Phoenix Zoo

It's a good zoo but nothing amazing. It has decent sized pens and a lot of neat animals. The pricing was reasonable and had a good selection of foods to eat.

Posted 05/28/09 | Report Abuse

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The Phoenix Zoo is very manageable in terms of size, but they sure have put a number of really great displays into the area. Everything is really well done. Make sure to make it a stop when in Phoenix.

Posted 05/12/06 | Report Abuse

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I have been going here for years- they have so much for families to do.

In the summer I send my kids to their zoo camp and they love it- they have a ton of fun and learn so much about the different animals.

in the winter make sure that you go to zoo lights- we went on opening night and it was wonderful- they have a ton of lights that make up different animals and had a ton of shops open for hot drinks.

always have a nice selection of animals.

Posted 11/30/05 | Report Abuse

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Phoenix Zoo is a fun place for kids and adults alike. They have a great display of animals ranging from African elephants to Indian tigers to Australian ostrich and many more, zebras, kangaroos, orangutans, seals and many birds and aquatic animals. They have some of the largest tortoise in the world. My nephew also loved the tram ride that took him close to all the exhibits

Posted 11/29/05 | Report Abuse

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Its a treat time for kids when they visit this zoo spread over an 100 acres. There is a tram ride to take you from one exhibits to the next. There are a wide variety of animals on display including zebras, giraffes, lions, bears, elephants, tortoise, orangutan, seals and a variety of birds and fishes. The walking trails are clean and very well maintained. There are refreshment shops along all these trails. Dont forget to buy some souvenirs from the zoo shop. This is a fun picnic for the whole family and is more moderately priced than many others

Posted 11/28/05 | Report Abuse

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The phoenix zoo is great attraction for many tourists visiting this desert city. They have animals from around the world, and the park is themed. Tropical animals are in one part and nothern animals are in another section. If you get tired they also offer a tour, and tickets are inexpensive depending on the day. During the winter season they offer what is known as zoo lights. That's when the park is dressed up in holiday lights to commemorate the season. It's a beautiful site and the park is more quiet during this time.

Posted 11/27/05 | Report Abuse

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The Phoenix zoo is a very lively attraction for the entire family. One of their best spots is the one where you can visit all the small monkeys. You don't have to stand behind a cage and they walk around you on small ropes and ladders. I also enjoy the large swamp outside the zoo where you can see the large turtles and the tortoises. But parking can be bothersome. I recommend going on a weekday.

Posted 11/27/05 | Report Abuse

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I believe you are never too old to enjoy the zoo. This is a really cool zoo that is a decent size. There are a lot of different animals to see here, and some that are unique to Arizona so it is a good learning experience for people. The admission price is a little high, but honestly it is no more expensive than any other zoo you would go to. The zoo puts on special events at certain times of the year, such as zoo lights which is always a great experience. The zoo is always clean and well maintained.

Posted 11/26/05 | Report Abuse

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The Phoenix Zoo was wonderful! This is a really HUGE "walking" zoo and I loved it!! My Son loves seeing all different types of animals and you get that here. There were great places for picnics and nice play areas for children! My son loves seeing all kinds of Birds and Monkeys. He saw them all at this zoo.

Posted 11/18/05 | Report Abuse

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Zoolights is very nice. I went without children,and it was cute to walk around i the cold with my husband. Bringing children would be even better, as the displays are really well done and all kids would enjoy it! Definitely a fun time to get all bundled up to go see. Too bad you cannot see any of the animals at night though! Oh, and we bought our tickets from litttle children selling them for cheaper standing outside the entrance, and I recommend that!

Posted 11/16/05 | Report Abuse

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Went to the Phoenix Zoo for the first time recently. It is a really nice zoo! Lots of shade, which is needed in Arizona. The Tortoises were one of my kids favorite animals they saw that day. They really are HUGE!
Also, the Elephant Encounter is fun, they hand out GIANT Carrots to all the kids to throw in the elephant habitat.
Also, the new WalkThru Monkey Habitat is GREAT! We saw a baby monkey clinging to it's mother's back that had only been born the day before!
A great zoo for kids!!!!!

Posted 11/10/05 | Report Abuse

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I've been to the Phoenix Zoo numerous times. We had a family membership for awhile and went to Boo! at the zoo, Zoo Lights, and just for the casual day. Most recently, I was fortunate to attend the Zoo Walk for autism. It was wonderful for the zoo to support and I was pleased to see so many walkers. The zoo has created a fun play area for children of all ages and the pond is a great place for a picnic!

Posted 11/07/05 | Report Abuse

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We get a membership every year, definately worth it. It pays for itself after 2 or 3 visits. One of my favorite things is coming up, ZooLights, at night they light up the whole zoo with Christmas lights and music.

