Minnesota Zoo

Was pretty busy on a Sunday, was hoping the cold would make it not as popular but the internal parts were still pretty packed. Still had fun, lots of cool animals. Sadly some really good ones like lynx and otters are out of their habitat right now. The restaurants inside are way overpriced ($17 for one sandwich) so plan on packing your own lunch.

Great zoo! Bring your walking shoes; it's HUGE. I was really impressed with how large the enclosures were. It's beautiful with a trail that overlooks a large natural lake. We did get to see two tiger cubs; this zoo is very successful at helping breed endangered tigers. Happy to support them. Definitely family friendly too, of course.

We had an overall enjoyable experience during our visit, although the first portion of the day left us feeling somewhat underwhelmed. For about the first 80% of the day, we found that most of the animals on display were the kind you could easily find at a local petting zoo, which didn’t quite meet our expectations for something more unique. However, toward the latter part of our visit, things became much more interesting. We were excited to finally encounter some of the more exotic animals like camels, tigers, and leopards, which made the end of the experience far more memorable and enjoyable.

The Minnesota Zoo is a fantastic place to explore and connect with wildlife. From the lush Tropics Trail, where vibrant birds and playful monkeys roam, to the expansive Northern Trail with its majestic bison and wolves, every area offers something unique. What stood out most was the immersive feel of the habitats—they're thoughtfully designed and make you feel like you're stepping into the animals’ worlds. Discovery Bay was especially fun, with hands-on opportunities to touch stingrays and learn about marine life. The zoo is clean, well-laid-out, and perfect for all ages. Make sure to catch a feeding or animal presentation if you can—it adds a lot to the visit. A perfect way to spend the day for animal lovers and families alike!

Have been coming here since I was a little girl. Brought my boyfriend this time. It was a chilly day. A lot of the animals weren't on exhibit but the cats were very active and we mainly came to see the tiger cubs. It's a wonderful zoo which cares a lot about their animals and conservation.

It was a slow start and we wondered if the outing was a bust. If there were more lights on the walking trail the experience would be much better. If there was information about the event history, the process of carving and the artists on the lit advertising signs it would be more meaningful. But the carved pumpkins were magnificent!!! When we came to the full display we were soooooo impressed. Hats off to the artists!

Jack-o'-lantern spectacular was awesome! Sadly only once a year, so enjoy it while you can. The pumpkins are carved by various tattoo artists and are the most detailed pumpkins I've ever seen! Definitely going again next year!

MN Zoo has really developed nicely and really impressed. The exhibits are mostly well done, ample space and clean. The outdoor exhibits are especially nice. The Bison exhibit reminds me of Custer in South Dakota. The treetop path is a really outstanding feature. I wish I could walk that daily! Well done MN Zoo. Well done

Amazing top 10 zoo of the country and top 5 for the size! You have to buy a season pass online. That's the best way to go. Then you can go when ever you want and you can go a hour before the single day tickets. You basically get to see the animals with out tons of people around you! Our favorites are the gibbons!!! They get really loud when they sing back and forth! The mn trail has many really cool animals. If you don't see them, ask. Because they are there!! The Dino's are amazing. They are a must stop and can get a little scary! Overall the zoo is amazing and is a must do anytime of the year!!

Popping in with another review about a Zoo event (I still have yet to experience the actual zoo during regular hours lol): this was my first season visiting the Jack-o-lantern Spectacular, and I was blown away! This will 100% be a tradition for my family and I each October. I visited with family a few weeks ago and was totally blown away. The amount of detail and artistry in each of the special pumpkins is unreal! Not to mention the 5000+ other pumpkins that make the area so spectacular! It's clear the team behind this puts so much care and attention to detail into making sure this is a magical experience. My mom and brother visited last weekend and wanted to go, so I went for a second time this season and was prepared to see the same pumpkins. But NO, they were all new! Not only do they refresh the pumpkins every 3-5 days, they carve totally new concepts so no trip is ever the same! Just pure magic. I had hyped this up to my family a ton and they still said it way overdelivered. KEY TIP: Pick the 6pm time slot and arrive right away! It's still plenty dark once you get to the pumpkin viewing part, and the lines were crazy around 7:30/8 as we were leaving. It was a 5-star experience because we didn't have to wait in line and had plenty of personal space during the experience.

