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Phoenix Zoo
Rating Details »
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
40 reviews for Phoenix Zoo
When we first got here I felt disappointed until I realized the zoo is much larger than it first appears. Particularly worthy of checking out - the lions and tigers. Also do not pass up the monkey walk. The little squirrel monkeys are fun to watch.
Be sure to shell out the extra bucks to feed the giraffes. It's a unique experience to be so close to these large, yet gentle, creatures. Definitely my favorite part of my visit.
Visit Date: 11/19/09
I love the Phoenix zoo. So I grew up in south Phoenix and this was our go to field trip in elementary school.
Seriously, we went every year.
But I was ok with that because I loved it. I've enjoyed picnics (the way too go, the food is not that great and it's expensive), birthday parties, and scavenger hunts here. I even saw a wedding here once. On a nice day it makes for a great walk. Too bad they didn't have the water park type area when I was a kid. It looks so refreshing to splash in during the summer when the afternoons can be unbearable. Trust me, I've thought about shoving a kid or too out of the way just to enjoy a sprinkle.
It's also nice to come here in December when it's a little chilly and grab a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy Zoo Lights.
I really dig this zoo. I had a blast feeding the stingrays- they are just like giant cuddly portabella mushrooms, i.e. AWESOME. The open monkey exhibit is great too. However, my favorite is the cabybara- the largest rodent in the world. My visit to the zoo is not complete without seeing the capybara in all of its sassy glory!
I understand some folks' uneasiness at zoos, worrying about the animals being too cramped, hot, etc. But I really feel that the Phoenix Zoo is a far cry from the zoos and circuses of yore. It is a non-profit zoo, and it is important to know that it takes part in many conservation efforts and also serves as a sanctuary for unwanted/aggressive/abused animals. It is an excellent place to learn, especially for children.
A really nice zoo as long as you're not expecting the San Diego Zoo experience. But hey, for $16 (half that if you're a member at a reciprocal institution) you get more than what you might expect. We're from out of town and I was pleasantly surprised at the size and layout of the park and the quality of the exhibits. We didn't get to everything but our kids enjoyed running around and seeing all the animals. The Giraffe Encounter was well worth the $3.
Watching the mandrills pick insects off each other's butts to eat was itself worth four stars.
The zoo is cool! I have enjoyed the Zoo lights in the fall in the past and this weekend visited for the giraffe encounter. I highly recommend seeking this exhibit. It is $3 in addition to the fee to get into the zoo, but it was worth it. My friend and I got to hand feed a couple of giraffes - how cool to be that close to the animals. Thankfully they also provide a spritz of hand sanitizer to get the saliva off.
The exhibit is 7 days a week 9-10 AM. Highly recommend going being this exhibit is gone. Also stop by to see the new jaguar on display.
Love the PHX Zoo!! All the animals were out and about and looked good. The weather was cooler in Oct. Staff was friendly. Kudos to @phoenixzoo on Twitter for getting us out and reminding us to go!
We had our reception at the Zoo and it was absolutely perfect. The event staff was on-the-ball and were very helpful. However, the greatest part of this experience was working with Kelly, one of the Zoo's Social Event Sales Representatives. Kelly was helpful, a saint when it came to patience, and made the whole experience less stressful for us. It was a joy working with her. My guests loved the whole experience, from the animal encounters at our cocktail hour to the venue sites. They loved the whole thing. I highly recommend the Phoenix Zoo for your event and would absolutely work with Kelly again. Great job!
I love the zoo! My family has a membership and it is used well. For anyone with kids under 10 living in the Valley of the Sun, membership is a must! This way, there is no pressure to see the entire park in one visit. There are so many activities for kids, that we usually cover half the park per visit.
Favorite actvities at the zoo include: the monkey walk (there is no wall seperating you from the monkeys and they jump around the walking path - so fun!), the many kid parks/fountains to play in, the kids petting zoo, and the old giant turtles.
Also, try out Zoo Lights! You can't use your membership to get it, but it's well worth the extra expense. We went in early July - dress your kids in bathing suits and bring tons of water! There are water activities everywhere, and the paths are lit up with magical lights.
If you are visiting from out of town, the Zoo is well worth the trip. If it's a hot month, go early and take the train tour to save energy. Bring water!!
I'm a huge fan of the Phoenix Zoo which is funny since I don't really like kids and there are always a zillion kids around. But that's not the zoos fault.
