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The Houston Zoo
Rating Details »
Neighborhood: Museum District
1513 N. MacGregor
Houston, TX 77030
(713) 533-6500
1513 N. MacGregor
Houston, TX 77030
(713) 533-6500
- Hours:
Mon-Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
41 reviews for The Houston Zoo
Jaguars are unique in that they are the only cat that kills its prey by crushing its skull with one bite." WTF. All I could think about was the is cut cuddly cat being like "what's hanging" ::CHOMP!:: there goes my head.
But, the whole trip was really a lot of fun even if i was fearing big kittys. There were lions, and tigers, and bears, oh my! But the lions and tigers were cat napping, and the monkeys were all chillaxing in their homes so that was no fun. Otherwise all of the other animals were awesome and kept me entertained for the better part of 4 hours.
The facilities were up to par, though as other have mentions, but no the best as far as zoos go. I will say that parking was a bit of hassle, but a little struggle makes it sweeter in the end.
Taking off 1/2 a star for not having penguins(melt your face cute) and another half star for the nightmare of a jaguar crushing my skull.
I am a fan of zoos. Houston's may not have the prestige of San Diego or the DC Smithsonian, but for a quiet peaceful break in the middle of the city it is hard to beat. Which is quite a complement considering we went on the first nice sub 90 degree day in the Fall and the place was overrun with kids in Halloween costumes. But still, the trees and fountain pond and of course the animals have a way of putting urban life into perspective.
Parking on a weekend can be a pain. Free, but long lines of really slow traffic getting in. Think seriously about taking the Metro.
1. If you're a Houstonian and haven't been to the zoo, then wtf?
2. If you're a visitor from San Diego, Orlando, DC, NYC, Chicago, Columbus, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Denver, San Antonio or Baltimore, then you have a better zoo in your city.
3. The zoo has a controversial elephant breeding program. Of the 14 births the zoo has had, not one is alive today. It made In Defense of Animal's 2008 "Hall of Shame" for worst zoos for elephants. http://www.helpelephan...
4. My siblings and I didn't know about number 3 until recently. However, in our state of ignorance, we held my fathers 60th birthday party here two years ago. AND IT WAS NOTHING SHORT OF FABULOUS!!! This rest of the review is based on that experience alone.
We decided to have my dad's party here because he's a big kid at heart. The zoo provided several options for various budgets. We knew we wanted it indoors to avoid rain and/or heat/humidity in the summer. We decided to go with the Natural Encounters because it was the prettiest and there is a built in wet bar!
The entire experience ran quite smoothly, and our event coordinator was extremely helpful and accommodating.
The biggest plus was that we were allowed to bring in our own caterer, which was a must for us. Most hotels and event spaces had their own caterers. The Zoo does too, but it wasn't a requirement to use them. The only restriction the zoo had was that we had to cater the alcohol through them. But even with that rule, they were lenient: we had about 120 guests, but only half of them actually drink alcohol. The Zoo was nice enough to let us pay for 80 people instead of the full 120.
The zoo provided security, sound system, & table setup in the fee for the space. We arranged the table decorations, including seat covers, centerpieces, and table linens. The zoo offered their own soundtracks ("natural" animal or sounds of the rain forest), which we actually opted to use because you're not allowed to play music in the Natural Encounters venue (disturbs the animals!). We were also allowed to bring an outside magician.
The event office was nothing but accommodating. We needed some time to scout out a few other options before committing to the Zoo, and they held the date for us for two of their venues (we were also thinking of the Aquarium) without a deposit. They said they would give us first option to book the venue if another party was interested. This was awesome, since every hotel we looked at refused to do the same.
My dad's party was a complete success, I loved every bit of it. It was beautiful, fun, exciting, unique, and lovely!! I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone throwing an event... they are absolutely lovely people to work with and you will NEVER forget how spectacular your event was. It's almost too bad that we threw my dad's 60th here, because I would have loved have a wedding reception here! But who wants to be that person that holds every major life event at the Zoo?
Actually maybe I do...
