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Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 10 am - 5 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
42 reviews for Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
42 reviews in English
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Review from Carolyn C.
Cleveland, OH
10/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
~~ A True Cleveland GEM!!! ~~
The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is one of my favorite places in this city! You have the opportunity to experience many of the animals up close!
The new African Elephant Crossing is stunning! The Polar Bear will come up close to you. Seeing the Gorillas outside, seeing the Lion, the Lioness, the Giraffes, the Tigers, the Kangaroos, and the White Snow Leopard are visual treats!
Cuyahoga County Residents can get into the Zoo free on Mondays!..Just Bring Your ID! Be Sure To Experience this Cleveland Gem, and see all the beautiful animals! -
Review from Jenifer W.
Grayslake, IL
1/20/2012
My family and I LOVED this zoo!!! Though it's true the exhibits are spread out a bit, they're worth the walking!
We went over every inch of this zoo, and were amazed to find that each exhibit was better than the next. The animals are VERY close up, so close we felt like we could touch them (no, you can't really), and we spent the day seeing these incredible creatures in ways we have never been able to before.
Some highlights:
- Don't miss the giraffes. They have feeders RIGHT next to an overlook where people can watch, it's like having them eat from your hand! (no, they don't really :-)
- If you have kids pay the extra $1 per person for the dinosaur exhibit... animatronic dinosaurs (with a surprise at the end for you) is absolutely worth it.
- Plan to spend most of the day there, pack a lunch if you must. These exhibits are worth the time you spend! -
Review from Anisha A.
Beachwood, OH
11/1/2011
I was told not to go to the zoo on a free day because the price of admission is well worth avoiding crowds of people who take advantage of free Mondays. Well I didn't heed this advice and went anyway. I actually went on a Tuesday because Monday was a holiday, so admission on Tuesday was free. Luckily, there were no crowds to fight.
There are signs all around the zoo advertising the elephant crossing, so I was most excited to see this, but I ended up disappointed. I was hoping to see the elephant up-close, walking around the zoo, but instead an elephant walks about 20 feet through a gate from one cage to another cage.
The zoo that I'm most familar with is the Pittsburgh Zoo. At the Pittsburgh Zoo, animals live in large habitats. As a result sometimes the animals are hard to find. At the Cleveland Zoo, the opposite is the case. This sucks for the animals but is great for visitors.
Overall, it's a typical zoo, but hey, I can't complain too much when it's free. -
Review from Laura P.
Cleveland, OH
2/5/2012
Our whole family loves the Zoo. The new Elephant Crossing is gorgeous.
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Review from Caroline P.
Akron, OH
8/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is a GREAT zoo. It's educational, fun, and does focus on environmental conservation, which I appreciate. I'd give it 5 stars on a day in early spring or late fall when I go with friends. I do have a membership here, and I typically make 4-5 trips per year.
I give it 3 stars when I'm here with my 5-year-old charge, for 2 main reasons:
- Parking during the summer can be absolutely horrendous. You might end up in the bear parking lot. And end up walking for 15 minutes to the entrance. Also, parking can be a little disorganised. I've gone where the flaggers direct and still drove around for 10 minutes looking for a parking space (and this was in the very back of the parking lot, mind you).
- For a young kid, there is a ton of walking involved, especially to the two farthest areas. I've been on days where the trams were completely full, and the line was about 45 minutes long. The exhibits can be rather sparse in between.
Other than that, I love it here. There are so many animals, and all of the exhibits are beautifully maintained. There's so much to learn, too! There are animal shows during the summer, a petting zoo area (I believe you can ride on a camel?), and several cool playgrounds.
Things you must see:
- the Center for Zoological Medicine is tucked away in the African savanna, and it's nice for older kids especially to get a glimpse at how the animals are cared for.
- I love the wolf cabin. I don't know why. It's pretty.
- Feed the lorikeets at lorikeet landing! You can buy a cup of nectar for $1. The birds are so pretty and literally eat out of your hand!
- The train in Australian Adventure is surprisingly fun, and not just for little kids.Listed in: The Best of the West for kids!
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Review from Fausto X.
Cleveland, OH
11/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Not the best zoo in Ohio but not a bad way to spend a few hours. Cleveland Zoo is close to home and makes for a good day with the family. The new elephant area is quite nice. My only complaint is they didn't bring back the hippo.
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Review from Sarah V.
6/16/2011 ROTD 10/17/2011
What the heck ever happened to monkey island?!