There are great animals here and lots to see. Go in the morning when the animals are the most active. A new exhibit is under construction for a Komodo Dragon. How cool is that! I like the Arizona Trail and the amphibians the best. And the sting rays when they are there.
I don't ever buy snacks since prices are high. I'd recommend eating before you go. The zoo is very shady. I went last summer on July 8 and had a great time.
The Phx Zoo is clean, restrooms always well equipped, and there is lots of water fun for the kiddos. I also do appreciate the little Fisher Price play area (not covered from sun), but nothing for toddlers/babies There should be a covered soft play area for them. No tram for those that park far/handicapped. Children in strollers can not see with high walls. If lucky there may be one/two little plexy glass windows for all the children to smoosh together and look through. Not helpful to the parents trying to show/teach there children. All in all, if you have nothing to do, then visit. *You can take your own lunch/cooler, free parking ;0)
It was a beautiful Saturday in Phoenix. The weather was cool and crisp, the sky was clear. It really was a perfect day to take a walk and be outside, so I invited my husband to the zoo.
Before we went there, we stopped at our favorite taco place, Guedos, and with bellies full we set off.
It's been a long time since I've gone to the zoo. Probably because my life is like a zoo, I really don't want to go there to visit! I think the last zoo I visited was the San Diego Zoo about 5 years ago.
We had a fabulous time. The animals were out, we got to walk around in the beautiful natural setting, and enjoy each other's company. My favorite animals were the meerkats and the elephants. They had elephants there that are older than I am! No wonder they have so many wrinkles!
We spent about 4 hours there and had a fabulous time. We thought it was worth the $14 we paid per person to get in.
I do agree with previous reviews. We didn't buy food there, as there was no way I was going to pay big bucks for typical zoo food that isn't really good for you anyway. We did pay $2.50 a bottle for water and soda. Best thing for a family is to bring your own.
Anyway, the Phoenix Zoo is a must see on a cool day. In the summer they open at 7, so you should be able to enjoy the morning coolness.
Enjoy!
I am definitely a fan. The place is clean and easy to walk. The animals have lots of room and the viewing is great. We spent about 6.5 hours walking and saw practically everything in the zoo. Theere is nothing remarkable about the collection of animals but the experience was among the best I have had overall at zoos in this country.
The food is slightly over priced and there is not much variety. However, I enjoyed the simple but ample chicken cesar salad that cost under $7. If you want something better, bring it with as they allow for food and drink.
The gift shop is sub-par with run of the mill things that most zoos have.
Reason 18,565,992 not to have kids: Phoenix Zoo. You walk in and before seeing any animals you are bombarded with gift shops, playgrounds, a carousel, food stands and stingray bay (admission required). Jesus I felt bad for those with younger ones who couldn't even be bothered by the animals but were lured by all the stops at the entrance.
Aside from the qualms mentioned above, Phoenix Zoo offers a decent variety of animals for such a hot climate. The exhibits fit in nicely with the terrain and you won't die of heat exhaustion trying to see the animals if you skip the summer months. But yeah. It's a zoo. You see crazy ass animals in habitats. 'nuff said.
Having a small daughter, walking the malls around here gets old. A friend and I recently took our girls to the zoo and had a great time. 99% of the zoo is stroller friendly. I think the only place I had to park it was the petting zoo and the monkey enclosure. Over all the zoo is beautiful and very well kept, even for it's age. I love that some of the exhibits really show off Arizona's beautiful landscape.
I highly recommend packing a lunch and eating in the picnic area though as food is abnormally high priced, even for a zoo/amusement park.
Also, if you think you'd use it, BUY A MEMBERSHIP! It's like $75 for two adults and two children and you don't always have to take a spouse, you can bring a guest! Kids under 2 are free anyhow but at $16 each for adults it's totally worth it after just a couple of visits.
I give it a 3 because the cages or whatever you call them are pretty small. There isnt much to see. This place definatly needs a make over. However I do always have a good time, the staff seems to really enjoy what they do.
They just need more shows and new animals, or exibits where you can see the animals.
Maybe touch up the aquarium section.
I do give 5 stars to the shark and sting ray petting area but it is really dumb you have to pay more to get in there. Luckily I knew the admission person who let me in but I remember it being a ridiculous price.
