Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
add photosThe Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is the second oldest Zoo in America. They are committed to education and conservation and provide considerable resources to reaching out to the community.
The park is open everyday except Christmas. Animal, exhibit, and shop/restaurant availability depends on season/weather. Call before your visit for more information.
11 Reviews for Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
25
20 families found this helpful
"Clean!"
This was the cleanest zoo I had ever been to. Our favorite exhibit was the hippopotamus enclosure. The glass viewing area allowed you could get very up close and personal with them while they were in the water. This zoo will keep your family entertained for hours.
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1 family found this helpful
"wonderful zoo!"
Aside from the strains of walking around this zoo (it has lots of hills) it is a wonderful place. They seem to have a few exhibits that other zoos in the area don't have such as sea lions. If you are taking a stroller for more than one kid, opt for a light weight one or 2 singles instead of a double.
0 families found this helpful
"woo hoo"
This was such a fun trip!! The kids really enjoyed all the fun animals and there are so many to choice from. We couldnt pick a favorite. Lots of edibles and shops and interactive exhibits. This can definitely be made into a trip for a couple hours or an entire weekend. We cant wait to go back!!!!!
1 family found this helpful
"Quite possibly my favorite zoo..."
The Cincinnati Zoo is carved into a neighborhood on the edge of Cincy and appears suddenly somewhat surprisingly out of the blue as you wind through the streets. Follow the directions, you are going to the right place.
Be prepared to walk alot here as there are hills to climb and pushing a stroller or pulling a wagon can be a real workout. I once walked the zoo while pregnant and literally thought I would go into labor while climbing the hill by the bears.
The Cincinnati Zoo has some of the most people-comfortable birds I have ever seen and they will have no problem approaching toddlers in search of food so beware that your child may be eye level with peacocks just walking on the ground or sitting at a picnic table.
The original white tigers gifted from Sigfried and Roy are housed at the Cincinnati Zoo and are beautiful to look at it. They have a white tiger breeding program here and most of the cubs you see at other zoos are from this original breeding lot.
There are many interactive and learning opportunities for kids of all ages and you can easily spend a day here with your family. Food is typical zoo fair so as usual be prepared to spend if you don't bring your own cooler.
0 families found this helpful
"my kids love this zoo"
My kids are 3 and 5 they love going to the zoo and seeing all of the different animals. We go at least a couple of times during the summer months. My ds who is 5 loves to look at the lions and bears and the big types of animals. But it is a big walking adventure for them we usually bring a wagon or the double jogging stroller cause the kids get tired of walking for so long.
0 families found this helpful
"Favorite Zoo"
This is my favorite zoo! While I grew up in Ohio, we're a military family ( 3 kids, 5y, 3y, and 5mo) so we've lived all over the world and in various states within the US. This zoo is small enough that young kids can walk the zoo if they choose. We love going around Christmastime. We buy hot chocolate and walk the zoo (bringing a stroller just in case). Who doesn't like to look at the lights? My girls still talk about the giraffes and manatees. Very cool place!
0 families found this helpful
"Let's go to the zoo zoo zoo!"
The Cincy Zoo has been a favorite of mine forever! There are so many animals to see and if you have a pass, you can make several trips and not yet see everything. They have some rides, which are good if you have a pass, but a bit expensive if you don't. And, the LaRosa's pizza always smells so tasty, but I suggest you pack a lunch and sit so your kids may get cozy with the peacocks. Always something to see and several places to duck into for a/c. In the Wintertime, there are things to see, but not so many animals.
0 families found this helpful
"Informative"
We enjoyed our visit to the zoo. We have a 15 month old and while some of the animals caught his interest, I think he may have enjoyed it better if there were more play areas. Some of the animals were sleeping and most were not there but overall it was informative.
