Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens

The best zoo I've ever been too. Most of the animals were out and about. They had something for everyone. It was a very cold day so we mostly had the place to ourselves and that was awesome. Buy tickets in advance to save some money. Family loved feeding the stingrays and birds.

Absolutely one of the most amazing zoos we’ve visited, even though we went during a cold snap many animals were out and active. The details in the exhibits were amazing! If you’re ever in the area don’t pass this place up it’s top tier zoo quality! The only downside was having to leave and say goodbye to all the beautiful animals we encountered. (Especially the giant otters, I miss you my otter friends)

We had an amazing time! We drove down from SC about 2.5 hours. The zoo was very clean! Plenty of restrooms, the animals look very healthy and we were able to see everything! All of the animals were out. I would recommend getting the all inclusive tickets that include everything, animal feedings, train, 4d movie, carasoul rides unlimited! They have a play are for the kids to run and get that energy out before leaving! We will definitely be back!!.

The animals and staff we encountered deserve all the stars in the universe. Feeding the sting rays and giraffes was awesome! My rating is based on my experience with what I saw regarding cleanliness. We saw garbage in some of the animals enclosures (more than 2) and the bathrooms i went in were gross. Comparing this zoo to the 3 others I've been to in the states has prompted me to give a 3 star review. Would i recommend the zoo? Yes, for the animals. Just don't forget your hand sanitizer.

This Zoo is amazing and we especially enjoyed the lantern festival. The map is easy to follow and you don't have to walk terribly far to see everything the zoo has to offer. My one complaint would be around the all inclusive passes and how you cannot purchase experiences individually because you must buy the all inclusive pass to do unique experiences like the carousel or feeding animals even if you are members. But other than that we are enjoying our zoo memberships.

The Jacksonville Zoo is easily one of the best zoos I've ever been to. Exhibits are large and well-suited to the animals inside. The themes and decorations for the Land of Tigers and Range of the Jaguars areas in particular are superb, with gorgeous ponds and bamboo forests in the tiger area, and a mini ziggurat near the Amazon River-themed jaguar exhibit. We got there a little late to see most of the animals this time, but we had a great time seeing the Colors of the Wild displays. All of the lanterns are gorgeous, and many of them are interactive as well, making for a great time for families, couples, and young children alike. If you have a chance to go, I absolutely recommend it.

Went to the Colors of the Wild. Amazing display of vibrant colored lantern shaped as animals, flowers, birds, etc. I have never seen anything like it and will definitely go again next year. Fun for the family or a date! Food and drinks available for all ages.

Me my husband and my.inlaws had a family day here. We had lots of fun. Food prices are pretty high but over all we had fun. We bought the big passes that gave us access to everything. The only downside was they dont have hippos which are one of my favorite animals. Also the guy who was teaching about reptiles was giving out misinformation

I love this zoo - hands down, five stars. There are lots of events, it's great for children or adults, or both. Plenty to do and see, everyone is friendly, really impressive for Jacksonville, if I'm being honest. We took my niece in the summer and had a blast with her. My hubby and I will come up and enjoy the zoo on our own as a fun adventure for something different.

Thanks, YES2025! I forgot about these Holiday themes! I haven't been to the zoo since my nephews were younger (about a decade ago) so this was a fun "new" experience, again! And since it's Halloween season, it was fun to be able to hang with friends and dress up in costumes, because why not? Hehe Spooktacular was fun. Love the animals! Cool lights and decor, so festive! Aaaaand there was a short Haunted Trail Walk thingy ... It was a lot scarier than I anticipated. Hahaha ACK!!! So creepy with some jump scares. Check it out and let me know what you all think! We found funnel cake and fun photo opts. Kiddos and adults alike were dressed for some Trick or Treating fuuuuunnn! Definitely a cute event to check out with friends, or with fam and kiddos, and some were even there for date night. Thanks, Jacksonville Zoo!