I'd suggest packing a picnic to go along as the eats are really expensive at this zoo, way more than average! It seems that a concession company runs the snack carts at this zoo which may help explain the higher than average costs. We got 1/2 off admission with our reciprocal zoo membership which helped a touch.
The waterplay area is what stood out for my son. There is a cavern with dripping water and lots of interactive sprinklers. If you go with kids bring a good book or something as you will be sitting there for a good while.
Of course after spending a small mint on refreshments that hot day the kids wanted to hit the gift shop, which is also fairly expensive. The t-shirts were just too cool to pass up though! I'd recommend using the gift shop as a bribe to get through the zoo without dropping bocu bucks on all of their expensive refreshments!
Last night we attended the summer night time activities for kids held on Fridays form 6-9 during the summer. We had a great time, the kids had water blow up slides to play on , water play , Phoenix Youth theater acts,
fun family music. They have only one more Friday left this summer, so come out and have fun. There was a lovely breeze by about 7:00 and the sun stopped heating it up.
Always love the zoo, they seem to be getting more and more exhibits and animals. I recommend going at the beginning of the day or end of the day. That's when many animals come out to play , feed and water.
Last night we saw the family of wild dogs playing and hanging out also saw the cheetahs which was a treat , they usually hide to camouflage .
The zoo is equipped with clean bathrooms, lots of places for breaks and hanging out. We have had two birthday parties there and the kids loved it.
The kids wanted a ride on the tram which was nice in the evening , we learned new facts from the guide and a little about the Zoo's work on keeping many animals from becoming extinct.
My 9 year old and my best friends 10 year old have been coming here since they were 2 and 3 . They love coming here and never seem to tire of it
We visit the zoo about every two months just to check out what the animals are doing. You can bring in your own food, wagons, bikes and stay all day . For little ones there is a huge tree house to play in and a water splash place for summer.
Really, I would give this place 3.5 stars. It is a great, relaxing place to spend a cool day. DO NOT go when it is hot - you will be miserable and so are the animals. Overall, this is a pretty standard, older zoo. What distinguishes it, though, is the amazing desert backdrops. The best areas of the zoo are those that reflect the local landscape, especially the big horn sheep area dramatically set against Papago Peak.
As an aside, the kettle corn made on site is really good as well. If you want a salty-sweet snack, this is the way to go.
THIS IS AN ANIMAL CRUELTY LOVING ZOO.
How the fuck do you keep our national bird in 117 degree heat. I SAW A PAIR OF OUR NATION'S BEAUTIFUL BALD EAGLES PANTING LIKE DOGS FOR BREATH under the scorching Phoenix sun.
Yes, our beloved national birds on the ground, beaks open, literally gasping for air. Their cage was tiny; HOW THE FUCK ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO FLY? They aren't canaries.
I'm not PETA but this is animal cruelty and this is just plain un-American. Anyone affiliated with this zoo, especially the trustees belong in prison. Also, it wasn't just the bald eagles that were in pain; there were plenty of animals suffering under the heat.
I don't know if I was more sad or mad at these conditions. Hell holes like the Phoenix Zoo make me question the supposed innate goodness of humanity, instead making me think that we are just nature-killing bastards.
If you care for animals even in the slightest bit, do not go to this zoo and take action. I am and will continue to do so. These fuckers belong in jail.
This is a wonderful zoo and surpassed all of our expectations. We don't have kids, but our love for animals manages to outweigh the annoyance I often feel toward strangers' kids, and boy was it worth it for this zoo. We walked it relatively quickly and enjoyed the exhibits. The tiger is adorable, and the otter was so playful. The main exhibit with the giraffes was gorgeous. We were so impressed.
When we were hot and tired we decided to take the tram, and the kids around me left me largely unamused. The tram guide wasn't particularly talkative, but there were some neat pieces of trivia dished out.
The pluses were the animals and the relatively uncrowded atmosphere, probably due in part to the heat. And any place that gives camel rides always deserves a thumbs up.
The downside was the food, as everyone mentions. We had a frozen lemonade, which was pretty much a frozen Countrytime (or similar), and their water prices are highway robbery in summer!
All in all, it's a lot better than the smaller zoos in SoCal. Be proud, Phoenix!
While I myself enjoyed my brief stint in a hanging cage at a club in Chicago, I doubt very much the animals here are happy about it. At least I got to get liquored up. These poor fellas get Phoenix tap water. Groddy!