You know, I have to say; Cleveland does animals proud. I haven't been to many zoos, but the 3 I've been to, in 3 different states, Cleveland ranks high. And not just because my scale is so small, but because it's that nice. It's pretty sad that wild animals are living better than most people in the community. But it gives me hope for the people. If the animals can do it, they can do it. Some people belong in the zoo, but that's another review topic.
Can I just applaud the misting fans strategically placed amongst the zoo?! We went memorial weekend, and it was a scorcher. 89 I believe the temperature was. And the human wildlife were schvitzing like a mac salad on a picnic table in the summer. After a shower under these lovely cool, frosty havens, you'll be ready for your 4th wind.
Word to the wise, I decided to treat everyone to a slushy. At one station they only had sour red flavored Icee's. AVOID! It's like drinking bird throw up. Like a good Jameson shot, it burns going down and it burns long after its gone. Classic Icee's are what my esophagus longs for.
The polar bear exhibit, wolves, penguins, and sea lions are my favorite exhibits of all time. But what the heck ever happened to monkey island?! Are they ever going to do something with it?! I used to LOVE that crazy mountain of insanity! It's as empty as most neighborhoods in Cleveland. I wonder if they got evicted or something. They must all be living with relatives now since it went into foreclosure.
The new elephante exhibit was loverly! Even the Australian exhibit made me feel miles from home, and the treehouse funhouse is every kid's dream! Even mine, and I'm old.
Don't forget to check out the dung beetles, and all its dung glory, along the backside of the elephant exhibit (no pun intended). It's craperific! We even took pictures of the rolled fake poo. I've never taken a picture of shit before. I take that back, we did get a photo of Paris Hilton in Vegas on the dance floor.
I would love to attend Twilight at the Zoo. It sounds like a neat event. Check it out. CMZ is thriving, and better than ever. Go visit, and take a trip down memory lane.Listed in: Hello Cleveland!, For Reviewers like You
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Review from Rodney W.
Parma, OH
6/12/2011 ROTD 12/28/2011
I have been going to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo since I was a wee little kid. And I'm still going. Took the wife and kids to the zoo today and we had a great time.
Then new elephant exhibit is great! It was a little cold today (62 degrees), most of the animals were out and about and I finally got to see the wolves. They're so elusive!
Can't wait to take the kids again. -
Review from Rachel B.
6/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
I hate to admit this, but I'm not much of a zoo person. Or a museum person, or a gallery person, or pretty much anything that charges an admission fee. (I'll make an exception for Disney World.)
I don't know why that is. Probably because I usually get tired within two hours of coming. It's not that I dislike walking; in fact, I really love walking. But I get overwhelmed because there's so much to see and do in these places, and I feel anxious that I won't "do the visit proud."
However: I'm trying to get more into stuff like this, especially with a wee one who (might someday) enjoy gazing at animals. On our visit last week, she (at nine months) was more interested in the people and trees. But that's okay! I had a good time here.
There were lots of helpful zoo staff, people who held the doors to exhibits open for you and stuff. That was a nice touch. There were plenty of signs everywhere in case you wanted to read up on something you were looking at.
As Stefanie mentioned humorously in her review, there were lots of dumb moms letting their kids be annoying to others and giving them the wrong facts about certain animals.
And, as predicted, I saw about an hour and a half's worth of stuff, got exhausted and hot, and wanted to leave. So I did!
If I'd felt so inclined, I could have left and come back and the pass still would have been good for the rest of the day. But I didn't, MOSTLY because the traffic getting to the zoo (I took W 25th) is a major pain in the ass.
Didn't eat anything here, so I can't speak to that.
Parking was fine; there are a bunch of large lots and some smaller ones that are closer. Expect those closer ones to be full if you come on a day when kids are out of school (like I so brilliantly decided to do ... too crowded!!) I purposely took practically the farthest spot I could find and still be able to walk a "normal" distance to the entrance. It was about a 10-minute walk, but so worth it not to have to deal with parking jerks on the way in or out.
I will definitely come back, but maybe I'll wait until someone is a little older. -
Review from Andrea Z.
6/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've lived in Cleveland for more than 2 years now, and being without small children and also without a particular fondness for zoos, had never been until today. My in-laws were in town and they wanted to go, and I was pleasantly surprised to find out that as a resident of Cuyahoga County and today being Monday, I got in free. Nice! Had to pay 5 bucks for the rainforest but it was well worth it.
Aside from a minor injury sustained by smashing my little toe into a lava rock resulting in lots of bleeding and much pain, the day was really great. Before we knew it we had spent 3 hours there.
