Oakland Zoo
add photos- The rides area will be open from 10:00am to 7:30pm.
- The Safari Cafe in the rides area will be open from 10:00am to 7:30pm.
37 Reviews for Oakland Zoo
5
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"Best Zoo in the Bay area"
This is the best zoo in the bay area, it has various animals, and nice play areas for toddlers and pre schoolers and if you have the energy left you can even go to the amusement part of the zoo. Even has a sky lift that takes you around the zoo, and also a chooo chooo train which is fun for all ages, Their display of Xmas Lights is spectacular!
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"Oakland Zoo"
The Oakland Zoo is a great option if you want to avoid the major crowds that a larger zoo can end up with. They have a nice variety of animals and the flow of the zoo is easy to follow. The bat house was very interesting for my children as well as the goat petting area. I would suggest skipping the train ride - you can't see much and it is fairly short.
'11
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"The Perfect Family-Sized Zoo"
My kids and I have enjoyed our trips to the Oakland Zoo since my kids were born. While offering plenty of variety and lots of activities, this zoo has the benefit of being moderately sized, which will make it easier to explore with youngsters in tow.
Ask at the front gate for a schedule of the day's feeding times. The meerkat feedings are particularly entertaining, since the little creatures are so responsive.
Be forewarned, however, that the options for food for humans in the park are (rather typically) quite limited, so packing a lunch is the best plan. Also, the paths are quite hilly in spots, making stroller pushing quite a workout. I always found it best to traverse this zoo with my very young kids in a carrier or backpack, although plenty of parents seem to do just fine with their strollers.
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"I love this zoo!!"
i went to this oakland zoo this summer, and i enjoyed it alot. more importantly, my two kids enjoyed it!! they have lots of animals, my favorite was the tortise, it was huge and sooo adorable. i would defenetly reccomend this and take my kids here again.
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"awesome zoo"
This isn't the biggest zoo around (check out SF Zoo for other Bay Area options), but it is nicely tucked away in the Oakland hills with plenty of space to feel like you're farther "away from it all" than you actually are. There's a good variety of animals at this zoo, as well as play areas for the kids and of course, a train ride and other attractions for good measure. It's one of my son's favorite places to visit when we're in the area (he's 2 years old) and one of my favorite places in memory from growing up in that area.
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"Spacious "
The Oakland Zoo is full of open space, which is great for picnics or letting the kids run around. They had a wide variety of animal exhibits and activities within them. We really enjoyed the bats and alligators. They also had fun little play areas that made great photo ops.
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"Oakland Zoo"
We took our kids to the Oakland zoo last summer and boy did we have fun! I went as a child and they have done several upgrades. There are more rides and more places to eat lunch. There is a large area with a food court as well. There is most of the typical animals that you would see in a zoo plus a small area that is sectioned off that allows you to purchase small cups of food to feed the goats! Great Zoo that is not to big and has a lot of extras that the typical zoo doesn't have!
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"Oakland Zoo"
We purchased a family membership and with it received several freebies including free rides within the park and free parking. We thought it was a great zoo, the giraffes were active young and playful. We saw a great demonstration where a guy fed an elephant that was standing neck deep in water. Over and over again he threw him5 to 6 apples at a time and the elephant caught them and chomped them down. The meerkats exhibit was good too. It's a great size zoo seeing a lot, but not wearing out the kids unduly.
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"Great zoo!"
This zoo is not too big nor to small. There is one hill that is tough if you are pushing a stroller but you can do it. The exhibits are great. The kids can see all the animals fairly easily. It is clean and very family friendly. Occasionally they have demonstrations you can attend with different species of animals. The cost is minimal if you get a pass instead of paying every time you go. Highly enjoyed this zoo!
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"Day full of fun"
This zoo is a dream come true for families with kids. Animals are kept in nice areas, they have a petting zoo, little carousel area, lots of refreshments vendors... They even rent strollers and they also have double strollers, what I consider a huge plus. One little thing - the steps leading to the lion cage may be a little long and not worth it.