As far as zoos go, this one rates pretty average to me. Sort of on par with LA's in Griffith Park. A lot of the paths are like navigating Central Avenue with potholes large enough to swallow a stroller.
It's difficult to see most of the animals as they seem to hide. But who can blame them. They must thinking..."WTF. Why are these two legged creatures lining up to see me poop?" Strange indeed. And it is really a place for kids. Like Chuck E Cheese. And the room of balls at IKEA. And Mia Farrow's house.
If I want to see something on all fours, being held against it's will, I wait for bondage night at Pat's Bunkhouse. At least then I can have a beer and not worry about the stench of feces. Oh, wait. Strike that. Have you been to Pat's Bunkhouse?
I'm not sorry that I love this zoo. I have many fond memories here.
Yes, it's a smaller zoo, and yes, they are somewhat lacking in good animal watching..but come on people, six months out of the year it's blazing hot outside. They can only do so much.
I recommend coming here on a beautiful spring day. If it's hot outside, you'll hate it. Bring your bike, too. I used to bring my bike and just ride around all day.
I have been to the Phoenix Zoo twice now. The first time was 3 weeks ago in 104 degree temp. Awful experience. We only went around the big animals side so my daughter could see them. All the animals were tired, hot and sleeping. They looked miserable and we were miserable too. The water mists did not help one bit.
We also went this past weekend when the temperature was a high of 76 degrees. Heaven!!! Loved the zoo. Had so much fun. No need to rush. We just relaxed. All the kids were in a great mood. People were smiling, laughing, just having plain ol fun. The animals seemed alive and active. Just a beautiful experience. The Arizona Trail is great. It might have been good to go there with the hot temperatures as well. Some animals are hard to see because of the layout in the cages. The cages are smaller than needed for some of these large cats and other wild life. The Orangutans have a little baby Orangutan in it and he just hangs and plays while the big guys sleep. It was really cool. My favorite part is the giraffes. There were 5 of them this last time.
Phx Zoo is huge. Prepare for a lot of walking or paying for a tram.
The animals seem to have lost their minds a la "Happy Feet", but if you go to one of the cafes and buy a $45 hamburger, you'll forget all about their misery. Don't forget your collector's cup! Refills are only $1 each.
Buy a membership if you plan on going more than once. Trust me, it's worth it. It gets you into other zoos, like Tucson Zoo for free, too.
Pack your own lunch. Fill a cooler and save big bucks that can be used to buy junk in the gift shop (or carry a a tantrum-throwing toddler over your shoulder back to the car, your choice).
No matter how hard I try, I find it hard to like most zoos, including the one in Phoenix. I s'pose seeing animals in cages bothers me. Yes, that must be it. Also, smelling their fecal matter and wondering if the animals are embarrassed that they can't take a dump 1,500 ft away from their watering hole or sleeping spot. I would be embarrassed. Humans don't put toilets in the kitchen, after all.
Sure, I love being able to see live and in -person jaguars, snakes, apes, elephants, etc. But I always leave feeling sad, like the animals can't possibly be happy and content being locked up. They must know they're restricted. Sure, you build a cheetah a cage and think he's happy running the same path 1,349 times a day. But, let's face it, he's not. Don't tell me you haven't noticed.
And while I love that I've seen live pandas (in DC) or dolphins (in OKC), I just hate seeing animals in captivity. I wouldn't want to be caged. Who knows, one of these days, it could be the flying squirrel and her family, along with donkeys and dung beetles, who pay a minimal fee to come see human beings in cages and behind glass. "Oh, look," the baby flying squirrel will say, "that one there is flinging his poo! How gross!"
This won't be the kind of zoo that will win international awards (although in cases with things like 'zoos', there's always an award from some society to hand out), but its a great way to spend a long morning and early afternoon with students. In this particular case, as chaperon for part of my gf's 2nd grade class.
Something about ushering a group of five hyped up 7-year-olds through the chalky landscape, bomb-pops in hand, loaded up to their D-Backs caps in sugar and expectations can make any place special. For these kids, the Phoenix Zoo delivered, and in turn delivered on my cautious optimism as well. A saccharine start in the "Tropics Trail" with a very smooth finish at the tigers, left every single one of my kids-for-the-day overenthused and buzzing.
The highlight was their interactive venture into the Sting Ray pool, where for $3 (trying to remember) they got to dip their hands into the water and "play" with the rays. This made them literally goofy.