Overall, I was REALLY impressed with the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Everything about it was better than I expected - the diversity of the animals, the kid-friendliness, the exhibits (loved the Australian Adventure) - the shear SIZE of the zoo. I was floored at how big it was. Very well laid out and from nearly every place in the zoo, you forget you are in a city. The only complaint I have is that the signage is at times misleading. It can be hard to figure out how to get from place to place even with a map - the guideposts could be better.
I've been to a few zoos in my day and this one is up with the best of them. The CMZ is a great way to spend a nice day with the kids or otherwise. -
Review from Cara L.
5/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yaaaaaaaay elephants!!
Seriously, I loved this place as a kid and I love it as an adult. Hello, indoor rainforest?! I wish I could make my house like that, minus the smell of ass.
It's not like I've experienced a ton of other zoos out there, but I've been to a few in my day and Cleveland Metroparks Zoo rocks it. Lots of fun exhibits, activities and everything is super kid-friendly. I used to love coming here on field trips and doing scavenger hunts.
Most of the exhibits are really interactive, which is super cool. One of my favorites is going to the Australian exhibits and feeding the lorikeets. Kids seriously love this! The birds actually come up to you for the nectar and it's a blast watching the looks of everyone's faces when they start eating out of your hand.
I also always love feeding the gross fish to all the seals and water mammals. That's a memory that I'll always cherish from my childhood. Plus, to be honest... walking around this place is a huge amount of exercise. If your looking for a little cardio, skip the tram and walk up the steps to the gorilla and shark exhibit. You'll be huffing and puffing by the time you reach the top, but it burns so good!
I think just about the only thing I'd change about our zoo his how they lead to you gift shop #fails. Every path takes you to a gift shop that you just know your kid wants to get something from. Please give parents a break. I mean, I'm not even a parent and I feel bad.
Other than that, this is a super-cheap, great learning activity for kids. Just a hint: take them to the Australian exhibit so they can go down the snake slide.
**Side note: Again, if you hate kids, please don't come here. Well, that is unless it's a drinking event at the zoo. In that case, spend the cash and go to these--they're super fun! -
Review from P W.
Cleveland, OH
Updated - 9/29/2011
Two of my favorite people just had their wedding reception at the zoo last Saturday. It was a night to remember. The filet was great. A man was exclaiming "This has to be a ten ounce!". I think he was right. It was cooked to perfection. The monkeys were having sex. The baboon was wacking off. It was the perfect ceremony of animal rawness and sexuality to jump start the marriage. Outside of this wonderful night, the zoo has never disappointed. I had many days spent strolling around the zoo. I knew a girl who took LSD and went there. She loved it.
Listed in: Things to Do in Cleveland When…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/7/2011
Did you hear about that giant white bear in the back of the zoo? Well I guess that it is always… Read more »
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Review from Samantha S.
Denver, CO
5/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
I used to be a memeber of the Cleveland Zoo, but has since moved away and have to sign up in my new city and state....
Today was Monday. That is free day at the Zoo for Cuyahoga residents. Bring your ID ( they DO check). You only pay if you want to hit up the Rain Forest and for non-residents.
Being today was Monday, I would think that the Zoo would be able to plan accordingly. Announcing a rather new and big elephant experience, I would hope they would know that they would have big crowds.
We arrived early, but knew we were in trouble... they directed when pulling in, and we drove to the very end of the lot before finding a parking spot. Never fear I told my mother we can wait for the tram to take us to the gate. Oh... no.... the train is not working today . UGH. Mom, baby, me, brother, walking... and getting hotter out... spells... UGH UGH!!
Now, the exhibits and such are great!!!! However, very few... VERY few stands were open. We didn't drag coolers or our own picnic lunch, and I was dissappointed in wanting something to drink and not being able to find it.
I am a big fan of the zoo, and those 'housekeeping' pains aside, the place is pretty great. We rode the camel ( BUMPY!), and rode the train... whhheeeee... and saw the Elephants, monkeys, Kangaroos.... the joy and excitement of the little one makes it worth it... just help a person out! Bring on the trams to our cars :) -
Review from Warren B.
Fort Lee, NJ
12/23/2010
I had three memorable experience the short time I lived in Cleveland.
One.
Swimming in lake Erie.
Maaan, that ain't no lake, at least not like any lake I've ever been around. That big ass body of water might as well just be an ocean. Cause that joker is huge! And it's not even the largest of the five great lakes. The only thing that brought it back into a lakes perspective for me, were those little, tiny waves lapping at the shore. Which only lasted till one of the old heads that had grown up and lived near Erie all his life schooled me to the fact that when it storms, Erie gets angry and has waves like an ocean.
Two.
I met Labron James.
