Table of Contents
Received an hour or two to take a wild aspect stroll on the Greenville Zoo in Greenville, SC? The Greenville Zoo affords a fast and straightforward zoo expertise. Whereas the zoo is not large, there are lots of animals that children love, and it is a simple exercise even for those who solely have an hour or two. Kidding Round Contributor India Menon and her household revisited the zoo after being away for over a yr. Right here you will discover the whole lot it’s good to know to plan your go to.
Do the zoo! An insanely good time awaits at Greenville Zoo
Nestled on a hill subsequent to Cleveland Park, the Greenville Zoo opened in 1960 and is certain to carry a smile to generations of households. My household has been going to the zoo repeatedly for about seven years, shortly after the delivery of my oldest little one. Even after a break through the pandemic, we go to the zoo repeatedly once more. Are you contemplating a go to to the zoo? This is the whole lot it’s good to know earlier than you go.
Trusted zoo will get a makeover
One of many issues I actually appreciated concerning the zoo is that there’s all the time one thing new for us to take pleasure in with each go to. Currently, we have loved the renovations to Primate Row, together with new dens that enable guests to see what goes on behind the scenes. As I write this, there are additionally a number of different new and bigger enclosures which have lately opened and/or are underneath building, together with the displays for the Amur leopards, pink pandas, ocelots and a chook enclosure simply previous the farm animal exhibit.
The kindergarten playground close to the zoo’s Africa space has been brightened up with some African-inspired murals lining the realm’s fence.
Zoo residents embrace greater than 90 animal species. A few of my household’s favorites embrace the child giraffe named Windfall who was born in February 2021, the orangutans (which additionally embrace a child in the intervening time), and the amur leopards. Reveals embrace primates, reptiles, cattle, an aviary, a lagoon, South America, Africa, and Asia.
One of many BIG new additions to the zoo is about 12 ft tall and weighs 500 kilos. There’s a new alligator on the town after the alligator exhibit was empty for some time. (Apparently, vibrations from close by building have been disruptive to the alligator’s habitat.)
When to go to the Greenville Zoo?
The zoo is open seven days per week, besides Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, and New 12 months’s Day. It additionally has an annual upkeep shutdown for 2 weeks in February. Their spring/summer season hours are 9am to 5pm. The final ticket sale is at 4pm and the gates shut at 5pm. (This can be a good reminder for me. I’m ALWAYS late.) Fall/Winter hours are 10am-5pm.
Do you wish to catch the animals when they’re lively? We all the time discover them livelier within the mornings and afternoons in the summertime. (A bit like me. The noon warmth of a South Carolina summer season apparently does a quantity on all of us.)
What to Count on When Visiting the Greenville Zoo
I all the time wish to hype my children up earlier than doing one thing new. Chances are you’ll wish to pre-print a duplicate of the zoo map to allow them to “assist” you navigate. (Printed copies of the map are usually not accessible on the zoo.) The zoo is a few mile-long loop nestled on a tree-covered hillside. Be ready to push a stroller up some small hills or assist your toddler navigate some stairs. There are additionally just a few descents the place I grit my enamel and marvel if I’ve band-aids in my bag as I watch my preschooler buzz down the hill.
You possibly can carry your personal picnic or snacks to the zoo or you’ll be able to promise the children a tasty deal with on the zoo’s concession stand. There are a number of lined spots which might be good for a picnic spot. My children and I all the time take pleasure in snacks with giraffes on the shaded benches in entrance of their enclosure.
Except the reptile home, the complete zoo is an outside expertise. Nonetheless, the zoo’s tree cowl is a aid on sizzling days.
Issues to Know Earlier than Going to the Greenville Zoo
In response to COVID-19, the zoo has launched timed entry, which implies you’ll be able to pre-book tickets on-line. Should you purchase tickets, you may have half-hour to reach. So for those who purchase tickets earlier than 1:00 PM, be there by 1:30 PM. Admission for kids ages 3-12 is $9 and grownup admission is $12. A $1 low cost is obtainable to lively and retired army households and seniors. Kids underneath 2 years outdated can enter without cost.
Should you resolve to buy a membership on the finish of your go to, as we did, you’ll be able to cease by the ticket kiosk to have your day entry utilized to your membership buy. We obtained a $90 family membership, which appeared like a steal after I contemplate that tickets for me and my two children value $30. Our membership has already paid for itself in lower than 2 months.
One of many issues I like concerning the zoo is that if we go there earlier within the day or later within the day, parking is a breeze. There are a number of parking heaps close to the zoo and Cleveland Park. Parking is FREE.
If somebody in your group must hire some wheels to get across the park, the zoo now rents single strollers, double strollers, wheelchairs, and electrical scooters. These can be found on a primary come, first served foundation and can be found on the zoo entrance.
Particular occasions
The occasion calendar on the zoo is at present quiet. Nonetheless, we sit up for the eventual return of a few of their free academic applications, comparable to Inform Me About it Tuesdays, Wild for Studying Wednesdays, and Studying Safari Thursdays. Additionally, the Boo within the Zoo occasion in October is all the time one thing we sit up for. Who would not love costumes and sweet?!
Close by Sights: Issues to Do Close to Greenville Zoo
On common, a go to to the zoo will take your loved ones about an hour to an hour and a half. If you wish to make a day of it, there are a number of locations of curiosity close by.
The zoo is adjoining to Cleveland Park. (Word: On sizzling summer season days, there’s typically a shaved ice vendor parked within the park.)
You can even decide up the Swamp Rabbit Path on the zoo. Not removed from the zoo and accessible by way of the Swamp Rabbit Path are two play areas for smaller kids: a play prepare and a smaller playground on the Julie Valentine Monument.
Additionally north alongside the Swamp Rabbit Path are the Main Rudolph Anderson Memorial Plane and the Rock Quarry Backyard.
After all, for the reason that zoo is near downtown, there are many different family-friendly choices close by, together with Falls Park, the museums and library at Heritage Inexperienced, and all that downtown and Predominant Road has to supply.
What’s your loved ones’s favourite animal at Greenville Zoo? Has your loved ones been to the zoo recently?
#Greenville #Zoo #good #go to
