Como Park Zoo & Conservatory

Open to the public... no admission ticket is required, but a small donation is encouraged. Accessible to all abilities. Fun for all ages. Lots of animals as you would expect for a zoo, some more active than others. Make sure to check out the (Sparky) the sea lion show. Check show times when you arrive. Have fun and drink plenty of water.

Excellent and free! Donate if you’d like, but this free zoo is a Minnesota staple, and a family-friendly place to visit with kids and adults of all ages. Bring your own lunch and picnic on the grounds, watch the shows or just stroll through and take it all in - we always love going to Como and will always make this a destination a few times a year!

This is a great public zoo in the middle of a really nice park. I'm here on vacation with my family, and we all enjoyed the exhibits. My son was disappointed that all the pressed penny machines were out of order today, but we had a great time.

Loved that the zoo was free (donations accepted). A bit sad that the heat had alot of the animals sleeping, but still very awesome. Staff was all very friendly and knowledgeable about the Zoo as a whole. Seeing the old Mold-Matic animals was awesome, though we kinda wished the pressed pennies machines worked. Our large family had a great time. Thank you.

Beautiful grounds with a focus on conservation and education. Recommend a morning visit when the polar bears are most active. The Sparky show is fun and busy, at least on a Friday morning. Arrive early to secure a seat. And it's free!

Best Zoo in all of North America!!! WHY, free for ALL. Donate if u want. No pressure. Enjoy all. Rich and Poor together. ALL EQUALS AT COMO PARK, CONSERVATORY, WORLD FAMOUS MERRY GO ROUND (enclosed) +++plus Kiddy ride park for kids 1 yr to 6 yrs olds. bunches of fun for all. Total price for family of six for say 2 hrs of fun at Como Kiddy Park kid rides?? Best guess on my part ( based on ride prices in May or 2025 - $65-95 for 1-2 hours of fun.) Great price for amount of fun compared to hotels with fun park pool, hot tub and yick y toilet seats, fun gi infested communinal showers. (yikes) better just save lots and lots of money and go to Como Kiddy Park. Bonus free zoo, free conservatory, $4 rides at world famous Merry go Round. Close picnic areas, Close Fancy Restaurants or cheap fast food if in a hurry. Really, can u think of any where else in all US, Mexico, or Canada, that has anything close to quality of buy as Como Park. If u do, let me know...because I don't think anything beat Como Park near St. Paul, MN, United Statium, Excel Center, Science Museum, St. Paul Historical Cathedral over looking all of St. Paul, Capital Buildings, and Mississippi River Front. Take your most expensive camera. YOU WILL NEED IT. GUARANTEED.

The Como Zoo has a variety of animals, a gift shop, greenhouse, and shows throughout the day. The zoo is also free admission (free will offering). If you wanted to pack lunches, they have a bunch of options for picnic spaces as well. Drink lots of water and bring sunscreen in the summer-not many options for shade besides the buildings. It only took us about two hours to look at all the animals, so it is small in comparison to the MN Zoo.

Como check out a very cool conservatory and a pretty cool zoo. Before heading to the Mall of America, we hit up this awesome Zoo and Conservatory. I forgot we made plans to visit here but was 100% on board to still check it out. When we arrived, it was busy as all get out. There were a bunch of Pride events going on in the park area. There were a few events going on in and around the Conservatory. We had a heck of a hard time parking and I was just about to give up when a spot opened up! We headed in and checked out the conservatory first. I won’t go into too much detail but the conservatory is beautiful. I wasn’t aware there were was a Japanese Garden attached to it. Tim was super stoked to check it out and I gotta say, it was gorgeous and possibly my favorite part of the whole area. We headed over to the Zoo and man, what a zoo it was. With it being a Saturday, free admission and all the events going on in the park, the place was swarming with so many people. We were able to see pretty much all the animals and exhibits but it was a struggle with the crowds. In spite of that, we enjoyed our visit and I would very much like to go back on a slower day (and when we didn’t have Mall of America plans) so I could really take in the zoo and properly see the animals. This is an abbreviated review compared to my normal ramblings but sometimes its better to see something than to read about it. They do have a penny press machine and some medallions to buy right outside the gift shop. The penny press supplies the penny for you. I, of course, got all that I could.