It was towards the beginning of his career with the Cav's, I happened to be walking past the place where dude was celebrating his birthday. White suit, chillin with his friends, there he stood before heading inside the venue. Wished him a happy birthday as I passed and he actually stood and chatted for a few. Brutha was mad cool.
I'm not from Ohio so when Bron chose to go to Miami i was not heartbroken in the least. And even if I was from OH, i damn sure would not have burned any Cav's gear that i had paid good money for. Get over it Cleveland, it was a business move. Brutha gave you his all while he was there.
And you know that I saved the best for last.
Three.
I fed Giraffe's.
The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is but three stars at best. Though I only have five to give, Id'a give their Giraffe exhibit SIX stars.
As with most things I do I arrived here early. it was a weekday and I hoped to beat the thongs of family's that visit on weekends. My plan worked. With the exception of a few like-minded folks who also were trying to stay ahead of the weekend crowd, for a time we had the zoo to ourselves.
This was my second visit here, I had already seen most of what the CMZ has to offer on my first, with the exception of the Giraffe's. The line was mad long that day. And i had the misfortune of being with folks who did not want to wait in it, so we bypassed it.
I came solo on this visit.
You start out on wooden walkways that gradually elevate till you find yourself at treetop level. The Giraffe's know the deal and occasionally peek over at and watch as you make your way.
As you approach the main platform, they begin to saunter and stride over to you, on those long legs. Tall and gangly at first blush, Giraffe's are beauty and grace in motion.
I had already popped my coins in the food dispensers, gathered my offerings and marveled at them walking as I waited by the rail. As they neared I learned that a Giraffe's spot pattern varies from one animal to the next. Some have Hersey bar brown spots, while others sport a milk chocolate brown attire.
I reached out my hand to the Giraffe in front of me, out came that long purple tongue, then it batted it's long lashes and looked me right in the eyes. Almost as though it were trying to read me, or searching for a clue to my character. All while she, or he ate from my hand. i reached into my Hoodie pocket and pulled out more food as more of the Giraffe's friends approached me.
I noticed there were a few people, they by passed on the regular while others they seemed drawn to. Me, II was mobbed and in my glory.
I've read and been told countless times that applying human emotions to animals is misguided at best. With fish and reptiles I buy that totally. But not with mammals. There is communication between humans and mammals. Not in the verbal sense but communication none the less.
The Giraffe's and I, we was holla'n at each other that day.
DoneListed in: All You Have to Do is Say…, Acquariums and Zoo's
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Review from Holly N.
2/14/2011 6 photos
In my mind, Cleveland is definitely an underrated city. Though small in comparison to other places I've lived, it still has easily accessible art, culture, parks, landmarks, sports teams, and more. Another Cleveland gem is definitely the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.
The zoo is truly beautiful and affordable. There are lots of exhibits from those at parking level including elephants, various big cats, an Australian outback area with kangaroos, etc. and then you can follow the path up a hill to see the monkeys, snakes, and other exhibits. I have been to the zoo a half-dozen times and it never fails to impress. The park is well kept and there is an ample supply of animals to occupy your visit. Going to the zoo is a great excuse to spend some time outside and enjoy something unique that Cleveland has to offer!Listed in: The GREAT Outdoors, The Cleve
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Review from MiC g.
Silver Spring, MD
9/12/2010
Have you ever seen a koala bear face to face?
I have.
No it wasn't out in the outback of Australia. It was in Cleveland (and no, I wasn't stoned).
How maligned Cleveland has been over the years by the national and international media. While Cleveland has taken its blows over the years, the Cleveland Zoo is a little shining pearl in the midst of rust belt woe and decay.
Yes, you do have to drive through a woe begotten neighborhood to get to the zoo, but it is well worth the risk of getting lost in the hood in order to vist this jewel of a zoo.
This zoo is large and spread out. 165 acres big. Plan your trip accordingly.
I highly recommend checking out the kangaroos and wallabies bouncing around the Australian exhibit. For young children, you can take a mini train ride for a nominal cost of $1.50 per person.
Go hang out with the Colobus monkeys or speckled bears or Malayan sun bear or a red crowned crane or some thorold deer or a Mexican grey wolf or an Andean condor or some gibbons howling at each other or a Bornean orangutan or some Francois' Langur monkeys or a gharial or a giant Malaysian turtle or a Brazilian ocelot or some baboons or some Allen's swamp monkeys or some gorillas or a cheetah or some ring tailed lemurs or some black howler monkeys or some rhinoceros or some gazelle or some African elephants or........
You get the point - there are a bunch of different animals (3,000 to be specific) from all points of the globe.
If you are visiting Cleveland, forget the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Lame - go check out the Zoo.Listed in: Kid's Stuff, Zoos
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Review from Carolyn K.