**one small note: I would give the event services a solid 10 stars on a scale of five. But the elephant thing really, really, bugs me. The ridiculously small space they have (which looks NOTHING like a forest) is also insane. I don't know how they are getting away with treating elephants this way. So I docked a star. But really, they get a 10 for event services and a zero for elephant habitat.
It's October, which means the temp drops down to a chilly 89. And that makes it a perfect time to go the zoo!
The Houston Zoo is a fantastically cheap place to take your kids. We have a 1-year-old, so it didn't cost anything to get him in, but for adults, tickets are only $10 each.
The zoo is a pretty good size and the animals all look content (not depressed like at other zoos). The grounds are immaculate and it doesn't smell like a zoo, if you can believe that. Truth be told, I've smelled worse coming from my husband's socks. The groundskeepers really do a great job of keeping the place clean.
There's enough room to walk around and the exhibits offer several viewing points so you're not fighting with some snotty-nosed kid to view the elephants. I loved that we weren't running into people, despite our SUV-sized stroller.
I got all giddy when I found out they're actually expanding it even further to include an African wildlife area. Fun! The zoo also has a children's zoo, which we couldn't check out since our tot fell asleep while we were walking around.
If you have kids, particularly young kids, I'd recommend going before noon. It's less crowded, less hot, and overall makes for a better experience. I also noticed they had some event rooms, which would make for a pretty cool birthday party. Also bring a picnic lunch and eat at nearby Hermann Park to really make it a cost-effective day out.
Only the promise of seeing exotic animals or perhaps exotic dancers would get me outdoors in the middle of the afternoon in Houston. I honestly think that 30 minutes of cardio could be done in 15 in this town.
This zoo is great but it could use a few more signs, or perhaps at least one, directing people to its gate or even its existence. We asked a few girls standing at a crosswalk which way the zoo was and were met with "It's right over there, gosh!" I realized later that they must have been Rice students and so were annoyed with our petty I.Q.'s.
The landscaping is wonderful. Plenty of gardens, fountains, pools, statuettes and trees along the paths. The primate house was the highlight of the tour especially the orangutan family of father, mother, and baby. The number of elephants and giraffes were a pleasure to behold as were the variety of animals in the air conditioned Natural Encounters exhibit.
Our only complaint was the size of most of the enclosures. We felt that there was not enough room for the animals to roam about and quite frankly the sea lion exhibit was just embarrassing. That looked like something you would find at Aquarina Springs.
I thoroughly enjoyed the zoo because I love animals but a city three times the size of San Antonio should have a zoo more befitting of a cosmopolitan Texas metropolis.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE, LOOOOVE the "new" Houston Zoo. I had not been in at least 12 to 15 years so the place was like brand new to me, even though it's been revamped for some time now. It's clean, the employees are so eager to talk to you about the animals, and it doesn't stink like it used to.
I have a toddler-aged son so the Children's Zoo feature was where we spent most of our time. He got to do all the things that kids his age like to do: run around aimlessly, chase lazy goats, brush their coats, see fish and turtles up close, and touch nearly everything within a continuous one mile radius of his Inspector Gadget-like arms. Who ever designed that area really deserves a Nobel Peace Prize ... it's not that often that we (parents) can go some where and just let our children be. The setup is just perfect for kids to explore and get tons of hands-on time without you having to worry much about what they're NOT supposed to be getting into.
There's a lot of space throughout the zoo for resting in the shade, which makes a huge difference when the sun is beating down on ya. The plants alone are beautiful to look at. There are several fountains throughout and signs that help you plan your route quite easily.
We left the zoo thinking that we should have paid way more than $10 for everything that we got to do and see. The animals truly look happy and taken care of. Employees seem to go out of their way to talk to you about their animals; it's so refreshing to see people who still have a genuine passion for what they do as a living! I'll be honest - I was a bit skeptical paying $10 per person since it used to be free - but this is WAY worth it. Kids under 12 mths are free, too. They also allow you to bring in your own food/drinks/snacks. Parents who are smarter than me lugged all that stuff around (along with their children) on wagons. (Genius!) The Houston Zoo is so well organized now though that they have stroller, wagon, and even double stroller rentals. How's that for being family friendly?