Absolutely stunning Conservatory! We haven't been here in quite some time and almost forgot how beautiful it is! Definitely a MUST SEE when we take visitors around for a local tour. I'm so impressed that this place is still FREE! They only ask for donations of $4/adult and $2/child from those who can donate. This place has so much sentimental value to me, but even without my personal history, this place is one of Minnesota's best and brightest gems. They're gone out of their way to ensure the space is accessible to all, despite physical abilities or social/economic status.

W E D D I N G C E R E M O N Y at the C O N S E R V A T O R Y What a romantic place to say your "I dos". We were in the Sunken Garden and it was magical. I was the lucky Officiant to lead the way to the furthest point. The fountain added so much, it should be a law that all weddings have moving water. Now, I don't think that this area was designed to host weddings. There is no room by the Bride & Groom for seats except for maybe 2-3. All the guests must stand. So a really short ceremony is a good idea. But then, there are all the flowers and greenery to provide stunning exquisite photo ops. L A N D M A R K W E D D I N G V E N U E

This is still one of the great free things available in the cities to do with visitors and family. The kids love to see the animals no matter what season we're in. They still have the seal show if you happen to catch it. There are a number of food options for snacks, drinks and cafeteria for meals. We often bring our own packed lunch and full up our water bottles. Don't forget to go through the conservatory and view all the seasonal flowers, plants and even bonsai trees. On the way out, remember to try to go on the classic merry go round if it's running.

Come Zoo is beautiful, with admission being donation it is the perfect place for anyone to go and have an amazing day! I make it a priority to go at least once a year. Last summer they had a dinosaur exhibit for an extra cost that was every dinosaur lovers dream. The botanical gardens are primarily indoors and are available all year!

What a fun outing to Como Park Zoo. 5 stars! This place is great and FREE...though they love for you to donate during your visit. Highly suggested. It's a great zoo and I love the mixture of indoor and outdoor things to see especially on a 50 degree and cloudy day. We saw lots of animals including: the sloth, poison dart frogs, polar bears, ostriches, sea lions, tiger, lions, armadillo, dall's sheep (big horn), fish, birds, and snakes...oh my! The cafe in the visitor center was packed and we even bought an adorable artic fox stuffed animal for our kiddo and a great way to support the zoo. Lots of parking options and great things around more so in summer months to keep your kiddos busy - playground, carousel, como town, etc.

Como Conservatory: 5/5 Is there anywhere more magical than Como Conservatory?! As a plant lover, this is paradise. What an incredible free activity for us to enjoy! There are so many unique plants to check out and learn about, tons of cool bonsai to admire, and it's just so magical walking around in the greenhouse spaces. Truly a mood lifter and a great date night activity or somewhere to take visitors! Como Zoo: 4/5 This recent visit was my first time to Como Zoo, and I haven't been to Minnesota Zoo, but I love the Omaha Zoo and have been to some other greats. This is definitely a free zoo - and that is AWESOME! I love that this is a resource for anyone to come learn about animals and bring their kids/family/friends without money being a factor. That being said, go in knowing this is a smaller scale, free zoo. You'll definitely see the "top" zoo animals here like lions, zebra, giraffes, gorillas, etc. And it's honestly pretty extensive for being free! Some of the exhibits are in better condition or space than others, but overall pretty dang good. We got through it pretty quickly as it's not huge, but honestly kind of a perk if you're just looking for an hour or two of entertainment. It was super quiet on a Monday evening, but would love to see it during weekend excitement and energy!

