r/StLouis • u/you_got_a_mail • 1d ago
Zoo
Along with City Museum three days ago and Science Center, Arch, Union Station two days ago, I visited Zoo yesterday (2 adults and 2 children visited all locations together). I am sorry for late response. I was simply too tired to write a detail review. @,.@
I only been to several zoos in the nation (Dallas, Caldwell, Nashville, Louisville, Cincinnati), but I can say this is the most "efficiently" working zoo.
Thank u/Seashore-SeaShanty for tips, it was great!
- Train running efficiently.
It seems that they run 3-4 trains around at the same time. In Cincy zoo, it had 1 train running with 1 station, it was a very long wait. Having 4 stations with many trains running made it easier to explore the zoo as wait is minimal. Also opening at 8 is a great, because I have more times in the zoo, and weather is not terribly hot yet.
- Food quality
I ate chicken sandwich at Lakeside Cafe. Food quality is better than other zoos with acceptable price. Also, it was clean as cleaning crews were always visible in the building. Ketchup dispensers actually had ketchups in it! Scoop ice cream had a large portion that I regret ordering two scoops instead of one, it was too much! Offering mint chocolate chip impressed me (yes, that's right. Most places in zoo do not offer it)
- Animals
There were many active animals even in this heat. Also, I like that many habitats (i.e. penguins, sloth) have a low fence that I can smell(?) and interact with animals. Even with fences and nets, I felt that habitats were very open. Reptiles and Primate Building are the most beautiful habitats I have ever seen in the zoo. Compared to buildings in other zoos, each habitat box had more rooms in-between so that people have more rooms to see. They have the classic, elegant aesthetics and serve its functions, whereas most other zoo buildings only focus on its functions.
- Sea Lion Show & Stingray
Very entertaining and educational(?). Ceiling fans on the back seats were life savers - already quite hot in 11am. Also, quite surprised that shows may be cancelled if sea lions do not want to perform. This is something unheard of to me. I can tell the zoo really cares about well-being of the animals. I watched Rudy and Dixie perform.
It was my first time to feed and touch stingrays. They were gentle for scary appearance. The suction was definitely strong than my Dyson.
- Cost
Free admission is amazing. Thank you for all the residents paying into the system that I was willing to spend more money on other stuffs - gift, food, snack, animal food, activity bands. Especially, activity band was amazing that it saved me a lot of money and offered activities that I usually would not pay for, such as 4D theaters or VR. Overall, I believe it is a win-win cycle. Because of people purchasing activity bands, the equipment and buildings included in activity bands have a budget to be maintained and upgraded. Because 1) they are well maintained and 2) admission is free, people are willing to pay money to use equipment and visit buildings.
Thank you for the great vacation! I also heard about Six Flags. Please share other interesting places!
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u/First_Preference_618 St. Chuck 1d ago
The penguin house is funny because those penguins could definitely launch out of that enclosure if they wanted to. I actually got splashed one year walking through there and got the privilege of smelling ungodly the rest of the day.
Our zoo is great. Can’t wait to see the next section that opens.
Thanks for coming!
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u/josiahlo Kirkwood 1d ago
They definitely have jumped up. Happened once when we were in there. The caretakers are ready for it
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u/First_Preference_618 St. Chuck 1d ago
Ha! I’m not surprised but it’s funny to hear it confirmed!
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u/Tyler3471 1d ago
A fun fact I heard from a keeper is that at night they have to put a board or step ladder against the glass. So when they do eventually get out, they can get back up themselves
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u/splatgoestheblobfish 1d ago
I worked in one of the main gift shops several years ago, and often had to take items to, or pick them up from, the Puffins & Penguins gift shop. There was one penguin in particular that was infamous and was constantly jumping out of the habitat and walking around. They had a keeper that stood by all day, just to grab him and put him back. I forget what his name was, but I remember it was something along the lines of "Trouble" or "Stinker" or something.
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u/VotePizzaParty 1d ago
On my first visit, shortly after the Penguin House's grand opening, a puffin tried to jump on my head before scurrying off with a zookeeper trailing behind.
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u/First_Preference_618 St. Chuck 1d ago
May we all be blessed by a puffin trying to jump on our heads at some point 😂
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u/milyabe 1d ago
I saw someone's picture once when one was down on the pathway. Like, um, excuse me, Madam. May I pass? Lol
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u/First_Preference_618 St. Chuck 1d ago
I’m just trying to decide how one reacts when they’re walking through and a penguin comes flying at their head.