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"Fun and a Good Experience"
I took my oldest son when he was 2 and we had alot of fun. There's a variety of animals and reptiles for all to see. There is a good amount of walking but not too bad. I definantly wouldn't have a 2year old walk up and down the hills, etc. Always clean and people are friendly.
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"Love this zoo!"
We absolutely love this zoo! It is the perfect size, especially for younger children (though we adults love it too!). It has all the normal animals you would expect plus a great children's zoo. The children's zoo area has great play areas, accessible exhibits, and a fun petting zoo. You can get a membership for $45 through some of the daily deal sites, and at that price, snatch it up. It's a little pricey for a 1-day visit. Don't miss Boo at the Zoo around Halloween.
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"Fun Fun Fun"
If you have a chance to go to the Oakland Zoo, then do! It is small but has very impressive animal areas. The kids love it as well as the adults. They have many rides that you have to purchase additional tickets for as well. If you purchase a membership you are able to get discounts on other entrance fees to other zoos and museums.
1 family found this helpful
"Good deal with the membership"
We live in the East Bay, so it made sense for us to sign for the zoo membership (there actually deals sometimes when you can get the membership for as little as $45). We got ours for the regular $90 and it still was definitely worth it.
The zoo is really good-sized for a smaller kid. My 2 year-old is always excited about our trips there. The skyfary is great with great views of the bay. My daughter also loves the train that takes you straight to the Australian exhibit and if you get lucky a kangaroo or an emu comes up to the train. We love this place and think that it is up to par in comparison to the SF zoo.
1 family found this helpful
"Great Zoo for Toddlers!"
The Oakland Zoo is a great introduction to toddlers about animals, birds and wildlife. I took my two toddler boys to the zoo for the first time and they were amazed to see their stories about giraffes, elephants, camels, zebras, lions and alligators come to life. This is not a huge zoo but it has all of the main animals you can think of - it's just the right size for little ones who can get tired easily. It takes about 2 hours to go around the whole park. In addition to the zoo aspect of the park, there is a barnyard where kids can pet farm animals, feed them and even comb their hair. If you want to take a tour around the park you can either take a sky ride or a a train ride or both!
Prices are pretty reasonable with free admission for children under 2, 2-14 pay $8.50 and 15 and over pay $12.50. Parking is an additional $7/car. There are group discounts and if you plan to go often it's best to get a season pass for $95 for 2 adults and 4 kids.
0 families found this helpful
"Lots to see."
This zoo has lots of exibits and they always seem to be adding something new. Our only complaint is that some exibits dont have much space for spectators and the animals are usually in the corner farthest from that space making them tough or impossible to see. A previous reviewer mentioned bringing binoculars, that may be a good idea!
Also make sure you get a map when you go in or you will get lost and miss some of the exibits. This zoo is that big!
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"How to Do the Oakland Zoo"
1. Bring binoculars - the other zoo goers were clearly envious and if I had been on my game, I might have even been able to make a trade for an iPhone...but then we would have missed the adorable faces of the lions slumbering atop the ridge and the grotesque baboon butts my husband tried to make me to see (um, no way, honey).
2. It's really not all that hilly. Or at least it didn't feel that way to me and I never exercise or even walk anywhere. Or if I do, it's at .05 mph since that's the rate of a toddler, preschooler, and elementary aged child trying to share a sidewalk. It seems like if you strategize your route, you can end up walking downhill more than not. My almost 3 year-old had no problems with the inclines that we did ascend.
3. Everyone was right about the food. It's decent and not as pricey as other places, but not worth paying for, especially when there are so many great picnic spots. If we had not spent the $30 on lunch for the five of us, we could have had money for the rides, which I actually wish weren't there because it sort of detracts from the zoo being about animals. And we went home with all three children crying. That would have probably happened anyway, though.
4. Everyone was also right about it being better than the SF Zoo. Sunny - check. Happy animals - check. Natural, spacious habitats - check. We really enjoyed the creative landscaping which was easily navigated by map. That and the smaller scope of the park lent itself to revisiting favorite animals or animals that had been hidden when we first passed by. In fact, we were able to see the tigers 4 times, and the last time, just as we were getting ready to leave, they came into full view, as close to us as they could possibly have come...one of them relieved himself (thankfully just pee, but it went on and on). I think this also happened because my husband prayed that it would, aloud (not the peeing part, the tigers coming into view).