September 27 jack o' lantern spectacular night for zoo members invited by my daughter. GRACIOUS!! The 20,000 pumpkins all hand carved for display over five weeks!- - fresh made replacements every 10 days. ( the old ones are then specially prepared for the animals to consume ( excellent for digestion/ wonderful nutrients!) The THOUSANDS of BACK Breaking truly STUPENDOUS all hand-made-precision, creations mustering up fierce , grit determination by the artists who push themselves to an EXTREME to create a "Never Never land" of exquisite meticulous beauty simply not found today anywhere and composed so perfectly!! Each area had wonderful acoustic speakers deep base resounding with fabulous energizing heart soaring ROCK & ROLL ( and Prince!) - - the " marachino cherry" to this one-of-kind uplifting super exciting total experience!!! I felt like little coco entering the magical world of Dia de Los Muertos with joyous music blasting through my entire body, around each corner, folks merrily dancing away! Thank goodness I took lots of video and perfect close ups of my favorite huge carved pumpkins. Will happily replay over and over again! Enjoy!

This is one of my absolute favorite things to do in Minnesota! The adult nights are fantastic, especially in the cooler weather, when the animals are super active. Adult nights/Wild Nights take place from 5-8 pm, and you must be 18+ to attend. That means all of the good parts of the zoo (animals, beer, FREE beer tastings) without any of the annoying parts (heat, crying children, moving children away from windows so that you can see the animals). The petting zoo without children is also a must, especially in Farm Baby Season. Sometimes there are special theme nights, like beer tastings, music, or art vendors, and they are all worth going to. I have seen caribou running laps, bears climbing trees (and swimming- see photos) and snow leopards playing at adult nights. The events are even great no matter the weather because of the Northern Trail and the Tropics Trail, so there is something for every kind of weather. The silent disco is also fun, especially with friends, and while you are waiting for your food truck order. You really should check it out! (yes, I really was THAT close to the bear)

Minnesota Zoo is huge!! We walk around 6 miles to explore the whole zoo, we were visiting from California. The Zoo has grizzly Bears I was impressed to see them so close and it's beautiful in the inside forest with so many different birds and reptiles. If you visit Minnesota you need to go explore the Zoo it's worth it. Hubby and I enjoyed the whole Zoo look at my pictures and videos. Recommended it.

This review is for the Minnesota Zoo Wild nights event that they host after hours. You get to go to the zoo once it closes and tour the zoo as well as enjoy the entertainment the zoo brings in. I went with a large group and had a ton of fun. When there was still daylight, we walked around to check out all the animal habitats. There is a llama trek where for an extra fee, you can take a llama for a walk. The walk around the zoo was very nice and it is a well maintained zoo. For the evening, there were several food truck vendors as well as entertainment. One area was designated for the silent disco section, one was for karaoke, and two other areas had live bands. The amphitheater had a band called Pop Rocks and they were super entertaining as the vocalist dressed up as the artist for the song they were singing. Parking was plentiful and we all had a really good time. Staff was very friendly.

The Minnesota Zoo is well maintained and has a lot of room so even on a busy day it doesn't feel to crowded. We purchased a membership which is great because then you get to enter the zoo as early as 9 am. Our favorite spot is discovery bay where you can pet a shark and starfish. We were lucky enough to see the new baby tiger cubs today and they were active and playing around. Another plus about the zoo is you can bring your own food and snacks but if you need something to eat I recommend the outside spot by the playground and splash pad the food quality is best there.

Visiting from out of state. Decided to revisit the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley. Looked forward to riding monorail but alas, no longer in service. It has been converted to a walking, elevated trail to be able experience nature from above. However, for senior citizens, that is not an option.... especially when it's cold, rainy, or a snowy day. No longer a winter activity or us.

