Petting Zoos Open
Houston Interactive Aquarium & Animal Preserve
4.3(3,134)4.3 out of 5 stars, 3134 reviews Houston, TX
About Houston Interactive Aquarium & Animal Preserve
The Houston Interactive Aquarium & Animal Preserve offers a unique hands-on experience with a variety of animals, making it an engaging and educational outing for families. The interactive nature of the exhibits encourages children to touch and feed many animals, providing memorable experiences.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families looking for an educational and interactive outing.Children who enjoy hands-on experiences with animals.Visitors from out of town seeking a unique local attraction.Children aged 8 and older can participate in most animal encounters, while those under 8 may have limited options.Certain encounters, like with specific lemur species, are restricted to children aged 14 and above.
Why families love it
- Children can touch and interact with about 90% of the animals, enhancing engagement.
- Friendly and knowledgeable staff provide educational insights during animal encounters.
- The aquarium features fun activities like feeding sting rays and holding birds.
- Interactive animal feeding experiences that are both fun and educational.
- Season pass option that pays for itself in just two visits, making it a cost-effective choice for frequent visitors.
- Diverse animal encounters that appeal to various interests.
Insider tips
- Arrive early to secure parking, especially if the main lot is closed for maintenance.
- Consider purchasing a season pass if you plan to visit more than twice in a year.
- Check the schedule for specific animal encounter times to avoid long waits.
Good to know before you go
- Visiting during peak hours or weekends when the crowd level is high.
- Times when the parking lot is under maintenance, potentially limiting available spaces.
- Some animal encounters require additional payment and have age restrictions, which may limit younger children.
- Parking can be challenging, especially during busy times or when sections are closed for maintenance.
- Crowds
- The aquarium can get busy during weekends and holidays, so visiting on weekdays may provide a better experience.
- Value
- One-day tickets are reasonably priced, and the season pass offers significant savings after two visits. Additional costs may arise from animal encounters that require credits.
- Safety
- Staff supervision during animal interactions ensures safety for children and animals alike.
What parents say
"Came to visit from Oklahoma and we took my little nephews. They loved it and the adults enjoyed it as well. The staff there are wonderful and the animals seemed to be pretty well-kept. I used to study zoology, an exotic animal keeper myself, and told my brother how I’d love to work there if I lived in Houston. I would highly recommend this place for anyone who loves animals and wants to spend time with family, especially children. My family will definitely visit again in the future."
in the last week
"This place is so cool. If you are in the area buying the season pass could be worth it as it pays for itself in 2 visits. The one day ticket is not a bad price either with all the animals you get to interact without having to pay extra. They have lots of animals encounters you can add on or add feeding which are also well worth the price. I had so much fun and will for sure be back. The animal staff is super friendly and knowledgeable."
4 weeks ago
"This place is awesome! We had a lot of fun here. We stayed there for almost 4 hours. We did a lot. It’s definitely worth it! Trust me! You definitely want to visit this place at least once in your life. We mostly were having a lot of fun feeding the sting rays. We loved how the staff showed us a lot of the birds. They did tricks for us and we were able to hold them. It was an amazing experience."
a week ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
More petting zoos in Houston
Petting Zoos Bayou Wildlife Zoo
4.3(1,598)4.3 out of 5 stars, 1598 reviews5050 FM517, Alvin
Petting Zoos 7 Acre Wood
4.2(1,140)4.2 out of 5 stars, 1140 reviews4401 N Frazier St, Conroe
Petting Zoos TGR Exotics Wildlife Park
4.3(337)4.3 out of 5 stars, 337 reviews22115 Sherrod Ln, Spring
Petting Zoos The Learning Zoo
4.8(161)4.8 out of 5 stars, 161 reviews15428 Delores Ln, Conroe