My mom and I packed up the kids and my nephew and headed to the Toledo Zoo last week. It was wonderful! I hadn’t been there in years, and never with kids, so it was great to see what the updates were like…It was a whole different zoo than I remember. The grounds were immaculate and there were plenty of restrooms and spots to grab food.
However, with little kids, I always feel like I’m on a timer. They can only last so long in the heat and needing to rest, so a trip to a zoo that is more than an hour away from us, requires some planning. Thankfully, my kids were troopers and we spent around 5 hours there exploring.
After my visit, I was inspired to post so I remember what to do next time we visit. So here we go!
Tips for visiting the Toledo Zoo
Bring strollers, even if your kids are older.
I took around 7,000 steps while there, so that’s a lot of walking for little legs. Make sure to bring strollers and wagons to accommodate little feet. The bridge to get to the ‘old’ side of the zoo is a huge ramp, so a bit of a workout 😉 {Strollers, double strollers and wagons are available for rent too for $7, $11 and $11 respectively.} My 6-year-old nephew even took his turn riding when he was tired.
Map out your must-stop spots.
I wish we would’ve sat down and looked at the map in detail before starting to walk. Pick the must stop spots and make those your priority. There’s so much to see and you may miss out without proper planning. In our case, we missed the hippos, so heard some crying on the way out! Here’s the map. Note: The splash area is next to the aquarium. My kid’s loved the orangutans and gorillas most.
Start at the aquarium.
We did the ‘new’ side first, so by the time we got to the back where the aquarium is, my toddler was exhausted despite riding mostly in a wagon.
Also, for the record, the aquarium ROCKS. The touch pools were crowded, but so cool! This spot alone is worth the price of admission.
Bring money for the train/rides.
If your kids love carousels, there are two on the property and cost $1.50 and $2 to ride. There’s also a train to take you around to see the African Savannah wildlife for $2.50. Do it if your children love zebras, giraffes, etc. we missed out and I am bummed!
Bring a change of clothes for the Aquarium Adventure Trail.
There is a new splash area for little ones that is super cute. Please note there are no changing rooms nearby, so you will need to get into a suit in the bathroom. If the temperatures are high, my suggestion would just be to let kids get a bit wet in their clothesand change when you get to the car so you don’t have to carry extra stuff. Bring water-friendly shoes to avoid any slip and fall accidents. Great for cooling off on a hot summer day!
Prepare for crowds, or go during an off time.
It was slammed when we went on a Wednesday morning. We had to park at the very back of the lot and had to wait to see many exhibits. That of course is a given during summer, so consider a visit when the temps are cooler if you hate crowds.
Break up the day with a FREE show.
We checked out one of the Soar N’ Explore shows, and it was super cute. My kids learned a ton and I liked breaking up the day sitting down in air conditioning.
Check out the unique play areas.
I loved that there were some really cool play areas for kids. Such a fun way to take a break from the animals or hang out while waiting for a show.
The area on the left is called Nature’s Neighborhood, and the areas on the right are new and located near the splash pad.
Prices.
It’s not cheap to visit, but when you consider the amount of animals you can see, plus the playgrounds, free shows, splash area and aquarium, the prices don’t seem quite as steep. You’ll definitely want to spend the entire day here to get your money’s worth if you aren’t a member. Children age 2 and under are free; kids ages 2-11 are $18, seniors {60+} are $18 and adults are $21. Parking is an additional $8.
Overall, this zoo is top-notch, especially for little ones. My oldest is already asking when we can go back, and I look forward to planning out our visit a bit better for next time. Enjoy if you go!
Do you have tips to add? Please chime in and help my readers!
We love our zoo! The aquarium is new and opened earlier this year and the splash pad just opened last week. I predict it won’t be as crowded next year. It’s too bad you missed the playtime exhibit at the Toledo Museum of Art while you were here. Maybe you can catch the next one. 🙂
Heidi from Facebook group Toledo Thrifty Moms
That sounds great! I’ll have to plan another trip and check it out. There are a few spots I need to visit there…Including going to a Mudhens game too!
We went to the zoo last Friday! I haven’t been in like 20 years and it was a great experience! We took my 10 yo and 13 yo nieces and they both had a blast! I wish we would have taken a lunch or some snacks because the lunch and drinks are EXPENSIVE!!but, overall, it was a blast!!
Yeah, I think bringing your own food would be a big help 🙂 I’d rather spend money on some Dip’n’Dots!
Wow! Thank you for this…I didn’t know about the train, and we didn’t make it last year so I didn’t know about the splash pad either. Will have to go for sure this year!
Also, if you have a Detroit Zoo membership, you get half off your admission at be Toledo Zoo.
Toledo Zoo doesn’t allow you to bring outside food or drinks into the zoo, unless the reason is for allergies.
Thank you for the tip! This post is from 2015 so clearly needs to be updated!