Felt obligated to update this review after 9 years and a bunch of visits. It's great that they're open year round, not only the Conservatory but plenty of things to see at the Zoo. Definitely provides an escape from winter and has a good flow for navigating the different exhibits indoors. There's a lot of animals to see; my family likes the Giraffes, Lions, Tigers and Polar Bears. The Zoo is a good walk, not overly spaced out and easy to navigate. Conservatory is really special, everytime I visit I wish I had time to just sit on a bench and read a book or something. There are so many plants to see and if you check the calendar there are often special exhibits. Something really refreshing about spending time there that you don't get at a mall or other indoor activiite

My original review below was during Covid. My current review 2024 was taking our granddaughter to the zoo on a beautiful October day. It is a small zoo but it has so much to offer and it's free. Donations are requested. It was more fun to observe our granddaughter enjoying all the animals and making animal noises. It's an awesome zoo for families. Original Review 2020- This zoo is one of the best treasures in the entire Twin Cities. We have visited several times but our recent visit was our best ever. We have young adult Children and they loved this particular visit. No crowds and easy to park anywhere. The Zoo's COVID protocols are very efficient making you take a one way experience through the zoo and conservatory AND we felt we had the place to ourselves taking our time enjoying the animals, smells and environments. It's a small zoo but they have it so well laid out even during the pandemic.

I'm a geek so I like zoos, museums and attractions as stops on my trips. I didn't know if this would happen because it was raining for hours but it stopped and hour before I got there and then it was sunny/hot and very muggy. It's a zoo and conservatory with a nice carousel along with rides. The conservatory didn't interest because we have have a nice garden in town. Many displays were empty but there was enough sea and land animals to view. It's a large foot print and a lot of walking so be prepared. There is a cafe in the mail building for food and drinks but I didn't go in.

This is a must visit when in Minneapolis or St Paul. This is a must visit even if you're a local! Everything here is free, and it's easily the best free zoo I've ever visited. There's polar bears, gorillas, giraffes, buffalo, tigers, and even a Galápagos tortoise! They do performances throughout the day but check the schedule. Once done with the zoo, check out the fantastic garden buildings and the Japanese garden outside. Parking is free and ample but you might get stuck parking far.

Como zoo is a beautiful conservatory with animals plants and walking paths. However, when we came, there were not a whole lot of animals to be seen which was a little disappointing. We spent about an hour there, walking around, looking for things to not have much luck.the concessions were also closed on a weekday afternoon. There weren't a whole lot of people there which was nice so it wasn't too crowded, but it sort of looked like ghost town. We did not venture to the rides, but might be some thing we try at a later time.

I was pleasantly surprised by Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. Admission to both were by donation only, and for what you pay, it's a pretty good deal. It's a smaller zoo compared to most zoos, but again, it's essentially free admission. My children enjoyed seeing the different animals, and I was surprised they had a tiger. There was a station to feed giraffes, which they let us do for free (I think the payment system was down that day). And we also attended the sea lion show, which was fun and informative. The conservatory had beautiful trees, plants, and flowers, and the Japanese garden was also a nice place to walk around and explore. There is a carousel outside the conservatory, and rides were free the day we went - I think they were celebrating an anniversary of the zoo / conservatory. Suffice it to say my kids rode that carousel multiple times. There are also other rides near the zoo which we didn't check out. Parking is free, and there are also some outdoor paths to explore outside the zoo and conservatory area.

While vacationing in Minneapolis, we visited Como Park Zoo & Conservatory and were dropped off by a ride share outside. CONSERVATORY WAS CLOSED THAT DAY Unfortunately the day we visited, the conservatory was closed so we weren't able to walk around it, although we could snap a quick photo from the doorway. That was disappointing since it was a large part of the attraction of visiting. SOME ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS EMPTY We did like the fact you could see some of the animals quite close-up, particularly the giraffes, monkeys and gorillas. Some animals were not on display/encounters were empty. We did enjoy a walk through the Japanese garden and the park. ALMOST FREE Suggested donation to enter was $4 (2024) and there is a nice gift shop offering quality gifts. TOOK US 2 HOURS TO VISIT We whipped around in two hours. Compared to other zoos, it's on the small side and is probably not a 'must see', but it made for a pleasant afternoon.

