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Toledo, OH

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The Toledo Zoo

4.1 (339 reviews)
Open • 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

The Toledo Zoo Photos

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Greg B.

This Zoo is remarkable. I grew up in Michigan and live in the Metro Detroit area, recently I came down to visit the Toledo Zoo and found it amazingly easy to navigate as well as enjoyable to see the animals. Animals. Most zoos the enclosures are so far back that the animals are really kind of hard to see or find in the enclosure. Toledo Zoo is designed that any place that the animals May hide would be very close to a viewing area. Very well done.

So many gorgeous little gems in the zoo
Gina M.

Been going here since I was a kid! Employees were friendly and helpful. The zoo itself is gorgeous and well maintained. The architecture of the buildings is a big eye catcher and something I hope they always keep. The aquarium is amazing, probably my favorite place in the whole zoo. I loved that we got to witness a one on one at the Arctic Encounter. There are so many animals but it's a little disappointing that they aren't always out. I understand there's reasons for that but I would have loved to see more! I cannot wait for the reptile exhibit to open back up. That used to be one of my favorites as well. They have a lot to see for everyone like the green house and amphitheater for concerts. It's not too pricey which is a plus but I'd definitely recommend investing in a membership so you can go for all of their seasonal events.

Aviary
Amanda M.

Awesome zoo! We spent about 4 hours but you can easily spend a whole day. This zoo has several parking lots so it is easy to find a spot. Upon entering there are two sections to the zoo. You have to either walk underground over a bridge to cross the highway to reach each section. I loved how kid friendly the zoo was with interactive areas with the animal exhibits. They had a great aviary, splash pad, aquarium with touch tank, sand pit by the bears and other near features. There is also a great play area for the kids that is indoors and out allowing them to do adult things in a safe environment with a play kitchen, stream and other fun areas. I loved some of the historical aspects of the zoo with the outdoor amphitheater and original zoo cages you can now eat inside. There was also staff in some of the exhibits that filled you in one unique information about the animals. If you are going to do any of the additional cost attractions I recommend the train since it travels through areas of the zoo you can't walk in.

Liz P.

This was my first time at the Toledo Zoo today. We literally just renewed our Detroit Zoo membership because we knew they had reciprocal pricing here; It's normally $29 per adult plus $11 parking but our parking was free, not sure if they're supposed to do that for reciprocal memberships or not, and each person gets a half-price membership. There's definitely a lot of stuff to recommend here. My favorite thing was probably feeding the giraffes and getting up close with them, although that is a paid experience - we paid $11 for a family size basket of lettuce to feed them aka a head of lettuce but you can also choose the $5 option for four pieces of lettuce. Other favorites were definitely the red panda and the gorillas and chimpanzees. I do recommend getting there around opening time because we got there around 12:00 p.m., 2 hours late, and the parking lot was pretty jammed. They do 10% off food and gifts there for members as well and a few of the places honored our Detroit Zoo membership and gave us that which was nice of them. Overall I was really impressed with this zoo and I hope to return sometime soon. The only negative thing I can say about it is that the penguin area is very small (I'm spoiled though, Detroit Zoo has the largest penguinarium in the U.S. I believe), and I was hoping to get a souvenir pressed penny for myself - they have six or seven machines all over the zoo - but the zoo is cashless so there was no way to get change for them. They should make the machines accept credit cards if they're going to be completely cashless. Also: please add more water fountains. We spotted only two of them and neither worked. Next time I would bring a reusable bottle; the park says no outside food or drink but I did see a lot of people with their own food and drink. The cafe in the natural history building did have a self-serve water station, and we also asked for some water when we bought a soft pretzel. Other than that I didn't see much around.

Aquarium
Sarah C.

We went to the zoo lights later in the evening around 6:30 and the animals were not active at all when we were there which was a bummer but the aquarium was incredible! The lights were also incredibly beautiful. There were Carolers and music throughout the zoo which was so festive. The light displays were worth the entire trip. I would however, recommend going a bit earlier than dusk to see some animals being active and see ALL the lights as well as daylight disappears, to get the most out of your trip. Lots of hot cocoa stations or even spiked cocoa or beer tents with a great selection of local brews!