We visited the MN zoo yesterday & this is my review of our experience. ~$75 for passes, parking, & stroller rental for a family of 4 Bottom Line Up Front: mediocre is a generous term for the MN zoo. We would not go back. While I struggle with the idea of zoos & aquariums, as long as they are managed humanely, I enjoy the fun & educational experiences they provide! I've been to a few zoos previously. Some huge (ie San Diego) but most very small (ie Fargo & Whapeton). The Bad: We were so excited to see what we thought would be an awesome collection of exhibits & animals! But we were incredibly underwhelmed! We walked for what felt like ages before actually seeing any animals (outside the snow monkeys at the entrance). A great # of exhibits are comprised of statues, paintings, videos, & "replicas" of what you'd hope to see at a zoo. Many exhibits were "coming soon", "closed", "shut down", "being relocated", etc. The animals we saw appeared lethargic, sad, possibly neglected (though admittedly I realize that's a serious allegation & I'm not qualified to make such claims) There was major construction going on, which blocked the view of the takins. The farm area was a joke. We had to walk a long way to get there & they only had a few sheep and goats. There were no reptiles that we could find! This was a major bummer for my daughter who just wanted to see some snakes! The splash pad was chaos & very basic. Kids were dangerously running everywhere with no employees there to keep things in check. At almost every turn they were selling something at obnoxious prices, which was so annoying. I think the zoo would greatly benefit from investing in the animals & their well-being rather than the gimmicks & fancy features they appear to be focused on. The Good: the Discovery Bay aquariums were neat & clean & they had a lot of beautiful marine life! It was cool to see a leopard, a lion, & a couple bears. The sea otters were my favorite! They seemed happy, had a lot of space to play, & were showing off for us the Llama exhibit was cool because you can get up close as many were free-roaming.

I travel for work throughout the country, I always make time to check out local Zoos, and Minnesota Zoo is one of the best Zoos I've ever been to. The animals are all healthy looking and their enclosures are well maintained, the workers throughout the Zoo were helpful and very insightful in regard to the animals. The Grizzly Bears were very playful and looked like they were living their best lives.

This zoo was gorgeous! So much space for the grazing animals and LOVE the boardwalk trail that gives you a higher vantage point on a lot of the larger spaces. Animals were so close and visible in most exhibits and looked comfortable and well taken care of. Great day!

There is so much too do here that you can spend the entire day! We ended up converting our tickets to a membership at the end of our visit because there are activities to do and things to see during all seasons. Trails are open pretty much all year I believe. The animals have a ton of space to roam, so it feels much more humane. The downside, of course, is that you don't always spot the animals but that's a small price to pay! This zoo is fantastic for families with young kids - aside from the animals, there are several play areas, picnic tables, and a splash pad in the summer. Our 2.5 year old really enjoyed the farm area and getting to see the farm animals up close. It is a bit of a hike to get there so be warned! We were a little disappointed that the wallabies were replaced by llamas, but still enjoyed getting to walk around with the animals. Excited to return to check out the soon to open Treetop Trail! Should be a super cool way to view the animals.

Great zoo with lots of different things to do year round but summer is the best. There are two outdoor playgrounds, and springtime has farm babies :) In the winter I recommend the tropics trail followed by the northern trail. Bring snacks and a wagon for your kids. As with most places, get there early!

The drive to the zoo was aflame with peak color-gorgeous reds, yellows and oranges against a background of green. And it only got better on our walk through the zoo. Spent the day with family watching the young ones race from display to display and especially enjoying the petting zoo. I recommend-you will leave feeling good! Enjoy a few photos. .

The MN Zoo is truly a delight! The views from the treetop trail are nothing short of captivating. A must-visit for nature and animal enthusiasts.

This review is strictly for the Halloween Jack-o-lantern spectacular. I really wish we have something like this back home. This is a great family event, with hundreds of Jack-o-lanterns to enjoy! They were so intricately designed. It was fun to walk the path to see the different themes. This is a must visit for everyone!!

I really enjoyed this Zoo! Walked over six miles and it was absolutely breath taking views, variety of big animals(bears/tigers/leapards/camels/Llamas/Wolves/tortoises/Wolverines), lots of fish, multiple types of monkeys, birds, flamingos, Kamoto dragon, sting rays, sharks and star fish. I will most definitely be back! Everyone must experience this event. There is a huge area for kids to cool off with water fountains/splash pad play area too. The food is super expensive so, i advise eating prior to going to this zoo! See the photos attached!!!!! Five Stars for this Zoo experience.

Our family really likes the zoo! We have an annual membership as we try to go at least once every couple months. The new Dinosaur Exhibit for 2023 is a lot of fun for all ages.

The service was fantastic and super friendly. The animal was well taken care. The prices varied on gift shop and food area. So options for gluten-free and vegetarian for food. There are so many different types of animals and trails.

