Wow! What a GREAT Zoo!
Written: Aug 21 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Natural habitats meet lush landscaping
Cons: Somewhat expensive
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| mrkstvns's Full Review: Fort Worth Zoo |
Step through the wooden gates, cross the bridge, and enter the Animal Kingdom at the Fort Worth Zoo -- one of the best zoos in the United States!
If you've read all the reviews of the San Diego Zoo, you might think they're head and shoulders above other zoos. Not so! The Fort Worth Zoo is every bit as large, every bit as nicely landscaped, and all of the habitats are natural feeling places with open spaces. I'll admit it, I didn't expect a lot from this zoo, but I was very surprised at just how nice this zoo really is. There's no doubt about it -- the Fort Worth Zoo is a top-notch zoo!
Natural habitats are great, but people want to see the animals. I think you have a better chance of actually seeing more animals at Fort Worth than at many other zoos. Many of the exhibits can be seen from several angles -- not just from a single window or platform, so if the animals are hiding from one perspective, walk around a corner, or climb some stairs for another viewpoint. It's great!
World of Primates
Chimps, gorillas, orangutans, and monkeys make their home in the cavernous jungle-like setting of the World of Primates exhibit. Inside the air-conditioned comfort of this facility, you walk around a circular path that winds its way upward. As you go, there are chimpanzees or gorilla rooms that you can view through large windows. The gorillas also have an outdoor area where they can be spotted perching atop giant boulders or laying out on the grass as people watch them from a shaded pavilion area where mist jets help beat back the brutal heat of the Texas sun.
Asian Falls
The Asian Falls area is one of the coolest exhibits in the zoo -- it's where you'll find lions, tigers, and bears (oh, my!) Cut into the side of a natural hill, the animals live among rocks and a water fall. The most famous of the animals here is the white tiger, named Neely. There are also several sun bears.
Penguin Island
The penguins are inside the aquarium building (sorry, no strollers allowed). After you check out about 20 different tanks of fish (yeah, there's even a couple kinds of sharks), you finally reach the penguin area, which is very cool (and I'm not just talking A/C). The penguins live on a large simulated rock with pools that they can dive into for a swim. You walk down a ramp to windows through which you can see underwater as the penguins swim. While we were there, a local woman showed us a great trick. She had a small blue bird Beany Baby that she would put up against the window and drag along in one direction or the other. A couple of the penguins jumped off their rocks and dived into the water trying to get the toy bird! If you go, be sure to bring something like this and give it a try. Sure beats seeing all the animals sleeping with one eye warily opened to keep watch...
All Those Other Exhibits...
Don't miss the flamingos! There are two large flocks of these beautiful pink birds with their delicately spindly long legs. One flock is the American species that you find in Florida, the other are Chilean flamingos. Did you know that if flamingos don't maintain their diet of crustaceans that they'll turn white? I didn't. Wonder if the neighbors would complain about plastic white flamingos in my yard...hmmmm.
Walk to the far reaches of the park and you'll get to the reptile house, full of snakes, salamanders, and other icky things. There's also a couple of komodo dragons.
Next door is the Outback area, featuring lots of kangaroos and a house with several koalas, who just wanted to sleep while we were there.
Be sure to check out the Raptor Canyon area too. There's a couple of bald eagles there, some hawks, and a couple of Andean condors (which are only distantly related to California condors).
But I'm not being fair here....there's really just so much more to see, you've got to get there yourself to enjoy it all. I haven't even begun to tell you about the elephants, the giraffes, the zebras, the crocodiles, or many others of the more than 5,000 animals who live in the Fort Worth Zoo.
About the Zoo
Getting There:
The Fort Worth Zoo is located on the south side of Fort Worth on University Drive, about 1/4 mile south of I-30. The zoo is open 10 to 5, though weekend hours are sometimes longer.
Prices:
At $7 per adult and $4.50 for kids under 12, admission prices are on the high side of what I consider acceptable for public educational facilities. Yeah, it costs money to run a zoo, but the bottom line is that zoos are educational resources for the community and that they should be kept as affordable as possible so that there are not financial barriers put up in front of kids who aren't fortunate enough to have rich parents.
Compared to other U.S. zoos, the Forth Worth Zoo is among the most attractive and pleasant. The Fort Worth Zoo is just as nice as the San Diego Zoo but costs a fraction of what San Diego charges (see my epinion titled "Visit the World's Most Overrated and Overpriced Zoo" for more information about the San Diego Zoo), but a trip to the zoo in Fort Worth is still more expensive than top-flight zoos in Washington, D.C. or Chicago (which are free!)
Parking runs $4. You can dodge the parking fee bullet by parking away from the zoo and walking a bit, but to get close to the gates is gonna cost you...
The problem of high admission fees is tempered a bit in Fort Worth by having half price admission on Wednesdays. If money is really tight, local schools or parents can usually adjust schedules to take advantage of the less expensive mid-week admission.
As for accessibility, there are some areas that are difficult to navigate with a stroller or wheelchair. Not a lot, but some -- like getting up to the Outback area. The signage could also be improved. There's not enough in the way of bilingual signs, and Fort Worth definitely has a sizable hispanic population, so there's really no excuse for the english-only nonsense. The zoo loses about 1/2 to 1 star for not doing enough for outreach.
More Info:
You can get official info about the zoo at www.fortworthzoo.com.
Wild About Zoos...
What kid doesn't love spending a day at the zoo? And if it's a first-rate zoo that you're looking for, the Fort Worth Zoo is a great choice. Lush landscaping, natural feeling animal habitats, and a first-rate collection of animals. Prices are slightly high, but not horrible -- really not much more than a movie ticket these days, and one HECK of a lot better value!
Recommended:
Yes
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