I absolutely adore the Phoenix Zoo. Located in the southeast part of the city, south of Scottsdale, the Phoenix Zoo encompasses more than 125 acres, and houses over 3,000 animals. Much like OdySea Aquarium, its accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, with inspections every 5 years, and spot checks by USDA inspectors.
The Phoenix Zoo is an outstanding spot for children of all ages, it's extremely walkable, and very stroller friendly. You can bring in bottles, water, and snacks for your little ones if you want to make it a more economical outing.
It takes about 3 hours to see all four zoo trails - Arizona, Africa, Tropics and the Children's section. We've already been a handful of times, and it's hard to say which section is my favorite - they all have unique qualities that make them enjoyable.
As of September 2022, pricing is as follows:
- Adults $29.95
- Children (3-13) $19.95
- 2 & under are free
There are discounts available, and the Phoenix Zoo is currently available on the Pogo Pass (two visits per year).
The first time we took our son, he was still a little potato who wasn't very interested in the animals. However, we still happily took him around in his stroller, with ample places to stop and feed him bottles. The restrooms had changing tables and were very clean, and it was actually a lovely place to take a very small baby.
There are plenty of fun things for older kids as well, including the Scooterpals, a carousel and water play areas. They have a fantastic petting zoo area with goats and cows, which was very popular when we went.
Highlights
- Stroller friendly, very walkable, great way to get out in the fresh air
- Helpful staff, clean exhibits with happy animals
Final Verdict
We loved going to the zoo so much, we asked our family for a membership for our son's first birthday. Now we can go back as often as we want, whether it's to see a new exhibit, or just to check out how the giraffes are doing. I am also excited now that our son is more mobile, he can enjoy the water play areas, and be more invested in the exhibits.
One of the benefits of being a member is discounted tickets for special zoo events, such as Zoo Lights around Christmas time - we can't wait!
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