Editor’s Note: Two weeks ago we featured a visit to Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo. Many of you raved about the St. Louis Zoo on our Facebook page, so today we bring you a review of it. (By the way, we also featured the Indianapolis Zoo many moons ago). Which zoo is your favorite? Let us know in the comments.
by Rachael McMillan
Literature for the St. Louis Zoo declares it to be the No. 1 zoo in the nation. It’s easy to be doubtful of this claim—that is, until you step inside. Like probably the vast majority of readers, I’ve been going to zoos all my life. I’ve been to three of them in the last six months. And truly, I can’t think of any that I’d put above the St. Louis Zoo.
You might expect a free public institution—and the St. Louis Zoo is such a place—to cheap out on atmosphere, exhibits, extras, etc. On our trip, however, I remember having the distinct feeling that we’ve paid a lot more to see a whole, whole lot less.
Rather than try to describe what the zoo has (yep, animals) I’m going to stick with the highlights of our recent extended-family visit and a few tips/recommendations.
The St. Louis Zoo really is one of the best in the nation - and great for budget-concious families. Photos by Kim Landry
This theme exhibit has visitors follow an imaginary river as it winds its way through four “continents.” Our favorite part was seeing a hippopotamus swim gracefully through a school of fish—this really brought out the kid in my decidedly full-grown husband.
Tip: Don’t save this exhibit for the end of a long, hot day. It’s lengthy, and once you’re in you have to follow it to the end.
I won’t go so far as to say “Dolphins, schmolphins,” but I think one could make a good case for the sea lion show being more entertaining than a typical dolphin extravaganza (which the St. Louis Zoo doesn’t have). For one thing, the sea lion show seemed to last longer than dolphin shows do, which made the price of admission—$3 per person over age 2—seem like a bargain. Also, the sea lions perform on “land” and in the water, which means the audience gets to see much more of the animals.
The clincher? At the end of the show the sea lions toss frisbees into the audience. One could argue that this is just a cheap attempt to wow the audience and leave them with a positive impression of the show. However, you have to keep in mind that OH MY GOODNESS THE CUTE ANIMALS ARE TOSSING OUT FREE FRISBEES!!! Outta my way, kids.
Tip: For $10 per person you can purchase Safari Passes which will get you into the sea lion show, the stingray petting area, the children’s zoo, and will allow you access to the zoo train which can be used as transportation throughout your visit, plus a few extras. Considering that the zoo is free, I think this is a deal.
Tip within a tip: the children’s zoo and stingray petting exhibit are free during the first hour the zoo is open.
You may have been to one of these before, and you may have had to pay extra for the privilege. You won’t at the St. Louis Zoo. Like most of the exhibits, it is free of cost and top-notch in design. Unfortunately, my family unit ran out of time to visit it (hippos were our priority), but my brother’s family went and it was their favorite part of the trip.
Tip: Have your cameras ready; the butterflies like to land in photo-worthy places, such as a loved one’s head.
Did I mention it’s free?
Admittedly I’m a bit of a bargain freak, but I can’t stress enough how impressed I was with the St. Louis Zoo considering that a trip there could cost potentially cost a grand total of zero dollars. Parking is $11 per vehicle, but some street parking is available (get there early to take advantage of this). Coolers and picnic baskets are allowed on the zoo grounds, so visitors should have no need of purchasing food.
Having said that…
I was so impressed with the zoo that I feel compelled to endorse buying SOMETHING from them to help support their services. My choices? Again, a Safari Pass seems like a pretty good deal to me. Also, we did buy food on our trip (actually, Dad bought—thanks again, Padre!), and it was pretty good. Had we known it was an option, we might have skipped the main eating area for whatever was being grilled at one of two locations on the grounds (Ray’s Grill and Safari Grill). It smelled delicious.
Check out their calendar of events to see what’s on the schedule for the rest of the summer, but rest assured, any time is a great time to go. We’re already dreaming of a return trip.
A former high school teacher who now is spending time at home with her two children, Jack and Kate, Rachael McMillan is a freelance writer and reading tutor.
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Great article, let’s pack up and head to St. Louis!!
Sounds good, Ma!
You forgot the AMAZING penguin exhibit. (Which we’ll visit several times if we’re there on a hot day).
The penguin exhibit is the best I have come across. You are so close you can touch the little critters!
Thanks so much for the info! My Family and I are headed to St. Louis for the weekend in 2 weeks to celebrate my Daughters 11th birthday. Doing Six Flags one day (UGH…I don’t do rides) and doing the Zoo, Arch, Union Station and whatever else the second day!
)
I HIGHLY recommend the City Museum. It’s really cool, but a one-to-one kid to adult ratio is probably a good thing for that.
They also have a grizzly bear. All I saw was the top of its huge head, which was scary enough. He was hiding in the moat (mote?) This was also the first time I saw elephants look as giant as they really are.
If you want to avoid the pay lot closest to the zoo, there is plenty of free parking available in Forest Park and on the surrounding streets. We sometimes park on Oakland Ave (I think — it’s the street just south of I-64) and walk across the pedestrian bridge spanning I-64 to the zoo.
I second the penguin recommendation, unless you’re sensitive to strong smells. The fishy odor is too much for my husband. The apes are also *fabulous*.
Jenny D., take your daughter to the City Museum and it’ll be a birthday she’ll never forget. It’s seriously so cool, it’ll be the highlight of your trip.
We have a post ready to go about the City Museum too!!! Look for that next Monday – or maybe I’ll post it sooner, by popular demand …
Dang! Wish we had thought to go to the penguin house. Oh, well–we will just have to put it in the plans for the next go ’round.