Minnesota Zoo

Great zoo! Better than como! Birthday party booked!!!

It was quite anti-​climatic for me. This first time I came to this place was in 3^rd grade for our annual field trip. It was magical and big and the monorail soared above; as a kid you felt like this was the coolest place on earth. Now fast forward, 20 frickin’ years later and the place still looks the sorta the same but now it’s slightly sadder. Maybe I had dreams of grandeur of a place that blew my mind as a child. They are definitely in need of some new mammals, birds, and fish and definitely in need of generous philanthropic animal lovers to give this place a face lift.
I’ve seen over a lot of zoos over the years… and MN needs to step up their game. Especially when you are charging $ 18/​person plus $ 7 – 8 parking.

As far as zoos go, MN zoo is pretty good. The tropical and and MN trails are good stand-​by and the Russian area is also good. Definitely do not do the monk seal show, what a waste of 15 minutes.

Love coming here and it seems like they have something new every time I visit! Was a little disappointed that the tram that takes you on a tour from above around the park was closed but all in all was a good time and workout might I add. There was an area, kids section that they had a splash pad that was neat. I probably would have stayed longer if that area didn’t smell like vomit and since it was 78 degrees out I couldn’t stomach it. It’s more beneficial to buy a yearly pass. You get free parking and entrance with a guest. Kids under 2 are free and it pays for itself after two visits. Love the Imax here as well!

It’s our very own state owned and operated zoo. The only reason it isn’t five stars is that it isn’t free like Como Zoo.

I was so happy to be able to experience this zoo! I currently live in Tucson and love our local zoo and the events they have, but the Minnesota zoo is a whole different ball game! Every age needs to visit at least once. Prepare for a review with tons of exclamation marks and gushing about adorable animals.
The first thing I did at the zoo was the Discovery Bay… so fricking cool! you can touch animals and plants in their habitat and really get a (literall) feel for the creatures and plant life! When I went the area was big enough that everyone could enjoy the interactions without it being to crowded or stuffy. Another must see? The trails will go above the habitats in certain areas so you are looking down on the animals! so fricking cool. And I got to ride a Camel! As much as I wished the camel would break into a sprint around the area, the Camel leader will walk the Camel in a slow step while you are on, which I suppose is probably for the best!
Lots of selection as far as food. Keep in mind this is a zoo so prices are going to be a little steeper than if you were at a food court, but for the experience, its worth the price. The gift shop area is also pricy but if your wanting to grab a souvenir to remember the trip, they have a vast selection. If you live near the zoo I would suggest the season pass, it is worth visiting the zoo over and over in my opinion!

So, what is so great about this zoo? Can you say monorail? I can. Can you say Przewalski’s Horse? Can you SPELL Przewalski’s Horse??? I cannot, without the help of a dictionary.
This is a smaller zoo, but well worth a visit. The displays are very educational and allow for good views of the inhabitants. There are animals from around the globe, just not necessarily the «typical» ones that you would expect to see at a zoo.
As mentioned above, they have Przewalski’s Horses… a small little herd of highly endangered wild horses native to the Mongolian area of Asia. You might not be excited by them, but I was. I had read a lot about them when I was a child and VERY into horses; to finally see one was a check off my bucket list!
The monorail is a good place to start, as it will literally give you an overview of the park. Also, who doesn’t love a monorail ride? There is a beautiful little butterfly garden in the summer where, if you’re lucky, you might get one or two to land on you.
The gift shops are typical zoo gift shops, as are the food stands.
Another nice thing about this zoo is they they have a reciprocity agreement with other zoos, so come check it out!
BTW: Przewalski’s Horse is pronounced sheh-val-skee…now you know!
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Came here over my spring break, could not have been more impressed. It was a week day in the morning so needless to say there weren’t that many people there. But that added to the experience, we weren’t competing to take a look at the animals and we weren’t surrounded by a ton of gawking people. My girlfriend and I are zoo goers anywhere we go, this was by far the greatest zoo we’ve been to.
Tons of space for all of the animals to roam and simply enjoy life. As people who truly admire animals in their natural habitat, we aren’t necessarily advocates for keeping animals in confined spaces. I was very impressed with how much living space all of the animals/​birds had. Nice variety of animals including lots from the great plains. Staff was very informative and were good with the animals. Clean zoo and very BIG zoo.
Cool exhibits and demonstrations, we’ll be back.