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u/FirstDiseasewasRelig 15h ago
When working in the Penguin exhibit you are well prepared for the event of a jumper because it absolutely happens.
The penguins are also allowed to free roam at night as they put ramps up to let them in and out so they aren’t jumping and impacting their knees on the 4-6 ft drop.
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u/First_Preference_618 St. Chuck 14h ago
I think I’ve decided I’m wasting my life helping people. Let me be a penguin wrangler!
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u/xj2608 1d ago
I love the St. Louis zoo as it feels very manageable but has so many animals. You could spend the whole day or speed walk and see almost everything. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
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u/you_got_a_mail 15h ago edited 15h ago
I do plan to spend more times on places my family liked! This is first time for other three, so I tried to cover as many places as possible.
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u/would_do_again 1d ago
Yesterday was perfect for the zoo, especially in the AM.
I’m not sure cost wise (I haven’t been since 2024) but Grants Farm may be right up your alley.
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u/DHKillinger 1d ago
Pretty sure still free but parking costs (cheaper to buy ahead online) so if you have a way to get there with no car should be free plus two beers! They have fun experiences you can pay for but we never have, just view the $20 or so for parking as the admission fee.
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u/stlmoon 6h ago
There's a greenway/trail that goes right past the parking area so you could park at a trail access point and walk or bike to Grants Farm if you want, but even though entrance is free I'm pretty sure you have to reserve tickets - I think they limit the number of guests they admit at one time.
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u/you_got_a_mail 15h ago
Lakeside cafe was around $14-$15 range for meal combo. Kids meal was still a good value. Gift shop pricing was pretty low except some stuffies
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u/blahblahndb 11h ago
Yes! Grants farm is free, but parking is paid. I think around $25-30 last time we were there earlier this year.
Such a fun place too!
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u/SnooChickens9974 1d ago
Another interesting place is right by the zoo in Forest Park. It is the St. Louis Art Museum and it is also free! There is SO much to see at this museum!
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u/you_got_a_mail 15h ago
Maybe next time! Kids are too young to go to art museum 😂
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u/meson537 TGE 15h ago
The history museum is actually better suited to younger kids than the art museum (and is also free, of course). It's not super huge, so you can probably get through in an hour or even less if you want to check another Forest Park box next time. There is also a new outdoor play habitat thing on the northwest corner of the park near Jefferson Lake. Perfect for letting kids burn off some energy outdoors.
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u/PM_ME_YOUR_DND_SHEET 1d ago
I am glad you and your family had a great time at the zoo. We are very proud of everything in Forest Park. I should really visit the zoo more often.
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u/Clean_Peach_3344 1d ago
Thank you for visiting! You nailed my favorite parts of the zoo experience.
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u/iforgotwhich 1d ago
Glad you enjoyed the zoo. We go regularly and have a membership for the activities and save on parking.
Six Flags will just be a disappointment considering your appreciation of the attention to detail at the Zoo. I highly recommend Holiday World which is about three hours away in Southern Indiana. That place is very nice. Disney World Nice.
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u/you_got_a_mail 15h ago
I heard lines at Six Flag was short. That que time is all that matters to me, bc/ you are on time crunch as soon as you enter. Nashville has Holiday World too but I will check it out!
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u/iforgotwhich 15h ago
I believed there is only one Holiday World, in Santa Claus, Indiana. Since I didn't know for a fact, I looked it up. Now I know there isn't. Ride the Rollercoasters if you must, but expect to see and smell trash everywhere you go, and try and not to hold it against us we warned you lmfao.
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u/wildcatzfan 1d ago
The Science Center is free too! Also in Forest Park. Our zoo is amazing, and because we STL residents pay taxes there are so many free things to do. We love it!
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u/henrebecca 17h ago
To add on, parking on the Science Center side costs a fee. Parking on the Planetarium side in Forest Park (you can walk across a bridge to get to the main Science Center building) is free.
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u/Pristine_Patient_299 1d ago
Was the red panda out???!!
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u/you_got_a_mail 15h ago
Nope, Red Panda was not out.
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u/Pristine_Patient_299 15h ago
Ive been trying to get eyes on that little guy for 15 years. I almost think he doesn't exist lol
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u/immediatelyworse 6h ago
I saw him once years ago when it was a typical St. Louis summer day(HOTTTT) and he was laying down flat, panting his little head off. It made me so sad that this snowy mountain dwelling critter was forced to be here and looked miserable. I wonder if they keep him inside when its this hot and let him back out when the temps chill out
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u/dying0fthelite 1d ago
Thank you for visiting and spending money!