We have been members of the Minnesota Zoo for several years so we usually visit several times a year. Our latest visit was last Sunday and both of our boys had a lot of fun visiting the farm animals and playing in the playground in that area. The Minnesota Zoo is a very family friendly place and it's nice to see families with kids of all ages enjoying time visiting animals and taking in a little bit of nature. read more

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I know people have mixed feelings about zoos. If you like serious, I think you will love this one. It's very spacious and has lots of room for the animals to roam. The new elevator trail where the monorail used to be is a perfect walk to see the entire park. I think the biggest challenge with the same family is that it is a bit pricey, especially when you consider the Como zoo is free. I have been a long time member, because I can afford it and I really support it. I think it's worth visiting. And if you find it pricey, they do occasionally offer their discounts, etc. I also really enjoy their adult nights. Which are very fun and a great way to see the animals without huge crowds of littles. read more

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We went when the weather was cooler, and I can understand there are several limitations for a zoo in a cold area compared to one in a warmer climate. Honestly, the zoo could use a friendly touch and more color to give it a personality. Although the staff was present, there was this aloofness everyone carried, and the scent of the primate area once you entered. The map is available via QR code, and we were left to figure out the rest. Outside of the aquatic area, nearly every other area could use some creativity. The outside eating area looks like a prison yard with only bare tables and concrete. The aquatic area was nice. We had tickets for the sea lion show. You can arrive early and choose your seat. After we chose our seat, an employee told us to move up one row for 'better' seating, despite not saying anything to the couple sitting RIGHT NEXT TO US nor the couple in front of us to also move for said better seating. It came off as unnecessary and a bit of a power trip, especially since he didn't leave until only we moved! The one row move still left us with the exact same view to where we were originally sitting. This was a disappointing experience because zoos are normally a great time and fun learning experience, but this visit left us feeling matched with the weather: cold and unwelcome. read more

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This is a wonderful zoo to experience if in MInnesota. There are a few different loops to take and visit various types of wildlife. Example-the Tropics trail is all the rainforest type creatures. Outside there are statues, big cats and birds. Inside you'll find sea lions, sharks, turtles, aquariums full of fish and more Some bonuses here are the traveling holiday exhibits like the Fall pumpkin walk, pandemic light up animal drive thru, and the concerts at the zoo! A membership is worth it to save on the entrance & parking fees. read more

Minnesota Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Apple Valley, Minnesota

Couldn't even get in the door. Website/app unusable with limited cell coverage around the south lower gate. Walked back up the hill to the parking lot to try and register, but they required more PII than I felt comfortable with for a simple Zoo visit. read more

We are enamored with learning of wildlife and different habitats. Coming from Colorado and frequenting the renowned Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, we were pleasantly surprised to find this zoo and the upkeep reminding us of that one. Its nicely spaced out, the animals are well taken care and apart from a few customer service issues, the staff are really great. We have been several times already and are enjoying the changing of the seasons, the decor, and watching the animals frolic. I definitely recommend visiting! read more

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We got zoo membership here and made use of the refillable tumbler and cup. We like the zoo enough to visit a few times a month. There are some renovations being made. Treetop trail is pretty nice and playgrounds keep our kids busy. It is larger than como zoo but the cafe prices are pretty pricey. Also we enjoy the indoor exhibits and toddler area next to penguin exhibit. We also have seen the sea lion show and bird show too. Both are what makes it better than como zoo shows. However como town is something unique that only Minnesota zoo have the carousel only. read more

Minnesota Zoo - Refillable soft drink tumbler and icee kids cup - Zoos Near Me - Apple Valley, Minnesota

