We decided to take Lucca to Zoo Atlanta pretty much on a whim on Saturday, since Mike had the day off and the weather was beautiful. When we arrived, we parked on the street. We probably could have parked in a lot, but the street was crowded and there seemed to be a lot going on, and we weren’t exactly sure where to go for parking, so the street worked for us. The weather was nice and the walk was pleasant. I also got a chance to see Grant Park, which is gorgeous. I’m really curious about the Cyclorama, but that is for another day.
We made the mistake of going to the Zoo on a Saturday, which was also Educator Appreciation Day, so the place was a little crowded, but we still had a great time. Admission was nearly $21 an adult, so with tax, we paid about $45 to get in, but we spent a huge part of the day there, and could’ve spent longer there if it wasn’t so crowded. When we left, we actually paid the difference to get a membership for a year. It was only $40 more, so if we go to the zoo one more time, it pays for itself. Plus, we get discounts on concessions, gift shops, and guest admissions, etc.
One of my only complaints is that many of the viewing areas for the animals are small and framed with trees. I know this is important because it gives the animals a little more natural looking habitat, but it does make getting in there to see them a little difficult on busy days when you have a stroller. Between I think the Sun Bear and Tiger and the Panda, things also got a little crowded because the sidewalks were narrower and they had exhibits and viewing areas right off the sidewalk. In some places, because of the crowds, it was essentially one lane for strollers, so it backed up a little.
The aviary was neat, but also a little scary. I think birds are a little creepy, but Lucca seemed to enjoy it. She also liked the warthog and the giraffe. The naked mole rat exhibit was kinda neat. It was too crowded to actually see the naked mole rats, but Lucca got to crawl through the tube and pretend to be one. She also liked the reptile house, especially when I taught her to say “Rawr!” at the Komodo dragon. She likes saying “Rawr!” We saw the Panda, of course, and afterwards we bought Lucca a stuffed panda. That thing has become her favorite stuffed animal, and she likes saying “panda bear!” sort of.
The best part for Lucca was probably the petting zoo. Those goats were so chill about letting kids pet them, and the staff were on the spot with cleaning up messes and supervising. It was really REALLY crowded in there, though, so we couldn’t spend too long. Lucca also really enjoyed washing her hands afterward at the hand washing station.
Concessions were decent, I suppose, but expensive. We bought popcorn and cotton candy at one place, and then when we reached the big patio area at the back of the Zoo, we had lunch, but it was a little expensive. After we ate there, we found a Nathan’s hot dog stand nearby with cheaper food, so we might go there next time. There was also someone selling beer! I didn’t partake, but I thought about it.
That pretty much sums up our first trip to the Zoo. Also, and I don’t know if this is a southern thing or not, they had “Cooling Stations” all around the Zoo. This was the first time I had seen one, and unfortunately, I neglected to take a picture. They look like big boxes, maybe a little shorter than 5 feet tall, and when you put money in it, it blows cool air on you. No lie. And that’s all it does.
So until next time! I think we are going to try to go to Zoo at the Boo at the end of the month before I head to Michigan. Just one more excuse to wear a costume!
Tags: animals, Atlanta, Boo at the Zoo, Georgia, giraffe, Grant Park, membership, naked mole rat, panda, zoo, Zoo Atlanta
