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Denver Zoo
Rating Details »
Neighborhood: Northeast
2900 E 23rd Ave
Denver, CO 80205
(303) 376-4800
2900 E 23rd Ave
Denver, CO 80205
(303) 376-4800
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
62 reviews for Denver Zoo
I recently visited Denver on a trip with my family and when researching things to do in Denver the zoo was highly recommended by every "things to do in Denver" publication I could find. The Denver zoo definitely did not disappoint, and actually exceeded my expectations.
I went to the zoo with my 13 and 1 year old sons. The 13 year old is probably a little to old to enjoy the zoo, and the 1 year old probably had no idea what was going on and where we were at. However, the 13 year old really liked the animals at this zoo and the 1 year old slept in the stroller for half of the day.
Being from Los Angeles, I was very excited to see a bunch of animals that I have not seen at the LA or San Diego zoos; both of which I have visited within the last year. The highlights of the zoo for me were the white wolves, the bison, and the indoor tropical habitat that they have at the front left corner of the zoo. Apparently the white wolves rarely come out from behind the brush and come close to the fence, but when I was there one walked right in front of me. It was one of the coolest animals I had ever seen, and I would not classify myself as a wolf lover by any means. The wolves also seemed to have the largest habitat in the zoo and they had two fences, so I would assume that they are pretty dangerous animals.
Besides, the wolves the indoor tropical habitat was awesome! However, I could not enjoy it for as long as I would have liked because they do not allow strollers in to the area and my 1 year old got pretty squirmy after awhile. The had all types of fish, snakes, amphibians and other tropical animals. It was also very interesting to see the bats in their habitat through a glass window. The entire tropical area felt like we were actually in a rain forest because of the temperature and the mist. I probably could have spent hours in the tropical area because they had some of the coolest animals in the zoo there. There was also another indoor habitat that was for birds, which also did not allow strollers. I understood why strollers were not allowed because of the narrowness of some of the spaces, but it was a pain not having the stroller to walk through these areas.
When it was time for lunch, it seemed like there was not much of a selection because there were only a few meal places on the map. However, lunch at the zoo was one of the best meals I have had at an "amusement park". We ate at a place that had hot dogs and hamburgers located in the middle of the zoo. My 13 year old got a regular hot dog, and I also bought one for my 1 year old to cut up and eat. Their dogs looked pretty bland. I got a Nathan's hot dog which was great. It was plump and juicy with opinions and peppers, and it was cooked on a big grill right in front of you. They also had these amazing looking hamburgers, and they were very reasonably priced. I was so tempted to stay at the zoo late just to eat dinner at the same place.
The staff that I encountered at the zoo were friendly. When I went to buy souvenirs at the main store at the front of the zoo, the staff was very helpful and they told me interesting things about the zoo. I was very impressed.
I am so glad that I visited the Denver Zoo on my trip to Denver. It is a good sized zoo with a lot of interesting animals to see. I went on a day where the weather was perfect, and I would be curious to know what the experience at the zoo would have been like on a cold, snowy day. The Denver zoo was a fun experience for my family and I would recommend it for families with young kids and adults who love animals.
I haven't been to many zoos, but I love this one. I always think it'll just be a quick trip until I spend five hours there and realize I've only looked at 1/5 of the animals. For looking small from the outside, the place sure has a lot of nooks and crannies! I've been going there for years and years and every time I still discover something new that's been there forever but never found by me.
I like all the new work they're doing, and I'm glad the zoo is giving the animals more room, but it's kind of sad that they got rid of some species to put in the new big Africa area. Spreading out in some ways usually means getting rid of something else, and even though I can't put my finger on exactly which animals are missing, I know there are some. And sad to say, but I thought the old zoo had old-school charm. For some reason, old crappy concrete enclosures just bring back memories.
The carousel is beautiful. Even if you're an adult, you should ride it just to get an up-close look at the artistry. And the food, though over-priced, isn't too bad. I am constantly on the hunt for the kettle-corn wagon!
My favorite animal is the okapi, and I love their gift shop. It rocks!
