and directors, for giving people like me a chance to spend a few minutes in heaven here in the US. I hope my first visit...

If you're like me and you love, appreciate, and respect animals, I suggest that you do some research on this place before a visit. I have studied and cared for wild and domestic animals for over thirty years, and my honest, professional, and unbiased opinion of the Monterey Zoo is that it is nothing more than a road-side menagerie. At best, it is primitive, thoughtless, and inhumane when it comes to providing the kind physical and emotional care these animals need and rightly deserve. First of all, for the animals housed in cages (including the lonesome parrot who resides in a corner of the lobby/office), their habitat is nothing more than a tiny prison cell, complete with cement floors, little privacy, void of stimulation (except for the onlookers staring at them), no vegetation, and very little shade for some of them - just a painfully sad and lonely existence for these poor creatures. Most of the animals I observed displayed neurosis: pacing and rocking back and forth, lethargy, and, of course, a deep sadness. When it came to the elephants, ostrich, zebra, and the two accompanying water buffalo it was apparent that they suffer the same emotional distress as the animals that are caged. The corral that these large animals occupy and share is, again, inadequate in size, lacks enough shade, and their water hole is virtually non existent - what a miserable life for these precious animals. Perhaps when California measure SB 1062 goes into effect January 1, 2018, which bans the use of bullhooks on elephants, this place will be forced to shut down. The bottom line is that the owner does not love these animals - he has merely found a way to...