Went for spooktacular. It was a nice event. Not too crowded on a thursday. There were several spots where candy was being handed out to kids. Bags were provided at the entrance. Some pmay spots were open. They had plenty pf food and drink venues still open. There were two spots for dancing that I saw and a craft and game area for kids. We didnt try the 13+ spot. I do wish there were some more lights. Also we didnt see any lights when we arrived at 545. It was still light out but the event started at 530. I think the mich smaller kids would have appreciated seeing the entire thing even before it became dark. We did see a few animals but as it eas getting darker and cooler, I think a lot of them went back inside their shelters for the evening

I won two tickets this October-Spooktacular. I invited Crystal to go with me. We had so much fun. We got some candy. We walked all around and decided to consume some delicious chicken tenders, fries and drinks. It was very delicious. I liked to self serve order kiosk. The food was ready so fast. We decided to dine at an outside table. Love that. I like all of the changes and improvements to the Zoo over the years. We got to see many animals. We ran into a few friends along the way. The haunted trail was fun and scary(not too scary). After that we were ready to head on out. Thanks to Yelp and the Zoo for the gifted tickets.

It was my first time, not only at the Jacksonville zoo, but at the lantern exhibit or lantern festival that they have during the holiday holidays. I was so incredibly impressed at how intricate these lanterns were how colorful the fact that they made them interactive for kids. I went probably an hour and a half before closing time and it was the perfect time because there was not a lot of people there and it was nice and dark. I was not prepared to walk so much but had I been familiar with the Jacksonville zoo, I could've prepared. This is the most definitely thing that I will be doing again not only because it's beautiful but because the amount of pictures you get to take and how adorable it is it is worth the $35 ticket. I will say if you were a member it is $20 a ticket instead of $35.

This Review is for the Spooktackular Location Northeast Jacksonville-between 95/295 off Hecksher Drive to Zoo Parkway Parking Large lot Atmosphere Every year the zoo goes all out to celebrate Halloween! Pumpkins and ghouls/ghosts galore! Event We love this Zoo and had a wonderful evening of fun and seeing the animals-this is a great family annual tradition. My son loves it so much, he gets an annual pass as a gift! Summary The Jacksonville Zoo Spooktackular is a fantastic event for all ages! Enjoy!

The zoo has been a staple here in jax, but with expansion comes expanding the pricing on tickets and that has truly hurt our families to be able to go as often. Though I am excited to see the park finally out of construction, and actually see some of the animals active, I know our annual passes will have to be something we sacrifice due to the price they have gone too

The Jax zoo has so much to offer and I appreciate the different interactive opportunities spread throughout the zoo. It's a lot of walking so having tickets to take the train makes a lot of sense with young kids. I do feel like it is SO expensive to go once and because of that it almost makes the most sense to buy an annual pass. I also feel like they could have a better play area geared toward younger children. I am looking forward to the opening of the manatee exhibit. I will definitely have annual passes once that opens!

We went to the Spooktacular tonight at the Jacksonville Zoo. They did a great job with all the decorations. We got both day and night shots. Of course the night shots are much more spectacular . I would recommend that they light up all the giant flowers; they were so pretty and would have really stood out much like the other props, such as the spider web or the arch. In addition, I would go after dark ; it's a way better light show. It was also really impressive that people who came were dressed in costumes.

We had a great time at the Halloween Elite Zoo event. It will be even better next year when Manatee exhibit is finished. We loved the lights and the decorations. Great to see a lot of kid activities. The event was packed and people still coming in just before 9pm. Have been coming to the Jacksonville zoo for years. Great time with the family!

We had fun with costumes and being a bit silly with all the kids! This is always a great event for people watching, as well as the e animals Thanks YELP for another great experience!

We took our 2-year-old grandson to the Jacksonville Zoo this past week, and he had the best time! His favorite part was getting to feed the giraffes -- he absolutely loves animals, so it was a perfect day for him. He also enjoyed the train ride and playing on the playground slide. All of the staff we met were so friendly and helpful, which made the visit even better. We stayed for the Spooktacular event, and he had a blast collecting candy and treats. This was his third visit to the zoo, and I'm sure it won't be his last! They're also expanding, so we're excited to see what's new on our next trip.

Lovely atmosphere at the Spooktacular. Great decorations, candy being handed out and music adding to the atmosphere. My only complaint is that a can of beer is so expensive!

