Many families think of a trip to the local Zoo as a purely summertime event but if you forgo the zoo during the winter months you may be missing out on an amazing family experience.
First consider the zoo in the heart of the summer busy season:
1) Higher temperatures
2) Throngs of people
3) Lethargic animals
4) Traffic jams coming and going
5) Parking 1/2 mile from the entrance
6) (Often) higher “peak” prices
7) That hot zoo smell
Many of these unsavory characteristics of a July or August trip to a zoo can be avoided by going in the cooler months, when the school-age kids are locked away learning math, geography and how to get pencils to stick into a drop ceiling.
Many zoos, be they of the metropolitan or community variety, offer discounts and special event/programs to attract animal lovers to their gates during the off-peak times of the year. Your family should take advantage of their zoological generosity and revel in the less crowded, more pleasant environment.
With fewer people around, you and your family can take your time at each exhibit and animal habitat – learning about the origins, eating habits and other curiosities of the animals at the zoo. My family finds it unbearable to wait behind a wall of people to gaze at a gazelle or peer into the penguin palace. Fortunately, when the weather turns cooler those folks disappear leaving us with oodles of quality time with the giraffes, lions and seals. Also, many of the outdoor animals seem to be more lively in the 45-65 degree temperature range and the smell of hundreds of animals laying about in a fairly confined space is not nearly as strong nor as offensive as it is when the thermometer is pushing 90.
When visiting a zoo in the winter, be sure to dress in layers as the midday sun may make those jackets and sweatshirts seems like terrible clothing decisions. Also, check with your local zoo about winter hours, special programs (including light displays for the holiday season – which may extend into the new year) and any applicable off-peak discounts on admission and/or membership.
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Z is for Zoo
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