A trip to the zoo makes for a great day of summer time fun. We love to take clip boards, paper and pencils and try our hand at drawing the animals. It’s a great way to slow down and observe the animals. Today we’ll focus on accommodations near the top 10 from TripAdvisor’s Popularity Index of Top Zoos from 2012.
To save money, many zoos allow your family to bring in a packed lunch. If you have a zoo membership be sure to check with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to see which zoos have reciprocity programs.
To easily find accommodations near these popular zoos for your big family, click on the zoo’s city and state. Click on the zoo’s name for direct link to the zoo,
1. Henry Doorly Zoo Omaha, Nebraska
As an Omaha native, I’ve seen the zoo grow immensely over the last 20 years. With simple beginnings as the Riveview Park Zoo in 1894, the zoo has become nationally renowned attracting over 1.5 million visitors a year. Notable exhibits include the world’s largest indoor desert – the Desert Dome, the Lied Jungle which is one of the world’s largest indoor rain forests, and my favorite, the penguins at the Scott Kingdom of the Seas Aquarium.
Admission costs $13.50 for adults (ages 12 and up), $12.50 for seniors, and $9 for children (ages 3 to 11); children under 2 are free. Annual family pass is $104. Note that membership is not good for a calendar year but only for the season.
2. St. Louis Zoo, Saint Louis, Missouri
Admission is free based on a public subsidy from a cultural tax district, the Metropolitan Zoological Park and Museum District (ZMD); fees are charged for some special attractions. A special feature is the Zooline Railroad, a small passenger train that encircles the zoo, stopping at the more popular attractions. There are 9 special feature attractions listed on the zoo’s website. A good way to save money while enjoying the special attractions at the zoo is to buy a Safari Pass. The Safari Pass is $10/person and includes one admission to the Children’s Zoo, Zooline Railroad, Conservation Carousel, Movie, 4-D Motion Simulator and Stingrays at Caribbean Cove (seasonal).
3. Cape May County Park & Zoo, Cape May Court House, New Jersey
Admission is free at this 200 acre zoo with a collection of over 550 animals representing 250 species. Open everyday of the year except Christmas.
4. Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Garden, Columbia, South Carolina
Located on 170 acres and home to over 2000 animals, the Riverbanks Zoo will benefit from a $32 million expansion in the next 2-3 years. Admission costs $11.75 for adults, $10.75 for seniors, and $9.25 for children (ages 3 to 12); children under 2 are free.
5. Memphis Zoo, Memphis, Tennessee
This zoo in mid-town Memphis is over 100 years old. With more than 3,500 animals representing over 500 different species, the zoo is Memphis’s highest attended attraction. Admission costs $15 for adults (ages 12 to 59), $14 for seniors (age 60 and up), and $10 for children (ages 2 to 11).
6. San Diego Zoo, San Diego, California
Set across 100 acres, this zoo houses over 3,700 animals of more than 650 species and subspecies. It is one of the few zoos in the world that houses the giant panda. The zoo offers a guided tour bus that traverses 75% of the park. Admission costs $44 for adults (ages 12 and up) and $34 for children (ages 3 to 11).
7. Sedgwick County Zoo, Wichita, Kansas
Spend the day with more than 3,000 individual animals of all sizes, shapes and colors. Discover why Sedgwick County Zoo is the No. 1 outdoor family tourist attraction in Kansas. Admission costs $13.95 for adults (ages 12 to 61), $11.95 for seniors (age 62 and up), and $8.95 for children (ages 3 to 11); children under 2 are free.
8. Brevard Zoo, Melbourne, Florida
Brevard Zoo offers lots of activities like kayaking, riding the train and feeding the animals. The zoo is home to more than 650 animals representing more than 165 species located on 75 acres. Admission costs $15 for adults (ages 12 and up), $14 for seniors, and $11 for children (ages 2 to 12); children under 2 are free.
9. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Located on Cheyenne Mountain, this zoo’s animal collection includes more than 750 animals, representing nearly 150 different species, with more than 30 endangered species. Our favorite activity is feeding the giraffes. Admission costs $17.25 for adults, $15.25 for seniors (ages 65 and up), and $12.25 for children (ages 3 to 11); children under 2 are free.
10. Audubon Zoo, New Orleans, Louisiana
The Audubon Zoo has over 2000 animals on the zoo’s 58 acres. Additional attractions (at an additional price) are the aquarium and the wild and wet splash park. Admission costs $17.50 for adults, $13 for seniors (age 65 and up), and $12 for children (ages 2 to 12); children under 2 are free.
Has your family been to any of these zoos? Tell me about it!