We won tickets through Yelp to the Spooktacular Halloween event. It was a lot of fun. They had people passing out small candy items throughout the zoo. There was also a scary lost swamp land that we enjoyed. The fall harvest area also had some cute decorations.

This is a nice zoo. Some of the attractions are a bit run down. You have to buy the all access pass if you want to ride the train, feed any of the animals, or ride the merry go round. Which is a shame.

What an amazing first time at the Jacksonville Zoo!! I won yelp giveaway tickets to the Spooktacular event and decided to go with my boyfriend. It was lots of fun for us and something different to do this Halloween season. Definitely geared towards little kids which is expected. Not gonna lie though the scare zone i did get me at one point. I would recommend checking them out for a different type of date night and make sure you dress up in your halloween costumes!!

Being New to the area, this was our first time visiting the zoo and attending the Halloween Spooktakular. We picked the perfect night to attend , temperatures were in the mid 60's so it actually felt like fall. This is an event that the entire family can enjoy. There's trick-or-treating stations all throughout the zoo (even adults can participate if they'd like), for those middle school age and up they have a haunted swamp trail. There were people of all ages in costume. Everywhere you looked, there was some kind of Halloween decoration. I wish there were more animals out to look at along the walk, but I did see a few. I wish they had a bigger variety of Halloween themed treats. They had popcorn and that was about it. They did have light up swords and children love those ! The zoo had staff spread throughout to help you find the next trick-or-treat station or ask general questions. There are several sit down cafés and quite a few kiosks with snack snacks They even had a few craft stations for the kids to make Halloween themed take homes. We will definitely be back next year.

After flying into Jacksonville, I decided to stop by the zoo--and I'm glad I did. It's a great spot to explore, especially on a warm day. The layout makes it easy to navigate, and there are plenty of shaded areas through the botanical gardens that help keep things comfortable while walking around. What really stood out was how well-decorated the zoo is during events and celebrations. They clearly put in effort to make it feel festive and immersive. The landscaping and overall scenery are beautiful, so be prepared to take lots of photos! Highly recommend checking this place out if you're in the area. It's a fun, relaxing way to spend around 4-6 hours.

I went to the Spooktacular event at the Jacksonville zoo and overall found it a great family friendly Halloween event! I loved the different candy stations, the Halloween decor, the different activities, and the festive snacks. The build your own smores station is such a fun idea & my husband and I shared a funnel cake that was delicious! I went into the event thinking there would be more opportunities to look at the animals and unfortunately a lot of the exhibits were closed. Whole sections were taped off and a lot of the animals were put away for the night. I thought Spooktacular would be a chance to see animals at night and hopefully see them be more active, however the event is primarily focused on the Halloween activities and installations, almost like a Halloween inspired botanical gardens rather than a zoo. If you have small children and are looking for a unique experience I highly recommend Spooktacular, however if you're looking to see all the animals the zoo has to offer then perhaps during normal business hours would be better.

Ate a sandwich at one of the food places and got food poisoning. So do eat with caution. The zoo itself was nice. The Asian section was under construction, so not a lot to see. However, very fun pass time activity and to do with family. Wish there were more signs/facts on the animals by the enclosures.

We had a trip to the Jacksonville Zoo--, and the overall experience was mostly enjoyable. That said, the cost has become extremely expensive and no longer feels affordable for the average family. I expected high prices going in, but I didn't expect to be so disappointed by the new Iceland Adventure--it was underwhelming and definitely not worth the hype. What really pushed things over the edge were the prices for basic necessities. This is a children's attraction--charging over $5 for a bottle of water is absolutely absurd. You're already making plenty on tickets, trinkets and food. Please reconsider the pricing for essentials like water. Lastly, the restrooms (especially at the front entrance) were unacceptable. They were filthy, had no toilet paper, and honestly, you had to hold your breath just to walk in. That's not just disappointing--it's a health concern. You can do better. The zoo has so much potential, but between the costs and basic cleanliness issues, it's hard to recommend right now. 3 stars because the employees were super friendly, and the animals were great...

