Written by Kelley Schepper for the Star-News

Two new businesses in Andalusia are giving local families something they have long hoped for: safe, fun and imaginative spaces for children to explore. From hands-on animal encounters to indoor pretend play, the newest attractions in town are drawing praise and foot traffic from residents eager for more family-friendly options.

Aunt Dawnie’s Indoor Playroom: “Big Smiles and Little Giggles”
Inspired by a social media video and a lifelong love of children, Dawn Baker opened Aunt Dawnie’s Indoor Playroom this summer with the goal of sparking joy and imagination in young visitors.

“I watched a TikTok of a grandma’s playroom and thought, why can’t I do that here?” Baker said. “I’ve worked with kids for 35 years. It’s all I’ve ever known.”

The space is filled with hands-on, screen-free play areas like a pretend vet clinic, mini kitchen and market, all themed to spark curiosity and creativity. Baker said she intentionally keeps the play space small and simple.

“The only machines here are the kids’ feet,” she said with a laugh. “It’s all about using your imagination.”

Baker described the playroom as a place for “big smiles and little giggles,” a phrase she chose carefully. “I want kids to be excited from the moment they walk in, and I want parents to feel welcome too,” she said. “It’s open and relaxed. Parents can sit and watch or even join in. The space is designed for connection.”

Aunt Dawnie’s also plans to host rotating monthly themes, like a construction zone or dress-up party, along with limited-ticket seasonal events. She is already brainstorming holiday celebrations like a Nutcracker-themed day or a dino dig party.

“I get bored easily,” Baker said. “So I plan to change things often. That way, it stays fresh for the kids and for me.”

Though the playroom has only been open since late July, the community response has been strong.

“I haven’t even had my grand opening yet,” Baker said. “People just started showing up as soon as we got the green light from the city.”

With plans to host mommy meetups, small group classes and more interactive fun, Baker hopes Aunt Dawnie’s becomes a regular part of the community.

“If you’ve got the heart for it, it’ll work,” she said. “We prayed about this from the start, and the support from the town has been incredible.”

Andalusia Animal Adventures: An Up-Close Safari for All Ages
Another new option, Andalusia Animal Adventures, is offering a different kind of family experience, one where kangaroos, spider monkeys and sloths take center stage.

Owner Shea Hensley, a lifelong animal trainer and educator, brought the attraction to Andalusia after decades in the film and wildlife industries.

“I’ve owned four big animal facilities and trained animals for movies for 35 years,” he said. “We didn’t know anyone in Alabama, but Andalusia just felt right.”

The facility is home to dozens of animals, including kangaroos, spider monkeys, tortoises, exotic birds and more. What sets it apart from a traditional zoo is the level of interaction.

“Every one of our animals is trained for handling,” he said. “You don’t just stand behind a fence. You go into the habitat with one of our handlers and sit with the animals.”

Visitors can feed and hold spider monkeys, cuddle baby kangaroos and even watch birds that talk and climb custom-built trees indoors.

“I’m so anti-cage,” he said. “Our birds don’t live in cages. They live in trees inside the building. One even started laying eggs after we brought her here.”

Education is at the heart of the mission. Each visit is led by a handler who provides facts and context about the animals. Many staff members are former teachers, and the center offers special programs for children with autism or developmental delays, all free of charge.

“We want people to feel something different when they walk in here,” Hensley said. “It’s not just about the animals. It’s about making memories together.”

Though the center is still expanding, including a sloth pen and an indoor show space, it has already welcomed a steady stream of school groups and curious families.

“We’ve been open three weeks and haven’t had a five-minute break,” he said. “There’s been so much interest, and we haven’t even advertised.”

The team also runs traveling programs, bringing animals directly to schools for educational events. Inside the facility, large group visits are welcome, with space to host up to 100 guests at a time.

“There’s nothing else like this in the entire United States,” he said. “Not just in how close you get to the animals, but in the feeling you get when you walk through the doors.”

A Community With Growing Options
With both Aunt Dawnie’s and Andalusia Animal Adventures opening their doors in the same season, local families now have more ways to spend time together indoors, safely and memorably.

“It’s about creating joy,” Baker said. “Not just for the kids, but for the parents too.”

Hensley echoed that sentiment. “We want people to build memories,” he said. “That’s what it’s all about.”

As Andalusia continues to grow, these two businesses offer a glimpse into the community’s future, one filled with creativity, connection and care.

For Paris Hilton, family traditions and luxury hotels go hand in hand. Over the last two years, the iconic world traveler has been posting stunning photo albums of her young family’s stays at the Grand Wailea in Maui for their holiday vacations on social media, sharing that it’s been a family tradition since she was two years old, with her sister, Nikki Hilton, chiming in: “Favorite hotel.” 

