Parrot Mountain and Gardens

We've been to Parrot Mountain probably six times now, and honestly, it's one of those places that feels completely different from the chaos of the Parkway. You're literally hand-feeding toucans and having lories land on your shoulders while sipping nectar from little cups. The Baby Bird Nursery is where we always end up spending way too much time — you can actually hold and pet baby parrots at different stages, and yes, you can buy one if you fall in love (they'll teach you everything and ship supplies).

Fair warning about that entrance road though. It's a legit 40% incline that'll make your car work for it. We've seen people turn around because their vehicle couldn't handle the climb, so don't attempt it in anything low to the ground.

The Secret Garden area has free-flying toucans and hornbills that just cruise around while you're walking the stone pathways. It's through this little yellow door that feels like something out of a fairy tale. The Bird Garden is where most people get their best photos — 70+ birds just chilling on perches, waiting for you to feed them seeds from your hand.

Oh and the deck lunch spot overlooking the gardens is perfect if you need a break. Nothing fancy, but the view beats any restaurant on the strip. One thing though — bring cash for the bird food and nectar cups, because not everything takes cards and you'll want to feed them. Plan about 2 hours unless you get obsessed with the baby birds like we always do.