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Popping in with another review about a Zoo event (I still have yet to experience the actual zoo during regular hours lol): this was my first season visiting the Jack-o-lantern Spectacular, and I was blown away! This will 100% be a tradition for my family and I each October. I visited with family a few weeks ago and was totally blown away. The amount of detail and artistry in each of the special pumpkins is unreal! Not to mention the 5000+ other pumpkins that make the area so spectacular! It's clear the team behind this puts so much care and attention to detail into making sure this is a magical experience. My mom and brother visited last weekend and wanted to go, so I went for a second time this season and was prepared to see the same pumpkins. But NO, they were all new! Not only do they refresh the pumpkins every 3-5 days, they carve totally new concepts so no trip is ever the same! Just pure magic. I had hyped this up to my family a ton and they still said it way overdelivered. KEY TIP: Pick the 6pm time slot and arrive right away! It's still plenty dark once you get to the pumpkin viewing part, and the lines were crazy around 7:30/8 as we were leaving. It was a 5-star experience because we didn't have to wait in line and had plenty of personal space during the experience. read more

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Lots of walking. Some big open areas between exhibits. Zoo with aquarium. Map can be hard to read and we almost missed some habitats. Has leafy sea dragons which are only at a few places in the US. Most unique animal, I've never seen nor even heard of these before, the mangalitsa pig. It's the cutest ever furry brow pig. read more

Minnesota Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Apple Valley, Minnesota

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Amazing top 10 zoo of the country and top 5 for the size! You have to buy a season pass online. That's the best way to go. Then you can go when ever you want and you can go a hour before the single day tickets. You basically get to see the animals with out tons of people around you! Our favorites are the gibbons!!! They get really loud when they sing back and forth! The mn trail has many really cool animals. If you don't see them, ask. Because they are there!! The Dino's are amazing. They are a must stop and can get a little scary! Overall the zoo is amazing and is a must do anytime of the year!! read more

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One of the best zoos around! Get a membership! It's worth it if you go twice. The kids love the animals. Good workout walking around.

September 27 jack o' lantern spectacular night for zoo members invited by my daughter. GRACIOUS!! The 20,000 pumpkins all hand carved for display over five weeks!- - fresh made replacements every 10 days. ( the old ones are then specially prepared for the animals to consume ( excellent for digestion/ wonderful nutrients!) The THOUSANDS of BACK Breaking truly STUPENDOUS all hand-made-precision, creations mustering up fierce , grit determination by the artists who push themselves to an EXTREME to create a "Never Never land" of exquisite meticulous beauty simply not found today anywhere and composed so perfectly!! Each area had wonderful acoustic speakers deep base resounding with fabulous energizing heart soaring ROCK & ROLL ( and Prince!) - - the " marachino cherry" to this one-of-kind uplifting super exciting total experience!!! I felt like little coco entering the magical world of Dia de Los Muertos with joyous music blasting through my entire body, around each corner, folks merrily dancing away! Thank goodness I took lots of video and perfect close ups of my favorite huge carved pumpkins. Will happily replay over and over again! Enjoy! read more

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I lived in the twin cities for a few years before making the trek down with the family. I was surprised at how nice this zoo is. First tip, get there early as this place fills up in the morning (gets you a better parking spot). Also, take advantage of the skyway. This elevated path is a great way to get to parts of the park that are farther away more quickly. The reverse is also true if you have kids melting down and you need to make a quick exit or get back to the entrance where most of the food options are located. What I also like is that in addition to all the animals, they also have a couple of playgrounds for the little ones. As much as we want them to experience nature and learn about the animals, sometimes toddlers just want out of the stroller and want to climb on stuff. Another thing I like is that there are always seasonal events going on at the park that help keep coming here fresh and interesting. read more

This is one of my absolute favorite things to do in Minnesota! The adult nights are fantastic, especially in the cooler weather, when the animals are super active. Adult nights/Wild Nights take place from 5-8 pm, and you must be 18+ to attend. That means all of the good parts of the zoo (animals, beer, FREE beer tastings) without any of the annoying parts (heat, crying children, moving children away from windows so that you can see the animals). The petting zoo without children is also a must, especially in Farm Baby Season. Sometimes there are special theme nights, like beer tastings, music, or art vendors, and they are all worth going to. I have seen caribou running laps, bears climbing trees (and swimming- see photos) and snow leopards playing at adult nights. The events are even great no matter the weather because of the Northern Trail and the Tropics Trail, so there is something for every kind of weather. The silent disco is also fun, especially with friends, and while you are waiting for your food truck order. You really should check it out! (yes, I really was THAT close to the bear) read more