I love this place!! The conservatory has three main sections. The section with international spices and edible plants is great. Not something I was expecting but it was so cool to see an actual growing pineapple, pomegranate, cacao pods, etc! The zoo is also well organized and open all year round. The entire place is free admission. I highly recommend support this endeavor.

We went to the Zoo in early November and it was AMAZING! Highly recommend going this time of year as there is not a huge crowd and you can get up close to see the animals with your kiddos. We got there right when it opened which I would suggest doing as it did seemed to fill up by the time we left around noon. The Zoo is completely free to visit but they do have a donation box at the entrance they you can donate to if you can. The new baby giraffe, Ivy, is a mist see- she was adorable! Tip: The toys in the store are a bit spendy so if you don't want to spend money during your visit try to avoid taking your little ones in.

I never get tired of Como Conservatory. Walking in the gardens and the tropical encounters exhibit is a peaceful way to spend a couple of hours. This place is especially lovely when you want a respite from Minnesota winters.

The Como Zoo and Conservatory is one of the true gems of the Twin Cities for residents, as well as for visitors. It's located very near the Minnesota State Fair off of Snelling Avenue in St. Paul. Not only is it easy to get there, there is no admission charge and no charge for parking. However, a small donation is requested. There are two very different parts, the first being the Zoo. When this Zoo was first built in 1887, it was typical for it's time with small cages for animals. However, the zoo has been modernized many times and continues to do so. Although the zoo takes a more modern approach, the animals are ALWAYS easy to find (either outside in warmer weather or in their indoor exhibits). This makes it much better for children than the larger Minnesota Zoo, which has exhibits that make it often difficult to find the animals. Kids and adults will enjoy themselves here. You can walk through the zoo in an hour and see most of the animals, although you certainly can spend more time here. The other part of the Zoo is the Conservatory, which is like a walk through heaven when it is cold outside. One room is dedicated to the Tropics and to walk inside and feel the heat and humidity is like being instantly transported to the Amazon Rain Forest. Your skin and your soul will thank you. Be sure to find the Sloth in his usual place near the exit. Watch him for 15 minutes and you will witness a true champion of slow! If you walk the other way at the Conservatory, you will walk through different areas with different species of plants. In addition, there is a room called the Hidden Garden, which has seasonal changes and is always spectacular. The Conservatory is the one place in the Twin Cities guaranteed to reduce high blood pressure and stress levels.

Excellent place to take the kids for a day! I can't believe that no admission required, it's all based on donations. Suggested donation is $4pp. This place is situated in a large park area with street parking available. Parking lot is extremely small, suggest to park on the streets nearby. There's a small Japanese garden inside the conservatory. As soon as I walked into the Japanese garden, it give a feeling of quiet and calm or zen. There's a small display of bonsais before entering the Japanese garden. I'm impressed with the indoor plants that are growing that. The zoo is kids friendly. They have lions, tigers, turtles, monkey, giraffes, a reptile area, and a polar bear habitat plus more. Outside the zoo has a small carnival section for little kids rides. There's a gift shop along with cafeteria at the entrance of the place. Restrooms are right next to it. What a family oriented place to be!

The Conservatory at Como Park is one of the state's best attractions. Whether the Summer or Winter, you can take in some beautiful nature and plants. Free admission (recommended small donation to support their efforts). The Conservatory also has an awesome Bonsai Tree section with a collection of these unique trees. Weekends tend to be very busy, so either go early morning or a weekday.