Fun place to walk around with the family, just wish they had more animals! But overall, what a fun day!

I come here about 2-3x per month and absolutely love it. It has something for everyone: animals, educational opportunities, events (check out adult night!), and lots of interactive elements and playgrounds for children. Getting an annual pass was such a great idea, especially when you come as much as we do.

We are big fans of the MN Zoo! We became members over a year ago, and highly recommend this if you plan to go a few times/year. Membership covers parking and you can go an hour before the zoo opens to the general public. We like the outdoor and indoor trails, and the toddler playroom, splash pads, and playgrounds are all nice bonus activities for active little ones!

We were invited to an amazing after hours party. It was really nice. There were some things we didn't get to see but we loved most of the things. The staff was very nice!! There were a lot of wasps in the food place, but the food okay besides that. We did see a cockroach on the floor, I guess a reptile lost its dinner. There were many places where it was too dark or the red lighting made it very hard to see. The bats were particularly hard to see however we saw tons of mice running around their enclosure. Thank you for the special invite, we will be back.

A few weeks ago, I bought a ticket for Nature Illuminated at the Minnesota Zoo. This event was cancelled due to high winds the Saturday before my trip was over. I got a prompt refund, which I appreciated. Last Thursday, I was supposed to see the Minnesota Wild-Detroit Red Wings hockey game. Due to COVID-19 positive cases popping up around the NHL, this game was postponed. I was frankly relieved, but I now needed to find something else to do that evening that felt safe and would be fun. I gave Nature Illuminated another go. No crazy winds. Clear, crisp evening. Great! Again, I bought my ticket online. I selected the 6 pm slot. The process was straightforward. I got my ticket sent to me electronically. From my hotel, it would take roughly thirteen minutes to drive over. Traffic was smooth. I also realized that listening to Nirvana's "Teen Spirit" is the perfect song to drive to the zoo. It kept me alert and alive! I got there just after 6 pm. It was my first time at this zoo. I'm not sure why I hadn't visited it before, but I have always known that Cedar Avenue would get me there. I followed a long line of cars. I got to a man who asked what time I was scheduled to be there. I said 6 pm and he waved me in to continue driving. My guess is that if you were super early, you had a different line to get into to cycle around and back to the same point. The signs were clear at this drive-thru event to navigate around the zoo. I had my ticket on my phone scanned. There was a QR code to get the audio online through the zoo's site. I don't recall seeing free wifi at the zoo, so it's a bummer if you do not have a phone plan with data. For once, the QR code on a sign worked for me. Yay, miracle! The sign also had the URL, which made me happy. I have always been annoyed at events that only include the QR code, thinking that it will work for everyone. It doesn't. Another problem that I experienced was that if I didn't have my browser as an overlay on my phone as I took phones, I'd lose the audio feed. Ugh! I would have preferred if the audio feed were on a dedicated FM channel. It works so much better from an end user's perspective. Due to the lineup, I had to adjust the audio accordingly to what I was seeing. It was a bit of a drag timing everything. Anyway, there are portable washrooms at the start of the tour, if needed. This tour features huge mammals, fish, and other creatures all lit up at night. It felt magical and a lot of fun to view. I did not feel rushed going through the whole experience. I took my time with photos. It was warm enough for me to have the driver-side window down for most of the night. I dropped the passenger-side window when there were things to see on my right. There was a clear message to use your parking lights when driving around. It was cool to not have strong headlights beaming behind you. I do wish that there were more signs to indicate what you were looking at if you did not have any audio happening. Otherwise, it was so enjoyable to see cockatoos, sloths, penguins, and more come to life and appear illuminated. The tour took me an hour. I find these tours to be so affordable here compared to what I am used to in the GTA. If you want to enjoy a beautiful experience in the comfort of your own car, away from tons of people, consider Nature Illuminated. I'm thrilled that I can say that I've been to the Minnesota Zoo. Hopefully, I will be able to see the real animals and more when it's safe again to visit this zoo. (498)