As the weather gets cooler in Houston, I would highly recommend making a day trip out to the zoo ... especially if you have children.
I came here this past Saturday with the girlfriend. I actually shouldn't have since I wasn't feeling too well but was tired of laying around on the couch watching TV like I did the day before. But I had cabin fever and needed to get out. We had been wanting to go to the zoo, and decided the weekend was when we were going to go. You can't beat the price for this zoo. It's $10 and the zoo itself is fairly good quality. It's clean, the animal exhibits have multiple areas to view the animals in case they are behind an obstruction, and it's bigger than I would have thought for only $10/person.
Right when we got in, we went to the primates. This is my girlfriend's favorite exhibit. The most entertaining primate was the orangutans. There was a younger one who was playing with his blanky the whole time. It was pretty damn cute. We also saw some sort of monkey pissing on another monkey. Who knew they were into golden showers. After that, we hit up my favorite area which are the reptiles. We couldn't have timed it any better because right when we walked in, it was feeding time. We watched a python devour his mouse as well as some sort of rattle snake. Another highlight for me was that they had a black mamba. I've watched multiple documentaries on snakes and this is one of the most lethal snake on the planet. It was awesome to see one in person.
After hitting up our favorite areas, we just casually cruised around. We had no set route or anything but wanted to see everything. My only complaint was the price of food. We wanted a little snack but not a whole meal because we had a planned lunch after the zoo. So, we split a hot dog, fries, fruit cup and we each had a fountain soda. The price was a little over $18. WTF? I know that when you go to a place like a zoo or theme park, the food prices are a bit more. But this just seemed retardedly expensive. It was a hot dog, over cooked fries, prepackaged fruit cup and 2 sodas that didn't have free refills on them. I guess it evens out the cheap price of admission.
Oh, and yes it's hot and humid, but you can't dock the zoo for the weather. You wouldn't dock the zoo a star if it were raining and you couldn't go in would you? Overall, it's a great zoo for the price. It's no San Diego Zoo, but it is worth a visit. I will actually probably go again in a few months when I want to kill 3-4 hours.
We only paid $9.00 per adult as we showed our metro Q card and got a dollar off the normal price. Apparently you can get adult tickets for only $8.00 at Fiesta, so if you do not go on the spur of the moment like us, you can save $2.00 each. I was surprised to find the park was larger than I expected and the exhibits were interesting. It is not the best zoo I have ever seen by any means, however I was seriously impressed by the attitude of the keepers to the animals in their care. They were really enthusiastic and knowledgeable and seemed to have a genuine love for the animals they were looking after. Kids seemed to be well catered for and they did have misters across the park to help we two legged animals cool down.
It was OK and admission was cheap but DAMN was it hot! I had to leave after two hours because the heat was totally unbearable. I'm from southern california where the weather is always nice so I crumbled like a weakling once it got to be 95 degrees.
I still got my money's worth I guess. I know the animals were in a "natural" setting, but it was hard to view them.
Zoos are always a cool cheap date idea. The only problem is the Houston Heat.
I've remember going here back on school field trips and then again on a recent date. What makes this place awesome is there are lots of statues to take silly pictures with. They create it so children and adults alike can have an enjoyable time here.
I would recommend going in the fall when it's a bit cooler.
I feel like every time Nicole and I go out on dates, they inevitably become Yelp reviews days later. In other words folks can keep up with my relationship just by reading my reviews. That's special. I actually had the last 2 days off so on Wednesday I decided to take Nicole on our second date to the zoo. She hadn't been there in years and the last time I made it out there, it had been a date gone horribly wrong. I believe it deserved another chance. I pick her up after class and drive out to the Med Center. The Zoo parking lot is a disaster but they're renovating it, so I'll look the other way.
Pros:
The price for admission is great compared to what you get in return. Places like Six Flags or Splashtown overprice admission in respect to what they have to offer. For me to see the deadliest snakes in the world and all I have to pay is ten bucks? That's awesome!
