Animal lovers who are looking to get up close and personal with wildlife are in for an otterly awesome treat at the 150-acre Blue Hills Ranch & Resort near Austin, Texas. The ranch provides a variety of animal excursions, including swim time with two adorable Asian small-clawed otters named Otto and Sweet Pea. The swimming excursion takes place in the otters’ private bubbling Jacuzzi, and visitors are given the unique chance to swim, play, and feed the otters their favorite treats, including fish popsicles and shrimp. The experience is only available to those 12 and over, with a minimum of 2 participants and a maximum of 6 people per swim. The 60-minute swim time costs $200 per person. If swimming with otters isn’t quite your speed, the resort offers other unique animal experiences, including a special dinner with giraffes, which lasts an hour and includes a full menu of wine, salad, charcuterie board and dessert. The dinner date starts at $400 per person. The Blue Hills Ranch & Resort has a variety of accommodations for overnight guests, including animal and pirate themed cabins that range in price from $100 to $500 per night. The resort is also home to other animals, including zebras, kangaroos, mini donkeys, camels, pigs, and an African tortoise.