We decided to take the kids to the Jacksonville Zoo Light Show, because nothing screams holiday cheer like animals staring at you under the glow of twinkling lights. We even splurged on early entry tickets to maximize the fun--or so we thought. Now, we've been to this zoo more times than we can count because our daughter practically considers the animals her extended family. But this visit felt more like touring a construction site with bonus giraffes. So many areas were closed off that we started to wonder if they were secretly building a Jurassic Park. Here's where things got a little wild (and not in a fun, "look at the monkeys" kind of way): that early entry fee didn't cover any of the classics. No train rides, no carousel spins, and no feeding the giraffes. That's right, folks--extra money for... walking. Had I known, I would've skipped the VIP stroll and just power-walked my way to the light show with a little more cash in my pocket. Speaking of the light show, it was... fine. Not exactly "wow, this is magical" fine, but more like "ooh, pretty lights and hey, live performers!" fine. The kids had a great time, though, which is what really matters (and probably why parents always get duped into these things). In conclusion: the lights were decent, the live performances were cool, and the construction was... unavoidable. Next time, I'm saving my money and sticking to regular tickets unless they promise a giraffe-fed-by-me experience. Lesson learned!

Wow, what a wonderful day. Our tickets were purchased online and we got the extra upgrade to do the train although we didn't do it but definitely enjoyed ourselves throughout the day. They had great decorations, added bonus -- it was a sunny day. A lot of the animals were out as we arrived early in the morning. There was plenty to walk and do as we enjoyed the various snacks and drinks that were available. The gift shop was plentiful and we did enjoy the hot cocoa in the morning as it was pretty chilly when we got arrived. An added bonus was that on the west side of the zoo there was water scenes which gave great pictures we took ! Overall experience was that I would recommend if you're in Florida and have time to go to the Jacksonville zoo. You won't regret it.

Went to Brews at the Zoo. Was nice. The vendors didn't seem as prepared as many ran out of food so that was a little disappointing. But would go again.

This is a small zoo, and the 5 stars is reflective of what a small zoo can do. We visited on a Thursday afternoon, trying to avoid weekend crowds. We had no trouble getting free parking up close to the entrance, and even before we cleared the ticket check the very friendly gate agents let me in to use the bathroom. This was necessary because all ticket sales are online and my son and DIL with the tix had not yet arrived. Traveling with 2 20 month olds and a 3 month old can take time. BTW, there are fees charged for buying the tickets online, and I'm not sure that's legal when you can't buy them in person but that is a matter for another day. The zoo is always changing and growing and that presents a challenge because not all the animals were labeled or even in the usual pen/enclosures. However all the people working there and the many volunteers were happy to share information on any exhibit. The plants are very well labeled. I guess they don't move as much! We paid for "feeding" but we really only got to feed the giraffes and the guy giving out the feed was giving it to all. The stingrays could not be fed because the handwashing station was down, and the other animals we did not get there at the "right time" to do a feeding. But the giraffe feeding was great! Each of the little ones got a few chances to hold out branches to the waiting long necked friendly beasts. There was even a juvenile there being fed by its mom. We saw several big attractions like tigers and elephants. No elephant ride. The carousel was nice even though our kids were a little young and scared by it. The bubble station and the bird exhibits were nice. All the landscaping and sculptures added to the adventure. I had read not to try eating here so we got Pub subs and ate them in the parking lot right before we went in. There is a bar called the Watering Hole, BTW, and the drink stations throughout the park have water, soft drinks and beer. Some have malt beverages and premixed cocktails. I think their 5pm and later special events probably are very nice from the bar overlooking the water. There is a lot of shade and places to sit. Still, I imaging it gets hot on some days. The water stations were down for cleaning so we had to buy water at $5 a bottle. Pro tip: Bring lots. When we did get free water it tasted like well water, not the greatest.