Cleveland, OH
9/10/2011
I've lived in Cleveland, Ohio for a year now, and I finally went to the zoo. Wow, it's impressive! The exhibits, for the most part, are beautiful, really well maintained, and appropriate for the animals. The landscaping is absolutely gorgeous with trees, flowers, and foliage from all over the world. I greatly enjoyed learning about everything I saw! I strongly encourage everyone to visit this wonderful zoo. Thank you, Cleveland!
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Review from Yvone R.
Ravenna, OH
8/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
What a wonderful zoo! We go here once a year and currently on year 6! It's usually an all day event for us and we pack a cooler full of drinks and healthy snacks. This year the elephants are new but the dinosaurs are gone. They've revamped the lower level of the rainforest.
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Review from Stefanie C.
Euclid, OH
6/14/2010 1 Check-in Here
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is adequate. It's here, isnt it? If it weren't here you'd be whining about how there's "nothing to do in Cleveland."
It's one of the cheapest places to hang out -- especially if you're a member. Buying a membership is totally worth it, too. CMZ is the type of place you can decide to visit in the middle of the day and stay for a few hours and not feel guilty about not seeing the gorillas. Come back tomorrow and it's all still here.
It's easy to get in and out. Parking is absolutely free. There are bathrooms everywhere and they're surprisingly clean.
It's never really crazy crowded -- unless you go on free Cuyahoga county resident Mondays in the summer. Sometimes it's annoying and full of kids who bang on the glass (and parents that allow them to) and parents who call every primate a "monkey".
The dinosaurs thing is pretty cool. Kids really seem to enjoy that -- so pay the extra buck to check that out, cheapskate. -
Review from Nancy P.
Wellington, FL
7/6/2011
No visit to Cleveland, Ohio would be complete without a visit to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. It is a gorgeous Zoo found right in the heart of the city. We always look forward to spending a day with family and friends viewing the exhibits. We love how well maintained it is, how well kept the animals look, and the large space to walk through. It truly is a Premier Zoo and we never leave Cleveland without a visit.
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Review from Will K.
10/14/2010
Finally.. I've only lived here for nearly 3 years. I love zoos more than anything in the world (ok maybe not anything...) and can finally check the CLE Zoo off my list of places to visit.
First thing to say about the zoo is that sadly it's not as exciting as I hoped, I've been to many zoos in the past, and CLE didn't stand up to the competition the way I'd hoped it would. I felt like I walked around more than necessary, stuff seemed to be spread out in a way that didn't capitalize on the space between exhibits.
Overall I got a feeling of emptiness when I was there, which isn't something you should get from a place teeming with animal life! I will give it props for the monkey room, that was nice, although the hike up the hill to it was ridiculous. -
Review from Heather P.
Cleveland, OH
9/9/2010
I am a big fan of this zoo. The animals are given many opportunities for enrichment and have spacious habitats. The staff is engaging and helpful.
I love to hike the big hills, but if you have young children I would say that the trams are required to visit the bears and cats. Young children will also love the Australia exhibit. The tree house and slide will let them run around and get some energy out. -
Review from Jason B.
7/19/2010 1 Check-in Here
I have been to quite a few other zoos in my day and the Cleveland zoo is tops of the bunch. I love the zoo. I have been coming here since I was a kid. Back in the 70's you used to be able to feed the animals throwing wonderful nutritious stale Wonder Bread from the Hostess outlet store over on West 25th. Apparently the zoo decided some time ago this wasn't such a great idea and put the animals on diets more natural to there life in the wild. I miss that, however seriously that goes down in the what were they thinking file of the past. I won't even eat that crap.
The zoo is roughly around 4 miles of walking if you include the Rain forest which makes for some nice exercise. However you can take the Zoo Trams that run conveniently every 10-15 minutes to get you where you need to go. The Tram even has drop off and pick up points in the giant parking lot. As far as price, it is affordable. However I am a member so admission is always free. Becoming a member is cheap and easy and offers insider perks. It is well worth looking into.
Parking goes on for what seems forever and if you get there late the walk to the gate is pretty far, but again you can take the Tram to the gate. Because of the affordability of the zoo it is quite often packed. It is at times difficult to see some of the exhibits just be patient. At times people watching at the zoo is more fun than the actual animals. If you want to see some of the worst parents in the area just sit, watch and wait because it is bound to happen; brats pounding on the glass, screaming, yelling and being holy terrors. You will see it all.