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Minnesota Zoo is huge!! We walk around 6 miles to explore the whole zoo, we were visiting from California. The Zoo has grizzly Bears I was impressed to see them so close and it's beautiful in the inside forest with so many different birds and reptiles. If you visit Minnesota you need to go explore the Zoo it's worth it. Hubby and I enjoyed the whole Zoo look at my pictures and videos. Recommended it. read more

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This review is for the Minnesota Zoo Wild nights event that they host after hours. You get to go to the zoo once it closes and tour the zoo as well as enjoy the entertainment the zoo brings in. I went with a large group and had a ton of fun. When there was still daylight, we walked around to check out all the animal habitats. There is a llama trek where for an extra fee, you can take a llama for a walk. The walk around the zoo was very nice and it is a well maintained zoo. For the evening, there were several food truck vendors as well as entertainment. One area was designated for the silent disco section, one was for karaoke, and two other areas had live bands. The amphitheater had a band called Pop Rocks and they were super entertaining as the vocalist dressed up as the artist for the song they were singing. Parking was plentiful and we all had a really good time. Staff was very friendly. read more

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As I began to approach Minnesota Zoo, I started to anticipate a memorable experience. My significant other and I landed in the South Entrance Gibbon Lot and parked there. We walked towards the Lower South Entrance and we had to halt everything. There was a sign that stated Welcome! Online tickets required and available at MNZoo.org Scan QR code for tickets. This was a rather odd obstacle in our path. There was complimentary Wi-Fi here under the network Minnesota Zoo Free Wireless. Online, I checked out the Admission and Parking section. General Admission for Non-Members that were Adults ages 13-64 was $23.95. Additional Charges was Parking: Car or Van $10.00. I clicked Zoo Timed Admission and for the Times Available, I chose 1:30 PM. The sign before the building entrance stated Online Tickets Only. This seemed to be a serious thing here and I thought it was a poor business practice. Fortunately, it was fast to scan my e-Ticket. Our first stop was Discovery Bay. I got to see the Spotted garden eel and the Splendid garden eel in a display there. They were unique and interesting to watch. Not too far from them was the Shrimp display. They looked vibrant and it was worth the stop. Northern Trail was an awesome section of Minnesota Zoo. I almost had to stop to see the Bison display. There were quite a few of these beautiful animals. Right past them was the Black-tailed Prairie Dog display. They were small and adorable. Seeing the Moose was the best part of the day. It appeared rare and I felt honored to see it. The Reindeer or Caribou display was exciting. They seemed active and it was nice to admire them from afar. Our last stop was Minnesota Trail. I got to see the Coyote display. They were beautiful. After that, I saw the Gray Wolf. It was large and gorgeous. Not too far away was the Puma (AKA cougar, mountain lion, panther) display. They were active. We headed towards the South Entrance/Exit. Going through the Zoo Exit door was the worst part of the day. The service was good. Everyone I encountered was friendly. I didn't have any issues in that category. Overall, I had a decent time here and I enjoyed seeing every animal I encountered. I might go back someday. Date of visit: January 29, 2025 read more

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I have been a zoo Member at my hometown zoo for over a decade. When I travel I like to go to other zoos. I bought tix at the gate so I could use my discount. Tim was very helpful and told us about some highlights at the zoo. We walked and walked before we saw any animals. Then we walked some more looking for more animals. We ended up walking over 3 miles and saw very few animals at all. There are no signs to point you in the right direction or even educational signs about the animals. We were there on a beautiful Sunday mid morning. There wasn't anyone around to even ask questions, like volunteer docents or zoo keepers. I will say the aquarium area is wonderful. Limited food choices. If you are looking to get your steps in this is your place. read more

I had a good time at the Minnesota zoo. I like that it has a nursing area for me to use. Even though all the animals were not out yet I enjoyed my time there. I'm looking g forward to visiting in the summer. read more