Kerry M.

We chose to visit the Toledo Zoo Lights Before Christmas on one of the warmest days in December, and it seems most of Lucas County had the same thought process. It took approx 45 minutes to drive 6/10 of a mile due to so many people making their way to check out the lights in the 50-something degree weather. It was crowded, but not so bad you couldn't move. Everything was done at a much slower pace. The Zoo does a fantastic job with the lights with only one exception, the train ride. Most of the ride was in the dark - no lights. We have an annual pass, so we will be going back on what we hope will be less crowded.

Cristina B.

Best zoo in the area and well worth the extra drive from Detroit! After numerous disappointed visits to the Detroit Zoo, my family and I drove to the Toledo Zoo for our most recent zoo day. It took us about an hour and a half to get there for our town. The parking lot was spacious and it was well maintained by parking lot attendants. Tickets were about $30 for adults, $26 for seniors and $26 for kids. The zoo has so much to offer that I believe the ticket price was fair. You will be walking a lot while at the zoo so make sure to pack sunscreen, good walking shoes and a wagon for kids. Within a minute of getting in the gates we stopped to visit the polar bears, seals and sea lions. They were all so active! We spent around a half hour just enjoying the polar bears! A large contrast from the Detroit Zoo where I haven't seen a polar bear in years. Next on the schedule was the Africa area, where you get the opportunity to feed giraffes. For $11 we bought enough lettuce so everyone in the family could enjoy the experience. I liked that the zoo staff made it so only a few people could enter the area at a time, making the experience special and less chaos. The giraffes were great! Giraffes are my favorite animal and while it wasn't my first time feeding a giraffe, this was probably the best experience I had. An hour in and we were all raving about the experience at the Toledo Zoo! If possible, I would walking across the bridge to get to the other side of the zoo. The tunnel brought a lot of anxiety out in me due to the claustrophobia. Other animal highlights include the multiple elephants, flamingos, hippo, and primates. I could easily spend an hour watching the gorillas and chimps! The aquarium and reptile area was also a nice treat for a hot day. I believe the aquarium was recently renovated. There is a sea turtle inside, octopus, in addition to many other fish. It felt so good being inside with the air conditioning! A highlight for kids is the splash area and playground -- which is included in the price of admission. I don't have kids myself but I did contemplate passing through to cool down! Food options are typical (hot dogs, ice cream, pretzels, Bomb Pops.) The Toledo Zoo also offers a cafe area that is air conditioned and a bakery in the gift shop. The only downfall was that a few vending machines didn't properly work and the penguin area is SMALL. That area needs a major overhaul. Can't wait to come back soon!

Michael T.

Probably the greatest zoo in Midwest. Right when you walk in there are animals to see with minimal walking. We were greeted by a sea lion show. The kid absolutely loved it. The people are friendly. You can feed giraffes. You can ride the train. You can see exotic snakes. Bears and inches away from your face, through the glass. The train is like an African Safari. They did a good job with this zoo. Only down side was we didn't plan enough time to explore the whole zoo.

Air S.

I loved it i got walk around and saw everything. Bunch of restaurants, and bathrooms, and a bunch of people having fun. You can bring food and a water bottle. And have fun with the family.

Dart Frog (No Touchy)
Clara S.

Had an absolute blast at the Toledo Zoo/Aquarium. We had three families in town for a reunion and kids varying from 10 to 16 years old and they all had a great time. The poison dart frog area was a huge hit for kids and adults. Everyone had fun in the aquarium, seeing the new baby elephant, checking out the aviary and the rhino! We stopped for lunch at the BBQ place and it was good - corn bread was cold LOL but it was sweet & good.

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Ask the Community - The Toledo Zoo

How much is the food prices ranging here?

I was just there last Friday, June 2022 and the prices for food range from seven dollars up to $14 depending on what you get

Can you bring a cooler with water and juice to the zoo?

No. Nothing from outside allowed. I was just there, and they had signs posted stating that.

How much are adult tickets for the zoo?

$19. If you have a family and can make it even twice a yr a membership is the way to go.

Do they have bike or any cart . My wife pregnant and I don't want her walking all the time?