-Reptile Exhibit: Loved by me, Nicole was terrified. Darling, its not like this was a scene from Harry Potter where the glass just disappears, letting the snake free. Trust me, your safe.
-Lions: Lazy bastards. They just sunbathed, but their exhibit was HUGE!
-Sea Lions: Easily stole the show. They are amazing and graceful swimmers. Not bad for being 600lbs.
-Cougar: Beautiful. She was just sitting at the bar drinking her Appletini staring us waiters down. You can tell she never liked captivity, and she really appreciates being out in the wild now. Hunting down prey, on the prowl. Oh sorry...wrong animal. In all seriousness, the cougar look like it wanted out. I've always wanted a pet puma!
-Shade: Its everywhere! Nuff Said
Cons:
Nicole and I just watched Madagascar 2 the day before, and I really really wanted to see some Penguins because of that movie. Unfortunately the Zoo had none. Total bummer! Looks like me and Theo (The Ole Lady) will be going to Sea World soon!
-Rhinos: Where the hell were they? I read an article that stated the Rhino died in 2007. 1.5 years later and we still don't have one? That's one of the big 5 for zoos!
-Construction: I know that its for improving the place and there is nothing wrong with that, but it was VERY loud and annoying. How can Willie the Spectacled Bear sleep with that consistently annoying drilling sound?
-Hippos: I know they are dangerous and massive, but i would like to see those guys. I guess its just an excuse for me to get to San Diego and see them.
All in all I love this place. The info cards on every exhibit were great for me because I read very fast and Nicole hardly payed attention to them. This meant that I could sound like an animal expert and impress her with my immense amount of knowledge. (HA). The Zoo was very clean which is ironic because its ran by animals basically. Oh and they serve beer in the Cafe. Perfect.
Not the best zoo in the country but it does the job. The recent remodel of the zoo and park does take it up a notch. New train, new design, and more animals makes the admission price well deserving, But everyone should get a membership. They have cheetahs now and a new African jungle is being built!
Full disclosure: I used to work here.
The Zoo is really one of Houston's greatest treasures. I've gone here since I was a kid...back then, they had green polar bears (had to move them to another Zoo because they turned green! Apparently being in a warm climate causes their fur to grow algae), the lions and monkeys were in cramped cages, and it seemed like more of a place to be a voyeur than to appreciate nature. That's how it USED to be! How far we have come as a city and a society since then.
Fast forward to 2009: the Zoo is now privately owned (that's why the prices are higher...you don't pay for it with your taxes anymore), they have created environments for the animals rather than cages, and the grounds are a botanical paradise. What's more, the keepers and education staff have a deep love for the creatures they care for, and they want to communicate that to you. Believe me, they don't do it for the money or the glory :)
If you haven't been, go. If you have been, go back. You'll see something new and different each time, and there is so much to learn. If you want to do something really wacky, have your wedding here and get kissed by a sea lion!
Houston, thank you for having such a cool zoo and in keeping with the new zoo attitude of having enclosures, not cages. Animals appear to be well cared for, fit, healthy and the entire zoo is so well maintained and clean. Landscaped beautifully too.
Along with my husband, we had 3 guys from Vera Cruz and another from San Diego with us. My San Diego friend reluctantly admitted Houston has a nice zoo - but staying loyal to his hometown, still had to put in a few comments or more about how much better "his" zoo was. Hubby and I loved it as did the guys from Mexico. We had a really nice time on a off and on drizzly day so luckily crowds were minimal
Especially fun for us was seeing Tucker the 4 y/o elephant and his mom, Tess. They came from elephant conservationists in SoCal who are friends of ours - we first met Tucker as a 500 pound baby in SoCal at his earlier home. Many zoos wanted Tess and Tucker - it was because of the high standards of the Houston Zoo that they went here. Otherwise our friends would have never ever given them up unless they were positive they would be in good hands.
We particularly liked the sea lion show - their grace their charm, the primate area, and the children's area.