I’ve been a Minnesota resident living within 10 miles of the Minnesota Zoo for most of my life. I can’t believe I haven’t written a revieew prior to this point. So, here goes… love this place. I love the family membership option (counts as a charitable donation for your taxes) that allows my husband and I and our two kids to visit as many times as we want during the membership year. I love that the zoo is constantly making improvements to better our experience and to enable us to learn about more animals. It’s unfortunate that we don’t have whales (yes, I remember when the zoo had beluga whales) or dolphins anymore, but rumor has it that seals are coming soon (fun)! And, it is unfortunate that the monorail closed down… but this just makes for a good opportunity to get some exercise walking along the outdoor trails. The new penguin and Russian Bear exhibits are very nice. I highly recommend that any families in the area go with the annual membership to support the zoo program and educational opportunities.

They don’t have all of their animals right now since they are doing renovations. But soon they will have Hawaiian monk seals. I love this place!

OMG! I love this zoo!!! I visited the zoo during my 1^st visit Minnesota. The admission price is great and loved seeing all the animals, especially the wolf, American bald eagle and the grizzly bears! Ive never seen these animals at all. It was a great to see them. There were so many awesome animals. I took my 6 yo niece, and she enjoyed it. The zoo is huge especially the main building with the tropical jungle and local MN animals. The zoo volunteer staff was super friendly to this Miami-​native.
NOTE: I noticed the old monorail system was still up and clearly rusting. It should be torn down or replaced with a concrete structure. Otherwise, the zoo was amazing!!!

Ok seriously this is considered a top tier zoo? The monorail is not working and you are staring at old tracks like you are in the apocalpse. There are shuttered buildings as you walk… the places where the animals are not the best cages around… the share area is a joke. I am comparing this to Bronx Zoo, Washington DC zoo… so no way this is a 5 star place… to satisfy the little kids for a fun afternoon you can’t go wrong throuh.

This is a review strictly for the Amphitheater. Came a month or so ago to see Steve Earle and the Dukes. Awesome stage, felt like watching a concert in the middle of a forest. Great sightlines and acoustics as well. And Steve Earle was awesome!
So why 3 stars? Well, for one, over $ 50/​ticket for some of these shows is a bit ridic. I can understand about the smaller venue but I have seen bigger name bands but on by Sue McClean at First Ave for about half as much. Also, their concession stands food leave something to be desired. I think I got sick from the burger/​fries I had there. If there is someone playing there I absolutely have to see, I am sure the ticket price won’t be an issue, but for a «maybe I will, maybe I won’t go see them» band, I won’t

I grew up in this zoo. Not literally, of course– although I’m thinking a childhood spent in the sea otter exhibit could’ve been incredible– but I did spend a lot of time hiking the paths to find elusive animals that were often unseen, and my mother would testify that I couldn’t get enough of the gibbons, when they were active, anyway. At a very early age I learned to appreciate the sheer expanse of the place and the understanding that the animals weren’t there purely for display, they should be allowed privacy and dignity as well. Upon my return some thirty years later I absolutely loved that this philosophy remained intact at the Minnesota Zoo, and for those who complain about the short outdoor hike for the big game, I’d advise the Discovery channel.
Same goes for the complaints about the cost of admission. Yes, the place is probably four times the cost of my local zoo, but conservation is costly. The facilities that house this terrific collection of penguin, tiger, snow monkey and shark– that’s right, it’s an aquarium, too– are top notch, and the behavior of the inhabitants reflect this. We absolutely loved watching the grizzlies play, snarl and swim, they looked somewhat overjoyed, and that goes for a number of the other species. Make sure to bring an umbrella if it’s raining.
Think of your admission as a contribution to a nature conservancy intent on providing a haven for the next generation of kiddos, who would love to spend their days playing with the sea otters. It was awesome to share my love of this zoo with my daughter, and we’ll be back the next time we visit, too