PROS: ZooLights, reasonable price for membership
CONS: pricy if you don't have a membership

Posted 11/07/05 | Report Abuse

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This is a huge zoo. Covers acres of land with a wide variety of animals. This is about the best zoo for viewing snakes and spiders that I have been to. They used to have a Cheetah enclosure that was the first thing you saw when entered the zoo grounds. Even though this is no longer near the entrance it what attracted me to the Phoenix zoo many times over the years. Their bird enclosure is really fun for kids. Pack a lunch, enjoy the day.

PROS: Huge enclosures for the animals on lots of land.
CONS: It gets so hot there, pick your visit wisely or you'll hate the experience.

Posted 11/05/05 | Report Abuse

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The Phoenix Zoo is a great place to take your kids! It is a smoke-free environment which is fabulous! They have a large variety of animals to see. There is a train you can pay extra to ride and they recently added a carousel. There is lots of walking at this zoo, but it is well worth the workout! Your kids will thank you for taking them there! If you live in the area, do yourself a favor and buy a membership - you will save a ton! If you go 3 times, the membership has paid for itself (and you can also take a guest each time)!

PROS: Great Animals to see! Lots of fun! Great in the winter!
CONS: Hot summers make going impossible

Posted 11/04/05 | Report Abuse

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This zoo is amazing. A good place to bring your family. There's a lot to be seen - all kinds of cool animals - giraffes, lions, monkeys, etc. They have a park inside where you can rest and also a big play area for kids. I'd probably get membership to this zoo as suggested by most folks.

Posted 10/07/05 | Report Abuse

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The new monkey exhibit is a must see. I plan on buying a season pass for the first time ever. The walking is long and alot of hills but it is worth it. You can also take a tram for a minimum charge.

Posted 10/05/05 | Report Abuse

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I love this Zoo... It is a lot of walking because everything seems to be far apart. They have wonderful and very interesting exhibits. I especially love the monkey exhibit I think it is called Monkey Village... They also have tons of weekly and monthly activites which include summer camp, movies at the zoo, zoolights aroung the holidays, boo at the zoo, toddler times, story times and so much more. This is a definite place you have got to visit!

Posted 09/17/05 | Report Abuse

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I always love going to the zoo, but I'm not terribly impressed by the Phoenix zoo. I guess nothing compares to the Columbus Zoo (in Ohio) but it seems like this zoo just doesn't have nearly the number of animals that I'd expect. I should start by warning about the parking, you may have to take quite a long walk just to get to the gates, especially if it's spring break! I've taken my kids' bikes when we've gone and that helps with the amount of walking, where you see mostly greenery instead of animals. The new monkey exhibit was a big disappointment. I do like the Arizona desert section, but it's easy to get lost. I would probably go more often if it was closer or cost a bit less. Oh there is a very cool playground area for the kids.

PROS: some creative settings, fun animals to see in pretty natural surroundings
CONS: do a lot of walking to see not as many animals as you'd expect

Posted 09/16/05 | Report Abuse

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This is a really nice zoo that is just the right size. They animals seem to ber very well cared for and many of the habitats meld right into the dessert setting. Of course being AZ it is very hot, so it is not the best place to visit in the summer unless you go in the early mornings or late evenings.

Posted 09/07/05 | Report Abuse

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The Phoenix zoo is located near the airport and right next to the Botanical garden. The zoo is very well taken care of. In the winter months they have "zoo lites". While your there, plan to also stop at the Botanical Garden that is next door.

PROS: nice grounds
CONS: don't visit in the summer when it is over 100 degrees

Posted 09/02/05 | Report Abuse

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This is an awesome Zoo! We got the membership because it is well worth it! The family is able to take a day trip and have a ton of fun! AND it's educational as well!

Posted 08/29/05 | Report Abuse

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If yuo are expecting a zoo like Philadelphia or Oklahoma, you will be disappointed. But if you just go to enjoy the day, this is it. The zoo has alot of the big attractions such as lions, tigers, and bears. Oh my! They don't have gorillas, or any cold water animals such as pengins or polar bears. But with this heat what can you expect. It is fairly inexpensive to get in but if you live here the membership is definitely the way to go.

Posted 08/21/05 | Report Abuse

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This is one of the nicest zoos my family has been to. It is very family friendly, with lots to do. There is a petting zoo and a farm for the little ones. They can dig for worms or play in the sand. There is also water spouts in the summer months that shoot water from the foam flooring. My kids' favorite part is a huge tree house that has a creek running under it. There is ample parking and prices are very reasonable. From lions and tigers to orangutans and bears, the Phoenix Zoo has it all.

Posted 08/13/05 | Report Abuse

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Just this past year we have purchased an annual pass to the Phoenix Zoo. It was a great investment as we have been quite a few times. There are many different varieties of animals at the zoo.

The new Monkey Village is fun as you can walk inside the cage with the monkeys. Also, the children's area has a petting zoo with goats for the children to pet and comb their hair.