Gift store had fun stuff to buy - mostly reasonable priced, decent and cool - not stupid souvenirs that break before you get home ( well, maybe some merchandize was like that) but overall a nice little gift shop.
We - obviously - didn't go to the zoo for food - hadn't plan to eat but ended up getting a few snacks and coffee. Prices were lower and better than what I expected. Nice, that in addition to the ubiquitous burgers, fries and pizza also have fruit cups, fresh fruit and yogurt.
All in all we had a really nice day and I look forward to another zoo visit next year.
Parking is free but recommend you take the train as parking fills up quickly. Plus you get a buck off the already bargain adult admission of $10.00 if you take the metro.
I'd give them 5 stars but they don't have a dachshund preservation and exhibit. Oh, well, no one's perfect!
Actually, I didn't give them five stars because they still have too many dated and cramped animal enclosures, although they've improved and are developing an African area on new adjacent property that adds 25% more space to the zoo. I look forward to giving them 5 stars in 2011.
Today I attended photographer's day. We got in hours earlier than standard, so didn't have to fight the crowds of kids, gawkers and attention-whores. There was a lecture at 9:30 by a noted nature photographer which was excellent,, coffee and continental breakfast when arrived. This was a great opportunity for me to jump-start reviving my photography interest and activity.
The Zoo is pretty much kept clean and neat, it's improved since it was removed from City management and taken over by a private non-profit foundation six years ago. It's very kid-oriented which is great for growing animal conservation awareness. Although this is n' the time of year to experience the landscaping at its best, they still do a great job with that and it serves well to put the viewer in the atmosphere of the native environment. In reality, while many cities have zoos, few have such good ones right in their urban environment.
I hope they have more photo days, what fun!
The Houston Zoo is wonderful. I am all about going outdoors and just enjoying nature, and there is no better way than visiting the Houston Zoo. I recently visited the zoo with a few friends and we had a great time! The Zoo is very large and has so many different species of animals to see. I enjoyed the tropical birds, bears, zebras, elephants, giraffes, and Fish (among many others!). I joked around with little kids asking them if they recognized Nemo, Timon, Pumba and it was nice to see they realize those are real animals in the wild! I loved petting the little goats at the children's zoo. I really had a wonderful time, I recommend you go with your kids, by yourself, whoever you choose to go with, I'm sure you will have a great time!
The reason I gave them four stars is because the cashier at the front wasnt very friendly. My sister handed her her debit card to pay and I asked if I could pay instead, well the lady decided she would charge us both, which we didnt find out until weeks later. We ended up paying $60 in entrance fees for three people. That's definitely not good service. I didnt take away any more stars because the Zoo itself was great.
Overall, I will tentatively rate this place 4 stars due to the fact that I only saw 1/4 of the exhibits due to the oppressing heat and intense sunshine. Although, the strategically placed trees and canopies do help alleviate the glaring sunlight from burning my skin to a crisp, the humidity and the heat got the best of me and I had to retreat to my car. I was surprised to see so many people there under these conditions. Clean zoo and free parking was a plus...
I made of mistake of going on MLK holiday(Holidays are free days) and at 11am,, it opened at 10am and the lines to park and get in were long.
After 40 minutes looking for the place and parking, I ended up leaving.
Very popular on 'free' holiday admission day.
The zoo is where it's at. Finally. After being let down by the museum, and the aquarium, I didn't expect much from the zoo. But oh no, Houston does it right at the zoo.
They have great exhibits. Plus the place is clean and well organized. There is plenty of informational plaques on the walls of the exhibits for folks like me who notice and read EVERYTHING. The pricing is very reasonable and the staff was a blast.
Thus far, the zoo is the best thing the city has to offer kids. I will be returning again soon.
We've been members for the past several years here and we probably visit four or five times a year. Given where the zoo is located (in the middle of town, between downtown and the medical center) I am truly amazed at how nice this one is.
There is still construction going on at the far end of the park, which seems to be going on forever (and doesn't seem to be making any progress with all the weeds showing over the fence) but it will probably look great when it's done. The children's section is really nice and they recently installed shade sails over the more sun exposed areas. There's also a little water park, so bring extra clothes for the kiddos.
