I adore the Henry Doorly Zoo. I love the proximity of it to Lincoln, I love the price (really inexpensive as far as zoos go) and I love the walk-ability of it. But my favorite thing about this Zoo is that you can go year-round because so many of the exhibits are inside. We actually go more often to the zoo in the frigid cold of winter than we do in the summer. There are hardly any people there compared to the summer and you can run from building to building and enjoy the zoo even in the coldest weather. How many zoos can you enjoy even in a blizzard?
When we go to the zoo we have to plan what we want to see as our youngest still naps and doesn't do it in a stroller. So we have four hours, maybe five at max. These are the five exhibits that we always go to:
1) The Aquarium- I have yet to find a zoo that has an aquarium as nice as Omaha's. Usually you just go to an aquarium, but at Henry Doorly you basically get two for the price of one! We can spend two hours in the aquarium and not even realize it. Our favorite, like so many others, is the tunnel and trying to spot all the different creatures.
2) The Desert Dome- To be able to walk from one world's desert to the next is amazing. My favorite part of the dome is the "Kingdoms of the Night." I have probably been in the bayou part of that exhibit four times but I still get nervous when I walk in and see the alligators swimming below me.
3) The Jungle-I visited the zoo as a child and still can remember walking through the Jungle. You can pull a wagon or push a double stroller through this exhibit (and most places at the zoo) with ease. My older daughter's favorite things about the jungle are finding the hidden passageways and swinging on the vines. I love spotting the pygmy hippos.
4) The Train-I don't know what it is about trains but my kids and hundreds of other kids love to climb onto the no-longer running train for a good hour every time we visit. I use this time to rest. You can sit on nearby benches and have a good view of your kids as they pretend to ride the train. This train is across from the playground near the back of the zoo.
5) Koi Pond and Bridge-The last time we went to the zoo my children and their friends spent an hour on the bridge and feeding the koi fish. I think this part of the zoo is very relaxing and is a good place to hide from the sun on those really hot days.
What is your favorite part of Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo?
Other Road Trips:
Branched Oak Lake
Kansas City Zoo
Strategic Air and Space Museum