My wife and I took our daughter's family- six of us. Even though the line was long to get in, it moved very quickly. The staff were very friendly and gracious. After a wonderful walk on the skyway we ate lunch at the Call of the Wild cafe. It was super easy to order. The food was prepared quickly, exactly as ordered. Finding a table proved easy. We shared a table with another family. The food was very good. Highly recommended. Thanks to all the wonderful volunteers. read more

The Minnesota Zoo is well maintained and has a lot of room so even on a busy day it doesn't feel to crowded. We purchased a membership which is great because then you get to enter the zoo as early as 9 am. Our favorite spot is discovery bay where you can pet a shark and starfish. We were lucky enough to see the new baby tiger cubs today and they were active and playing around. Another plus about the zoo is you can bring your own food and snacks but if you need something to eat I recommend the outside spot by the playground and splash pad the food quality is best there. read more

Minnesota Zoo - Baby Tiger Cubs - Zoos Near Me - Apple Valley, Minnesota

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I'm from LA and took my granddaughter after Labor Day. Some of the attractions close after Labor Day but it was such a fun experience that I did not mind. The animals were on eye level as opposed to the LA Zoo that you look down at them. It just was so much better and so much greener. Highly recommend. Remember, buy your tickets online before you go. read more

We visited the MN zoo yesterday & this is my review of our experience. ~$75 for passes, parking, & stroller rental for a family of 4 Bottom Line Up Front: mediocre is a generous term for the MN zoo. We would not go back. While I struggle with the idea of zoos & aquariums, as long as they are managed humanely, I enjoy the fun & educational experiences they provide! I've been to a few zoos previously. Some huge (ie San Diego) but most very small (ie Fargo & Whapeton). The Bad: We were so excited to see what we thought would be an awesome collection of exhibits & animals! But we were incredibly underwhelmed! We walked for what felt like ages before actually seeing any animals (outside the snow monkeys at the entrance). A great # of exhibits are comprised of statues, paintings, videos, & "replicas" of what you'd hope to see at a zoo. Many exhibits were "coming soon", "closed", "shut down", "being relocated", etc. The animals we saw appeared lethargic, sad, possibly neglected (though admittedly I realize that's a serious allegation & I'm not qualified to make such claims) There was major construction going on, which blocked the view of the takins. The farm area was a joke. We had to walk a long way to get there & they only had a few sheep and goats. There were no reptiles that we could find! This was a major bummer for my daughter who just wanted to see some snakes! The splash pad was chaos & very basic. Kids were dangerously running everywhere with no employees there to keep things in check. At almost every turn they were selling something at obnoxious prices, which was so annoying. I think the zoo would greatly benefit from investing in the animals & their well-being rather than the gimmicks & fancy features they appear to be focused on. The Good: the Discovery Bay aquariums were neat & clean & they had a lot of beautiful marine life! It was cool to see a leopard, a lion, & a couple bears. The sea otters were my favorite! They seemed happy, had a lot of space to play, & were showing off for us the Llama exhibit was cool because you can get up close as many were free-roaming. read more

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This zoo does a lot of good in terms of conservation... BUT they hire a third party to bring in their camels for camel rides. The camels are not only overworked, but I've seen employees let up to THREE people on a camel at a time; a camel'a knees buckled and fell to the ground from this. I cannot in good conscience recommend or go to an establishment that would allow for this treatment. The mental enrichment and space is lacking for some of the species, not all. read more

Always a fun stroll around the zoo! My friend and I love going when we can. I especially like the new high sidewalk path thing that they made out of the old tram rails. It's an extra walk, but if that's what you're there for it's really cool. Just don't use it on really hot days lol read more

There is so much too do here that you can spend the entire day! We ended up converting our tickets to a membership at the end of our visit because there are activities to do and things to see during all seasons. Trails are open pretty much all year I believe. The animals have a ton of space to roam, so it feels much more humane. The downside, of course, is that you don't always spot the animals but that's a small price to pay! This zoo is fantastic for families with young kids - aside from the animals, there are several play areas, picnic tables, and a splash pad in the summer. Our 2.5 year old really enjoyed the farm area and getting to see the farm animals up close. It is a bit of a hike to get there so be warned! We were a little disappointed that the wallabies were replaced by llamas, but still enjoyed getting to walk around with the animals. Excited to return to check out the soon to open Treetop Trail! Should be a super cool way to view the animals. read more