I was also surprised that their food court was fairly extensive and the quality of food far exceeded my expectations. I had a BBQ burger (comes with an onion ring on top) that was actually top-tier fast food. I remember it being modestly priced too (in terms of the typical amusement park racket).
Overall, I was highly impressed with the Phoenix Zoo. As others have mentioned, the San Diego Zoo is the highest standard deviation from the mean as far as zoos are concerned, but I can certainly call the Phoenix Zoo a benchmark on which to build.
If you've been to this zoo once or twice and think you've seen it all, think again. I had been to this zoo a few times over the years before moving to the Valley and thought it was a relatively nice zoo, but I had the same complaints as others who visit infrequently...namely the animals are not putting on a show.
I have since learned it's not the animals that need to change, it's YOU. If you find your favorite animal is always asleep in the afternoon, go in the morning. If you find the animals are hiding out in the August heat, try going in March. Animals are largely creatures of habit, and the zoo is their home. They are not there to entertain you.
However, if you vary your schedule, you will see something new nearly every time you visit. I have seen the tigers in trees, the male lion (who is nearly always asleep) roaring at the crowd, the otters chasing each other and "talking" to the visitors.
This zoo is spread out, so expect to walk a little. In fact, it's a great place to get some exercise. If you go in the summer, go EARLY unless you are doing a sleep study on the animals. Also, you may want to avoid Spring Break weeks if you don't care to be surrounded by thousands of screaming kids running around. Those days it is truly a zoo. I highly recommend purchasing a membership. It pays for itself in only a few trips, and even if you don't go more than that, it's a terrific way to support animal care and conservation. The zoo is more involved in conservation than you might think.
I took my daughter and her friend to the zoo today. First time in recent months and last time we here, we had a membership. Today was the first time I've actually had to PAY to get into the zoo.
WTF man? This place is expensive! $16 for adults, $7 for kids. I walk in the door and I've already spent $30. Ouch. At the freaking zoo. Of course the girls were "starving" when we walk in too. Of course. Because that's what kids do. I buy popcorn, 3 waters and a hotdog. There's another $20. Yay. I have already spent $50 and I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY ANIMALS YET.
I ask, cause I'm a sucker apparently, "what do you girls want to see first?"
Their response, "WE WANT TO SEE THE STINGRAYS! WE WANT TO SEE THE STINGRAYS!"
Of course they do. Because it costs money. This exhibit is not included in general admission. With a membership it is $1. Without a membership it is $3. per person.
We've been here 20 minutes and I am down $60.
I hate this zoo now.
I start thinking about the cute dress I could have bought at Urban Outfitters with this money and I get really sad.
So far, I am very disappointed with my experience at the zoo.
When I finally wise up and say, "NO! I will NOT buy you anything more things! NO stuffed animals! No popsicles! NO! NO! NO!" I notice other parents laughing at me. Apparently I am the only sucker at the zoo today. Awesome.
I glare at all the people laughing at me and tell the girls, "Come on, let's go look at the moutain lion." I finally get to see some animals. Surprisingly, I see animals at every exhibit. That hardly ever happens. Usually they are antisocial and hiding in a cave when I come by. But today, maybe because they knew how depressed I was to be the walking bank and purse for the girls, they made an effort to be seen.
Overall, while the zoo was SO EXPENSIVE for us suckers, it was a great zoo for exhibits and playgrounds. For the kids, it was awesome. For me, it was meh-oh-all-right-I'll-give-you-three-stars-you-blo ody-batards.
Unfortunately, the weather seems a little hot for the cute critters roaming this place (except for the reptiles)... but that did not deter me from checking it out. The planes flying overhead do not provide the most quiet sanctuary for these creatures, but there is plenty of parking and the admission cost is reasonable.
Make sure to check out the "open" monkey exhibit - it is 1 of only 4 in the world. You can step in to a fenced off arena that holds at least 30 little spider monkeys... this was one of the most unique experiences I have ever had at a zoo and I'm sure other people would say the same!
This zoo is fantastic and one of the best we've been to. There are some unique exhibits and the bighorn sheep living in their natural habitat is interesting. I would not recommend going here in the summer though. There are no inside exhibits with air conditioning, and not many concessions open either. Any other season, go!
Okay, let me get my biggest gripe out of the way first: no polar bears! Yes, yes, I know...it's Arizona, it's too hot for polar bears, but that doesn't make me any less sad.