What a gem! This zoo is fabulous and FREE! How is that possible?!? We gladly donated. We are avid zoo enthusiasts so we truly appreciate conservation efforts. We originally only went to see the gardens and conservatory but ended up visiting the zoo part as well . We loved the Tropics exhibit as the young man working there from Brazil was a birder and so informative. We also viewed the primate exhibit, seal show and giraffes. The seal show was short as the seals weren't interested in the training session. I appreciated that they don't push the animals to perform. Rather they leave it up to them. It was a cold day so the giraffes were inside and we got to see the new baby up close. We then moved to the Starbucks cafe for coffee and walked to through the indoor gardens. Even in late fall they were stunning. The fern house was so peaceful and tranquil. We walked through the outside japanese garden as well. Overall I can't say enough about this place. Everyone was so friendly and inviting. I 100% recommend going.

Such a hidden gem with several beautiful gardens, a zoo, a carousel, and much more. I was so surprised that I didn't see this recommended more on travel blogs and so glad we took the time to go. Our favorite places were definitely the Japanese style gardens where we found out that Nagasaki and St. Paul are actually sister cities and we really loved how affordable this place was with donation-based entry

Loved this zoo! We came on a Sunday afternoon and it was busy but not too packed. You can pay with your preferred donation. The animals were still visible even with the heat. The property was clean. Parking was a mess but there are plenty of lots available and street parking if you have patience. The amusement park is also nearby which is a plus. I would definitely come back! They have scheduled shows I believe at noon and 2:30. I recommend bringing your family for a nice family day. They allow water bottles and such so you're able to stay hydrated throughout the zoo. There are also plenty of washrooms with water fountains.

To have this beautiful sanctuary for free / donation based is beyond spiritual work. The Como Zoo and Conservatory are historial landmarks to St. Paul allowing a safe and serene space for everyone. The grounds are kept meticulous and the staff and volunteers are considerate and kind. Some of my favorites include the sunken garden, sloth, polar bears, gorillas, gift shop, bonsai section and the big glass windows in the conservatory. In May 2024, the conservatory housed the corpse plant nicknamed Horace drawing large crowds to witness a plant that blooms every decade or so and I was lucky to see it in person but not the bloom (perhaps I am thankful I didn't as it immersed a foul scent). The staff did an excellent job of live-streaming the entire process, taking beautiful journal diary entries and having helpful written poster boards displaying all the FAQ's. Every time I visit, I say a prayer of gratitude as it is not anymore that we get to see such beauty for a limited price / free. Please consider donating money to ensure Minnesota has this place around for many more years to come. Thank you, Como Park Zoo and Conservatory! You are a real gem in the community.

Took the kids for a quick last minute outing. Parking was a little hectic but nice we found a spot, all went well. They have animal feedings, and showings throughout the day. Very informative and fun for the kids. They also have a small rollercoaster theme area in the middle of the zoo. Great time over. No fee to get in but donations are greatly appreciated!

Love Como Zoo for several reasons - first, it's free, second, it's manageable enough for an older toddler to walk around without getting tired, and lastly, they have some a nice range of animals given it's size. Parking is free and generally easy to find. Oh! And it's a nice activity to do in winter if it's decent enough to walk outside a bit. The cafe is pretty standard zoo fare but works for kiddos! I took my 2 year old on a mom-daughter date and she had a blast and didn't want to leave the indoor area with the seals! As a flower lover, the conservatory is my favorite part personally. The tropical area is humid and warm, which is especially nice in winter! Be sure to check out the Japanese garden in summer!

First, it's free! Plus it has A LOT more than what you expect from a free place. I didn't expect much but wow, this place is a charity to the state and provides all the animals and services anywhere else would be a lot of money. I really enjoy this place and about to sign up for a membership so we can pass these opportunities to those who enjoy animals.