The best zoo in MN. Has a large selection of animals, including lions, elephants, and bears.. Also has the world's longest suspended trail, which takes about 25 to 30 mins to complete. Awesome place and experience

the zoo itself was a nice experience, but the jack-o-lantern thing was the main problem. keep in mind i was with my family this day, so it cost a bit more (4 people). we parked with no problem and checked in. it took 5 minutes max to get our tickets checked and we walked into the area where we could get ready to go see the pumpkins. we saw how it was pretty packed, but it was fine. we lined up to be let out onto the trail that lead up to the jack-o-lanterns and we waited. it was about 30 or so minutes until we were let out, and i thought it was smooth sailing from then on out. but no. we had to wait longer. and longer. and longer. i'm not sure why my family and i were so irritable. but, we finally made it to where the pumpkins were. it was nice. but at this point, it has been about 1 hour and 25 minutes of waiting in line with lots of more people. we eventually left and drove home. it was not worth it. i do not recommend.

Visiting here from California and was looking for fun things to do with the family for the holidays. Happened upon this on the page and decided to get tickets for the driving Nature Illuminated 2021 display. My family thoroughly enjoyed the show which was less than 30 minutes long. This experience was different from some of the other holiday displays in other zoos in that they use large balloon displays of the animals rather than multicolored lights. You are given a QR code to scan at the entrance so you can link your Bluetooth to the narrated video on YouTube. I had a little trouble in the beginning getting my phone to link to the car but that was my own technical issue, not the zoo's. I think we took a photo of each animal display as we drove through the pathway. If you're taking your family along, probably a good idea to bring a thermos of hot cocoa so the kiddies can enjoy. Be sure to turn your headlights down for maximum visibility. Happy holidays!

I've been to my fair share of zoos and there have only been a few from which I have left feeling sad about their living conditions or how unhealthy/agitated the animals seem. Overall the MNZoo seems to be an earnest operation with a strong emphasis on conservation. There were a few animals which I felt looked skinnier than usual and only a couple exhibits that felt too small for the size and activity level of the animals inside. I'm not an animal expert by any means so I could be wrong (I hope I am); I'm simply comparing to other enclosures/animals that I've seen at other zoos. Hand sanitizer everywhere and you have to make a reservation. It was pretty crowded when I was there so I'm not sure if they are limiting capacity anymore. Bring snacks and water. The vending machines were all almost completely empty. The grill is open and the lines were long. They serve beer!

Our friend Nancy treated us to a day at the zoo. I was surprised that many animal exhibits were much smaller than when I was last here, quite some years ago. The monorail is being turned into an elevated walking path, which should be quite wonderful. The animal population has reduced owing to more knowledge about what is best for the animals (dolphins moved to a larger place with more dolphins as they are so social, deaths owing to old age or sickness, for example) but many viewing opportunities still exist.

We were here for "Adult Night Out" at the zoo. Only part of the zoo was open for this event (which I wish I had known ahead of time), but there was still plenty to explore. Our favorite parts were the farm babies (goats, llamas, cows, chickens, pigs), but due to COVID we weren't allowed to touch the animals. I understand the safety precaution, but again I would have preferred to know this ahead of time. The cocktails served at the event were great.

Ii did not actually get to explore the zoo prob, but I did make it to their jack-o-lantern spectacular and it was amazing. My one thought was that I wish that there were adult only options. I went to a 10pm time slot on a Sunday and was only bothered by a few kids who were not well monitored by their parents so it was frustrating at time tryin to take pics.

This is a zoo. The food is overpriced. The attractions are an additional charge after you pay to get into the zoo. The gift shop is overpriced. All of this is to be expected. The big disappointment that gives this a three star rating is the treetop walk. This has been hyped up, and I believed that we would be able to see the exhibit and the animals while we were on this very long walk through the trees. Imagine my disappointment when you walk and you walk and you walk and you walk and then finally, you can see a few of the animals from the treetop walk. Just go to the zoo, just do what you would normally do. If you are looking for a nice walk through treetops and you're counting your steps and trying to meet your daily goal. I would recommend the treetop walk. Otherwise, you don't need to do this. If you have children 10 out of 10 don't recommend you do this

We recently visited their special event, Nature Illuminated. It was beautiful. Giant animals were lit up in an out-of-this-world display. Combined with the audio tracks, viewers were able to educate while enjoying the beautiful displays. There are displays on each side of the car so all can enjoy. On our visit, the line was long, but to be out of the house doing something fun was such a treat. We played Christmas music and chatted while we waited. I was so happy to see all the cars, knowing there was so much support for the zoo. This wasn't what I expected so it was a wonderful surprise and so enjoyed.

