Children love to visit the animals at zoos and aquariums and Dallas/Fort Worth has the biggest collection of both! From large African exhibits, getting to experience a giraffe sticking his head in your car, or seeing the whales swim, your kids will want to visit the zoo’s and aquarium’s in the Dallas/Fort Worth area over and over again.
Fort Worth Zoo
The Fort Worth Zoo is the local favorite zoo in the North Texas area. With over 5000 animals including apes, chimps, rhinos, elephants, birds, reptiles, lions, tigers, and more, there is plenty to keep your kids entertained and in awe during a day at the zoo. Visit the penguin exhibit to see animals that you won’t see unless you go to a very cold climate, or to Asian Falls to get a look at all the animals you would find in Asia including white tigers, a pair of breeding Malayan tigers, and six elephants that live at the zoo. One area that the kids love best is Parrot Paradise where they can go into a large bird cage and feed parrots who will land on sticks covered in bird seed that you can buy for $1. This interaction is always an experience that even the youngest kids can get into. If your child likes water life be sure to take them by the aquarium where they can see hundreds of salt water fish swimming around in large tanks that have been created to resemble the ocean. The zoo is even open on major holidays! If you are looking for a fun day out with your kids, be sure to visit the Fort Worth Zoo.
1989 Colonial Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76110. Phone: (817) 759-7555. Hours: Monday – Friday 10:00am- 5:00 pm.; Saturday and Sunday: 10:00am- 6:00 pm.; Admission: Adults $12.00; children 3 – 12 $9; under 2 free.
Dallas Zoo
The Dallas Zoo is just south of downtown Dallas and is an oases where residents and visitors alike can spend time in an atmosphere that celebrates and sustains the human spirit, while promoting a deeper understanding of, and commitment to, biological diversity, plant and animal sustainability and our mutual responsibility for the future of ALL life on earth. The proudest accomplishment of the Dallas Zoo is the brand new Giants of Savanna exhibit which houses giraffes, elephants, lions, cheetahs, warthogs, red river hogs, and ostriches that have been recently brought to the zoo just to be put in this 11 acre exhibit and enjoyed by adults and children alike. Covering 95 acres the Dallas Zoo was founded in 1888 and has the distinction of being the first zoo in the southwest. It is impossible to miss as you can see the 67 1/2″ giraffe statue that marks the zoo entrance from miles around.
650 South R.L. Thornton Freeway (I-35E), Dallas, TX 75203. Hours: Daily 9:00am- 5:00 pm.; Admission: Adults $12; children 3 – 11 $9; under 3 free.
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center
The Fossil Rim Wildlife Center is an experience like none other and is definitely worth the one hour drive from Fort Worth. This “zoo” isn’t one you will have to get out to walk around and see the animals. Instead you roll down your windows (or leave them up) and drive around the wildlife center getting an up close and personal look at dozens of animals such as zebra and giraffes that will come up to your car, stick their head in looking for food, and say hello. If that isn’t enough for you then you can jump on a bus and do a tour through even more areas and see more animals with a trained tour guide. Take your children to the Children’s Animal Center where they can get up close and personal with goats, tortoises, birds and even meet Vinnie, the Boer/Nubian goat, who is known to give hugs. The Fossil Rim Wildlife Center is a place that your kids will ask to go to again and again.
2299 County Road 2008, Glen Rose, Texas, 76043. Hours: Daily Spring and Summer 8:30am– 5:30 pm.; Fall 8:30am– 4:30 pm. Winter 8:30am– 3:30 pm.; Admission: Weekday – Adults $20.95; children 3 – 11 $13.95; under 3 free; Weekends – Adults $22.95; children 3 – 11 $16.95; children under 3 free.
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