Per the official zoo website www.toledozoo.org wheelchairs and motorized scooters are available to rent on a first come first serve basis. Wheelchairs around $12, scooters around $35 but prices are subject to change. Link is on visit page, visitor… 

View All 6 Questions

Review Highlights - The Toledo Zoo

“They just built a new aquarium which is quite nice from what I've heard and I'm eager to see it, and you should too.”

Mentioned in 17 reviews

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Children's Theatre Workshop - James and the Giant Peach - 10-14 year old summer musical 2018

Children's Theatre Workshop

(4 reviews)

My daughter has been involved with CTW for about 5 years now. This summer's production of The…read moreLittle Mermaid will be her twelfth play or musical that she has acted in at CTW. She absolutely loves it. Not only does she get to learn from skilled directors and staff, but she has developed friends outside of her normal circle at school. I like that they not only offer opportunities to perform classics like Grease, but they are challenged with other plays that are less known and they have to develop their characters from the script and not from something they've seen already on the stage or screen. CTW also offers opportunities to learn other aspects of the theater such as building sets, sound and lighting, improv, and even writing their own scripts.

About 10 years ago, I was a graduate student working in the Toledo Schools, and a 5th grader…read moreinvited his teacher and me to come see his performance of Pocahontas. He was so excited about it that I couldn't decline, and I was pleasantly surprised when I watched the play that was cast entirely with children and teens. It surpassed any school play I'd ever seen. Now that I have kids, I have made a point of checking their website and facebook page, so I can take my kids to see the performances. Last year, I took my kids to see Pocahontas, and today, we saw The Poisoned Apple (a version of Snow White) with Cast B. I don't expect flawless memorization of lines, and the occasion missed cue is easily overlooked when taken in context of the exuberance of the confident cast, the magnificent set, and the high-quality costumes and makeup. Everyone really wants to be there doing their part to put on a great show. The tickets were about $5 each, the popcorn and water were about $5, and the awe on my captivated kids faces was priceless. Seeing other kids put on such a great show has to impart a sense of self-efficacy on kids in the audience. The theatre is located in Toledo's Old West End, of which I've always been a bit leery if only because I'm unfamiliar with the area; however, I've always felt safe there. The theatre is located in the Collingwood Arts Center, which has easy access to I-75, and the adults in bright vests patrolling the parking lot made themselves appropriately conspicuous. Hint: It can be a little hard to hear the actors in the middle to back of the auditorium. Arrive about 30 minutes early, and you'll be able to get front row seats before the grandparents take all of them. You can pass the time with the reasonably-priced popcorn and snacks.

Fresh Start CoffeeHouse - Breakfast sandwich with turkey bacon

Fresh Start CoffeeHouse

(14 reviews)

Fresh Start Coffee House is... perfect. From the aesthetic charm to the mission, this quaint…read morelittle coffee house is a must! On a foggy Saturday morning, heading South (I-75), we decided we should stop for some coffee. Unfamiliar with Monroe and wanting something other than gas station coffee, I found Fresh Start Coffee House. It's less than a mile off of the highway and worth the deviation. This unique little shop offers artisan coffee, inspired food and conversation. Paula and Vic, who own the shop engaged us as soon as we walked in. They offered recommendations and were genuinely polite. They told us that they employ people who are in recovery, re-entry and with special needs. Their space is available for church groups, community organizations and other community meetings. They also feature live bands on occasion. The coffee was amazing. We both got "Paula's Perfect", although we'll be back to try others we wanted. We got the carrot/berry (Morning Glory) muffin and it was delicious. The ambiance was fun, clean and well designed. The prices were fair and well worth the support of their mission. They also sell merchandise, art and other trinkets. If you are passing through, do yourself a favor and check Fresh Start Coffee House out. It's a hidden gem in Monroe, and a new regular stop for us.

This place was located across from our campground and I read about it online and really wanted to…read morecheck it out. We went later in the afternoon. and we were the only customers in there. We were quickly greeted and pointed to the menu to review our drink options. I chose a hot pistachio latte with almond milk and it was perfect. I'm so glad I got to check this place out and I would definitely stop again if I was in the area.

The Toledo Zoo - zoos - Updated October 2026

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