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Kansas City Zoo
Good-for-Kids Rating
Babies
Toddlers & Pre-KSchool-Age KidsPre-Teens & Teens
Zoo
Kansas City Zoo Description
Located in Swope Park, one of the largest public parks in the nation, the 800-acre Kansas City Zoo is home to nearly 1,000 wild creatures (some even roaming freely in their specialized habitats) separated by continent. The open habitats are designed with the animals in mind, but they provide an extraordinary experience for visitors, who thrill at seeing kangaroos hopping freely across pathways on the journey through "Australia." Don't miss the specialized exhibits for younger kids, awesome tours for older kids, and several fun rides that allow families to customize how they experience the zoo.
Kid Tips
Babies: Double ($9) and single ($7) strollers are available for rent on a first-come, first-served basis. Refundable deposit required; purchase rental tickets at the admissions booth.
Toddlers & Pre-K: Younger kids will love riding the World Express zoo train, which circles through the Australia exhibit. Round-trip tickets are $2.50 and available at both the admissions booth and one of the two train stations. An all-day unlimited ride pass for the train, tram, and boat rides can be purchased for $5.
School-Age Kids: The Discovery Barn, which has a tube slide to the lower level, is a fun stop that features animals your kids might have seen on television but not in real life, from lemurs to meerkats to macaws.
Pre-Teens & Teens: Kids older than 12 will love taking a Segway Experience tour of the zoo.
Planning Notes
- Purchase tickets online. Avoid lines at the admissions booth and purchase your tickets online before your visit.
- Pre-print a zoo map. The zoo's Web site offers a printable map of the zoo so you can better strategize your trip.
- Concessions galore. The zoo offers plenty of places to eat, from sit-down eateries to snack kiosks, plus a picnic area.
- Free parking. Parking is free and plentiful.
Just the Facts
Hours: Memorial Day to Labor Day: Daily 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Labor Day to Nov. 1 and March to Memorial Day: Mon.-Fri. 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. December to February: Daily 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Fees: $10 - $20
Recommended Time: Half day
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