Ahh the Denver Zoo... I just recently went to 'Brew at the Zoo', I think it was one of the best times I have ever had. For $55 I got all the beer I could drink from different breweries and all the food I could eat from different restaurants... That's a deal. The Zoo was sold out and it appeared as though everyone was having a blast (I rode the carousel drunk, muahaha). A few areas of the Zoo were closed off for good reasons I'm assuming... I'm sure Polar Bears and intoxicated people don't mix very well. The event seemed centered around the Pachyderms...
Other than the events held at the Zoo, I find the day-to-day experience to be enjoyable. Many of the animals seem content with their habitats even though there could be more space (that's the only reason I didn't rate the Zoo at 5 stars). I have never tried the food... I bring a sacked lunch, haha.
If anyone has the answer please feel free to inform me: Are the peacocks at the Zoo donated by people who tried to own them as pets? That is what I heard and I can sort of believe it as they are obnoxious... No, I don't condone the torturing of peacocks. If you see a kid trying to torture one, go up to them and start poking and harrassing the kid and ask how they like it. Hey, the Zoo should be educational... at least you will teach them something.
I love the Denver Zoo and have been taking my son there since he was born. I know that there are those who think it is cruel to cage the animals, and I can certainly see their point. But these animals are taking one for their cousins. People are less likely to support efforts to help native species in their habitats, if they have never been exposed to them in one way or another. I like the way that the Denver Zoo has most of their displays, and I am really pleased with their efforts to update the older exhibits. They do not just sit on their success, they keep looking to make it better for the animals and the visitors alike.
If you can afford it, the family pass (if you are a family) is a great value, especially if you go as often as I like to go. You also can get a nanny card if you buy the season pass. This is perfect for your nanny to take your kids (Shhhh, you can give the card to a babysitter, neighbor, Grandma or Grandpa to take your kids).
I have been to San Diego, San Francisco and many other great zoos. In my opinion, Denver has a great zoo too.
When I went a couple of times ago, some of the peacocks running around had bundles of sticks for tails :(
Kids pluck their tail feathers out. The reason this is happening is because of neglectful parents. It makes me upset.
Besides that saddening factor, it's an okay zoo. Around the holidays they have a "Zoo Lights" exhibit where they decorate the whole place with christmas lights and I've always wanted to go.
This really is an impressive zoo.
I loved the various bird aviaries where you can interact directly with the birds. If you visit the Lorikeet Adventure, I suggest visiting soon after this exhibit opens, otherwise the birds will be full and feeding them will be useless as well as frustrating. According to one of the zoo staff members, I fed Captain America, the king of all 57 Lorikeets. Apparently, that was rare since he has to sit high up and boss the others around so he rarely comes down for feedings.
Monkey Island was exceptional because there was a feeling that the monkeys are free, due to the lack of bars and nets.
Unfortunately, no animals were in the nursery as they were all old enough to be placed in their exhibits.
One very large gorilla was fascinated with us humans. We were his entertainment as he sat as close as possible to us while watching our every move.
Warning: The dots ice cream (see my photo) although excellent was a complete waste of money. For $4 you don't even get the equivalent of one scoop of ice cream.
The shows were very well orchestrated and I highly recommend them. Before going, we were able to print out the show times online and plan accordingly.
It was sad seeing the enclosures for most of the big cats. It might be an ideal size for the common house cat but certainly not for big cats. I hope the zoo corrects that atrocity soon.
Whenever my biological clock starts ticking and I think "Oh maybe I should have a kid," I go to the zoo and am ready to head straight for the nearest clinic and have my tubes tied immediately.
The exhibits are generally very good although I think the somewhat antiquated aspect of some parts of it (the cat house, the pachyderm habitats) do not allow animals the space to roam like they should. I do love Tropical Discovery and that saves me a trip to the Aquarium, and the recently expanded Predator Ridge is an excellent opportunity to view the lions. Sleeping. The new monkey area is neat but requires a great deal of walking through wood chips and "jungle" to get to the orangutans, who look like a former boss of mine.
The crowds, oh holy mother of God. I mistakenly went on a Saturday, in early August, and regretted the decision once I was inside the gates. Getting near any exhibit was difficult, and every few seconds I had to watch where I was stepping because someone's demon seed was running around me with their impotent parents uselessly trying to corral them. Folks, if you can't keep up with one then why in the hell would you have three? I'm at a loss here.
This is a place you don't want to go if you don't like crowds, or cramped areas, or are claustrophobic, or a germophobe, or have an irrational fear of oversized strollers. However, I would highly recommend it right now because they have a baby okapi which essentially looks like a Smart Car. Seriously.
