Let me get the 1% out of the way so I can rave about the other exhibits in peace. The birds-of-prey crew does not use leashes when handling their birds in public. Not smart at all, especially with full-flighted birds, and I have heard a nasty rumor that they stopped this very basic and necessary safety measure for political reasons rather than practical (as in the public complained about seeing the leashes).
Now, with that said...
For someone who's serious about zoos and zoo photography, as I am, it takes nearly three days to do the entire park. This is a big zoo! The tropical walk-through is amazing, both for the variety of birds and its design.
The grizzly bear exhibit is nothing short of phenomenal, well deserving of the awards it has received. I'd never even seen a live grizzly before my latest trip, and being separated by one by nothing more than a couple of inches of acrylic is... well, sobering is a good way to put it. I'll post some of the photos I got a bit later this week.
As for the rest of the place, well... Geomorph has gone into far better detail than I ever could. Suffice to say the staff are incredibly friendly, for the most part, and this is easily one of the most photo-friendly zoos I've seen in a very long time in terms of exhibit design.
If you're an AZA or AAZK member, parking and admission are both free (simply show your member card at the gate), and you'll also get a discount at the gift shop.
Food-wise: The staff I talked to recommended the sandwich counter in the 'Call of the Wild' food court, and it was a good recommendation. A bit pricey, once you include chips and a drink, but a darn good sandwich no matter what.
Happy travels.
Now, with that said...
For someone who's serious about zoos and zoo photography, as I am, it takes nearly three days to do the entire park. This is a big zoo! The tropical walk-through is amazing, both for the variety of birds and its design.
The grizzly bear exhibit is nothing short of phenomenal, well deserving of the awards it has received. I'd never even seen a live grizzly before my latest trip, and being separated by one by nothing more than a couple of inches of acrylic is... well, sobering is a good way to put it. I'll post some of the photos I got a bit later this week.
As for the rest of the place, well... Geomorph has gone into far better detail than I ever could. Suffice to say the staff are incredibly friendly, for the most part, and this is easily one of the most photo-friendly zoos I've seen in a very long time in terms of exhibit design.
If you're an AZA or AAZK member, parking and admission are both free (simply show your member card at the gate), and you'll also get a discount at the gift shop.
Food-wise: The staff I talked to recommended the sandwich counter in the 'Call of the Wild' food court, and it was a good recommendation. A bit pricey, once you include chips and a drink, but a darn good sandwich no matter what.
Happy travels.
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