Recently, we got to visit the Reptile & Amphibian Discovery Zoo (RAD zoo) in Medford, Minnesota. What a hidden gem this is! Tucked into the Medford Outlet malls, you would never believe the number of animals and experiences that are waiting for you here. It’s a perfect size zoo to see everything, learn a lot, and not overwhelm the youngest kids. Before arriving at the RAD zoo, we had prepped the kids on what to expect. Our dinosaur lover kid was not expecting to see two dinosaurs pulling up to the outlet mall. Such a great surprise!
Walking into the RAD zoo, there is a small gift shop before a front desk where you pay admission and buy things from the shop. We were greeted by Melissa, the owner of the zoo, and she told us the best route to see everything. Right away, there was a large enclosure with a macaw, several tortoises, and an iguana. This drew the kids in right away and they were eager to see more animals. Wandering through the main front room, we were stopped by another zookeeper who told us he was about to feed some of the animals if we wanted to watch. Of course, we wanted to watch! Before feeding several different monitors, the zookeeper taught a little about each animal. He allowed us to ask questions and answered each one with ease. Our kids were fascinated with these feedings as they watched the monitors snatch up mice and eat them efficiently. I don’t know about you, but I haven’t seen very many monitors in my lifetime. Seeing these unique animals right away made me want to see and learn more. Luckily, the RAD zoo is home to over 150 different kinds of animals from all over the world.
After the monitor feeding, we continued to look around the main front room. My son was excited to read that you were allowed to touch three small tortoises and made sure his sisters took their turns petting them. Each aquarium held a new animal and the kids loved to try to find the animals hidden within their habitats. Nestled behind a large aquarium, we were shocked to find a patio-like door that led to a room filled with several birds. We quickly realized why Melissa had given us directions on how to see everything. There truly are so many animals tucked into this zoo that it would be easy to miss some if you didn’t have a route.
Before finishing the main room, Melissa told everyone in the zoo that she was about to feed the tortoises and iguana. Many benches lined up in front of this area allowed everyone to easily watch this feeding. First, she offered the Macaw the first pick of the salad she had arranged. Then, she set down the salad and began to gather the tortoises and iguana around the tray. This was adorable! I mean, have you ever seen tortoises eat salad? When I first saw the tray, I thought it seemed like a lot for them to eat, but they almost finished the whole thing by the time we finished our visit.
After watching the tortoises eat for a little bit, we continued on to see more animals. Going into the next room, we were met by an assortment of snakes and amphibians. One part of this room that my kids loved were QR codes on some of the exhibits. The QR codes led to videos of the animal doing something. Activities ranged from simple things like climbing something to wild things that made my kids giggle, such as playing a game of tic-tac-toe. Such a fun way to keep kids fully engaged in the animals no matter what they were doing at the current time of the visit! One of the kid’s favorite animals in this area was an animal that literally was floating in the water and looked dead. There was a sign on the glass that explained he was not dead, but just enjoyed looking like he was. Definitely an animal that made each kid giggle!
Again, as we walked, we were invited to see another feeding. This time, the snapping turtles were fed. Yet another feeding that included some education and engaged everyone who was watching.
When the kids were done watching this feeding, we continued on with looking at each exhibit and animal. It was fun to see Justin Bieber’s old snake is a resident of the RAD zoo, although my kids claimed to not know who Justin Bieber is.
To my son’s (our big dinosaur lover) huge surprise, there is an area of dinosaurs in the back end of the zoo. He loved getting close and taking pictures with them. The history in this area was also, of interest to him.
After the dinosaurs, there were poisonous snakes and members of the crocodile family. Later in our visit, Melissa shared that eight of the nine alligators they had at the zoo were formerly pets of people who eventually realized they were not great pets. Can you imagine?
Much to our delight, the route just continued with more and more exhibits and animals. The amount of animals available for everyone to see at the RAD zoo is amazing! Suddenly, it was time for an alligator feeding. Everyone gathered around this exhibit and watched the zookeeper walk in calmly. He fed each alligator with ease and then, proceeded to turn on the heating lamps. Shockingly, when one of the heating lamps didn’t work, he peacefully attempted to fix it…with all three alligators in the exhibit with him. My family was amazed by his ability to bravely care for even the scariest (to us!) animals at the zoo and make their environments feel like home. This was a true testament to the abilities of the zookeepers at RAD Zoo.
As we finished the route of animals, everyone was gathered again for a quick showing of a small alligator for a large group of people that were touring the zoo together. We were able to sit and listen to Melissa teach us about the alligator and the zoo. From everything that we learned on this day, it was evident that the zookeepers were very knowledgeable about their animals and love celebrating their passion through the zoo. At the end of the showing, she allowed everyone to touch the little alligator. My kids loved this part! What a unique experience to be able to pet an alligator!
Before we left, we decided to let my son hold the baby alligator. For eight dollars, anyone can hold an alligator or boa constrictor and take a picture. If desired, you can hold both for only twelve dollars! There is no way I would be courageous enough to do either of these, but my son was completely game for it. After holding the baby alligator, my son was hooked on this adrenaline-inducing activity. So, he held the boa constrictor too! Melissa was so comforting and helpful to him as she set him up to successfully hold both animals. Such an adventure for all of us to witness!
In the words of my son: “I would rate RAD Zoo as 10/10 because it is one of the best things I’ve been able to do. The alligators were my favorite. My mom was so scared from the largest python. It was great! Holding the alligator and the boa constrictor was so fun. She (the zookeeper) is always helping you hold the animals, so you don’t hurt them or drop them. EVERYONE SHOULD VISIT THIS PLACE!”
Overall, the Reptile & Amphibian Discovery Center truly is a hidden gem. Less than an hour out of the cities, Mankato, and Rochester, it’s centrally located for an easy day trip for most areas of Minnesota. We spent over two hours wandering around the zoo. Everyone left with smiles, new knowledge, and our hearts full from a memorable experience. Many of the animals at the RAD Zoo were rescued from homes that thought they could take care of the animals as pets. What a blessing to have a location like this in Minnesota that can help these animals that aren’t actually pets by providing this wonderful zoo. Just like any zoo, every visit would be different and offer new opportunities. This is definitely a spot you want to visit with your family.
Here are some more details for the Reptile & Amphibian Discovery Zoo.
Address: 6750 W Frontage Road, Medford, MN in the Outlet Mall
Hours: Mondays – Fridays 10am – 5pm
Saturdays 10am – 5pm
Sundays 11am – 5pm
Admission Prices:
Kids (0-2): Free
Kids (3-12): $9.75
Teens & Adults: (13-64): $11.75
Seniors (65+): $9.75
Military (with ID): $5.75
Teachers & Librarians (with ID): Free
A few notes to make your adventure at RAD zoo successful: There is no bathroom in the zoo. You just need to go outside and walk down the mall past the Old Navy outlet for the nearest restroom. Everything is accessible, so go ahead and bring your stroller if needed. They have hand sanitizer to use after you touch any animals. Food is allowed if you feel a snack may be necessary at some point for your kid(s).
Hope you have a rad time! Let me know if you visit the RAD zoo.
Until my next adventure,
Allie
Adventures with Sota Mama 
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