The Minnesota Zoo is definitely a place to visit!
I paid $ 18 for admission but I think it’s totally worth it for everything I got to see.
The paths are really nice and clean. I really enjoyed walking through the park at my own pace being able to look at all the animals. Some of the spaces for the animals are so big you have to stand there for a bit to pick them out of the grass/​habitat.
They don’t have any of the zoo «staples» (elephants, lions, gorillas, etc) but they still have some pretty neat creatures to look at.
We caught the 1:00 pm bird show and absolutely enjoyed ourselves. They have hawks fly low right over your head. The show was only a half hour long. Long enough for you to learn a few new things about birds you see in the wild. I thought it was well done.
The monorail is no longer in business. I didn’t know whether to be sad about it or not considering I haven’t ridden it in ten years.
The only thing we didn’t get to do that we wanted to was see a documentary in the IMAX we had coupons for. Missed the two shows for the day.
I recommend packing your own lunch — the food in the food court is overpriced and below average quality. I paid 10.75 for a medium diet coke, a hot dog on a stale bun and mac and cheese that tasted like plain noodles. My mother had a sandwich and kettle chips. The kettle chips were stale as they are all kept in one giant bin and are exposed to the open air all day.
Had a blast though! I hope you (and your little ones) do too!

I agree the zoo is expensive but so is taking a family to a baseball game or amusement park. The reason why this zoo gets a 5 is because the great exhibits. I feel like the animals are well taken care, in the northern trail and grizzly coast areas the animals had tons of room to roam around, they were not stuck in some tiny area pacing back and forth. The Tiger Area is amazing and the little base camp area is really cool. The animals had so much room to roam I felt like they could have add some more animals and it still wouldn’t have felt cramped.

GO TAKE YOUR CHILD OR YOUR INNER-​CHILD TO THE DINOSAUR EXHIBIT BEFORE IT ENDS NEXT WEEK!
I have friends who regard zoos as beneath them, as puerile playgrounds. That warped sentiment calls to mind the picture of the boa constrictor with the elephant in its stomach from The Little Prince, which adults kept mistaking for a hat. What is the main pearl of wisdom from that precious book? That one must see with the heart, not the eyes? The world is a fascinating place, and we are often too old in the mind and heart to process it anymore. Or, as a man I recently encountered in a bar said to me: «you only as old as you let your soul be.» He was vibing off of consecutive double-​shots of Don Q rum, grinning and swaying to Stevie Wonder’s «Place in the Sun.» Our prophets ambush us with profound truths in the most improbable places!
There’s no shame in going to a zoo alone as an adult. There’s no shame in taking a date there. We went dutch, of course. The Little Prince lived on a tiny planet with 3 volcanoes and a single rose; I live in a tiny apartment with 3 metal folding chairs and a single pot for multi-​purpose cooking. I ain’t about to drop an extra $ 18 unless I’m certain of the aftermath, if you know what I mean.
I don’t know if I got lucky or if the Minnesota Zoo is always this comprehensively awesome: they had so many bases covered. I saw Brown Bears, Caribous, Monkeys, Amur Tigers, Wildebeests, Giraffes, Camels, Sharks, Sea Otters, Dragon Fish… I learned what the heck a Musk Ox is (and it’s definitely my new term for a hood rat) and that there’s a wild Asian dog called the Dhole.
But the show-​stealer was the collection of man-​made animals: DEM DINOS! There was a giant T-​Rex, a big ol’ Bronto, a weird orange and red Dino who spit water (which seemed a bit gratuitous, really), and many, many more models. They moved around and roared and generally thrilled everyone walking around. What a great, great exhibit.
Avoid the monorail — it’s an extra $ 4, and it detracts from your experience. You won’t have a better view of the animals, and you’ll be trapped in a throng of screaming children. Tour this place on foot.
Also, since I know my buddy Dylan aka Pretty Elvis will read this: this place is MILF Central.
When I went home (Alone. Good thing I didn’t spring for my date’s admission) I thought a long time about how terrific those mechanical Dinos were, and how amazing it was that someone constructed them. I got my copy of The Little Prince off my bookshelf and found the quote that best captured how I felt: «A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral.»
Go to the Minnesota Zoo not only to reacquaint yourself with the natural wonder and beauty of the world, but also to take in the cathedral-​esque Dinos someone’s creativity and ingenuity replicated from a figurative pile of rocks.

