For those who can get past the idea of animals in ...

For those who can get past the idea of animals in enclosures/captivity, this zoo was really an adventure! Some parts were really sad (the Polarbear exhibit that looked warm and melted; the crocodiles with a dead fish just drifting at the bottom of the water) but for the most part, the enclosures are open meaning not all bars and chained fences. None of the animals appeared in distress like at a zoo more local to me which was nice. Price point does hit hard for larger groups and inside there are additional adventures that come with additional price tags so have a game plan at entry or risk being enticed by the offerings. Beer was available which made the heat more tolerable for the 3 men in our group and reusable cups with a straw - yes, beer with a straw - were in good use!

Pro-Tips: there is an app with a map (we kept getting lost despite the numerous signs up so it was more likely a guide error than anything else). There are parts of the zoo that are a steep incline - like the Arctic zone to the elephants - so if pushing a stroller visit the elephants before the polar bears! Pack lots of water because water stations seemed far and few. Pack some snacks and food but don't expect any green picnic areas that other parks have. Take the trolley (strollers NOT allowed) because it seemed that animals were encouraged to be out when the trolleys stopped by, for example, feeding/snack stations would become more accessible when a bus was nearby and raise once it left.