Minnesota Zoo - Up close and personal with the llamas! - Zoos Near Me - Apple Valley, Minnesota

This zoo was gorgeous! So much space for the grazing animals and LOVE the boardwalk trail that gives you a higher vantage point on a lot of the larger spaces. Animals were so close and visible in most exhibits and looked comfortable and well taken care of. Great day! read more

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The Minnesota Zoo holds many examples of species that are native to MN. Examples of wolves and caribou are well represented. If you want to see an elephant or a hippopotamus, you will need to go to the Milwaukee or Memphis zoos. read more

This review is strictly for the Halloween Jack-o-lantern spectacular. I really wish we have something like this back home. This is a great family event, with hundreds of Jack-o-lanterns to enjoy! They were so intricately designed. It was fun to walk the path to see the different themes. This is a must visit for everyone!! read more

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Visiting from out of state. Decided to revisit the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley. Looked forward to riding monorail but alas, no longer in service. It has been converted to a walking, elevated trail to be able experience nature from above. However, for senior citizens, that is not an option.... especially when it's cold, rainy, or a snowy day. No longer a winter activity or us. read more

Minnesota Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Apple Valley, Minnesota

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I travel for work throughout the country, I always make time to check out local Zoos, and Minnesota Zoo is one of the best Zoos I've ever been to. The animals are all healthy looking and their enclosures are well maintained, the workers throughout the Zoo were helpful and very insightful in regard to the animals. The Grizzly Bears were very playful and looked like they were living their best lives. read more

Minnesota Zoo - Grizzly Bear enclosure - Zoos Near Me - Apple Valley, Minnesota

The drive to the zoo was aflame with peak color-gorgeous reds, yellows and oranges against a background of green. And it only got better on our walk through the zoo. Spent the day with family watching the young ones race from display to display and especially enjoying the petting zoo. I recommend-you will leave feeling good! Enjoy a few photos. . read more

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The best place ever i recommend it i wish they had more at the zoo they do a good job

We are big fans of the MN Zoo! We became members over a year ago, and highly recommend this if you plan to go a few times/year. Membership covers parking and you can go an hour before the zoo opens to the general public. We like the outdoor and indoor trails, and the toddler playroom, splash pads, and playgrounds are all nice bonus activities for active little ones! read more

A few weeks ago, I bought a ticket for Nature Illuminated at the Minnesota Zoo. This event was cancelled due to high winds the Saturday before my trip was over. I got a prompt refund, which I appreciated. Last Thursday, I was supposed to see the Minnesota Wild-Detroit Red Wings hockey game. Due to COVID-19 positive cases popping up around the NHL, this game was postponed. I was frankly relieved, but I now needed to find something else to do that evening that felt safe and would be fun. I gave Nature Illuminated another go. No crazy winds. Clear, crisp evening. Great! Again, I bought my ticket online. I selected the 6 pm slot. The process was straightforward. I got my ticket sent to me electronically. From my hotel, it would take roughly thirteen minutes to drive over. Traffic was smooth. I also realized that listening to Nirvana's "Teen Spirit" is the perfect song to drive to the zoo. It kept me alert and alive! I got there just after 6 pm. It was my first time at this zoo. I'm not sure why I hadn't visited it before, but I have always known that Cedar Avenue would get me there. I followed a long line of cars. I got to a man who asked what time I was scheduled to be there. I said 6 pm and he waved me in to continue driving. My guess is that if you were super early, you had a different line to get into to cycle around and back to the same point. The signs were clear at this drive-thru event to navigate around the zoo. I had my ticket on my phone scanned. There was a QR code to get the audio online through the zoo's site. I don't recall seeing free wifi at the zoo, so it's a bummer if you do not have a phone plan with data. For once, the QR code on a sign worked for me. Yay, miracle! The sign also had the URL, which made me happy. I have always been annoyed at events that only include the QR code, thinking that it will work for everyone. It doesn't. Another problem that I experienced was that if I didn't have my browser as an overlay on my phone as I took phones, I'd lose the audio feed. Ugh! I would have preferred if the audio feed were on a dedicated FM channel. It works so much better from an end user's perspective. Due to the lineup, I had to adjust the audio accordingly to what I was seeing. It was a bit of a drag timing everything. Anyway, there are portable washrooms at the start of the tour, if needed. This tour features huge mammals, fish, and other creatures all lit up at night. It felt magical and a lot of fun to view. I did not feel rushed going through the whole experience. I took my time with photos. It was warm enough for me to have the driver-side window down for most of the night. I dropped the passenger-side window when there were things to see on my right. There was a clear message to use your parking lights when driving around. It was cool to not have strong headlights beaming behind you. I do wish that there were more signs to indicate what you were looking at if you did not have any audio happening. Otherwise, it was so enjoyable to see cockatoos, sloths, penguins, and more come to life and appear illuminated. The tour took me an hour. I find these tours to be so affordable here compared to what I am used to in the GTA. If you want to enjoy a beautiful experience in the comfort of your own car, away from tons of people, consider Nature Illuminated. I'm thrilled that I can say that I've been to the Minnesota Zoo. Hopefully, I will be able to see the real animals and more when it's safe again to visit this zoo. (498) read more