No maps. Can't read map on phone. Couldn't find an employee to help find our way. Very hard to see animals. Food expensive. Paid on line for parking but nobody even checks to make sure anybody paid. Rip off. Won't be back.

Last night, I went to the Zoo's Wild Night and it was FANTASTIC! I had so, so much fun. I've been to the Zoo's adult night before and thought it was alright, but missing something. Wild nights brought in the missing pieces and I had so much fun. My friends and I stayed the entire time, and I almost wish it lasted longer! We didn't get to see everything because we kept getting distracted with all the events and animals we passed by. The admission fee is pretty steep, but I do think it's worth it for a fun night out. If I had any recs, I'd say there should be a few more food trucks just because the lines at all the ones I saw were always incredibly long. Outside of that though, zero complaints. I had a ton of fun and will definitely be coming back next summer for more of these events!

Love this zoo!!! Growing up in MN....this was always one of my favorite zoos and I love that my family has always lived real close so it's not too far to visit. The exhibits here make it easy to visit in any weather cold winters or warm summers since they have so much to see indoors. I think watching the monkeys get into all their mischief is my favorite. All the animals are fun to watch and even more fun to take pictures of! What a great place for family fun and photography!

Accreditation: AZA Growing up in the area I attended zoo camp every summer, and I can not highlight enough how much I LOVED it. When they sent out programs, I was jumping at the bit to get signed up and while this was back in the late 2000s, I can only imagine their camps have improved even more since. This zoo is the reason I work with animals today, and it's been amazing to watch it continue to improve its animal care practices. I recently revisited to see Spree the bottlenose dolphin who is back after many years while her current home tank is renovated and while seeing her in the tank as a no-longer child did make me feel that it was a good choice to originally remove dolphins from this tank, I can see the benefits of moving her to a space she already knows as well. And the reality is that she isn't there forever. The reality is that not all marine mammals are a "blackfish" situation and people should be more concerned about what passes for animal care at photography ranches or road side zoos than an AZA accredited facility*. The animals here have adequate space, enrichment, and likely positive relationships with the staff. My last time there I enjoyed watching one of the beavers express natural den making behaviors after the recent birth of multiple adorable little babies. *AZA stands for Association of Zoos & Aquariums and is one of the accrediting standards set for zoos in the US. AZA is considered one of the highest standards however, as someone in the field, I would add that getting and maintaining an AZA accreditation can cost hundreds of dollars and there are many amazing facilities that are not AZA accredited because they can not afford to be. This comment isn't particularly important here because the MN Zoo is AZA accredited.

It's been about 5 years since I last visited and I really enjoyed my visit and the animal exhibits but just visited again today and actually was disappointed. There is a lot of construction going on with the building of the elevated walkway. It seemed as though there were very few animals available to see. It just wasn't the same and kind of bummed. However for $20 per ticket at least I know the money will be going towards the care of the animals they do have still. If you've been several years ago and revisiting you may be disappointed with the zoo now. I probably won't be making a trip to Minnesota again for the zoo any time in the future.

We experienced the Nature's Illuminated at the MN Zoo. This was a neat way for the zoo to remain open during the pandemic. We are excited to go back to the zoo.... one day! We picked a perfect night to do this. They had you follow a link for the audio tour to learn more about the animals on display. This would be perfect for younger children as the 14 year old with us wasn't as amused and was hoping for a little more. Overall a fun experience and we can't wait for the zoo to open up fully again.

We went with family who had annual passes to the Minnesota Zoo, and enjoyed a nighttime , drive thru, light show. You purchase tickets online, and they send you a SoundCloud link, which narrates the animals along the way. When you arrive, you're directed to a pair of employees who scan your ticket on your phone. Then, you follow the single car line, very slowly, through the route. It was probably about 20 minutes in total, driving/idling slowly through the show. You see huge balloon, lighted, blow ups, with other colorful lights along the road/treeline. Some animals include moose, wolves, eagle, loom, bumblebees, owl, and much more! Impressed with the size and detail on the balloons. I do wish there were more Christmas lights for the decorations. Although impressive, there could've been more lights in addition to the balloons.