Some friends recommended we take our toddler to the Como Park Zoo while we were in town and based off of what they said, and what I saw online I was expecting a very small, toddler focused zoo that was a good place for her to run around. Well, it was that and honestly so much more. Perhaps it was because I had lower expectations, but this place kind of blew me away. To start off it's a very small zoo, but it's on really big parkgrounds, and it's FREE. When you drive in, you'll notice you have to drive a bit to find the parking, and honestly if there are a few critiques the parking might be one because we got there right before they opened and barely snagged a spot. I honestly don't know what we would have done if we'd arrived much later. After that small hitch you walk over and while we waited in line as they opened the gates, the line moved really fast once it was opened. Again it's a small zoo, but it's really nice and well thought out. I won't say all the animal enclosures are the best I've seen, but it's an AZA accredited zoo and I was really impressed with the signage, and the thought that clearly went into this place, and making do with the size of zoo they had. Some highlights for us were the polar bears, which gives kids a chance to see them from above ground and below water, the tigers, and the wolves. For me, the best part was the history and seeing that they'd kept some of the original animal cages back from the zoo's inception. It really gives you a peek into the history of zoos and how far we've come in terms of animal welfare and education. I've been to a lot of zoos and had never seen those preserved or talked about. All in all, we left when our kiddo started to peeter out and get cranky, though I'd return as I'd love to read more about the original zoo, and also explore the gardens that we didn't have time for. Again, it's a free zoo, which is rare these days, and aside from being free, it's very well done. The Twin Cities have quite the gem of a local spot for kids here!

We came to Saint Paul Minnesota for the Eagles concert, but spent three days, trying to pack as many other activities into our schedule as we could. Visiting the Como, Park, Zoo and, Conservatory was one of our top events. Walking through the zoo was really great. We saw giraffes, we saw zebras, we saw gorillas and snakes and Lions and all sorts of other things. Moving over to the conservatory was equally impressive. I could spend all day sitting in the various garden areas viewing and listening to the birds fluttering around through the luscious tropical plants. Just a wonderful experience.

Ever feeling low? Get to this conservatory, I promise you, you'll feel much lighter. This is what this place does for me. In the cold winter days or rainy days, this is my escape. I usually go here to be close to the nature when I can't be outside. It's so well maintained and the selection of plants and trees are amazing. The sunken garden is a crowd favorite and the changing of themes and concepts are always amusing to me. There is plenty parking on site and all the staff is really friendly!

An amazing place to go, while it doesn't have everything the Minnesota Zoo has it makes up for it by being free.

Como Zoo is the perfect zoo for families. It's small size is perfect for those who can't handle long walks, and they have a good variety of animals to enjoy. I recommend going on their website to view their event calendar to see what's coming up. They have zookeeper talks and their well-known sea lion show daily. I've been coming here for many years. I personally enjoy their primate exhibits, especially the orangutans and gorillas. There are plenty of indoor exhibits when the weather bad. The conservatory and tropical exhibit are the best places to visit during the cold winter months. Como Zoo is AZA accredited, which means the animal welfare is a top priority, as well as conservation, education, and staff well-being. Free parking in lots and on streets. Accessibility - Wheelchair and electric scooters are available to rent at the front desk by the gift shop. Just note that there are a lot of hills and inclines within the parks. There are ramps wherever there are stairs. - There is sensory-friendly info on their website.

Came here one day while in town visiting, the zoo was free and so was parking. Pretty much all the animals were out and not hiding or anything like that: zoo is a bit on the small side so won't take long to cover it all: we caught the seal show and that was pretty cool to see: I did feel like the space for majority of the animals were on the small side. Of course they don't have all the animals there like: black bears, grizzly bears, kangaroos, camel, elephants etc but have a handful of other ones. Overall fun thing to do while visiting

We arrived and thot that this place looked very skibidy but when we entered we got fanum taxed just to realize that there was no Kaisen at so we walked our gyats over to get some skibidy slicers and glizzys to find no chat honestly just stick to skibidy toilet at 308 Negra Elroy Ln., Albuquerque, NM