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Every single sign, poster, and flag brandished their brand new red pandas. Yet dare I say there is no red pandas. Contrary to popular belief these so called "cedar" and "spruce" "hide" in the so called "shadows". It's too hot says the sign in the enclosure, well maybe you shouldn't have pull them from their homes in the southern Himalayan area. Maybe you shouldn't have the worst viewing experience to see these tiny friends. Maybe you are the people you say you are Minnesota zoo. Maybe it's time to reflect and rebrand yourself as LIARS and CHEATS. Taxed tickets, begging for donations, these animals better have the best conditions but ohhhhh no they are hiding and exhausted from being outside of their natural climate. It's sick what you guys are doing. My son is the biggest fan of red pandas and he has never seen them before only to be heartbroken as we meander around the zoo with the sorrow of a thousand young men. Everywhere you go, you hear "let's go check out the red pandas". Stop the lies MZ (Minnesota zoo) you are better then that and we as Minnesotans are better then that. read more

Our family really likes the zoo! We have an annual membership as we try to go at least once every couple months. The new Dinosaur Exhibit for 2023 is a lot of fun for all ages. read more

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Great zoo with lots of different things to do year round but summer is the best. There are two outdoor playgrounds, and springtime has farm babies :) In the winter I recommend the tropics trail followed by the northern trail. Bring snacks and a wagon for your kids. As with most places, get there early! read more

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Visiting here from California and was looking for fun things to do with the family for the holidays. Happened upon this on the page and decided to get tickets for the driving Nature Illuminated 2021 display. My family thoroughly enjoyed the show which was less than 30 minutes long. This experience was different from some of the other holiday displays in other zoos in that they use large balloon displays of the animals rather than multicolored lights. You are given a QR code to scan at the entrance so you can link your Bluetooth to the narrated video on YouTube. I had a little trouble in the beginning getting my phone to link to the car but that was my own technical issue, not the zoo's. I think we took a photo of each animal display as we drove through the pathway. If you're taking your family along, probably a good idea to bring a thermos of hot cocoa so the kiddies can enjoy. Be sure to turn your headlights down for maximum visibility. Happy holidays! read more

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I really enjoyed this Zoo! Walked over six miles and it was absolutely breath taking views, variety of big animals(bears/tigers/leapards/camels/Llamas/Wolves/tortoises/Wolverines), lots of fish, multiple types of monkeys, birds, flamingos, Kamoto dragon, sting rays, sharks and star fish. I will most definitely be back! Everyone must experience this event. There is a huge area for kids to cool off with water fountains/splash pad play area too. The food is super expensive so, i advise eating prior to going to this zoo! See the photos attached!!!!! Five Stars for this Zoo experience. read more

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