I never liked taking the kids there and I didn't like going as a kid because I thought it smelled terrible. So did my son, so it wasn't a loss.
After being to a few of the adult evening events I would totally recommend it as a date night and an event night!
Funny that most of us would think of it as a kid place but it was much more enjoyable in the evening with a glass of wine. They have events all the time, go check out their website and have fun.
I had a friend in town this past week and we decided that a few hours wandering the zoo would be a great way to enjoy the sunny afternoon. My expectations were not all that high and I left very impressed with the entire experience. I was pleasantly surprised by how close you can get to all of the animals and even more impressed that the zoo didn't smell as zoo-y as you would expect. I loved seeing all of the animals, but I always end up feeling sad for the ones that are clearly in need of more space to play and run. When you go, make sure to check out the penguins and the seals. They were easily the most entertaining animals from our entire visit. Who said zoos were only for kids?
Me and my lady love going to the zoo. It is a great date day especially if you go on a slower week day. We can just walk around in our own world feeling like little kids.
The Denver Zoo is well laid out. You can easily by-pass the boring birds exhibit and get to the monkeys, or whatever route you'd like to take. This last time we went we had all sorts of luck. We got to catch not only the sealion demo but even walked upon a servil out among the people with its trainer.
It was a lovely day!
Who says only kids enjoy the Zoo.
We had so much fun at the zoo, just a couple of big kids admiring the wildlife. The exhibits were very well maintained and the animals looked happy and very comfortable. The habitats are also very well kept and clean. I would say we knew when we got to the elephants because of there unique scent but that's understandable.
The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. We were told as soon as we got in that they had two new baby giraffes :0) how cool.
***Public transportation was great! We took the 32 bus and were left right at the entrance pick up was the same for only a $2.00 fare.***
This is a great zoo to go to when you are in Denver! Seeing all the animals are great! They got a nice amphibian, fish, polar bear and sea lion exhibits. They have fun presentations with the animals too, when I was there it was with birds. Well worth spending the day at.
I really can't give a place that's helping animals fewer than four stars, even if they only have one cashier in most of their snack bars. (We only wanted to buy one water! Why!!)
The lions are impressive and like to put on a show, just like many of the animals there. Peacocks roam the ground, and they must have been looking for a hot date, because we had to walk around their feathers. Impressive.
The other complaint I have is that there weren't many zoo workers around the exhibits to chat about the animals or answer questions, but I may be used to larger zoos where they have the staff for it (National, San Diego, Houston).
Oh yeah -- the ticket lines can be quite long, so try to buy your tickets from some place like King Soopers before you go.
A visit to the Denver Zoo pretty much confirmed what I already knew: I really dislike zoos.
For my money (none, since we visited on a Free Day), I'd rather stay home and watch the Discovery Channel or Animal Planet. At least THOSE animals don't appear-- at best-- bored and depressed. At worst, ohmahgawd, those poor peacocks! Though they're allowed to roam "free" within the gates of the Denver Zoo, they're also subjected to having their feathers pulled, having sticks thrown at them, and being chased and corned by kids who are just being kids. EVIL kids, but kids nonetheless.
Note to dirtbag parents: pay attention to your dirtbag kids. Teach them that torturing animals is WRONG. That is, unless you want to end up with a Columbine situation on your hands. Warning signs, yo.
Maybe it's that we visited in Winter, but DAMN this is one seriously ghetto-ass zoo. Just... ugh. Brown, brown, brown. Dirt, dirt, dirt. Cement, cement, cement. The indoor rainforest was the only green thing around, and MAN did I feel awful for the big cats inside those glass-walled cubicles. Someone, in their infinite wisdom, assumed that if they painted (badly, I might add) murals of sweeping pampas grasslands on the walls of the 10' x 10' room, the cougars and ocelots imprisoned within might be fooled.
Note to animal interior decorator: you ain't foolin' anyone. Least of all the animals themselves.
I'm offering two starts VERY grudgingly, and that's only because kids seem to dig the place. Silly kids. If only you knew.
At least the parking is free.