1 family found this helpful
"Family Fun at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens"
Our family loves the Cincinnati Zoo. There is so much to do for children and adults of all ages. The memberships are fairly priced, and even general admission is great too. Their arrangements of flowers and plants are just one of the great things to see at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens. They even have an Over Night Program where you can come and stay a night at the Zoo with your School, scout group, church group, or family, and you get to see how the Zoo animals live at night! There are so many fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, birds, and invertebrates to encounter. If you have not been and you are in the Cincinnati area, this place is a MUST see with your family, friends, or even just by yourself!
'10
0 families found this helpful
"New at the zoo"
I Love love love the new Cincinnati Zoo iPhone app! It has a map that shows you where you are with extreme accuracy, plus a schedule of events. While you're getting electronically connected, be sure to "friend" the zoo on Facebook for insider info on the exhibits and happenings.
One of the great things about the Cincinnati Zoo is the seasonal events that they have that make the zoo experience fun and new throughout the year.
We go to the Zoo Babies exhibit every spring. The weather is mild so the animals are more active and the flowers are beautiful throughout.
In the winter, the Festival of Lights puts everyone in the holiday spirit. It's a new way to see the zoo - at night, with a holiday spin.
Strollers are a must, even for slightly older kids, as the zoo is kind of hilly.
2 families found this helpful
"Flora & Fauna"
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is a fantastic place to visit. Admission is reasonable for an all-day experience. You can also purchase a separate $7 all-day unlimited ride pass for carousel, train, and shuttle rides. Individual ride tickets are $2-3 each. Remember to call ahead for ride availability as they are seasonal.
The zoo also houses a 4-D theater. Tickets are $6. I took my children (2 & 4) to see the Polar Express showing. The 15 minute 4-D presentation was a great sensory experience complete with pine-tree scent, train-rumble seats, and mist to simulate ice-spray. My kids enjoyed the show and were able to keep their glasses on the whole time. I did see some children who did not particularly appreciate the water spray which emits from the back of the seat in front of you. The sensory aspects differ between the various movies, another call and check situation if you're interested in attending.
Even without the theater or rides, there are plenty of great animals and exhibits to see. Some of our personal favorites include the newly built giraffe ridge - Giraffe feeding is available 11-11:30am and 1-1:30pm (call ahead to check); the polar bear exhibit - you can see the bears swim right up against the glass; the cat house - if you don't mind the smell, it's an amazing look at a wide variety of smaller felines with just a piece of glass separating you; the insect house - all the bugs you could ever hope and dream to encounter; and the nocturnal animal house - really cool and unusual critters.
We've been to the zoo often enough to catch some of the animals during feeding time. This is an outstanding opportunity to see them when they're really active. The zoo keepers know each animal by name and temperament and it's really a treat to get a chance to ask questions.
The Zoo also offers a lot of special events annually. If your visit happens to be during any of them, I highly encourage you to check them out! Be prepared for higher crowd density and plan your visit time accordingly (aka try to get there earlier for parking and mobility). We've seen thousands of glorious tulips during April's Zoo Blooms, night lights during the winter months' PNC Festival of Lights, and participated in the Easter Celebration and HallZOOween - where children will be able to visit treat stations and watch animals enjoy egg or pumpkin hunts respectively. Don't forget, the zoo is also a Botanical Garden with plenty of plants and flowers to enjoy.
Food - we tend to pack our lunches, snacks and drinks most of the time just for convenience, but we've also enjoyed the zoo food. The Rhino Cafe is open daily and has several tasty offerings. Check the zoo website for a listing of other eating options and call to see what's open during your visit. LaRosa's pizza, the famous Montgomery Inn ribs, and Skyline Chili are hometown favorites. An easy meal idea is ordering a whole pizza to share! My kids never turn down a slice.
If you have younger kids, there are a few stopping places for parents to rest while the little ones burn off some extra energy:
1. Children's Zoo area - some climbing features for smaller kids along with animal exhibits.
2. Playground - hidden behind the carousel in Safari Camp
Overall, a really worthwhile place to visit. I highly recommend a visit. The Cincinnati Zoo is the perfect size. Not so large that you feel you can't see everything if you really wanted to, definitely not too small that you run out of things to see and do.
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