Although I want to know what happened to the monkeys on Monkey Island the animal exhibits are excellent. They are building a huge new Elephant exhibit which looks to be amazing. Much like an amusement park the zoo is always trying to make improvements such as the Aussie Adventure and the Northern Trek with the Wolves exhibit. The one bitch I really have about the zoo has been the nonstop bridge construction that runs over the zoo. Apparently it is done but it has been a pain in the ass for the last 5 years it seems.
To sum it up, it is one of the true gems of Cleveland. It is an affordable option for a day out with the family. The food options there suck, but I don't come here to eat. The zoo guides are knowledgeable, the staff is friendly, the grounds are clean and it is always a good time. It is a great affordable destination for grown up kids like myself and families.Listed in: High Five's
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Review from deborah l.
Massillon, OH
3/30/2010
wow
I used to take my kids to the SF zoo, so when they were here for college spring break, we went to the cleveland metroparks zoo and the akron zoo.
We had the place to ourselves and started with the rain forest - AWESOME. Then we took the tram to Northern section, got misty eyed seeing the CA sea lion and CA seals. Then we hiked across the park and up the hill to the monkeys and aquatic animals. We LOVED hillside setting.
Too bad the new OUTBACK area was not open yet. It looks so darn cool. TAKE YOUR KIDS - they will love it.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Jeff P.
Columbus, OH
7/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have been to quite a few zoos and animal parks, and although I am partial, being from the area, I would rank CleMet (their abbreviation, apparently) near the top. They have a great variety of big-name animals...all of the ones you expect at the zoo. Bears, lions, gorillas, wolves, tigers, rhinos, elephants, monkeys, seals, cheetahs, etc. They have a brand new, huge elephant exhibit that's pretty impressive. The park Is huge, so bring ya sneaks. I've been coming here for over 25 years and it hasn't let me down.
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Review from Jessica N.
Bay Village, OH
12/7/2010
I love the zoo. That is about a blunt as I can be. From only being allowed to go on Mondays (because it was free to get in for Cuyahoga County residents) to going on school field trips, I have always had fun.
I even had fun the year a kid from my class jumped on me and smashed my face into the ground causing me to get stitches. I was actually devastated that I didn't get to still spend the day at the zoo.
As I've grown older my friends and I have taken trips there to catch up and have fun. My mom has a membership and I've gone with my little sister (she's 5) and my cousins. It's just an amazing atmosphere. Also, the new elephant enclosure is going to be amazing. Definitely a must stop if you are anywhere near 30 minutes of Cle. -
Review from Murray R.
Cleveland, OH
8/29/2009
Yes, it is one sixth the price of the San Diego Zoo.....for a reason. You can pretty much see all the major attractions here in about an hour and a half. Give or take an hour for walking through the most boring environments assembled for a zoo. SD takes almost all day. The only cool thing about our zoo is you can pretty much go on a whim any day and hang out with giraffes. And after repeated visits, you get to know certain animals by name. My fave is a pygmie hippo named Mushka. She lived in the pachyderm house. I didn't see her last time i was there as they were trading our elephants to another zoo for future draft picks(it's a Cleveland thing).
The rain forest is only interesting to see once every ten years. The real joy is to just walk around by the seals and wolves off on the far end. You almost forget you're in Ohio and are instead in Alaska . That is unless you go in the dead of winter when it's hella cheap. Then it feels like the south pole. Parking is super easy. Refreshments are reasonably priced.Listed in: Sweet Child in Time
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Review from Michelle C.
Miami, FL
10/30/2009
I had no idea this place was so big.
We thought we would spend the afternoon at the zoo.
It took us several hours just to see the RAINFOREST EXHIBIT.
We ended up not seeing the rest of the park when we realized that it was 150 acres or so and you need to hop on a tram to get to most of the exhibits.
The baby needed a nap.
So did grandpa.
But the next time we are in Cleveland, we totally plan to come back and see the rest of the zoo.
The RAINFOREST exhibit was very neat. I love how it had different layers of info. You could catch the highlights, or know everything you wanted to know about a certain animal.
I appreciated the detail to the environments.
I liked how they had different rainforest represented (Asian, South American, African)
The food at the cafe was what you'd expect in both taste in price.Listed in: Cleveland... @#$% you, I like…
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Review from Naomi K.
7/18/2010
Fun place to bring the kids and the family. Parking was super crowded on the summer weekends. I would recommend taking the tram in, if you parked too far away. I would also recommend taking the tram up the top of the primate/aquarium exhibit at the top. It does seem that bad until it gets too hot. The primates are able to change cages with the one next door. Luckily it was cooler inside.
Animals like the wallaby were so hot they were just lying down, in active,
The zoo has a lot of property, unfortunately it's quite spread out with lots of unused space in between. There's a new elephant exhibit that will be coming out shortly. -
Review from Bryan O.