It had been years since I had been to the MN Zoo. It is worth the price of admission for once every few years.
I appreciate that they have a good amount of indoor and outdoor exhibits, considering it is Minnesota. We had a rainy day so it was nice to be able to bounce in to the exhibits to escape the rain.
The animals were very active specifically the Russian brown bears, the Wolverines and the Arum Tigers. One of the tigers keepers gave us a lot of knowledge on the year old tigers which added to the experience.

Things that saddened me about my trip yesterday:
— There weren’t many ‘staples’ (IE: Lions, elephants, seals, gorillas… etc.)
— My love for bacon temporarily waned when I touched a pig.
— I remembered that manta rays feel like cold loogies.
— I didn’t get to see anything funny (giraffe/​tapir/​warthog) having sex.
… Yeah, that’s right. Stare at me with those judging, judging eyes.
We spent a good deal of time at the entrance trying to touch those elusive little sharks and rays. I was super stoked to see that they had some beautiful leafy and weedy sea dragons on display, too.
When we finally headed outside, I found that I really liked that they put a lot of effort into making the trails cool (the Grizzly Coast exhibit is littered with elephant bones, strategically placed fallen trees, old boxes… etc) and it all flowed well.
Though we debated on whether or not to bother going to them farm portion of the park, we finally just bit the bullet and went for it.
We took the horse-​pulled tram over and were almost immediately drawn in by the promise of petting baby goats.
While I was trying to pull my shorts out of some little floppy-​eared baby goat’s lips for the fifth time, my girlfriend said she overheard a little girl and her mom ‘talking’.
Apparently, the mom was rudely bitching out and yelling at the girl because she was feeding the goats and –she– wanted to feed them too.
…
So, don’t get me wrong; I’ve punted a few toddlers in my day. I plowed down some children to get to the ultra cute goats they were selfishly hogging at the exhibit, and I’m as fond of the kidlets as I am of gangrenous boils festering on my ass.
But I also don’t (and never will) have kids. See how that works, Mom of the Year?
Throughout the day, there were also a host of other parents screaming at their kids to not touch things that were clearly meant to be touched and interacted with by children. I reckon them little bastards don’t need no knowledge, ya’ll.
… On second thought, maybe I –would– be a good parent. How fucking terrifying is that?
Anyway, we were pleasantly surprised that the vast majority of the habitats for the animals here were enormous, especially in comparison to other zoos. All of the areas seemed to have a great balance between open rolling fields, hiding spots, shade and watering holes. Excellent job, MN Zoo.
The animals also seemed exceptionally well taken care of and we didn’t see any that looked sickly, over-​the-​top bored or underweight. We watched many zoo keepers tending to various creatures and they all had huge smiles on their faces. I didn’t feel depressed when I was there which is something that usually happens elsewhere.
As others have stated, it isn’t exactly a cheap day out, but what the hell is anymore? It’s obvious to me that they use the money (mostly) for the animals and the quality of their care which is just fine to me.
Overall, it’s a good way to blow an entire day, but I feel the need to toss in some tips.
1. Bring binoculars. It’s great that the exhibits are huge but it also means seeing a lot of animals from afar if you don’t have them.
2. Start –early-​. They close at six. You can easily spend 5 – 6 hours here just trying to get through the park, so plan accordingly.
3. Try to go on an overcast or rainy day to avoid massive crowds.
4. Be excited about the more exotic animals they have here (leafy sea dragons, a red panda, mini crocodiles, grizzlies) and less sad about the lack of more common ones.
5. Unless you have a group of twelve+, don’t get one of the crepes at the Penguin Café (inside Discovery Bay) or you’re going to enter a diabetic coma. They’re nothing short of ridiculous and could easily be 5k calories… plus, they don’t taste good.

Yes I am a zoo member just because it makes sense after just two visits the pass pays it self off along with the fact that its tax deductible!
They have tons of animals and a long walking path so you have plenty of time to take fun pictures and explore plus get your exercise in! Winter the zoo is a complete ghost town with shortened hours but during the summer the place is well a Zoo tons of kids roaming around, photographers, and couples just trying to kill a day.
The bird show is lots of fun to watch and once in a while they have special exhibits showing.
The zoo is fantastic they do offer a lot more animals then como! but it is more in cost too.