Now, onto the real stuff. I got an annual membership for $50 which means I can visit almost any time I want except during special events. I get discount tickets to Zoo Lights and so on. That price isn't bad considering that regular admission is $14. I've already been twice in the last week (no, I don't have a life).
The animals are still a little lethargic, recovering from a very hot summer. So far I have yet to see the male lion do anything but sleep very soundly. However, I did meander over to the porcupine enclosure at just the right time and got to see her chase her handler around the enclosure and "target" for treats. I can honestly say I had never before seen a trained porcupine. The safari-type enclosure that houses the giraffes amongst other African animals is really cool. And the baboons LOVE having their photograph taken, no joke. There aren't as many animals as other zoos in smaller metros that I've been to, but the climate around here really limits the types of animals they can keep. Still, it's a cool place to walk around. It's really spread out and easy to get lost in, which is fine by me. Oh, and don't forget to visit the wallabies!
As zoos go this is one of the best. Of course, it's hard to love any zoo after going to the one in San Deigo!
I took my girls here this week (during spring break), and they loved it. We tried the paddle boats for the first time. FYI :30 min. is long enough (don't get suckered into buying a full hour unless your name is Lance Armstrong). The kids couldn't get enough of the petting zoo - which is more of a "goat petting" if you ask me.
The Phoenix Zoo is affordable: $26 got all three of us in, plus $12 for the paddle boats, and around $20 for snacks and water. We did get smart and had lunch before getting there.
For a Thursday afternoon I was surprised at how crowded it was. We were there for several hours, saw the bulk of the animals and all for less than $60.
Zoo Lights in December is a definite must do if you have kids. But even if you don't, it's a great place to snuggle up with a date, walk around with a beer and enjoy the thousands of lights hung throughout the walkways.
Besides that visit, I've also been in June when I've gotten to see the giraffe habitat and meeting areas. There's also a banquet hall on-site too.
The zoo itself is decent size. It's not TOO big and expensive like the San Diego Zoo where you have to budget your time and dollars wisely. But it's also not a tiny zoo where you finish seeing it in an hour. At $14 adult tickets are pretty reasonable.
They have all kinds of themed days/nights with fun programming for kids. It was even recently voted as one of the top 5 zoos in the U.S. for kids.
Ever had a vacation that doesn't quite click on all cylinders? That happened to us a few years ago in November when we decided to visit Arizona on the cheap via a time-share offer (you know - the kind were you have to listen to "the talk"). We got the talk over with on the first day. Unfortunately my wife was in tears when I said no because she had bought into the sales ploy that plunking down thousands of dollars for a piece of a resort on a posh Scottsdale golf course was better than a similar offering in Breckenridge or Kauai. The trip to the Grand Canyon was memorable in a no-see-em sort of way. You arrive at the rim to behold a magnificent panorama and...nothing! A snow storm and clouds in the canyon had completely obliterated the view. We did have a fun snowball fight. Sedona shone in all its touristic glory (it really is a beautiful place, though). I thought I felt a jolt of energy in one of its famous vortices, but then realized I was just light-headed from chasing my kids up the hill. Which brings me to the Phoenix Zoo - the attraction that saved the trip for my son and I.
What do you do with an active boy when his sisters and mom want to go shopping and tan by the pool? Yep! That's right! Zoo therapy. Let me start the review by saying I spent half of my childhood at the San Diego Zoo which set the bar impossibly high when used to benchmark other zoos. However, it also instilled in me a life-long love of the zoo experience. I've taken my children to zoos in dozens of cities across the US and in Europe. The Phoenix Zoo is one of the best.
It's a perfect zoo at which to spend three hours and feel like you've seen about everything. The walkways meander easily through different animal habitats and I was surprised and delighted to see that bikers and skaters are allowed. Very smart! I was relieved that it was November and not August. The thought of walking around the place with the temperature at 115 deg F is daunting.
The zoo has some special highlights that bear mentioning:
- The walk-through monkey exhibit. They frolic directly over your head via a system of ropes that serve as the monkey highway through the exhibit. I was amused to see the hand sanitizer and wash stations at the exit. Omygosh! Monkey germs! Many in our over-sanitized culture would be shocked to see equivalent European exhibits where they allow monkeys to sit on your shoulder while you feed them monkey food.
- The Wallaby Walkabout. Uber-cool for the under-ten contingent.
