If you’re on the fence about visiting the San Antonio Zoo, let my review steer you in the right direction!
Orson has hit a really fun stage of toddlerhood: memory-making and recall! We (mostly) love this stage. It allows us to debrief with him every evening before bed, to ask him what were his favorite parts about the day, etc. We find out more about what excites him and what foods are his absolute favorite, and it’s really just fun to discover what sparks his joy.
But if I hear “Zoo! Monkeys!” one more time…..
I’ll just have to take him and his sister back to the San Antonio Zoo so that he can see the monkeys.
Currently, Wednesdays are mid-week rest days between exercise days for me, days that I save for outings and productivity. Weather permitting, they may just be our regular San Antonio Zoo days as well. That being said, I took him to the zoo a week ago, and he’s still talking about those damn monkeys.
I don’t altogether blame him either. Our family ended up getting the annual membership to the San Antonio Zoo because of how much we all really enjoy it there, and I’m giving this review for the same reason. When I took them last week, we got to see the Capuchin monkeys hiss at a bunch of field-trippers, and it was really a highlight of the trip, honestly.
Oh, the Humanity!
I’m always impressed whenever we visit the San Antonio Zoo. I’ve been to zoos that do feel like concrete animal prisons. I always feel that sadness when it feels like the zoo I’m visiting keeps the animals in “enclosures” vs. “environments”. It is an important distinction. Overall, I don’t feel that sadness at SA Zoo. I see the rich environments that the animals are in, the enrichment toys, the space, and I always enjoy my time here. In fact, the San Antonio Zoo has officially been Humane Certified by American Humane, the country’s first national humane organization, which was founded in 1877.
Not only is the zoo humane, but the environments are also diverse. Africa Live!, Neotropica, Wild Australia, Big Cat Valley, just to name a few. I don’t think that the zoo itself is even all that big, but when in it, the San Antonio Zoo feels expansive. There’s so much to see. So many exhibits to enjoy. And beyond the exhibits themselves, there are restaurants (which we’ve yet to try, but plan to) and special amenities for kiddos!
Nature Spot for the Tots
In Kronkosky’s Tiny Tot Nature Spot, there’s a building called the Discovery Playce. It’s a must-stop-at destination for any fellow mamas with littles. I save this as the final stop before leaving the zoo because my babies do love it here so much, and we run the risk of a fit when it’s time to leave this Playce in particular. And just behind this building, there’s an expansive outdoor play and exploration area complete with a little splash river. It’s delightful!
The playzone building has age appropriate toys and immersive experiences like fishing for little magnetized toy fish in a pond. It has crawling tunnels, balance boards, safe climbing toys, the works, and my toddlers always have a blast. It’s also a nice, air-conditioned, wind-down spot for Mama to take a breather. What’s more, for any breastfeeding Mamas, there is a private “comfort room” to feed your babies.
From the Pantera Walk (a special, enclosed enrichment bridge for the jaguars to roam) to the relaxing patio right above the Rhino paddock (where we always stop for a snack), from the Friedrich Aquarium to the “Zoo! Monkeys!”, there’s so much to see and take in and enjoy that I couldn’t be more thankful to have the annual membership. San Antonio Zoo is a zoo worth taking your time through and really immersing yourself in. The animals are well-cared for and each time I’ve been, it still feels like an adventure.
Kiddie Park
Side note: If you go in through the Blue Entrance, you’ll pass right through the Kiddie Park. This place is absolutely worth mentioning in this San Antonio Zoo review!
I know, I had the same thought when I saw this place. It looks shoddy, carnivals can be kind of sketch. I get it. But check out the history of this place! My take on it is this: it may not look like much, but if the original carnival rides from 1925 have been so well-maintained for nearly 100 years, it’s a piece of history, and my kids HAVE to ride these rides ASAP!
Kiddie Park is also established as The OLDEST Children’s Amusement Park IN THE COUNTRY! The carousel is hand-carved and is still GORGEOUS! Don’t knock this place until you try it. It’s $3 per ride for kids (parents ride the carousel with their kiddos for free) or $14 for an unlimited ride band. Check it out!
My San Antonio Zoo Review? We’re Wild About It!
Anyway, yes, if you’re still on the fence, my review is that you should absolutely visit the San Antonio Zoo. The whole family will love it.
It’s wild to me that the baseline zoo membership pretty much pays for itself in TWO VISITS! And…*drumroll*…kids under 3? Free admission. I’ll break it down for you: single-day standard admission for one adult? About $32. An annual membership at the “supporter” level? It starts at $48/person. It’s not even a question. Get it.
I can’t go into all of the extra amazing things about the San Antonio Zoo in one review (like the Will Smith Zoo School) or the zoo’s conservation efforts, but I can say this: they’ve been named “the Best Zoo in Texas” (4 times within the last 5 years). You should take your family there and let the zoo experience speak for itself. Maybe you’ll even run into the Mamasaur and her young brood visiting the “Zoo! Monkeys!” See you there!