Sorry folks. The Denver Zoo is only average. Not bad, just not special. Visit some the nation's top zoos (Columbus, Lincoln Park, San Diego, Bronx, National, etc, etc, et al) and you'll see what I mean. I don't bother bringing out of town guests here. Too many truly special things to see and do to waste time at the zoo.
We've been members continuously since we moved here in '85. Membership is a good deal if you visit at least three times a year. There are other benefits like discounts in the gift shop and restaurant. There are also occasional members only events like morning breakfast walks. My son, who was eight years old when we joined, enjoyed the summer day camps right up until he entered high school. Got to work up close and personal with many of the the animals.
It's a nice place to go for a walk. Best time to visit is mid to late afternoon on a weekday, after the soccer moms have taken their kids home, September through May. Don't go: on any free day; any school holiday; any time between June 1st and September 1st; anytime you see more than four school buses parked in the lot (which way too frequent).
One of my friends who shall remain nameless invited me to go to the zoo with her and her kids on free day. I think she wanted to laugh at me.
I like the zoo. I love kids. But dear Lord help me.
People are coming in from all four corners here, my friends. We parked a mile away to get there. And there are thousands of people, literally, trying to get into each and every exhibit with 42.5 kids each.
I feel like I am good on the zoo for another 5 years at least. I did see a peacock though and I loved it.
And the guy, in a matching red shirt and pants, who said "Awww, shit...he's goin all ape stylie on us!" made me laugh.
I also felt sad for some of the animals who were not loving the thousands of people banging on the glass.
I'd go ape shit on them too.
Here is yet another place to steer clear of during "free days".
I'll call it hell.
The animals are very cool and my kids like it, but dear God!
Zip-A-Dee-Do at the zoo on the other hand is one of the best events you could ever attend. Fun events for the kids like "scat identification".
Um hmm, you read that right.
This charity event is geared towards a mellow evening where kids can actually spend time in each area without being trampled by a bunch of uncooth, ill mannered idiots.
I'm working on my patience...really I am.
If you have ANY extra money at all, STAY AWAY FROM FREE DAY. Seriously. Unless you like trying to see all your animals through a thick coating of drool on the glass. Or through a sea of children jumping up and down and/or on their parents shoulders. Or if you like to hear the incessant thumping of little (and big!) hands on the glass, trying in vain to get whatever animal's attention. Or if you enjoy being so tightly packed into a space that if you suddenly had to leave, you'd end up fatally trampling hordes of toddlers.
You get the picture. And hey... it's a zoo, so there will naturally be people who cannot comprehend that it is ANNOYING and RUDE to the animals to hoot at them, pound or rap on their enclosures, or otherwise try to get their attention when all the animals clearly want to do is get some peace and quiet. There is nothing you can do about those people. Except make sure you aren't one of them.
The Denver zoo is pretty average as zoos go. They have an impressive variety of primates, which I love. Their big cat cages are woefully inadequate for animals who, in the wild, run miles and miles over the course of a day. This, sadly, is normal for zoos. They have a really bizarre bear enclosure that is akin to what Kym B was mentioning in her reviews. The scenery is painted - either that or inset into the walls, in a sad attempt to make the bears think they are actually in the forest. Well... that doesn't work. If they can't climb in trees and frolic in a forestlike atmosphere... it's not the forest! Bears don't know from paintings... but they know what they can actually touch and what they can't.
Take a lesson from your primate houses and primate houses at zoos around the world, Denver Zoo. Example: most arboreal monkeys and apes enjoy swinging from branches and leaping from tree to tree... so you put ropes and swings and obstacles courses in their enclosure. Very good! You ever see a depressed monkey in your zoo? Not very often. Usually, they look like they're having fun. So take what bears like, what cats like... and approximate them to the best of your ability in their enclosures. I know you have consultants telling you how to do this.
Perhaps Denver, like many zoos is worried about the cost of enlarging its enclosures to the extent that big cats, for example, need. For this I refer anyone to the San Diego Zoo, the most famous zoo in the country, which is absolutely humongoid - and financially thriving, I'm sure. Thriving because people LIKE to see happy animals living lives that approximate as accurately as possible they way they live in the wild.
Oops... did this turn into a zoo rant?
Well, charging $12 per day should be enough to effect some changes in the zoo structures. Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, which I grew up going to, is free for anyone and its enclosures are equivalent to, and sometimes better than, Denver's. I feel that Denver could make some updates.
