Have Fun at the Lowry Park Zoo

Located on 56 acres in Tampa, Florida sits an amazing zoo that has parents and children wanting to come back time and time again.

The Lowry Park Zoo is located at 111 West Sligh Avenue and is open daily from 9 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. The only days that this zoo is closed are on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The admission prices to this zoo are a bit more expensive than they are at other zoos, but this one has so much to offer that the few dollars more is actually worth it.

The ticket prices are as follows: adults are $20.95, seniors who are over the age of 60 are $18.95, children ages 3 through 11 are $15.95, and kids under 2 are admitted free as is custom to most zoos.

The zoo has split up areas depending on the theme or region of the animals that are housed there.

There is a safari exhibit with animals from African regions such as zebras, white rhinos, and the cheetah.

Zebras are endangered animals and are found in South Africa. These beautiful black and white horse like animals can weigh as much as 600 pounds.

The White Rhinoceros is a huge animal and is actually the second largest animal to be on land, right behind the elephant! These gigantic animals can weigh thousands of pounds and live over 40 years.

Cheetahs are known to be the fastest land mammal and can have up to 6 cubs in one litter.

It seems that every zoo has an African area, and this one is no different. Kids will enjoy spotting these animals and many more that they can easily identify.

There is also an area dedicated to the animals found in Australia. This exhibit has some of the cutest animals here at the zoo. The pygmy goat and the koala are sure to have your kids' attention in no time. The pygmy goat only weighs around 50 pounds and actually makes good pets; and no one can resist how cute and cuddly looking the koala can be! These animals eat eucalyptus leaves, are found in Eastern Australia, sleep most of the day and live alone most of their lives.

You can see leopards and the Komodo dragon at the Garden of Asia Exhibit. Your kids will learn that the komodo is one big lizard and can live up to 40 years. They are also great climbers. The leopard is actually quite small in reference to other big cats and is also on the endangered species list. These cats only weigh around 25 to 50 pounds.

If birds are your thing, head on over to the aviary where you can see tons of birds in a free flight area such as the toucan and the lorikeet.

If you are from Florida, than you might recognize some of the animals they have on display at their Florida exhibit. See the Florida panther, bald eagle, and the river otter and then head on over to the Aquatic exhibit to see the great manatee. These animals are endangered and have no known enemy except humans. Lots of these magnificent creatures are killed because of boating accidents. Find out ways to help them stay around for years to come as you learn more about them like how they can grow to be over 10 feet long and weigh 1,000 pounds or more.

Not only does this zoo offer lots of animals from local areas and around the world, but they have really great rides as well.

Train rides, camel rides, a rollercoaster and more are offered here for an additional charge. You can pay separately or buy a wrist band to enjoy some of these attractions. Please check their website, here or ticket booth for more information.

There is also an arcade area, water play features, and a playground for young ones to have fun while parents take a rest.

Make sure you stop by to see the various shows throughout the day where you can see birds of prey, penguins and learn more about manatees as well as other animals.

You cannot bring in a cooler, but there are places nearby that you can have your own lunch, or just eat inside the zoo at the many restaurants and open air vendors they have on site.

You can choose to eat indoors or out and have lots of foods to choose from like pizza, hot dogs, salads, chicken fingers, bbq, funnel cakes, ice cream and more at the different places located in the zoo.

You can also rent wheelchairs and strollers if you need to, but please arrive early as they are limited to a first come basis. You will need to put a deposit down, but you will get that back at the end of the day. Strollers and wheelchairs are relatively cheap, so if you are limited on space in your vehicle, this might be an option if they are available when you arrive.

This zoo is just one of those places that feel more like an amusement park, but with lots of learning experiences along the way.

Most children enjoy looking at animals and there are lots of rides and extras so that your family can get the most bang from your buck and stay the entire day.