The Saint Louis Zoo is considered to be one of the best in the country. With such a high prestige it is amazing that the admission is free and is highly praised for so.
Where most people pay for parking there is free parking on the north side on the streets of Forest Park. The spots near the zoo fill up fast. If you arrive more than an hour after opening it will be a long walk to the entrance.
During the first hour of operation all of the premium attractions except for the train are free of charge. This is the perfect time to do the stingray encounter as well as the carousel and children's zoo section.
The zoo does have many historic buildings including the reptile, monkey, and animal houses that are truely unique. I do think though that the big cat area could be upgraded.
Newer exhibits are designed very well and promotes unique viewing angles and experiences. These experiences include the penguin exhibit and the sea lion exhibit. I was not able to see the sea lion show since it was only shown on the weekends when I went.
Overall this is a beautiful zoo that is heavily invested and relies on the community in a positive way. This is a must do experience for every person visiting the area.
although ther is no charge to visit the zoo and there are plents of animals its just not my thing to see them in captivity. i understand that it is required as so many spieces are becoming extinct to it is educational. The day we visted it was very hot and this meant the animals were in shaded or cool areas so not very visible
We had an amazing time taking my grandson for the Boo at the zoo event! Lots of Halloween decorations, live show, and much more. We’re looking forward to going again next year.
With our 4-year old grandson in town, a visit to the St. Louis Zoo was a necessity. We didn’t have a lot of time so we determined our target animals and laid out a plan.
It is a great zoo as it’s clean and well organized making it easy to find your way around. The “trails” between sections of the zoo are not intuitive, so make sure you grab a map on the way into the zoo.
We’ve been here many times and know the way around and our favorite concessions. In this case, the zoo was decorated for Halloween. Great fun!
In my life, I have visited zoos in Chicago, Milwaukee, Memphis, San Diego, etc. and I must admit the St. Louis zoo is the best setting I have ever seen. Nice environments for the animals. Nice landscaping. It's free! However, you do have to pay to park. If you are traveling with children or your a child at heart, do miss this zoo.