In the meantime, I still enjoy going there to visit - quietly - with the animals.
Do not, I repeat, DO NOT go here during any time that children are out of school--especially summer vacation!
Not because of the children mind you, but because of the parents!
Take a day off, go mid-week......it's your best bet.
I took my brother here this past August when he was in town visiting and proceeded to be amused and amazed by the animals---horrified AND possibly scarred for life by the people........
1) You will see sad things that are far worse than caged animals: Morbidly obese children being pushed/pulled in wagons (because the poor little munchkins can't walk) by their Super-Sized parents who are , shall we say, not from the West.
2) Ignoramuses making pre-pubescent teenage-boy-esque comments about the female baboons' nether-regions
3) While standing in the bat habitat you may be lucky enough (as I was) to hear such enriching pearls of wisdom as
"See dat, dat rahyt dare, yer granpa kill one uh dem wid'uh two by fer!"
If you are like me and prefer to pretend the world is a happy place-stay away from the zoo in the summer! !
Maybe it's 60 degree weather or the fact that I am on maternity leave with my second child, but weekdays at the zoo ROCK! I am a big fan of the Denver Zoo and have been a member for two years now, it is great to be able to go and spend a few hours.
Today was wonderful. I took my two year old son (to expend some energy), my mother in-law (for company) and my newborn (for some fresh air). We arrived just as the zoo opened and were really impress by the number of volunteers at the different exhibits with interesting tidbits to share.
We visit the zoo often and concur with everyone else that we avoid free day. However, we do attend many of the other special events and have to say that once you make it past the entrance the crowd seems to disperse nicely.
I would recommend highly recommend the zoo and consider the membership option if you live close or visit often.
If you want to go crazy and pull your hair out then take your kid to the zoo on a Free day! If you want to relax with your child as you look at animals and ride the train then get a pass because they are so cheap its ridiculous.
This place is fun for the kids and on a nice day I even enjoy it. It can get busy after noon on a nice day so I try to be there when they open so I dont drive myself nuts.
DO: Go to the Denver Zoo in the middle of the week, especially if it's not during summer or spring break for the local schools.
DO NOT: Go there on a free day. You have been warned.
As far as medium-sized zoo are concerned this one isn't too bad. I don't recommend coming in the winter months because most of the animals are not out and the zoo is very dreary looking. And please, parents please teach your kids not to chase after the peacocks and ducks. That's just so mean. Also, banging on the plexiglass won't get the animals attention it just annoys them, and me. Thank you.
I went on a free day (1 million strollers and infinity children), with a broken ankle and with 2 baby nephews and still had a blast.
Personal favorite are the sloths, even though they sleep 22 hours a day, they are still damn cute.
I felt sad for the large cats because a lot of smaller animals had better cages than them. It was also sad because the vegetation in CO in the winter is almost nonexistent, so the jungle cats have no jungle to play in.
The huge birds are amazing and that says a lot coming from me because I personally believe birds to be the most vile creatures on earth (excluding penguins of course) the peacocks roam around too which is pretty cool.
Overall I had a great time, the main reason I gave it 3 stars is because of my own personal convictions and guilt I feel when I go to any zoo.
The Denver Zoo is a well known favorite of Denver residents and it's visitors. Here's why:
* 8 Free days- the zoo offers 8 free days every year.
* The zoo is open every day, even on Christmas.
* 700 species and 4000 animals in the collection.
* Centrally located in City Park at 2300 Steele Street, in Denver 80205.
* 80 Acres of fun, great for a walk, a picnic, or a train ride inside the zoo grounds.
* Baby animal nursery- One of it's newest babies born is the golden lion tamarin monkey. He's super cute and about the size of a kiwi fruit. He was born on February 6, 2009.
* Fresh water aquariums are one of the zoo's most beautiful and exotic features.
* Asian Tropics- the rain forest exhibit is one of the newer stops and is quite amazing!
* Primate Panoramas- The monkey's are my personal favorite. This is 7 acres of natural habitat housing even the big apes and even some monkeys that are endangered or becoming extinct.
* Plants- including the rare bamboo plant grow all around the entire zoo, giving it's visitors a feeling of being transported into another land.