Pompano Beach, FL
7/22/2010
It's not the San Diego zoo (drink it in, it goes down smooth every time), but it blows the weak Miami Metrozoo away. They're under some renovations and re-doing their elephant area, which is set for later in the year.
The place is huge and it was very enjoyable. Most of all, the kids liked it. -
Review from Maura S.
Cleveland, OH
1/23/2011
Listen. We all know I love a zoo. Especially a free one. And I had one in my backyard in Chicago. Then I found out the zoo is free on Mondays. Yes, it gets a little crowded but it is so spacious it's not overwhelming. The Australian park was so much fun. Those koala bears were sooo cute. I took my nephew and he loved it all. Can't wait for warmer weather to head back!
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Review from anthony p.
Cleveland, OH
I've picked up photography as somewhat of a hobby in recent years. One of my favorite places to get my Ansel Adams on is the Metroparks Zoo. It is free on Mondays, but it's an extremely reasonable price for zoo+rainforest on other days ($11 during summer, cheaper during winter). The animals, variety of exhibits, and layout is great. There is a hill to get to primates, cats, and aquatics, but they offer a tram that drives around the zoo to get up to the top. I tend to enjoy the northern trek with wolves, bears, tigers, etc., but every part is enjoyable. The rainforest is also a welcome warmth from old man winter. It's a good way to spend a saturday afternoon. Come on, you can skip the Jersey Shore or Sex and the City reruns for a day.. Explore it and enjoy it. Animals are fun for people of all ages.
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Review from Mike P.
Broadview Heights, OH
7/10/2008
During my first time visit yesterday, and having stayed there 4-5 hours and looking at everything, I was deciding between 2 or 3 stars. It changed throughout the day, but in the end, gave the Zoo the benefit of the doubt and awarded three stars.
Going to the Zoo, I already knew there would be a one star deduction because they don't have penguins :-o
The Zoo covers a lot of land but doesn't seem to know how to use that land. There's a lot of space for more exhibits, but its just that... space. I may have walked at least five miles yesterday, which made for good exercise and agreeable because the weather was sunny and warm.
I noticed many of the exhibits were empty, that is, no animals! And where there were animals, the animals were hiding or at least too hard to view. Granted this isn't always the Zoo's fault, but we should be able to at least see a sleeping animal.
Butterfly magic... where were the butterflies? I saw maybe 15 butterflies inside this large, humid greenhouse! And the staff who greeted as you entered and left the exhibit really need an attitude adjustment!
As a matter of fact, many of the staff, while they weren't rude, could've been more appreciative towards the visitors. Either they didn't enjoy their jobs, had a bad day, or pick and choose which visitors they'll show more favor towards.
The exhibits I liked the most were Australian Adventure (there was a baby kangaroo going in and out of its Mom's pouch), Northern Trek (seals, bears, camels, tigers and wolves), and The Rainforest. The African Savanna was somewhat cool, though I noticed they're making improvements on that exhibit. Cant wait to see the finished product!
I wasn't too impressed with the Primates, Cat and Aquatics exhibit. I also didn't like that the uphill walkway from Australian Adventure to the Primates exhibit was closed down yesterday!
Monkey Island exhibit.... did many of the monkeys run away? And what was that odd looking building next door with the dirty glass?
The Touch exhibit... why should I spend extra money to pet a sting ray?
Free Flight Falls... heck even the Zoo has its own waterfall!
I didn't eat the food, though I had some Power Aid from the McDonald's on the Zoo property.
The gift shop.... could've had more... matter of fact the shirt with the design I liked the most they didn't have any in my size!
You would think Summer is a good time to go to the Zoo to avoid the large number of school field trip groups.... I forgot that Summer Camp and Day Camps do the same thing.... and yesterday the leaders barely kept their groups under control.
The Fulton Street bridge construction didn't disrupt anything.
Overall, the Zoo was okay. It wasn't great, but it wasn't all terrible. I would like to see more animal exhibits, and the worn exhibits refurbished and brought back to life. And I would like to see a penguin exhibit. Why on Earth did the Zoo remove the penguins? -
Review from Daniel A.
Lakewood, OH
Zoos are basically a place to take children. Adults go because they want the kids to gett out of the house and into something other than mommy's hair dryer. Adults go to a zoo without kids for a couple of reasons only. 1:To use seeing an unique animal from some exotic zoo (San Diego, perhaps) as an excuse to relive something from childhood.
2: Tourist.
So since I am a father of two boys I'll review for the biggest customer base of the zoo, Family with Children.