We enjoyed our visit here in late September when the leaves were starting to change. It was beautiful and the weather was perfect. I hadn't been here in years so it was interesting to see. They had multiple events throughout the day to go see. This included shark feedings, bear and seal trainings and others to go see and get educated on. The negatives about the zoo: there weren't any food or drink stands open around the park. The only place to eat was the cafe at the beginning/entrance of the zoo. So you had to walk all the way around or back to get something. Another thing is, there aren't very many animals to see. Maybe I'm just being picky. But they don't have gorillas, orangutans, giraffes, polar bears, and others. The animals we did see though were very active which was great. They all seemed to be in sight and awake and pretty happy. Sometimes when you go to zoos the animals seem stressed and just pacing but I didn't see one animal like that here.

I went to the Minnesota zoo with my family and the area where the kids were playing there was a tampon ! During COVID and this things found there . Was so embarrassing .

I'm writing specifically for the Jack-o-lantern Spectacular! Wow! Wow! Wow!!!!! For $15 we got a beautiful walk, on a lovely eve, and saw thousands of carved pumpkins!! (Literally 5000) Take your time, bring a well-charged phone/camera, and enjoy! The thematic pumpkins are unbelievable!! I've never seen anything like this!! Go! 5 adults went at 9pm.. done by 11. There are drinks along the way... mini donuts, corndogs and other goodies!! I highly recommend... and it better come back next year. Do we hear sleigh bells in the future?

We went to the zoo on a weekday, during the day (10:30 am). It was not crowded and we took our time outside, viewing the animals. We brought our own food (due to one of party being under 5 years and not inoculated against Covid) and ate outside. There are no maps offered: offered instead are the large maps (you-are-here maps) and digital. Hahahaha! IF I had digital on my iPhone (which was impossible in this area), I certainly would have used it. Instead, we found ourselves on a road by the "farm" which we thought was part of the zoo.

I cannot wait until the monorail track becomes a walking path. It is quite crowded. Even though it is a paid admission zoo, I think the Como Zoo still competes decently with it.

So much fun! Lots of animals. Beautiful park! Nice food in the cafe. Beautiful walking paths! Family fun!

Nature Illuminated We have been looking for Holiday Light Shows and so we tried this...not what we were expecting. First, the traffic lines to get in were long. We waited for over an hour to make it to the start of the show and then we were greeted with larger than life blow ups of animals in themed areas with a very good sound track. It took about 30 minutes to drive through. It was pleasant and enjoyable, but not what we were thinking it was. Not a holiday light in sight, but lots of good information. My daughter said, "seriously no holiday lights but a science lesson instead?" Nice evening for the family , just not what we thought. Wish traffic had been managed a bit better and price was a little steep for what we saw. Overall not a bad evening.

This zoo is so much fun to go too! When I come here, I always plan to spend my entire day here. The zoo is super easy to get to from the road, their are signs helping you. Parking can sometimes be an issue, but it depends on which day you come here. On a nice Saturday morning, you may not find parking at any of the lots. Usually though, you can find something! The actual zoo itself is awesome. There is so many exhibits and so much to see. Discovery Bay is always fun. You get to touch the rays in the enclosed pool and it's super fun! I also like the farm they have here! They have goats and you can go in and pet them! It is awesome. Make sure to wear your tennis shoes because this is a lot of walking to go through the entire park. This is a great place to bring kids. They is a lot for them to see. There is also a cafeteria in the main building. It is nice to get something to eat so you can keep exploring the zoo!

I love the Minnesota Zoo. I have been a couple of times over the years and always have a great time. We got a year membership for our family for 2018 and went yesterday. If you plan on going more than 1 time get a membership it will save you money. They have great exhibits to see animals of all sorts. Tropical birds, animals and fish. There is a 100,000 gallon tropical fish tank with live feedings. The kids and adults alike will love it. They have lots of eating options from full meals to coffee and snacks. There are lockers for 50 cents if you wear a coat when you go. In the winter hand out inside in the shark tank area where you and your kids can touch a shark or other sea fish. Or go outside and brave the cold to see outdoor animals in the Minnesota winter. Much of the Zoo is disability friendly and all of it is kid friendly. My kids love the zoo and we will be back many times this year. The Minnesota Zoo is really a gem that you should not miss when in the area.