Free admission
What could be better than free entry? In my experience, it can be quite expensive to go to the zoo with my family, so this is such a great find. It is also a large zoo and well worth your time. There are so many great animals to see! You do have to pay for parking but all in all, this makes for a very inexpensive visit to the zoo.
Indoor exhibits
St Louis can get quite hot in the summer and it is nice to be able to get out of the heat for a bit. The St. Louis zoo has multiple indoor buildings to go along with their outside animal exhibits. This makes for a great visit as you are able to go inside for a bit to cool off in between exhibits.
We went to several indoor exhibits and they are well done. The Charles H. Hoessle Herpetarium was the first one we went in. This one is split between two level by stairs inside. If you have a stroller like we did or a wheel chair, you are still able to access the other level, but you will have to go outside and use the path there versus taking the stairs inside the building.
Another one we went into was the primate house. This one was probably my favorite! We enjoyed watching them swing and play all while being in air conditioning! It is nicely done and beautiful inside. This building also leads directly to the primate canopy trails which is so fun! The primates have the ability to be let inside or outside and you are able to see different groups in each environment.
The last indoor exhibit we went to was the Penguin & Puffin coast. I love all things Penguin so this was a great one for me. This area is colder than an air conditioned building due to the animals needs. It works as a great way to cool off in the summer! We loved getting to see the Rock Hopper Penguins and the puffins in this area.
We were unable to visit the Jungle of the Apes or the Bayer Insectarium but we look forward to seeing these on a future trip.
Outdoor Exhibits
The outdoor exhibits are also beautiful. The animals truly seem at home here with room to play and run around in. The polar bear and brown bear were some of my favorite outdoor exhibits. The polar bear has an area where he can swim in the water and spectators are able to watch while in a small indoor area. When we were at his habitat he was putting on a show for everyone by swimming around. It was breathtaking to watch this beautiful animal swim through the water. We stayed there and watched him for quite a long time. There is also a viewing area of the polar bear when you exit the Penguin & Puffin coast. The polar bear was hanging around above his water pool when we exited the coast and we were able to see him as he interacted and played in different ways than before. It was a very neat experience for us all.
Another great area was the Holekamp Aqua Tunnel in the Sea Lion Sound exhibit. You are able to walk through and see California Sea Lions and Harbor Seals as they swim above you. There is a wide path and you can also sit down and enjoy the experience if you would like to spend more time there.
Outside of the Primate canopy trails is the Tiger habitat. The Tiger was sleeping while we were there but he was beautiful to look at! There are so many great animals to see! We didn’t have time for all of them but we had a great experience with the ones we were able to see!
Play & Picnic space
Not far from the primate house and Herpetarium is a large open green space. We loved this area as it was a perfect space for our 18 month old to run around for a bit and it is largely shaded. This area would also be a great place to stop for a picnic with your family or group. The St. Louis Zoo allows you to bring in food, which is a great way to save money during your visit.
Carousel
Who doesn’t love a carousel? Mary Ann Lee Conservation Carousel is so fun with many different animals to choose from to sit on during your ride. It is in a shaded pavilion and is a fun stop at the zoo for kids (and adults!). Just so you know, they do charge a small fee to ride it.
First Aid
A good thing to note is near the Conservation Carousel is the St Louis Children’s Hospital First Aid building. Hopefully it is not needed but it is always helpful to know it is there just in case.
Adventure pass
The Saint Louis Zoo does have optional paid activities that you can enjoy throughout the park. These include things like a train ride through the grounds, a sea lion show, petting stingrays, and the carousel. While you can pay for these individually, you also have the option to purchase an adventure pass for the day or year. This allows you to enjoy these activities throughout the day without having to pay individually for them and you also have unlimited access to them.
At the time of this writing, the all day adventure pass is $15.95 per person. The carousel is listed at $3 a ride, the Sea Lion show is $4 a person, the train is $8.95, and petting the stingrays is $4.95 a person. You can also go to the 4D theater, virtual reality, a dinosaur exhibit, and get $2 off of giraffe feedings. If you have an interest in doing a lot of these things, the adventure pass is a great deal! Check them out here: https://stlzoo.org/attractions/adventure-pass
Food options
One of the great things that I mentioned earlier is the ability to bring in your food, snacks, and drinks to the zoo if you are trying to save money. If you prefer not to bring your lunch, they have many food options to choose from. You can order lunch, snacks and sweet treats or even a Starbucks drink! You certainly will not be lacking for food options no matter what section of the park you are in. Check out all of the food options available from the zoo here:
https://stlzoo.org/services/dining
The Saint Louis zoo is a must visit activity for the whole family! If you have never been here or have not been in a long time, add it your bucket list!
Visiting St Louis? Check out these restaurants to enjoy while there: https://pepperandpassports.com/11-restaurants-in-and-around-st-louis-missouri/
Need help planning a trip to St. Louis? Check out this 3 day guide: https://pepperandpassports.com/if-i-had-3-days-to-spend-in-st-louis-heres-what-i-would-do/
Lambert’s is such a fun and unique restaurant in Missouri. Check out my experience here: https://suitcasesandsalt.com/missouri-has-own-of-the-most-unique-restaurants/
Daily Travel Planner – https://seasonedtravel.kit.com/4b7cb43380
Bucket List Maker – https://seasonedtravel.kit.com/793556e6a0
Hi! My name is Allison and I love all things travel! If you follow me, you will find me enjoying the outdoors, hiking, or trying new food! I love sharing the places I have been and hearing from you about new places I should go!
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