With warm weather quickly approaching, it’s time to get back out into nature! We all have memories of trekking around the zoo in search of our favorite animals as children, and we believe that those memories should continue into adulthood. These are three zoos that you should visit with your family this year.
Denver Zoo
The Denver Zoo is located in Denver, Colorado and has been in operation for 126 years. This historic zoo is only a two-hour drive from the Sundance Vacations curated property, The Christie Lodge. The Denver Zoo is a non-profit organization which relies heavily on visitations and generous donations. You can also sign up for a yearly membership that supports the Denver Zoo’s mission of animal conservation and grants awesome perks! With a purchase of $65 for an individual or $155 for a family (plus other packages), you’ll receive free daytime admission, early admission during busy months, member discounts, BFF days to bring a friend for free, first dibs on new attractions, and more!
The zoo sits on eighty-four acres of land and is home to 3,000+ species of animals, which include the critically endangered Siberian tiger, red-ruffed lemur, and Sumatran orangutan. During certain days of the year, you can also experience up-close looks at animals like sloths, giraffes, and sea lions! These encounters are private meet-and-greets with your favorite animals! The Denver Zoo also holds special events and parties throughout the year, so be sure to look at those dates when planning your visit!
A special feature of the Denver Zoo is its award-winning education and outreach teams. The zoo promotes and stimulates learning by offering resources to students and teachers with its virtual classroom. They also offer science-based learning programs for Scout groups. Their global Field Conservation and Emergency Wildlife Response teams have been providing better futures for animals and the environment since 1998.
If you want to see beautiful animals and learn about their ecosystems, this is the zoo for you!
Smithsonian’s National Zoo – Washington DC
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo truly lives by their mission, which proudly states, “We save species by using cutting-edge science, sharing knowledge, and providing inspirational experiences for our guests.” With a statement like that, it’s hard to control the urge to visit this zoo and experience all that it has to offer!
What’s awesome about this zoo? A trip to see their diverse collection of animals is always free. Being a popular tourist destination for Washington D.C., this zoo hosts over one-million guests yearly. The Smithsonian’s National Zoo is constructed on 163 acres of land and is home to 1,800 animals representing over 360 different species. Like the Denver Zoo, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo depends on support though donations to maintain its exhibits and research. It, too, offers a membership for loyal visitors ranging from $64 for a standard single cardholder to $10,000 for the title of ambassador council for three cardholders. Each tier has its own special benefits, but benefits for all levels include: 15% discount on food and retail purchases, invitations to animal and exhibit previews, discounts on education programs and event tickets, weekly members-only e-newsletters, free or discounted admission to zoos and aquariums nationwide, and discounts on stroller rentals. Each membership purchase directly supports the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s conservation efforts.
Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute is all about saving species from extinction and producing future conservationists through education. According to their website, “SCBI spearheads research programs at its headquarters in Front Royal, Virginia, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C., and at field research stations and training sites worldwide. SCBI scientists tackle some of today’s most complex conservation challenges by applying and sharing what they learn about animal behavior and reproduction, ecology, genetics, migration and conservation sustainability.”
One of our favorite additions to this zoo is the live webcams that you can view on their website to see the daily activities of animals like giant pandas, cheetah cubs, naked mole-rats, lions, and elephants. Catch pandas munching on bamboo stalks or cheetahs snoozing the day away in their cozy dens!
With unique animal exhibits including fennec foxes, Grand Cayman blue iguanas, and maned wolves, you’re going to want to add this zoo to tour travel bucket list!
Oakland Zoo
The Oakland Zoo, located in Oakland, California, is unlike any other zoo. It was established on June 6th, 1922 and has over twenty-five wildlife conservation partners globally. Their mission is to accept, rehabilitate, and re-home wildlife rescued from wildfire and human-wildlife conflict. Constantly evolving with technology, the Oakland Zoo has a unique addition not mentioned in the previous two zoo descriptions—rides!
Rides at the Oakland Zoo include: Soaring Wings, a little plane ride to take in the sights; Conservation Carousel, a slow-moving ride where your ticket purchase goes towards supporting endangered animals; Express Train, a trip through Oakland Zoo’s history; Roaring Racers, a racecar ride that’ll make you dash like a cheetah; Tiger Trek, a kiddie coaster with twists and turns; and Sky Ride, a ride on an air adventure chair. Their technological advancements don’t stop there, though. While visiting the park, you can order meals from their numerous food stations through the mobile ordering function on their website. From any mobile device that can access the internet, you can grab your grub on the go! This is a common feature in major theme parks, but the Oakland Zoo is ahead of the game when it comes to animal sanctuaries.
The Oakland Zoo also offers crystal clear animals views on their live cams! Through the cameras on their website, you can view grizzly bears, elephants, sun bears, black bears, and condors. Similar to the two previously discussed zoos, The Oakland Zoo “rehabilitates and rehomes” wildlife from harmful situations. They also offer support to non-profit organizations with similar missions. The Oakland Zoo has several awards and accolades for their role in wildlife preservation across the country. The Oakland Zoo always offers popular programs for guests, like discounted education programs and offering free or discounted admission to underprivileged families and children.
If you can’t experience this amazing zoo location in person, they also offer virtual events that are filled with fun! Join them for Cocktails & Conservation this year to learn more about what they do! This Californian Zoo is definitely worth a trip!
For more blog posts on animal related activities, check out some of these:
- “Sundance Vacations Destinations: Things to Do in Costa Rica”
- ‘Airport Therapy Dogs, The Way to Get Rid of Anxiety?”
- “Manatee Viewing in Florida | Sundance Vacations“
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