There are several overgrown trees that help shade many of the paths or you can take a train ride thru much of the zoo.

Posted 07/29/05 | Report Abuse

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This is definitely a place I would recommend getting a membership to! You pay for your membership after going just a couple of times a year, and the extra benefits of being a member are well worth it! We love going to Zoolights, and Boo! at the Zoo. There is just no end to the new things we find each time we go there, and we have been members for more than 5 years now...

Posted 07/27/05 | Report Abuse

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During the middle of the day in the hot summer is probably not the best time to go here, but during the winter months it is great. They have activities all the time. During Christmas they have zoo lights which is really cool. You can find discount coupons to get in here for a good price. They have a large number of exibits. It is a fun place to hang out for a day.

Posted 07/26/05 | Report Abuse

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I love the zoo, and I checked it out to see if I could hold my wedding reception there. They led us to this little cottage where we waited for the events person to arrive to talk to her. Apparently she was with some other people with the same request - to see the reception facility. She said she would be back. We were confused as to why we couldn't just tag along! All we wanted to do was see it and we didn't want to wait any longer - we'd already waited 20 minutes or so. So we followed them anyway. The event hall looked great. When we came back to get details, the events lady had taken off again so we just left.

PROS: Nice setting
CONS: Disorganized

Posted 07/21/05 | Report Abuse

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This is a great place to take your chidren, and adults can enjoy it to. They have so many animal to see and a playground area as well. Food is a bit expensive but that is not a surprise.

Posted 07/13/05 | Report Abuse

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Fun place to go for the day. Lots of wonderful and interesting exhibits. They have picnic areas, a playground, a water play area, a gift shop and more. They have weekly deals to save money and offer various classes and camps for adults and children. They have stroller rentals and snack bars. A visit to the Phoenix Zoo is sure to be a lot of fun!

Posted 07/12/05 | Report Abuse

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The Phoenix Zoo is completely inadequate for a city of over 3 million people. Their exhibits are small and unimaginative, the animals are rarely out because of the heat, and it is poorly laid out to make use of the land they have. I've been to much better zoos in smaller cities with less funding. This zoo is seriously mismanaged.

PROS: New monkey exhibit is interesting
CONS: Very poorly laid out and poorly managed

Posted 07/03/05 | Report Abuse

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I love going to the Phoenix Zoo. They have all kinds of things to do! They have tons of animal exhibits that are great to look at! They have a playground for the kids to play on and a water play area for when it's just too hot and the kids need to cool off. They have places to eat and buy snacks and places to sit and have your own picnic from home. This is definitely a place to have fun for a day. They usually have discount days or coupons available at a grocery store too to help with the expenses. Check their website for current deals.

Posted 07/01/05 | Report Abuse

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Get some exercise without ever realizing it. What other place can you walk a mile or two and meet giraffes, lions and wolves on your way? Never a dull moment. Lots of hands on, interactive activities for the whole family to experience.

Posted 06/26/05 | Report Abuse

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I am glad that the area has a zoo. It is always fun no matter how many times that you have been here before. They usually have the same animals but occasionally get new ones. During christmas time they do a thing called zoo lights where the zoo is all lit up at night, it is really cool and unique.

Posted 06/20/05 | Report Abuse

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the zoo is a great family place. great for the kids and the animals are well taken care of. the people have no problem helping you in the zoo. i know when i went with kindergarten last year they gave us directions to everything.

Posted 05/10/05 | Report Abuse

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This is a great place to take the kids to see all kinds of animals. I love the entrance when you walk over the bridge with all of the fish. They offer a great overnight programs- my daughter really enjoyed that. Just be ready to do lots of walking.

Posted 05/05/05 | Report Abuse

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I have enjoyed going to see the animals at the zoo for many years and also enjoy Zoo Lights during holiday season.The zoo has many events and provides a very nice day when the weather isn't hot.

Posted 05/02/05 | Report Abuse

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What a nice zoo! Large selection of animals. You can rent a bike, and ride it through the zoo which is a ton of fun! They have an area with water that spikes out of the ground for kids to run in when it is super hot out! Bathrooms are kept clean, and well maintained!

Posted 04/30/05 | Report Abuse

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This place is very nice and big. They have a big variety of animals to see. I really like going here. They also have zoo lights during christmas time which is amazing, you cannot see the animals since its at nice but seeing the zoo all light up in christmas lights is wonderful.

Posted 04/23/05 | Report Abuse

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This zoo is the largest privately owned, nonprofit zoo in the US. It is a beautiful park, with plenty of play areas for antsy kids, including sprinklers to run in.
The only major drawback is with Monkey Village. They do not allow strollers in the area, and they do not allow them to be parked in the entrance/exit cage area. THis makes it impossible to enter for those who are not willing to leave their stroller and other belongings in the open.

PROS: Plenty of activities
CONS: Monkey Village

Posted 04/18/05 | Report Abuse

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