Minus one star for the extra care they take to put EVERYTHING in Spanish. I am so tired of businesses catering to folks who refuse to put their best foot forward and learn the local language. I learned the language when I lived overseas - it's common courtesy - I'd expect it from everyone.
Many many many amazing improvements here over the decades. The animals seem much more content now that they are in natural style habitats rather than the concrete and bars they were in even in the early mid 80's.
It's a maybe once a year trip now that I am up in Magnolia but when we do go it's a lovely trip. They have done amazing things over the years especially in the children's zoo area. It's so much more hands on in there and that's a very important thing to impress upon children in this day and age when we need so much more conservation.
My 6 year old enjoys himself and I have to take him out protesting the whole way until I remind him it's then train time.
One quick FYI for *EVERYONE* - they are SEA LIONS there are NO not a single one NO seals anywhere at the Houston Zoo. There are *significant* differences first and foremost being sea lions have ears! Please stop telling your children to look at the seals!
Didn't the zoo used to be much cheaper? I hadn't been back since I did a book report on bats in 8th grade. I guess times have changed, or so they say. I had an unusual obsession with the giraffes this time around. Bottom line, you just can't beat the zoo on a nice day.
Visited the Zoo for the first time in a decade just a few weeks ago. Can't remember much about my first visit, but I certainly enjoyed what it had to offer this time (not to mention free admission to soldiers and their guests was definitely a nice perk). They've a great selection of animals, although a few here and there were either hiding or simply absent. The grounds and exhibits were as well maintained as you'd expect from a premium theme park, so you definitely receive a good value for your admission. Its location in Hermann Park in the middle of the Museum District offers a great juxtaposition of jungle/natural facades with a metropolitan skyline. Great place to take a family or if you just feel like seeing some animals with someone special.
Ah, the zoo! How I love thee! You never disappoint!
Let me list some things I loved on my latest trip to the zoo:
-The abundance of shade and misting fans thoughout.
-The extremely friendly staff and volunteers ready to greet you with a warm smile.
-The reasonable pricing of food and drinks and availability throughout.
-The many animals I was ready to kidnap and take home.
-Using the Houston City pass was a breeze and ridiculously cheap!
-The Zoo recycles! Whoot!
-Having such a great time and not realizing we'd spent almost 6 hours at the zoo!
I love you, Houston Zoo. I can't wait to visit you again!
My mom worked at the zoo for a long time, so I've always had something of a soft spot for it. I've been to better, but nothing beats going on a nice day. The monkeys, giraffes, and elephant exhibits are all nice - you get to see most of the animals without feeling like they're cramped or put on display.
The children's zoo is lovely. I'm not a fan of petting zoos, but they have a touch tank and a lot of activities the kids can enjoy.
The food at all of the snack stands inside is overpriced (obviously), as is the gift shop. But if the money is going to the animals, and you're hungry, go ahead and spend a little more on your burger than you would normally be comfortable with.
I love it! I first came here as an adult but I still enjoyed it. Even when it is crowded it is still lots of fun. There are so many things to see that you may not be able to view it all in one day. The staff is friendly and helpful. Most attractions are always open so everything that should be available is!!!!!
Pros: It's free on certain days (mostly Federal Holidays), so check the website and brave the crowds if you're too cheap to buy a hungry tiger his next meal. There are some animals. There is a *great* kids area with lots of activities and a petting zoo. Meerkats. The tapir. Watching the sea lions get fed (call ahead for times - it's free).
Cons: The animals are rarely out (or maybe they just hate me) because exhibits are frequently closed for remodeling. The pathways and other public areas aren't that well-maintained. Baby giraffes are freaky looking. Parking. Ever-increasing admission. Ridiculous refreshment costs (bring a picnic). And, don't forget, it's *hot* outside and there's a lot of walking to be done at the zoo.