Our zoo is among the top 25 zoos in the country! I think it lives up to this with its vast flora and fauna. There is something for everyone at Jax zoo. From flamingoes to alligators to giraffe to elephants. Our zoo does a great job at showcasing a variety of species without overstepping the lines and having animals who cannot handle our temperatures. The exhibits are well kept and clean, with great viewpoints especially for our giraffe, rhino, elephants and more. Also the tiger exhibit is stunning and you're bound to see one of our beautiful Malayan tigers in plain sight. The Jax zoo has many fun events! My personal favorites are Spooktacular, Brew at the Zoo, and the Illuminights (jaw dropping light display!) They also offer amazing educational events and even programs for your children to get involved in conservation, outreach, leadership, and other fun aspects. There are many aspects about zoos we don't understand or agree with however I can attest being involved with this zoo both personally and professionally, the people here really care and do their best. Additionally, a percentage from your ticket sale go directly to conservation efforts.

Best zoo ever!!! There's so much to see and do at the Jacksonville Zoo. The animal habitats were incredibly well-designed and spacious--truly impressive. You can tell they really care about the animals. On top of that, the gardens throughout the zoo were absolutely beautiful and added so much to the experience. Whether you're visiting with family or just love wildlife, this place is a must-see. Definitely come visit!

Wonderful Zoo! We had a few hours to spend prior to an appointment! It was a very walkable zoo with exhibits that allowed you with great views of the animals. We wish we had our grandchildren with us. Grounds very well kept.

As someone who has lived in Jacksonville for over a decade, this was surprisingly my first visit to the zoo and I was very happy about it! It is relatively small (we saw everything in 3.5 hours) but very well planned and thought out. Not one part of the zoo made me feel like I wasn't out in nature. There was a great variety of animals. I went especially for the birds and aviary's and I was so pleased with how well kept it all was and how close you could get to the birds! My biggest criticism was the signage. Multiple times we would be standing at an enclosure and have no idea what animal we should be looking for. Opportunities for education could be much improved!

The first time I have been here was in 2015. I didn't realize that there were so many animals to view. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see the entire zoo that day. After that first initial visit I have been going every year. The second time I went it took me about three hours to view the entire zoo and it was well worth it. This place is also children friendly as well. I enjoy visiting this zoo every year because there always some thing to view. I will be going this year again when the weather warms up a little bit. I highly recommend purchasing tickets online to avoid any long lines.

Love it so much Im a member! I am 26 years old and I love zoos and the Jacksonville Zoo is a great one to visit. There are plenty of different animals, and most of the animals seem happy (at least for zoo animals, I have been to some pretty bad ones in my day). The tiger area is the best - the Tigers had cubs and you can see them playing around. The whole area has walkways for the cats to walk around on, including above the walkways for us humans. They have the same thing in the apes area for the bonobos and a couple other primates.

I brought my sons (ages 11 and 12) to the Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens HALLOWEEN event expecting a fun family night. Instead, we were asked to leave because they were wearing HALLOWEEN masks--at a HALLOWEEN celebration. We were calm, respectful, and simply enjoying the evening like every other family. The play area was full of kids in costumes interacting and having fun. A security officer, who did not witness any wrongdoing, claimed my boys were "scaring children" based on a phone call she said she received about "some kids" in scary masks. When I calmly asked to speak with a manager, the situation was handled with astonishing rudeness. The security guard continually interrupted me, and when I asked her to please stop so I could finish speaking, she escalated the situation--calling the police and having me trespassed for no valid reason. No parent should have to explain this kind of humiliation to their children. This was supposed to be a family-friendly event, yet my sons were treated as if they'd done something terrible simply for wearing Halloween masks. Families deserve better. Children deserve to feel safe, respected, and welcomed at community events--especially ones designed for them.

12/21/24 I love our zoo! They have improved it SO MUCH from when we first visited it! A couple times a year they invite local artist to sell at one of their artist's markets! Tonight was the last of three Holiday Markets! What fun seeing all the kids dressed up and the lights!