* Northern Shores- houses the amazing polar bears. You can watch them sunning on and diving from the big rocks or you can walk down to the lower level to see them swim, with only a window between you and the graceful giants. Harbor seals and California sea lions squirm and play just a few feet away and make the child in each of us laugh with glee.
You can call the zoo at 303-376-4800 for more information or see their web site here: http://www.denverzoo.o...
The negatives are: parking is hard to come by and animals shouldn't be treated this way by human beings. The Denver zoo is beginning a transformation to become a conservation center, although this could take 15 to 20 years to complete.
We decided to spend a few hours at the zoo today to do something different. It was very exciting to see the new bay Giraffe! He was probably the happiest animal there. A lot of the animals look so sad and you start to wonder if they even want to be there. Some of the areas are starting to look a little run down and a lot of the animals weren't even out - no monkey island!!
We would also agree that the aquarium section was probably the best. That part alone probably took us 45 minutes to an hour to go through. Overall, we spent about three hours there and made it through the whole park. I would imagine Spring and Fall are better times to visit for the scenery.
I can't see us rushing back any time soon. It takes some time for your mind to forget how sad the animals were and for you to think again that a day at the zoo is great.
Your run-of-the-mill zoo?
Hardly.
Among the entertaining orangutans going about their monkey business, kaleidoscopic snakes slithering through the grass and hippos having a hey day, this marvelous habitat for all creatures great and small peddles an old-fashioned carousel bobbing with endangered species coupled with narrated train ride tours and environmentally-sound exhibits like the panoramic Predator Ridge, a goliath, naturally-landscaped oasis parading birds, reptiles and mammals, all of which are African species.
In 2009, the zoo plans to unveil Asian Tropics, a new, 10-acre territory for Asian elephants, one-horned rhinos, and black leopards.
It has been over ten years since I have been to the zoo. It was not as exciting as I had hoped it to be, but it was a great form of birth control as every time I turned a round a child was crying.
I took my nephews and nieces. Since they have a Family Pass they go often and being that they are all under age 8 three hours was enough time to walk around. I would have enjoyed being able to read more about the animals. It seemed like a lot of exhibits didn't have many animals, but there were an over abundance of birds and chipmunks. It was nice to go out and enjoy the weather, but nothing made me want to come back for more.
We opted to go to the Denver Zoo with Little Q mid-day on a Monday. It had snowed in Denver the morning of, and though the snow had all melted, it was still mostly overcast and chilly.
Turns out this is the perfect time to visit the Denver Zoo! Never have we seen so many of the predators so active. There was a flock of geese making their way across the grounds, honking loudly and drawing the attention of every predator in the joint. The leopards were pacing, climbing, pacing, climbing; and we were only about six feet away from the low growls the male was emitting. It was awesome, in every sense of the word.
The Siberian Tiger was high atop a stump, trying to get the best view she could. She gave us the once over, and it was...unnerving, to be quite honest.
There were lots of indoor areas for viewing as well, for those animals that simply don't like the cold. The primate pavilion was cool, and the two silverback gorilla brothers were partying down in their big play area. Most of the animals were feisty, in fact. The elephant trumpeted, which may very well have been the first time any of us heard that in person before.
And shrews: who knew? I figured they were birds. I was wrong.
The brown bears were doing laps around their compound. The black bears had thick, lustrous coats, and were partying down. A docent confirmed that in colder weather the animals are all more active. Cool beans.
Denver gets minus a star for the size of some of the enclosures. Cats as active as that should have more space. Easy for me to say, I know, we're not paying the lions share of their annual budget. In fact, we paid a discounted rate because we are members of the SF Zoo. Reciprocity, boys and girls: learn it, know it, live it.
And check out the zoo when in Denver. Especially if it is cooooold.
The Denver Zoo is one of my favorite escapes in the City. I love walking through the zoo just to observe the seasons change and the animals' activity changing with the season. And I wait each year for winter to see the Arctic Fox become active. I have seen the ring tail lemurs doing the lotus pose at sunset, giraffes mating (that one was unbelievable), Klondike and Snow in incubators, hyena puppies setting hierarchy positions, the wolves howling during a members nighttime walk, and many more natural wonders. It is a wonderful place to observe nature. I also like the Denver Zoo's participation in the extinct animal breeding program. However, a 5 star zoo would have a lot more space.
Vanity Tip: When your skin is totally dried out from the winter's cold, take a walk through Tropical Discovery to plump up all those cells.
