The St. Louis ZOO : One of the Best in the Country

St. Louis Zoo boasts up to 5,000 animals from 70 species and is set on 90 acres. There is a children's zoo, an insectarium and even a miniture train ride. There is so much to see and do at St. Louis Zoo you would need an entire day to visit. The Zoo hosts many houses which are home for amphibians, fish, mammals, birds and reptiles which are watched over by professionals and cared for to the highest standard.

There are the usual animals such as elephant however you can take a walk through River's Edge and see them at play. This area also houses hyenas and cheetas. Then carry on to Historic Hill where you can see architecture from the 1920's with birds, reptiles and primates at play. Another wonderful section is The Wild which brings you through a journey from the tropical forests to the polar icecaps. In The Wild you will see polar bears, penguins and even the greap apes of the world.

If you have little kids with you then you have to visit Discovery Corner which is a petting zoo. Little rabbits, butterfly's, goats and many more animals are in this part of the zoo which encourages children to learn about their natural habitat and how to treat animals. For the bigger kids then a trip to the Red Rock's section is a must. This is the big cat section with tigers and lions but it also has zebras, giraffes and antelope all in their natural setting.

There are many eating-stops in the zoo which cater for everyone's taste. Some of the restaurants are indoor whilst some are set in a beautiful surrounding outside on the terrace. All of the restaurants are aptly named such as The Painted Giraffe, The Laughing Hyena and Hippo Hideaway just to mention a few. There are also a great selection of shops based inside the zoo which include The Safari Shop, Ladybug Boutique and Zootique.

When you have finished eating then you can go on to learn from the highly trained professional staff about experiencing how to handle the animals. There are many programs available such as Keeper for the Day, Spring and Summer Programs for Young Children, Camp Kangazoo and programs for all the family. For the luckier visitors you can go behind the scenes and pet a penguin or feed a giant tortoise. There and many and varied packages on offer which would make a wonderful gift to an animal lover and gift certificates can be purchased on the premises.

The Zoo is open from 9am to 5pm every day of the week after Labour Day. During the Summertime the Zoo has extended hours on Friday, Saturday and Tuesday. If you get tired of walking then the zoo train takes you on a trip around the perimetre and just relax. St Louis Zoo focuses on educational programs which are a high priority. This is a wonderful day out for a family, for anyone interested in animals and preservation and for those who really want to get up close then the day courses would be right up your street.