Adults at petting zoos/farms/kids days out

[ExtraHotDoubleShot]

Has anyone else noticed a massive uptick in grown adults (many in late teens and 20s) going on days out aimed at kids/young families? I’m finding it increasingly irritating - small children having to queue behind grown adults to stroke rabbits or see tanks of fish.

(Exception where there is clearly a disability at play)

What is weird about an adult wanting to see a tank of fish?

So you had kids so you could pet animals at the zoo?

They pay the money to get in, same as you and whoever you take.

get over it

Don't, it's a bloody expensive hobby. As soon as you buy something then you spot something else you want. A teeny tiny pastry brush will cost you £8. A pair of teeny tiny crocs £22. Then there is lighting, wallpaper, flooring and all the rest of building a house.

You'll go to dollshouse fairs and spend a fortune and not have much to show for it. You'll sign up to multiple pages on Facebook thinking you can make things. That's another rabbit hole to go down.

Then you'll want a beach hut, a garden shed, then another house, then you won't have room for what you have because space doesn't come into it when you want something badly. Believe me I know. You'd be better of going on the swings in the park. 😂

What? Haha 😂😂, but look these places are advertised for children and young families, they have been tailored in such a way that it is obvious that is the target audience, for adults to attend WITH their young children or for grandparents to go WITH their young grandchildren. I believe OP is correct in that I too have noticed an increase of gangs of young adults attending these places in groups, noisy , rude, jumping queues making young families and children feel uneasy. Its just strange, i would feel a proper twat attending one of these places with a gang of my girl friends as women in their late 20s without a single child in sight with any of us.

It’s a childish activity. It seems to be in the wider picture of adults acting like kids

I took my brother to the zoo once. He was 60 and I was 50

That's not true though. If these places were advertised for children and young families, they would have an age limit and not sell single adult tickets.

What's happening is that you resent having to wait and are taking it out on adults. They are ticket paying guests 'not gangs'.

I dint think you are using the right word, well using it in the right context.

My local animal place does not say anything about it being for kids or families.
It has a butterfly house. Why can't a lone adult go there and learn about the various butterfly and moth species? Why can't they go and handle a snake or tarantula?
Is there a cut off age for learning about animals?

i don’t resent that sort of thing i hardly go to these places only when the kids were much younger, but we did go once this summer, and i did resent a group of young adults pushing in front of us, smoking swearing loud as anything, upsetting one of the staff members who tried her best to ask them to get back in their place. It did raise the question from plenty of disgruntled parents “what are they even doing here.”

Yes, because one group of twats means anyone without kids acts the same 🙄

I notice you say lone adults. Where Im coming from, and where i believe OP is coming from, though she does not mention it specifically,is groups of young adults attending these places, i find it really strange.

That's ok. I'm fine with being diagnosed with childishness with a side of selfish. Life is too short to spend worrying about looking like a grown up. I spend most of my waking hours being responsible and occasionally I get the opportunity to just stroke an animal. Judge away.

As an adult and have an adult daughter, we have never been turned away from places. We will continue to go to zoos, petting places, wildlife parks and any where else we will choose.

Animals are for children? I think the new born lamb my husband dragged out of a stream as the idiot sheep kicked it and down it rolled was glad he likes animals.

I bet you dont wave at cows do you?! Or marvel at a rams huge testicles.

I have been on this thread since it started. OP has been critical of any adult going to such places without kids (although she was ok with a PP seeing goats but only because no kids were there too).
She thinks an adult who wants to stroke a rabbit in a petting zoo must "have issues".

Look, try googling family fun days out for children your guaranteed a petting zoo, petting farm with rides for the children will be there…see what comes up. Then try googling fun adult days out… see what comes up.

I don't live my life based on what AI Google tells me.
I enjoy animals so will go and see them.

I mean i must admit I as an adult would not fill my car up with diesel… pay an admission fee just to pet a rabbit. Would i do it for my kids? Yes.

Party poopers 😆

Mind I wouldn't go to where there are screaming kids.

Sorry this was aimed at the poster who said “no they are not advertised for families and young children”

Yep, go in term time. People without kids are keeping those places open.

Look, the Science Museum comes up as a good day out with children, surely you're not trying to argue that makes it only for children?

Who says they are aimed at children? I have 3 kids and I’m pretty sure everywhere I have taken them I would also visit alone or with just my husband.

We normally do, did before the summer holidays.