Visited the spooktacular event. Great fun with the kids. Saw a few animals, got some candy and made my way through the glow in the dark maze. Definitely somsomething to look forward to every halHalloween

As a kid, I rarely liked going to the zoo... It was always so hot, and there was nowhere to get away from the sun. The Jacksonville zoo however does an amazing job of providing natural cover with trees, high bamboo and other foliage that makes the park not only beautiful, but very comfortable as well for both patrons and the animals. The zoo itself houses just about every type of animal you can imagine from penguins to reptiles, tigers, primates, giraffes, birds and elephants and so much more. There's just beautiful wildlife sanctuaries everywhere you walk, and this is a very walkable zoo. There's a general admission price as well as a higher end ticket (you should buy your tickets in advance). The higher end ticket also include shows, the train ride, and the ability to feed animals which was a fun aspect of the experience. The grounds are very attractive with lots of botanical garden planting throughout the zoo. There are plenty of options for eating, including a restaurant / cafeteria and concession stands throughout the park. Whether you visit with or without kids, this is a fun way to spend a few hours and see plenty of animals and botanicals. Pricing is reasonable at less than $50 per person, many prices far lower depending upon the type of ticket, the age of the visitor, and special pricing for certain affiliate members.

We enjoy coming to this zoo. We got the annual pass this time around and will be visiting more. You have to pay extra for things like feeding animals and the train, just be aware. They have lots of beautiful animals. It's fairly large. Don't recommend the food so bring your own if you can. It's a great place to bring the kids and get some exercise.

It has been awhile since I've strolled around here and I am so happy to see that they are renovating the zoo. They are making some awesome updates. Always make sure you go early in the morning because that is when the animals are most active. I can't wait to see the new giraffe pavilion. This is definitely not to be missed spot in Jax.

I'd give the zoo itself a 4 as compared to San Diego DC Columbus Cincy etc but the service by office staff at Jax Zoo is horrendous. Don't return phone calls, oddly change membership numbers when there was no lapse in membership, then want you to stand in line at customer service to get photos taken every year, Kim in membership office responded to an email without fully answering the questions asked and without providing bar code to be scanned at entrance, then Courtney at the entrance very bossy and demanding as we are in the system as paid and was putting thru question and answer period as our 7 year old was hunched over needing the restroom but Courtney being the boss of the moment was more important, geez. Not to mention their multiple changes on a la carte card or if people must pay double admittance for an "all experience" just to use the train and/carousel. The zoo is part funded by taxpayer dollars yet great preference for those kids fortunate enough to have rich parents.

I love our Jacksonville zoo. I have a membership with my husband and we love going even if it's for an hour just to take pictures of the animals. Everything is so lovely and spread out evenly and the volunteers there are very helpful and have great information. Can't wait for the new addition for the manatees. The only thing I wish they would do is add in the price of the train in the membership.

One of the best things to do when visiting Jacksonville Florida. If you have little ones you shouldn't hear " I'm bored ". A lovely experience overall. The giraffes definitely is an experience you won't forget but I was in the bird sanctuary for almost an hour Lovely zoo

OMG! I was ever going back to the Zoo to see " The Christmas lights ", but am glad I went back! This year I was told they hired a company to set up the lights. Don't know if that is true but they were amazing! It's beautiful and with the Asian music and touch, we were astonished! The children's area had interactive light characters and a kiosk to purchase homemade items. Several of the characters had moving parts . With bubbles and smoke accents, it was fun for all ages! Thank you to all the sponsors and the Zoo for making this a great experience! Looking forward to next year!

Went to the zoo this past weekend with the family. The weather was nice with plenty of shady areas for the kids to cool down. Had to get some Kona Ice and Dippin Dots for when it did warm up. The kids loved the elephants, rhinos, and giraffes. Can't wait to go back again!

Spooktacular is here, and I have never experienced the Jacksonville Zoo quite like this before. Honestly it blew my expectations out of the water. I thought this Halloween related experience would be very kid friendly which of course is a good thing, but being the scary, haunted house lover that I am, I thought this would be too much of a PG experience. Wrong! Yes It's great for all ages, but they made certain parts of it that great "Jump Fright" scary. Anyone can choose to enter this specific area that's scary, and if you wish to not be frightened, you pay $4 for this blinky light up necklace to wear letting the staff know not to jump out at you. I think that's a great idea. Trick or treating for all ages is greatly encouraged. Wear a costume, enjoy the live dj, grab some candy and treats, play carnival games, etc! It's such a good time, especially with the cooler weather we have been having. All of the animals were out. I recommend grabbing a dual pass so you can enjoy the animals during normal park hours, then start the spooktacular festivities at 5:30pm sharp They even serve beer, wine, and seltzers for you to walk around with if that sparks any interest. Happy Haunting : )

I went on a field trip with high school students, they enjoyed the day walking around seeing the different areas and exhibitions, staff at the zoo is very friendly and helpful the zoo is very clean even though there is many animals and weather is hot and it's been rainy it does not smell and is very clean all around. We had a great time and got to see almost all the animals. Food and snacks are a bit expensive but the food is actually good.

