Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens

A great zoo. Pet the manta rays and even feed them. That’s quite the experience or feed the Giraffes. I never realized how big their heads are. Beautiful creatures. It’s great fun for all ages Make sure you choose the right plan for tickets. . General admission doesn’t entitle you the activity to go on the train or feed the Giraffes!

We've been going to the Jacksonville zoo for years and love that you can really see them putting the money back into the zoo. Amazing decorations. Amazing gardens. And of course the animals are always in impressive enclosures. Even when there's a lot of cars in the parking lot, it never feels congested inside.

Great afternoon adventure! We were visiting the Mayo Clinic and we decided to spend our afternoon at the zoo! We arrived about 12:00 and left at 5:00. It was the perfect amount of time. Our favorites were the gorilla’s and chimps. This is really a beautiful zoo with so many different species. Most of the paths are shaded which really makes it nice to walk around.

Had a fun experience with the family here. We bought the pass that includes the train and the whole experience. The grandkids loved the train and the play park for kids and the penguins the best. I'm sure lots of other things too. We went early on Sunday right after it opened. The lions and turtles were still sleeping. The food was good, portions were large. We had chicken strips and fries. The reusable drink cup is $10 and refills are I think $1.50.

When we travel, we always check out the local zoo. I’m embarrassed to say that I’ve lived in FL my entire life, and never visited the Jax Zoo. My hubby and I recently visited - twice within 6 weeks because it was sooooo good! Their exhibits are well done, the collection of animals is quite impressive and the grounds are well maintained. We thought the entrance fee was very reasonable and most employees / volunteers were helpful. 100% recommend for all ages. If walking is too much, suggest buying the pass that includes the train ride.

Wow-what an amazing zoo! We were so impressed by the beautiful animals and gardens. So clean and the animals had lots of area to roam. We spent 4 hours here and was blessed with the king of the jungle’s roar and up close contact with the giraffes! Best day ever!

Our visit to the zoo was, as always, memorable and inspiring! I’m so grateful they offer the $5 admission days — what a great initiative! I do wish this promotion happened in the fall or winter though, as it was incredibly hot. That said, even with the large crowds, everything was very well organized. There were plenty of parking attendants helping people find spots, the entrance line moved quickly, and throughout the zoo there were several stations with free water and places to cool off. The splash park was working great, and overall, everything was fantastic! We love our zoo and are always happy to come back again and again. So many animals, so much variety — they’re doing an amazing job!

I would give this 5stars but there are more art fixtures than animals. The zoo did not have a smell like a lot of zoos do. The staff is so friendly, they just walk up to you and ask if you have any questions. The food is good. The animals are close enough to enjoy. The paths are clear and the labels/directions are clear. I loved it.