First: if you live in the greater cleveland area, get the membership. You will find the visit more relaxing because you don't feel like you have to see everything to make it worth your while. You can always come back for an hour to see something that you've missed or if the children are hung up on a particular animal or exhibit . No big deal. Want a place to just take a walk with more than just sidewalk and houses? Well let's go to the zoo!
The getting in:
The Cleveland Metro Zoo provides ample parking and signs to start your experience. Once parked and loaded on the waggon (stroller, whatever it be for your fam) you'll see clear markings to direct you to the entrance. There's a restroom in the back parking lot which is awesome planning.
I do have a gripe here. After the rainforest area there's tiny road right in front of the main entrance to the zoo. This is a cause for concern. I know they have staff there to direct traffic. It just takes one step and one moment of spacing out to have a serious accident and shut the whole park down because the law suits that follow will bankrupt the park. Best to fix it asap and have no chance of that happening at all.
My second gripe is the lack of local food vendors in the zoo's food court. Come on, I know a lot of visitors would go for the familiar but I do think we can have something of local nature in there and do well. So enough about my gripes and back to my review.
Honestly, if you've been to one zoo, you've been to all of them, right? I mean, sure you'll see different animals here and there. But overall, there are mammals, reptiles, fowls and flora. The end.
Except, if you consider the intangibles. The staff, the volunteers, the people who you see in the park. You're not there to see the people but it's the people there who help you get around to learn and view these magnificent creatures. Here's an example. As we enter the "Australia" exhibit, we were greeted by a volunteer at door telling us there are some kola mamas with babies in the enclosure. She informed us of the need to be quiet and respectful of their peace. Once inside, there's a staffer who we witness reminding a group of children to lower their volume in a very polite way. Several other staffers/volunteers recommended different exhibits as we went along. Helping us make a fun afternoon, even though we've never been there before.
Final note: the construction of the elephant exhibit is underway so it's a little disappointing for my boys (they love elephants) but we just told them their house is being remodeled and they'll be back from their extended vacation next year.
I think they bought the story. -
Review from Ermelinda C.
Chicago, IL
10/1/2010
A great zoo indeed! A full day well spent at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo! I have been here several times and still get impressed by what I see.
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Review from Wm M.
North Olmsted, OH
6/26/2011
Had an enjoyable trip to the Zoo, only had time for a short visit. The new Elephant area is very nice.
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Review from Scott S.
Girard, OH
Updated - 10/21/2009
Still a great way to enjoy family time with the wife and kids. We figured we would take advantage of the 70 degree weather we had here in northeast Ohio. Yes I said 70-can you believe it. Anyway, prices have slightly gone up but still worth it. Also, if you should plan on going here, there is a large construction project going on of which has temporaily shut down the elephant, hippo, lion, tiger exhibits. other than that, a solid five stars.
Listed in: Kid Friendly Places
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/31/2008
Just plain old fashioned fun for the family. We try to go at least once or twice a year and it… Read more »
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Review from Kimberly K.
San Francisco, CA
3/16/2009
spring is just starting to sprout in the land of cleve, and that causes a number of outdoor desires for me. there's camping, bike riding, amusement parks, and just plain sitting outside suddenly more viable options. and even though the place is open year round, this was in my head all weekend long:
the cleveland metroparks zoo.
it's a pretty decent zoo. of course, i'm somewhat biased since this was the place i went to as a kid. but it does have a pretty sweet rainforest, and the primate building is so much fun. i could sit in there all day.
..and be reminded of ex-boyfriends? hmm.
i think they take great care of the animals here. and it's not dirty or disgusting. another area of fun for me: the otters. or monkey island. though in recent years the island has been less inhabited than when i was a kid.
and stop looking at the elephants that way. it's not your mom, for goodness sake. even though some might beg to differ.
extra bonus: if you're a cuyahoga county resident, you get in for free on mondays.
good deal. -
Review from Nicole R.
Joliet, IL
7/6/2010
Nothing special here. I mean it killed a few hours of our day but it wasn't an amazing zoo. After visiting the Pittsburgh zoo earlier in the week, this was a major disappointment
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Review from Stephanie D.
Columbus, OH
11/15/2007
Seriously. . . it costs fives times as much to get into the San Diego Zoo (I reside in California these days), but in my mind it doesn't even compare to the Cleveland Zoo. I could stand and stare at the pygmy marmosets in Primate, Cats, and Aquatics building all day. The zoo key in essential. I still have one from when I was little and they were still shaped like keys (they were more like cards last time I was there). This zoo is definitely among the top ten things that I miss about living in Ohio.