It was pitiful to say the least. Not only did it pour down raining, but after the fact that it rained, everything was closed down! All the INDOOR restaurants were closed, the stingray petting and giraffe feedings were closed due to "weather", and all the concession stands were closed. Not really sure why these things were closed due to a little bit of rain, especially the indoor restaurants. After they eventually opened one of the restaurants back up, we had to pay 50 dollars for two meals! A kids meal and an adult meal. The staff was rude and the food was mediocre at best. Very disappointed in my visit.

Thursday, August 10th I went to Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens while on vacay with Kayla Beth Fields , Saige & Deacon Hunt. We had an amazing time! We got there when it was just opening and was able to park very close to entrance. Parking was FREE... The tickets were $30 adults and $25 per child and we upgraded for $15 per ticket for total experience. The kids were able to feed the stingrays and the Giraffes. Also ride the train and ride Carosel Unlimited rides. We were able to watch the 4D Disney's Ice Age Movie and enjoy the Robotic Dinosaur Exhibit. The kids had a blast and visited the souvenir shop once at end yo buy a special stuffed animal. Saige chose a Tiger and Deacon a Turtle. They had a blast!!! Thanks to Paw Paw Lee who bought the tickets!

The first step is admitting that you have a problem...and my problem is; I love the zoo! This is a nice, small zoo and getting better all the time! Sure, they may not have this or that, but I am happy it is here. Things take time and are always worth the wait when it comes to improvements. They are constantly upgrading, making changes, and improving things. I believe they have a nice variety of animals, all seem well taken care of, and loved. They offer educational programs, as well as different programs throughout the year. There are also unique events that help raise money like Spooktacular, Zoo Lights, and ExZOOberation to name a few. Not only are zoo events fun to attend, and something out of the norm to do with family and/or friends, but it helps the animals as well. Let us not forget the zoo is to educate, preserve, conserve, inform, and advocate for the animals no matter how big or small a zoo may be...and that should be the focus. Moreover, the animals a zoo may or may not have at any zoo should not make a difference either. It's about the animals...period! I personally highly recommend this zoo. Don't go expecting the National Zoo, the Columbus Zoo, the San Diego Zoo, any other high-profile zoo, the last zoo you went to, or the zoo you used to live near. They are all different and your visit makes a difference since every penny counts. There are a few pass options in addition to the regular ticket price and/or discounts. Passes often give you discounts on events as well. Moreover, the zoo offers $5 days throughout the year. As for the zoo amenities...there are lots of clean restrooms throughout the zoo and gardens. There are food and drink stands, and a few indoor eating areas. The gift shops are all very nice and offer a lot of variety. Lastly, there is more than ample parking as well. Plus, the parking area is well-lit at night if you attend an evening event.

I haven't been to the Jax zoo in a long time. Maybe close to 25 years. I went today as a bus driver for our K3 & K4 preschool classes. Wow; I loved the zoo and all the attractions they have for kids! The only negative was there were two zoo associates that were very rude towards two of our kids and teachers (tow separate times). "It's not what you say but how you say it". These two associates should not be working for a place that is kid friendly business if they don't like kids and have no patience for them. I was very disappointed with their actions in a kid friendly setting! Other than that; the zoo was very well laid out with very nice attractions.

My family loves this zoo. We all have memberships and look forward to our visits to see the many animal exhibits, ride the train and carousel, feed the stingrays and giraffes and hang out in the bird exhibit. The many special events are amazing and our favorite is the Halloween event. Highly recommend getting the membership