Come and Be a Friend of the Zoo

Covering 202 acres, the Kansas City Zoo is the second largest urban park in the United States. Located in the Swope Park area, just off I-435 and US-71 highway, the Zoo is easily accessible from any part of the metropolitan area. The zoo is open 9:30 - 5:00 on weekends, and 9:30 - 4:00 Monday through Friday, and only closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. On Tuesday's, you can enter the zoo for only $5.00, for all ages.

Walking through the rolling hills, you can find a wide variety of animals. On display you will see almost 900 animals from six different continents. Looking over the grassy fields, you can find kangaroo jumping from place to place or you can walk down the path to the Africa area and see elephants playing in the water.

For some relaxing time, you can enjoy the animal shows that the zoo offers. You can watch a bird show, reptil show, sea lion show or watch as they feed the lorikeets. You can also spend time in the Rafiki Restaurant or stop in the Bar and Grill or any of the snack shops along the way.

There are also many educational opportunities for children of all ages. They have a camp program, overnight stays in the zoo, birthday parties and provide field trip and tours for schools or churches. You can also watch a movie on the large screen of the IMAX Theater, located at the zoo entrance.

For those that think they will be making several trips to the zoo, they can purchase a membership for Friends of the Zoo. This membership gives you free admission or discounts to more than 140 zoos nationwide. You can also enjoy discounts at the gift shops or on birthday parties.

During the Halloween season, you can bring your children for some fun at Boo at the Zoo. Feel free to wear your costumes and go trick-or-treating throughout the zoo. They also have a haunted pirate ship, a costume parade and a jack-o-lantern display.

As you leave the zoo, don't forget to stop into the Deja Zoo Gifts souvenir shop. You can find stuffed animals, books, educational toys, jewelery and home decorations.

If you are in the Kansas City Metro Area and looking for a fun time, stop into the Kansas City Zoo. It will provide a day of fun for the entire family. They also have a sister city zoo in Hanover, Germany. For more information on the Kansas City Zoo, you can visit their website at www.kansascityzoo.org.