Anecdote: I went on the 4th of July and watched children feed cheetos to every primate and a few of the hoofed animals. Then I watched a woman climb onto a platform railing to pass a piece of a banana to a monkey through its cage. DO NOT DO THESE THINGS. They are bad for the animals, and someone like me will tattle on the Internet.
the zoo is now offering free entry to poor who hold Lone Star cards.
I give them huge hug and clap of the hands for such a bold move to allow the unfortunate children and families access to public eduction and access to such a great place.
However, I am disgusted by the remarks of http://chron.com readers and the blatant racism of the people who posted comments. i suspect the bulk of the people posting comments rarely visit the zoo and have no clue the zoo is privately financed... Yet they cry fowl and claim the zoo will be overrun by the poor, black and illegals and will no longer visit because of this decision. seriously houston yelpers, read the comments, and be ashamed. This is one of many reasons ppl like myself do not want to live in Houston and move.
http://www.chron.com/d...
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7/2/2008
I mentioned the zoo in my discovery green rant, so I'll balance it out with my perspective of the… Read more »
The exhibits that were done well were the aquarium, aviary, as well as the primate area.
The sea lions didn't look like they were kept up well, nor did the tigers.
For the price it was well worth it considering what you get out of it.
This is a very nice zoo! There is a lot of great potential, I'm very excited about some of the new exhibits they're working on.
5 stars for taking their Elephant program several steps in the right direction by expanding the yard.
If every venue were to begin with zero stars, and get "points" so to speak to achieve their rating; I would have to give Houston Zoo 3 just for the Komodo dragon.
Beyond that, they have about a zillion animals in great exhibits. I loved the fly river turtles and the giraffes. The camel exhibit is sort of off to the side and the scenery isn't great... Just push the Arabs off to the side... I get it.
I was actually really surprised by the cafeteria. Reasonably priced considering the venue, and the food wasn't bad. I also got an orangatan shaped cup, so definitely props on that.
I could have stayed here and watched the animals all day; although I was disappointed by the sea lion show.
The gift shop: another reason not to leave the zoo. It's HUGE. But there's very little "Houston Zoo" touristy souvenier type merchandise. All I could find was a magnet - for this Houston Zoo, you can't get all 5 stars.
It's a good zoo, not a great zoo, but it's a lot of fun.
We love the carousel, the fountains to run through, the elephants and giraffes. The tunnel through the aquarium is cool for the kids.
There's way too much under construction right now, and it just feels like there should be more animals there.
It's a great place to get a family pass and come throughout the year for shorter visits.
Where's my Okapi!?! Probably hanging out in the shade in the Houston Zoo!
Yep, even the animals head for cover in the hottest months of summer in Houston. And that makes for a less than thrilling trip to the zoo.
But the Houston Zoo has come a long way in just a few years. They're constantly updating and upgrading the enclosures and bringing new things to the zoo. There's a lot to be excited about when you go there.
Every time I visit the zoo, there are new features that make for hands on learning that really helps create a love of animals and their natural environment. I learn something new each time I go!
Go for a ride on the carousel in the children's zoo. Check out the prairie dog habitat. And make your mark forever by purchasing a personalized paving stone for the zoo - building and beautifying an animal sanctuary in Houston.
So I've lived only blocks from the zoo for nearly two years and had never gone! A few weeks ago my boyfriend and I were up unusually early for both of us, so we just randomly decided to go the zoo. OMG, we had SOOO much fun, I was a little disappointed that I didn't get to see the sea lions because their exhibit was closed. The poisonous frogs were the coolest thing I have ever seen in my life. Not having to pay for parking was a plus. That was one great memory I'm sure we'll both keep for ever.
I think its a reasonably nice zoo. Kids will definitely like it. I got free entrance as part of a birthday party held here!
Just wanted to post a reminder. The Houston Zoo's free days are Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President's Day, Columbus Day, the Friday after Thanksgiving, and New Year's Day.
The Houston Zoo is always fun. They have a day (once a year) called "Feast with the Beasts" where local resturants set up on the grounds & folks can eat good food while visiting.
Love the zoo!!!!!!!!!!!
I hate the zoo ---- it smells!!!!!
Its all about the train, the bats and the butterflys.