The other reviewers laid it out pretty well so I won't be redundant. But I do have to mention the giraffe exhibit. It's great. I live in San Diego so we only have a large outdoor giraffe exhibit where they're kind of far away. But in Denver, you can walk through an indoor exhibit and see them really up close. It's amazing how huge they are. But at the same time, I'm a really tall guy so I can appreciate food and water dishes 15 feet in the air. I hate bending down too!
The lion and tiger exhibits are pretty impressive too. It seems that the animals are stimulated by changing surroundings instead of getting bored and pacing like a lot of zoo animals do. :(
You could see the whole zoo in under 2 hours. It's fairly small but it packs in a lot.
I love the Denver Zoo. In fact, so much so that I'll say it again, loudly: I LOVE THE DENVER ZOO. I bought a membership earlier this year and have used it more times than I can count; it has easily paid for itself three times over. I love taking walks there - the paths are nice and clean and there is so much to see. During the summer, I'd frequently go after work just to get a walk in because the place clears out during that last hour before the zoo closes, and nothing is nicer than a quiet animal refuge.
I'd definitely recommend checking out the Tropical Discovery and the Giraffe Meadows (Meadows? Seriously? According to the website, this is the title). The Bear Mountain can be a pretty cool spot, too.
Even though I was dive-bombed by a random exotic plumed something-or-other in Bird World and managed to spot a (very enthusiastic) masturbating mangabey in the Primate Panorama, I still intend to return to this zoo again and again.
Okay, so it's not the San Diego Zoo. Still, I think the aquarium part of this place is actually more impressive then the overpriced one downtown. My recommendation is to go during the fall before it gets too cold. The foliage is really very impressive. Pretty good variety of species here, I wish the elephants had more space. All and all a good place relatively inexpensive day for family outing. YES, AVOID THE FREE DAYS.
Hey, what a great place to mingle with depressing cage-ed animals with your boyfriend or loved ones while snacking on cotten candy!
I never have been a great fan of zoos in general because I feel so bad for those guys : ( I know they are well taken care of and even loved, but you know, my heart just goes out to them : ( BUT the Denver Zoo is one of the best. j I fondly remember many a school trip to this joint, okay in fact, not fondly but I do remember it and the Zoo is....large, complete, featuring many animals in semblances of their natural environments...
I think the polar bears are still crying.
We visited the Zoo this week for Zoo Lights. They do a fantastic job of lighting up the park. There are tons of lights and the kids will love spotting all the light displays that show animals. They even have holiday music with animal sounds as instruments playing.
As for the real animals, well, they are mostly sleeping. The do have the Pachyderm (2 elephants, 2 hippos and 1 rhino), tropical forest (lizards, snakes, fish) and giraffe houses open so you can see them all up and eating. The Dahl Sheep were sitting on their rocks watching the people. The snow leopard, hyena and wolf were all prowling around their enclosures. So there are some animals to see but not the full spectrum as you would see in the day. Make sure when you go to look up into the trees near the Giraffe house and the Seal area. The Peacocks sleep in the trees and you can see them up there.
There are plenty of places to get hot chocolate and other warm stuff as you walk around. The night we went Santa was there and some other festivities such as fire juggling and ice sculpture were going on near him.
In past years it has been extremely crowded on some nights, especially when the weather is warm.
My family is in Denver for business and pleasure. We went to the Denver Zoo on a Sunday during November. We love going to zoos and I have to say Denver Zoo is one of the best I have ever visited!
It was extremely clean and easy to navigate. The food and restrooms were spaced nicely. Wagon rentals are available for those who would like to bring coolers or do not want to bring their own wagon/stroller. The zoo has had primate species we have never seen. There were signs on many exhibits announcing births over the past year. When we were in the Big Cats area--the snow leopard cubs were out playing and entertaining the audience that had gathered around to watch. It was so much for our daughter and my husband and I alike!
The Money Breakdown
There is free parking available (a novelty to us). The admission was $9.00 for us since we were off-season and it is free for children 2 and under. The food was reasonable priced but if we lived in the area, we would have brought a picnic since there were plenty of places to eat inside of the zoo (since it is allowed).
