Over Memorial Day weekend we visited the Kansas City Zoo (which is located on the Missouri side). We had a great time exploring their different exhibits and animals.
The Kansas City Zoo is located in Swope Park. Swope Park is enormous and covers 1,805 acres. It is home to not only the zoo but a disc golf course, golf courses, a playground, equestrian stables, hiking and biking trails, a theater and numerous shelters. It is open year round from 8:00-4:00 on weekdays and 8:00-5:00 on weekends. The Kansas City Zoo is a 4-5 hour excursion to do everything but little legs would probably get tired at around hour 2.5 or 3.
If you are a member of the Lincoln Zoo make sure to bring your membership card. The Lincoln Zoo and Kansas City Zoo have reciprocity. You will receive 50% off admission prices which saves you a good amount of money. Regular adult (12 and up) admission is $12.50, Child (ages 3-11) Admission is $9.50, Seniors are $11.50 and 2 and under are FREE. For the four of us we paid $17.50.
You can also purchase a gold package or a platinum package. The gold package is admission and includes rides on train, tram and carousel. Adults $17.50 Seniors $16.50 Children $14.50. The platinum package is admission and includes rides on train, tram, carousel, boat and Sky Safari. Adults $21.50 Seniors $20.50 Children $18.50. The 50% off does not apply to the packages; only admission.
We chose the standard admission and carousel tickets as our price would have quickly gone up. We planned to walk the zoo. A stroller or wagon is a necessity at this zoo if you have younger children. It is very spread out and requires a lot of walking. Little feet will get tired quickly. This zoo lets in outside food so pack your cooler.
The zoo is split up into three main areas-Australia, Africa and Kid Zone with Africa being the largest. The big attraction at the Kansas City Zoo is the polar bear Nikita. She is an entertainer. When we were there she was swimming in the water and going right up to the glass to check out the spectators. My girls could have stayed there all day just watching her. Opening recently is a new penguin habitat which is indoors so it is a nice respite from the hot weather.
My older daughter enjoyed the KidZone area which has an indoor play area that has been incorporated into a zoo exhibit, a playground and a large slide coming down the Peekaboo Tree. My younger daughter wasn't big enough to enjoy these areas without hands-on adult supervision and even then she had a hard time.
The train runs through Australia and Kidzone which we were easily able to walk through. A tram runs from KidZone to Africa. Many people take the tram as it can be a long walk (although there is shortcut but there are not many animals on the short route). The walking path through Africa is one mile. Of the three forms of transportation I'd save my money for the Sky Tram. It goes over the majority of the African exhibit and by then you'll be tired. If I were to go back I would start with Africa first when my kids have energy to walk and it isn't too hot.
Happy Travels!
Want more Macaroni Road Trip reviews and info? Here is another one of our road trips: Strategic Air and Space Museum.
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