Como Zoo
add photos17 Reviews for Como Zoo
27
10 families found this helpful
"You'll love this zoo, and it's FREE!!!"
We lived in MN for a few years while my husband was in law school, and we quickly discovered and fell in love with the Como Zoo. There is no charge for admission, although they do recommend a donation (sometimes we donated, sometimes we didn't). The animals are easily viewed, and they have lot of variety. It's not a huge, sprawling zoo, but it's got plenty of exhibits to keep you busy for a day. The highlight of our trip was always the Sparky the Sea Lion show, which is performed from Memorial day to Labor day each year. If you have the time, make sure you visit Como Zoo!!
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0 families found this helpful
"Great zoo to spend a day"
I went here in June with my husband, our then 20-month-old son, my best friend, her husband, and their 3-year-old. It was a nice zoo for the kids. It had a good range of animals and habitats. There is also a conservatory part, a mini amusement part, a butterfly habitat, and an indoor activity center. It was a good sized zoo for kids their age (compared to the Minnesota Zoo, which I think may have been too much for them). The food is a little expensive, but at what zoo is that not the case? :) Oh, and it's a free will donation, which makes it a little easier on the bank account.
0 families found this helpful
"Nice remodel"
They are doing a very nice job with this zoo, and considering they don't formally charge for entrance, I find it impressive. The exhibits are getting more animal and visitor friendly. In a way, we like this zoo even better than the Apple Valley zoo because it is easier for little children to see the animals because their exhibits aren't as expansive.
'11, '12
0 families found this helpful
"Nice local zoo"
Just visited my favorite childhood zoo with my kids last winter and was pleasantly surprised at the recent updates to the animal enclosures here. As always, the zoo is free (though a donation is nice). In the warmer months, there is a beautiful enclosed carousel for kids to visit. Though the variety of animals is not very big, it is a friendly place, easy to do a quick visit to, and a welcome break. I'm glad to see it's been kept up well!
0 families found this helpful
"Fun Family Friendly Zoo"
I love this zoo for the kids. We are able to get close to the animals. The landscape is very well done and kept very clean. The restrooms are very clean and plentyful. Staff is very helpful for finding exactly what you or the kids are looking for. My son was asking a zoo employee different questions and he was very eager to help him get his answers about the animals. A very good expierence.
0 families found this helpful
"Fun in the summer!"
This is a great warm weather place. Mostly outdoor actvities. It's free but you are really encouraged to donate 3-5$ a person. There are attendants that sit at the entrances by the donation box. The zoo is okay, not great but the kids still enjoy it. The rides (Como town) are the main attraction here. They are pretty reasonable in price too! The ferris wheel is beautiful and fun!
1 family found this helpful
"Wonderful Zoo and Gorgeous Gardens"
The Como Zoo was so much fun for our family! It was a wonderful zoo with many great animals. There are also some botanical gardens adjacent to it, which are amazing! Due to its size, I think I prefer the Como Zoo to the Minnesota Zoo because it's an easier afternoon outing for the family. We are able to go through the exhibits leisurely and not feel like we have to skip half the zoo in order to keep to nap or eating schedules. I definitely recommend this zoo!
0 families found this helpful
"great FREE zoo"
Excellent free zoo. Beautiful property surrounding. The zoo can get rather busy, and parking can be difficult, especially on weekends, but the variety of animals, large and small is great! We love this zoo, and it is FREE!! Please remember to contribute a small donation on your way in or out so that we can all continue to benefit from this wonderful zoo!!
0 families found this helpful
"Great free zoo"
We have been to this zoo many times because it is free and close to my house. They have quite a few animals. The restaurant is overpriced, but good. They don't give lids or straws for your drink. The indoor buildings smell pretty bad. The zoo is also pretty busy all of the time. Weekdays and weekends.
0 families found this helpful
"Well....you get what you pay for"
The Como Zoo is free. The neighboring zoo, the Minnesota Zoo is not. As a matter of fact, the Minnesota Zoo is very, very expensive. So at first glance, one would obviously choose the Como zoo. But in this case, you get what you pay for. Parking is atrocious! It's fairly dirty. Always crowded...even when you wouldn't expect it to be, like a Tuesday morning during the school year...get ready to spend almost an hour circling for parking and then pushing through crowds to see the animals. It's okay if you are really on a budget, but otherwise save up for the MN Zoo or drive to Madison, where their free zoo is absolutely incredible!!
0 families found this helpful
"an inexpensive and educational family activity"
Como Zoo is a great, inexpensive, and educational family activity. The attraction is "free" with a donation highly encouraged. They have large and small animals, a primate building, a fish building, penguins, large African animals. The zoo also has rides for children.
0 families found this helpful
"The Como Zoo is a fun FREE family activity!"
I would give this five stars, but even though it's FREE, it's a little small. It's a nice zoo, a small zoo, a FREE zoo (can't beat that!), but not quaint or cute somehow. Just small. Anyway, that said, it's worth visiting as the kids always enjoy it and it's a fun thing to do with the day. I would say... if you live in the Saint Paul area it's worth it, if you're a tourist... there's lots of other fun stuff to do besides this. :)
0 families found this helpful
"Great Inexpensive Zoo!"
Como Zoo has always been a favorite of mine, even when I was a child. They ask people for a $2 donation fee (per person) but it isn't required. It's a cheap way to spend a warm day!
The have animals, an amusement park w/ games, concession stands, a stunning conservatory, a fun Seal performance/show, and large picnic grounds.
0 families found this helpful
"Cheap and fun!"
We love to go to this zoo even when it's 40 below zero! well, maybe not that cold, but even when it's below zero. lots to see and free (if you decide not to donate :) As someone else mentioned, it is the uncommercialized zoo that your kids will remember!
1 family found this helpful
"Como Zoo"
We went to the Como Zoo on a cold March day. Some animals were off exhibit for the season and some were indoors instead of in their usual habitat. But, the cold hardy animals were enjoying the snowflakes. There were plenty of indoor exhibits to warm up our fingers as well. The tiger was roaring as he paced around his enclosure. Our family of seven, ages ranging from 2 to 15 and mom and dad, had a wonderful visit and would definately go back.
0 families found this helpful
"Cheap, Quick Fun"
A zoo that can be done in a couple hours with all the common zoo animals that kids want to see! The best thing about it is that it's free or donation-based. If you want to make it a longer day, there's an amusement park connected (rides cost extra), and a large park & Como Lake right there! You really can't miss with this choice.
1 family found this helpful
"Great Zoo for Families"
This zoo isn't as sprawling as the Minnesota Zoo, but it's what your kids will probably imagine when they think "zoo." With giraffes and zebras and lions, they'll see their favorite animals here. Our kids love watching the polar bears swim and seeing the monkeys. Since this zoo is smaller, little legs can handle exploring on their own. If it's open, be sure to ride the historic carousel on the zoo property.
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