5. We had kind of a special experience because we accidentally met up with one of the zookeepers (Lorraine) and she sort of us took us under her wing...for a few minutes, at least. First, she fed the meercats (sp?) which was very cool. Then she showed us the hyenas (who were sleeping) and said they were her favorite animals because they are actually very sweet (unlike the stereotype thrust on them by the Lion King--still like the film though). We also watched as she fed the green monkeys (whom I believe the term "zen monkey" originated from). My oldest was thrilled with the personal attention because she aspires to be a zookeeper one day (one day a week actually because she has other careers planned for the other days).
6. Something not to miss is the river otter feeding at 1:15. My middle child expressed her desire to be an otter while my oldest said she'd rather be human after my husband offered to feed her raw fish. Anyway, the otters diving for their food and chomping on it is like a 10 on the cuteness scale, right up their with the big cats rolling on their backs, the meer cats on their hind legs, the snoozing bobcat all curled up, the squirrel monkeys frollicking, and the green monkeys pawing at small objects.
7. I normally avoid petting zoos like I do large birds. I just send the kids in and hope for the best from the other side of the gate. But I actually ventured into this one because there was so much room--it was half out of doors, so that really helped (especially when one of the goats sneezed and passed gas at the same time). I liked the brushing rather than feeding approach, except that my son combed the goat and then his own hair. The pygmy goats were especially cute. I also liked that there was a roped off "retreat" area where the animals could go when they didn't feel like being petted.
8. I ran into an old friend from high school and college who it was a joy to reconnect with (it had been over a decade at least). She's in Livermore so I never would have seen her any other way. It was her daughter's first b-day so they were celebrating at the zoo.
9. Just go, already! But do hunt around online first, though, because I found a half off deal (actually a friend alerted me to it from a radio station).
0 families found this helpful
"Oakland Zoo"
We took our daughter to the Oakland Zoo for the first time. We've never been there before so we didn't know what to expect. Overall, I feel that this zoo is a good size to stroll around with the little ones. It's not as big as the San Francisco Zoo but it's a good size. The hills they have will get you a little tired. They have rides for the kids on the outside of the zoo. We have rode the train. We are going to go back and have our daughter ride the carousel. They have a nice cafe. We loved their burgers.
0 families found this helpful
"Animals and a workout!"
Our boys love this zoo, and I happen to love it as well. The children's area of this zoo is awesome. Usually really crowded on weekends, so we tend to go during the week. Its a great place to get in a workout as well ( be prepared for hills!), especially if your pushing a stroller and carrying lunches and a diaper bag. We love going on the train as well. The most of the "animals" that you see on the train ride are fake. But recently they have an area where there are real animals. All in all a great place to take the kids.
1 family found this helpful
"Oakland Zoo"
First off, this zoo is not actually in Oakland. It is perched on the hills just off the 580, in a lovely "countryfied" environment. The setting is beautiful, and for that reason alone, this is one of my favorite local zoos. But this also means that getting around the zoo itself constitutes a good work out, particularly is you are laden down with a double stroller and all the snacks, diapers and changes of clothes that are required for a day out with three under four.
This is not a zoo on the scale of San Diego, but it is an excellent value fun day out for the family, and especially great for preschool/younger age kids as many of the enclosures are very open and accessible (like the Elephants and Giraffes) which means that your kids are guaranteed to see some animals (as there is nothing worse than spending the day trying to get your three year old interested in a distant, unrecognizable, immobile bundle of fur..). I would say that you can spend at least half a day there, or perhaps a bit longer if your kids spot the rides section where they can be further entertained by the various carousels, rollercoasters, train etc
The cafe lunch has always been quite good value, but there are plenty of spots for a BYO picnic down near the children's zoo (which includes a section to pet the goats and sheep) or close to the entrance.
As a stay at home Mom I typically avoid going to thee places at the weekend so I don't know how busy it gets. But my experience has shown me that even during school break, Monday is a pretty good day to go to avoid the crowds.
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