- The Arizona Trail. It's always great and instructive to see indigenous critters in a pseudo-indigenous environment. When we visited, the coyotes were being particularly cooperative in a game of hide-and-go-seek with my boy.
The coolest thing in the whole zoo? The tamarin exhibit! These tiny primates share their enclosure with...whodathunkit...chickens! Why chickens? It's a case of the hens guarding the monkey house. The tamarin's inquisitive nature makes them easy victims for Arizona's scorpion population. They pick them up, get stung and get sick. Chickens just happen to like to eat scorpions and are immune to their venom. When my son found this out, he spent an additional twenty minutes looking for scorpions. Either those barbed beasts weren't being forthcoming or the chickens had done an A+ job.
I'd highly recommend the Phoenix Zoo as a leisurely and instructive afternoon's activity for the whole family.
We went to the zoo this past Saturday because the weather was mild and beautiful and it seemed like a nice Memorial weekend activity. Apparently, a lot of other people had the same idea, because it was totally packed! Our favorite thing about the zoo was the way many of the habitats - most notably, that of the longhorns - was built into/around the natural desert landscape. Papago Peak was a gorgeous backdrop for the wildlife. One other really stand-out exhibit was the monkey habitat. There is a winding path through a bunch of trees, and the monkeys jump through the trees and even cross the path every so often. Less enchanting were the tiger and lion exhibits; the habitats were run-down, and the animals seemed lonely and restless. I have definitely been to better zoos, but this was a fun way to spend an afternoon on an unseasonably mild Phoenix afternoon.
Great place and my kids love it. i haven't splurged enough to do the train ride, but the walking is starting to get too much. Some of the exhibits are not viewer friendly but all in all it is a good place to view the animals. the zoo lights are not that spectacular, i have been twice now with our pass but have decided not to repeat this year. still a good investment if you have kids. don't go in the summer.
Kristin C.'s review prompted a review from me!
I *heart* the Phoenix Zoo. I volunteered here while in high school. I went on an awesome tour with the zoo's veterinarian when I thought I wanted her job (I learned that I prefer just loving my dog and visiting zoos). The people who work here are amazing and love sharing knowledge about the animals.
I live in Chicago now, and though LP Zoo is pretty cool, I much prefer the Phoenix Zoo. The animal habitats are bigger - so you don't always see as many animals, but I like knowing that the critters are running about and are not cramped into little cages. The Phx Zoo offers so many educational opportunities for kids (the summer camp is great!!!) and fun events for adults, too. If you really like the zoo, check into getting a membership, you help out animals and get to skip the lines for buying tickets!
Definitely follow Kristin C's advice and wear comfy shoes, sunscreen, and drink lots of water - the zoo is huge and you will be walking quite a bit.
My favorite part is the AZ trail, it is so cool to see the animals that are native to our part of the country, and the exhibits are really well done.
Go check it out!
After hearing someone say "Phoenix has a zoo?... Really? Well it can't be that good if I haven't heard of it." I knew I had to write a review. (And yes, I did actually hold back from running over and smacking and/or shaking the guy who said that. It was hard, but I had a review to write...)
What you need to know about the zoo.
- Wear comfortable shoes! Like the rest of Phoenix, our zoo sprawls.
- Wear sunscreen. Most folks don't think about it, but I know lots of folks who have come away from there pink.
- Try to avoid going in the midst of the summer. Not only is it too hot for you, it might also be too hot for the animals and they'll be camped out in the back under some shade.
- The monkeys are awesome, as always, but they have a great area.
- They have a really diverse group of animals in a diverse setting - from visiting the croc swamp to barren desert prairies.
- The food isn't half bad! We were surprised!
- Zoo Lights! Starting around Thanksgiving and going through January they light up much of the zoo with cool themed displays. It's not the entire zoo, so less of a walk, but enough of one that it's worth the price of admission.
- It's conveniently close to the Desert Botanical Gardens if you want to make your trip a 2-fer.
- 2 Words - PETTING ZOO! If you have kids - this is the place to go. If you're bringing a date - SO the place to go.
How can visiting a zoo ever be a bad experience? We don't see these animals everyday, other than on the TV. It's a good place to visit as frequently as an art lover visits an art museum.
Just don't go in the heat of the summer ... holy cow was that miserable ... for us AND the animals who were pretty much all hiding out. Phew!
