You really have to love a place with a slogan like “Where Humans are Caged and Monkeys Run Wild,” and for decades, Monkey Jungle (14805 SW 216th St., 305/235-1611, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m., $29.95 adults, $23.95 children, children 2 and under free) has made it clear where its priorities lie when it comes to choosing between the needs of visitors and the needs of the hundreds of primates who freely roam this 30-acre reserve.
There are more than 30 species of primates at the family-owned Monkey Jungle, and although they’re not all always visible, visitors are certainly assured of seeing most of them, including Java monkeys, tamarins, spider monkeys, gibbons, and more.
Kids love being able to feed the monkeys (food boxes are available for purchase), and the shows are entertaining if not the most informative. Many of the areas inside Monkey Jungle are unshaded, so it’s best to go early in the morning.