Birmingham Zoo: A Great Family Place

The zoo is a magical place for children of all ages. I can't remember a time I didn't love going. One of the nicest zoos I've been to is found in my current hometown, Birmingham, Alabama. I believe this is a wonderful place for families for several reasons.

First, the Birmingham Zoo offers reasonably priced memberships. If you plan on attending the zoo more than two or three times a year, a year-long family membership is the way to go. I find that with a toddler, I don't feel constrained to stay at the zoo and "get our money's worth" if we have a membership. We feel free to come and go for even just a couple hours at a time. The zoo membership also gives you discounts for the gift shops, educational classes, and invitations for special events.

Second, the Birmingham Zoo offers many educational classes for children of all ages and for home schooling families. We took the Zoo Tots class, for 2-3 year olds. While there is always a lot to see at the zoo, taking a class is a great way to focus your toddler's learning. The parent or caregiver stays with the child during class and classes cover a wide range of topics including, "What Animals Eat," "Night Animals," and "Farm Animals." Children are introduced to these animals through crafts, zookeeper talks, and by seeing the animals up close. Some animals are brought to the classroom and if possible, the children can touch them.

The Birmingham Zoo also offers a variety of events throughout the year. In summer you can view the baby flamingos out for their exercise, catch a sea lion show, see native Alabama animals in a show, and watch the animals enjoy frozen treats. The children can also enjoy the water spouts by the commissary, so come with bathing suits. Fall and winter bring events such as "Boo at the Zoo," the annual Halloween extravaganza and "Zoolight Safari," the Christmas light show.

Another reason I enjoy the Birmingham Zoo is that it is fairly small compared to some other zoos. I think the size is perfect for families, especially those with young children. You can see all the exhibits in one visit and it's not so crowded that you can't enjoy it. Waiting in lines isn't something you see much of at the Birmingham Zoo. You can also take advantage of the picnic areas and playground.

Even though the zoo isn't one of the large ones, it is home to some exciting creatures. Babec, one of the gorillas, was the first ever to have a cardiac resynchronization therapy device, or CRT implanted. There is also a lorikeet aviary in which you can hand feed the colorful birds. You can also feed the giraffes and take time to see the alligators up close. Some of the exhibits are two stories or more allowing you to view animals closer such as viewing vultures in their treetops from a window observatory.

So if you find yourself in Birmingham, make your plans to come to this fun place!