So what makes the Grand Wailea—a Waldorf Astoria Resort and one of the premier Hilton properties—the Hilton sisters’ favorite? Paris Hilton talked with Travel + Leisure earlier this month, revealing why the resort means so much to her family, including husband Carter Reum and their young children, son Phoenix and daughter London. “Grand Wailea is one of my favorite places on Earth. It’s just so beautiful and peaceful. The second we land, I feel like I can just relax and get away from it all,” Hilton shared with T+L. “It’s become such a special place for my family. London actually took her very first steps there, which I’ll never forget. Now it’s where we make new memories together, and that means everything to me.”

Choosing to spend Christmas and New Year’s at Grand Wailea is not just “sliving the dream” for Hilton; it also means she has experienced the transformation of the resort throughout its multi-year, $500 million renovation, which included the debut of the 50,000-square-foot Kilolani Spa, newly appointed guest rooms and suites, and wellness collaborations with Erewhon and The Biostation, culminating with the opening of the first Nobu restaurant on Maui in early May. Hilton launched skincare brand Parivie this May, so she’s naturally a fan of the state-of-the-art super-spa, which integrates Native Hawaiian moon rituals in its treatments. So far, she has indulged in two signature treatments. “The new spa is amazing. I had the Lomi Lomi Massage and a facial that left my skin glowing,” she said. “I’ve always been super into skincare, especially now with launching Parivie, so I love when a spa really gets it.”

Hilton says she appreciates the other upgrades at Grand Wailea, too. “It’s gotten even more gorgeous over the years. I love how it still feels warm and relaxed, but now with these really beautiful, elevated details. And I’m so proud of my friend Melissa Wood-Tepperberg. Seeing her MWH workouts featured on the in-room TVs at the resort is so cool. She’s such a beautiful soul and has built something so inspiring,” she shared. “As a mom, I appreciate how easy it is to be at the resort with kids—they’re having fun, and I still get to relax. When we’re there, we love just hanging out by the pool, going on beach walks, and snuggling up for family movie nights.”

Of course, the international influencer and hotel scion—who has partnered with Hilton’s “It Matters Where You Stay” advertising campaign since it launched in 2022, in collaboration with her own 11:11 Media company–has a few other must-stay hotels on her list. As part of the campaign and to celebrate her “Infinite Icon” album release last fall, she collaborated with The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills on the creation of Paris-inspired “Stay Like An Infinite Icon” pink-on-pink suites. And, while you might think that Paris, France, would hold a special place in her heart, it turns out that it’s another city across the pond that truly calls to her. “London is my favorite city. It’s where I feel most inspired, and of course, we named our daughter London,” Hilton told T+L. “I love the London Hilton Park Lane. It’s classic, elegant, and feels like a true home away from home.”

Another longtime personal favorite: Waldorf Astoria New York, which Hilton recently toured with Gayle King for CBS Morning News ahead of its eagerly anticipated grand reopening this summer. “It’s such an iconic building. It was so great getting to chat with Gayle. She is amazing, and we talked about so many beautiful memories,” Hilton said about her times living in the flagship hotel, laughing about her escapades sneaking out to hit hotspots in the city that never sleeps when she was young. “I’ve spent so much of my life in hotels—they’re a huge part of my story.”

Over the years, Hilton says she has perfected her hotel rituals. Her go-to hotel tips as a new mom are “unpack right away, bring some familiar little extras for the kids, and stick to your routine.” To make her family’s hotel suites feel more like home, “I always set up my skincare and makeup right when I arrive. I like having a little glam station.” Like most of us, Hilton also admits that one of her hotel habits is lounging in her hotel robe. “I pretty much live in the hotel robe as much as possible.”

While slaying her stay and nonstop traveling with her family in tow has become a way of life for Hilton, she says she doesn’t take anything for granted. “I am grateful to be in this era of my life— getting to travel, spend time with my family, and create new traditions. Truly feeling like a ‘Sliving Mom!’”

Laurie Lyons-Makaimoku is a Hawai‘i Island-based freelance journalist and travel writer. She has had the privilege to visit all six of the major islands in Hawai‘i and has written about them for such publications as Fodor’s Travel, Matador Network, Hawai‘i Magazine, SF Gate, Trip Advisor, Local Getaways, and others. Her writing carries with it the kuleana (responsibility) of helping to produce more educated, conscientious visitors to this culturally and ecologically sensitive place, advocating for tourism that is sustainable and ethical. Laurie’s areas of expertise include Hawai‘i hotels, family travel, luxury travel, food & beverage, Indigenous excellence, animals, sustainability, voluntourism, and nonprofits. You can read her work on her website, or follow along with her on social @hawaiitravelwriter.