Go Wild at the Columbus Zoo

One of my favorite travel destinations as a child was the Columbus Zoo and I have continued to visit throughout the years. In a couple of months I will be taking my own daughter on her first trip to the Columbus Zoo and I cannot wait. That is why I wanted to go ahead and share my experience and what we are expecting to see when we arrive there in April.

Something I love about the Columbus Zoo is the relationship the staff has with the animals. They celebrate birthdays, pay tribute to those that pass on, and they truly care for them. The animals are literally happy within their homes and this is an amazing thing to see. As for what you can see, you will see amphibians, birds, fish, mammals, and reptiles of all kinds. 

I am particularly fond of the large animals, such as tigers, black bears, polar bears, elephants, gorillas, monkeys of different types, alligators, and many others However, the North American River Otter, the Mexican wolf, and the moose are even fascinating. The animals are from regions all around the world.

When the weather is warm, it is a must to Zoombezi Bay to cool off. You can hang out in the wave pool that throws 7 different waves at you. If you want to really relax, you can float down the lazy river, which is 850 feet in length, so it is not a short ride. You can then liven things up by heading over to Roaring Rapids, which is an action river with surprises around every corner. There are also other water attractions and slides that have some really exciting drops. I like Dolphin Dash because I can race my husband to the bottom. I tend to win.

You can also enjoy golf at Safari Golf. I’m not a golfer, but what I do know is that you need to book your tee time in advance to ensure you have a space on the course. There are fees that you will want to inquire about. They do change at times and the 2011 fees have not yet been released.

Overall, it is good to spend an entire weekend at the Columbus Zoo. You may want to spend a day at the zoo and then spend a day at Zoombezi Bay. As for admission prices, children under 2 get in for free, $7.99 for ages 2 to 9 and 60+, and $12.99 for ages 10-59. At Zoombizi Bay, children under 2 get in for free, 2-9 and 60+ is $24.99, and ages 10-59 is $29.99. Parking is also $5.00 and a locker for the day is $6. You can also reserve cabanas for a fee if you like.

You can have good family fun for a decent price. I have always had a fantastic time at this zoo and am looking forward to going again.