Lions, Tigers and Bears… Oh My!: A Guide to Zoos in Missouri and Kansas
This summer, take a walk on the wild side during your family vacation or staycation with a trip to the zoo. Giraffes licking your hands as you feed them wafers, elephants painting masterpieces, sea lions splashing as they perform tricks, eagles soaring overhead, chimpanzees squealing--all of these memories can be yours with a trip to the zoo… all within a five-hour drive or LESS!
Missouri Zoos:
The Kansas City Zoo
www.KansasCityZoo.org, 6800 Zoo Dr., Kansas City, MO 816.513.5700Of all the zoos we visited, our own zoo offered the greatest reason to “keep coming back.” At 200 acres, the Kansas City Zoo is LARGE, and a visit to either Africa or Australia can easily take most of a day. We love visiting the zoo frequently and purposely choose to see one section with each visit.
Favorite Things: The zoo shows are definitely worth your time and they are free! The Sea Lion Show, just as I remember it from childhood, is still my favorite. The kids love the Gorilla Talk, the Zoo Keeper chats and Elephant Painting and other special programs. And of course, the biggest draw for our family this summer is the arrival of the polar bears!
Tip: The Friends of the Zoo Membership includes discounts or free admission to most of the zoos on this list and others across the country. The Gold FOTZ pass includes unlimited train, carousel and tram rides.
St. Louis Zoo
www.StLZoo.org, 1 Government Dr., St Louis, MO 314.781.0900Admission to the St. Louis Zoo is FREE, but there is a charge for some attractions including the children’s petting zoo, carousel, train and movies.
Favorite Things: At the St. Louis Zoo you can see animals up close and personal. The coolest exhibit we’ve ever seen is the Antarctic Penguin and Puffin Exhibit, where the birds swim and play in a snowy setting! We also love Bear Bluffs, where grizzlies, black bears, Malayan bears, polar bears and spectacled bears live in open habitats with waterfalls, pools and bluffs.
Tip: Watch animal feedings, especially penguin feedings, where the keepers provide educational information and the animals are most active.
Springfield’s Dickerson Park Zoo
www.DickersonParkZoo.org. 1401 W. Norton Rd., Springfield, MO 417.833.1570
The Springfield Zoo is “just the right size” for young kids, as you can comfortably see the zoo in three hours.Favorite Things: You can purchase wafers at the giraffe viewing and feeding deck where the magnificent animals eat right from the palm of your hand. As a mom, I was thankful for hand sanitizer conveniently located all around the zoo.
Tip: If you have young children (preschool and elementary) the $3 Zoo Key is worth it. The Zoo Key is a token you plug into audio boxes around the zoo. Each box plays two recordings: one explanation of the animal and another “Jungle Jingle” with a children’s song about the animals. You only need one key per family and children love it. Read our Guide to Family Fun in Springfield for more ideas!
Kansas Zoos:
Topeka Zoo
www.Topeka.org 635 Southwest Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 785.368.9180The Topeka Zoo is a perfect half-day outing just 45-60 minutes from Kansas City.
Favorite Things: Our family loved Black Bear Woods, where the black bear family plays and wrestles. There is an observation deck above the bears for easy viewing. The jungle cat exhibit is also beautiful with waterfalls setting the scene for the Sumatran tigers and black leopards.
Tip: The Topeka Zoo is located inside Gage Park, where you can ride the park train and carousel after your zoo trip. Read our Guide to Family Fun in Topeka for more ideas!
Wichita’s Sedgwick County Zoo
www.SCZ.org. 5555 W. Zoo Blvd., Wichita, KS 316.660.9453This Zoo is home to penguins, hippos, big cats, giraffes, a wonderful children’s zoo and many more exotic animals you can comfortably see in a few hours.
Favorite Things: We loved observing the hippos through a window that allowed us to watch the “water horse” swim through the water. The kids also enjoyed feeding the giraffes and the animals at the children’s zoo.
Tip: The zoo boat ride is well worth it! We loved watching animals up close, and tickets are discounted for FOTZ Members.
Kristina Light and her family love visiting zoos all year long and they love the discounts that come with an FOTZ membership!