Never not going to visit a donation-only zoo and botanical garden! May 2023 was our second time visiting Como Park, and I'm already agreed for another visit whenever we're next in town. My sister-in-law and I visited the zoo one day and the conservatory two days later, with our 5 kids under 5 between us. We really like how both attractions are small enough to see in a short day with easily-cranky kids, but large enough to feel special for us adults and keep the kiddos entertained for as long as we let them stay. During our conservatory visit, we bumped into a woman who worked there and who seemed to delight in getting to show our kids the pods and flowers of different plants. She pointed out a very rare bat plant flower to us when we saw her on our way out, too. We really appreciated getting to learn from her and her manner with the children. We didn't attend any of the shows at the zoo and instead lazily walked through all but one of the exhibits. We were thankful for the intermittent bathrooms AND the intermittent cooler rooms where we could rest from the heat. (I especially like visiting the big cats.) There's parking all around, though it may take you a while to find a spot and then you may need a short walk to get to the park. Reservations are not needed. Keep in mind that many school groups will come for field trips, making for some very busy and loud moments (hours?). Feel free to bring your own food for a picnic!

Great place for families all year round! For those looking for spring flowers, check out the Japanese garden - it's in full bloom!

Disclaimer: where I grew up, we have an AMAZING zoo and I compare all other zoos to it and none measure up. For a free zoo, it was good. I went in late October, so obviously things aren't as pretty as they would be in spring or summer. Some of the exhibits just seemed a little sad and I was worried the animals weren't being stimulated enough (but I'm no expert). I could tell they are trying their best, but it was just a little underwhelming. However, the conservatory was absolutely wonderful. I can't wait to go in the winter on gray days to just see some color and greenery. I would give the zoo part three stars and the conservatory five stars, so I took the average and gave 4!

For many years I have considered this zoo a gem of St Paul. I have been to this zoo several times over a 50 year period. My most recent visit was Sept 2024. I have seen it in much better shape in the past. I am disappointed to report this facility is in desperate need TLC and monetary support. The animals appeared to be lethargic and in fair condition. Sadly I would suggest it is time to retire this facility and place the animals in zoos that offer some quality of life for them.

It was free will donation and can I say the best thing I have done in St. Paul since I moved in January. Staff were incredible multiple times did I ask questions about the exhibit and they were more than helpful very friendly and kind. Definitely will be coming back with my family!!

Como wasn't too busy on the afternoon of New Year's Day! Many young families were there. I always enjoy going to Como with my family when I'm home for the holidays. The free admission plus a great variety of animals makes this a no-brainer for some quality family time. We had three disappointments on this trip, in order of greatest to least disappointment: 1. We were not able to see the baby giraffe, Ivy. Despite hearing much on the local news and from family about the recently born baby giraffe, we did not see her during our visit. We checked the giraffe exhibit multiple times between 2 and 4pm but only saw the adult female giraffe Clover. We saw a zookeeper cleaning up some toys when we got to the exhibit around 2, so we think that we just missed Ivy. However, it would have been helpful to have an idea of when the baby giraffe would be out and about for viewing-- something as simple as a schedule like Como has for the Sparky shows. This would be helpful for expectation-setting for children and adults alike. Also, even using the screens to show videos of the baby giraffe (or a live cam?) would help for those who don't get to see her in the exhibit. 2. The Sparky show was moved to a much smaller viewing area. Dozens of families were ready for the 2:30 Sparky show in the amphitheater, but as it was about to start a staff member came to say that the show would be on the side. When we walked to that side, it was clear that there wouldn't be enough space for us to comfortable see. Given the cold and limited viewing, it just wasn't worth it for us, so we moved on. 3. Many of the animals were asleep. This is obviously not Como's fault, but it may be helpful for parents to explain to children and set expectations for their visit that many of the animals may be sleeping during their visit (I imagine that this is because it is winter and most of the sleeping animals are form much warmer climates). For example, many of the primates and cats were asleep and difficult to see. I will note that the arctic foxes and bison were quite lively. Como has a large and delightful gift shop, and the conservatory is always lovely (especially on a cold Minnesota day). We'll be back next year, and hope to see some baby animals!