I would strongly recommend visiting the Zoo if you get an opportunity. It is on my must-see list when we are here in Denver!
i hadn't been to the zoo in a gajillion years, and this year i went for zoo lights. the light themselves were exciting for about the first five minutes (the first time you see one that moves is a treat), the elephants almost made me cry, and the giraffes looked like aliens.
i guess what i'm trying to say is that it was fun because it was an excuse to hang out with friends while looking at lights and commenting on the alien-ness of giraffes (slash roboticness. really. those are not real animals, i don't believe it).
definitely bring two dollars to ride the carousel though. i didn't, and i was devastated that i couldn't ride a panda bear.
This isn't the largest zoo that I have ever visited, but it's a great place to hang out nevertheless. Among my favorite exhibits are the Primate Panorama, the Tropical Discovery (which includes Komodo Dragons), the Bird World, and the Sea Exhibit.
Although the animal enclosures aren't as large as they should be, they have been crafted to mimic the animals natural habitat as closely as possible. The cleanliness and maintenance of the zoo's various exhibits is obvious to any casual observer, and I commend the Zoo staff for their professionalism.
During the summer I love visiting the zoo, munching on Dippin' Dots...and gawking in awe at the size and majesty of nature's wonderful creatures. During the winter-time, the zoo hosts a phomenal light show. Not just a set of lights thrown onto the trees, they have a huge collection of beautiful light displays crafted to look like various animals. Several exhibits, such as the Tropical Discovery, are open to the public during the light show allowing people to warm up and see the animals at night.
This is a great zoo, and well worth the cost of a membership. I give it high ratings for the creativity of the displays and the care of its animals.
It's definitely a good place to take the out-of-towners, but I gotta say I'm a little jaded on the zoo.
Maybe cause I've lived here all my life and been to the Denver Zoo more times than I can possibly remember..
Regardless, for a Zoo, or at least for all the zoos I've been to.. Denver's is pretty impressive. Good variety, and I really like the upgrades they've made to some of the exhibits recently.
Can't say I enjoy any zoo all THAT much, but I won't go into the whole oh-life-is-so-unfair-that-wild-animals-have-to-be- in-zoos-rather-than-the-wild rant. We're focusing on the Denver Zoo in particular, not the tragedies of the world. But I have to admit I really do love seeing all the fuzzies.. and non-fuzzies..
Oh, and if you haven't heart about Klondike and Snow (the polar bear cubs born here in the 90s who were rejected by their mother and raised by the zoo staff and then when they grew too big for Denver's enclosures got tranferred out of state to go live in Florida at Sea World and everyone in Denver cried!), then you must have been living in a cave.. or.. something. Go rent the PBS special and be impressed.
Anyhoo, if you like seeing exotic animals and are too broke (or too lazy) to go see them in the wild, here's a great way to do it!
I once spent the night at the zoo with a Boy Scout troop.
Don't look at me like that, I was 11 and my best friend's brother was a boy scout and they had a couple extra spaces for the overnight! Sheesh, you people and your dirty minds. Tsk, tsk.
Anyway, I remember that night very fondly, long ago though it was- we slept in the big cat house, and the tiger came and roared at us out of the darkness, and even from the other side of the reinforced plexi glass viewing window, everyone screamed! Then everyone laughed at how the big tough troop leader screamed.
Since then, many improvements have been made to the zoo. I hope one day wildlife will be valued and preserved in its natural habitat enough that children can visit park preserves instead of zoos, but for now, they are necessary for the conservation of rare species. My favorite part of the zoo is still the big cat house- the lion brothers are so funny, just lying there watching visitors like we are paraded past for THEIR entertainment. I love the part of the nursery where you can peek in and see the babies, too- I'm such a girl that way. Big sucker for fuzzy fur and big eyes.
The Denver Zoo is one of the best out there- not up to the standards of the San Diego Zoo, but definitely excellent.
Only one star for the Denver Zoo after the death of Hazina, the 3000-pound hippo that died upon arrival at the Calgary Zoo in October '07. I would actually give the Denver zoo 1/2 star if I could. I wish the Denver Zoo would own up to the death instead of making excuses. The official statement was ""I don't know what we would do differently," said Dr. Lynn Kramer, vice president for biological programs at the Denver Zoo. Morons. I want to put the staff that made this fatal decision in a crate and ship them to Calgary. THUMBS DOWN...................to the DENVER ZOO.