Had a great day here with the family. There are a few things you need to know before you go. 1. Reservations are required. See there website for them. 2. The reservations are only 15 min windows. It says this on their site but want to warn you. 3. They have lockers for your personal belongings. $0.75 for each locker, 1 time use. It can fit about 2 coats depending on how big they are. 4. Outside of the farthest fern rooms, the conservatory isn't as warm as I thought in winter. We put our coats in the lockers which I am glad but could of used long sleeves instead

I live by here, and I scooter over here pretty often, on most days. The animals, I want people to know that I have talked to several of the zoo keepers. Many of their animals are rescues or they are elderly. Many people give como zoo a bad rap based on the look of their animals. As someone who has done rescue with several different species, including reptiles, if they are sick or aren't cared for properly before they come to como zoo means that damage can be done that can't be reversed. When it comes to weight, big cats tend to lose a lot of weight when they become elderly. Many people think they aren't feeding the male lion, when it's just due to his age. These animals are actually very well taken care of for being a donation zoo. Please remember that those donations go to the food and vetting of the animals. If you donate, you're helping improve the care of the animals. Last night I went up to go see the wolves, because you never get to see them as they mainly only come out at night. There were two, and they were very curious to see me. They were nice sized wolves, roughly 140 lbs, beautiful coat. It is very interesting how much they look like and act like dogs. 5/5 recommend.

It is our first time to attend the live music event at como park conservatory. It is a really unique experience. If you love music and natures and get bored during winter time, como park winter concert worthwhile to check it out.

There are many reasons to love living in St. Paul, but Como Park is near the top of the list. At a time when it feels like we will never escape the endless winter, the conservatory is such a welcome respite from the drizzle and gray. One thing I love about the Conservatory is that there is always something different to see every visit. Even though it is full enclosed, there are still four seasons. It is most obvious in the sunken garden, whose display changes every few months. Yet change is notable in each wing. This weekend we spotted tropical plants flowering that had been dormant out last visit and fruit on trees that had been bare. The spring garden show is on full display right now (April/May). As you approach the smell of hyacinth will beckon you in to enjoy tulips, daffodils, hydrangeas and more. Escape the dreariness and stop in at the conservatory

Such a cute zoo and conservatory that is FREE for the public. It's not a very big zoo but it's worth the visit because you don't have to pay a dime. They will gladly take donations. The service and people there were friendly and I would definitely go again. But because it is free it can be a little crowded so I would recommend going on a down time.

This beautiful jewel of a place calls to my heart every visit to Minnesota. It is free to all but supported by donations and its gift shop and foundation. The various rooms, Fern Room, Japanese Garden, etc., always evoke a sense of serenity and energy that freshens the mind and spirit. It's great for all ages and the gift shop is chockful of delightful take-aways. I scored three presents for Christmas there on this visit. Do donate!

Great place great theme park. One downside in the summer you can't feed the giraffes. Go to this place. (Murray's review)

Como Zoo is always a fun visit, whether you are there for the Zoo or the Conservatory, or both! Free of charge, with suggested donations being an option, so this is such an affordable outing for the family. It is a small zoo, but has some great animals such as lions, tigers, polar bears, sea lions, penguins, and even a lungfish (very cool!) Como Town is a nice, small amusement park right next to the zoo, there is mini golf nearby, and the Japanese garden is beautiful as well, so you can easily spend half a day with all of that if you want, or you could be quick and spend a couple of hours in the zoo leisurely strolling while seeing everything there is. There is a new exhibit called Mission Safari to explore through a small maze, while learning more about animals doing an interactive maze activity

Love this zoo for the sense of tranquility of its Japanese garden. I marvel at the cute bonsai trees .Love the exotic animals : lion, tiger, zebra, flamingos. Worth our trip!

The conservatory is always a great place to visit, and it's even more special during the annual orchid show.