On a warm and sunny day in Arizona,
I cannot think of anything better to do in the Phoenix area than go to the
zoo. The phoenix zoo has been around
since November of 1962 and is not funded by the government. The Phoenix Zoo
relies on donations to continue its efforts in the conservation of
wildlife. The zoo was created by a
Robert E. Maytag and his friends and family. A full history of the zoo can be found on the
phoenix zoo website at http://www.phoenixzoo.org/news/phxzoo_history.pdf.
The prices at the Phoenix zoo can
be very affordable for a family who wants to enjoy the outdoors and nature,
without breaking the bank. Each adult ticket is 20 dollars and children are 10
dollars. Food and beverages are sold at
the zoo for around 40 dollars for a family of 4 or 5, but you can also bring
your own coolers with food and drinks.
There are plenty of shaded picnic areas to sit and enjoy lunch outside. Vending machines and water fountains are
located throughout the zoo along with snack stands. Since this is Arizona, it is very important
to stay hydrated and cool!
The weather around the Phoenix Zoo
is equivalent to the weather around the rest of the Phoenix area in
Arizona. Wintertime in Phoenix is
absolutely gorgeous. Temperatures during
the day can reach between 50 degrees and 60 degrees. It is the perfect weather to enjoy the zoo.
During the summer though, the temperatures can soar to 115 degrees! Days like
this can be very brutal for an outdoor adventure. For those who the heat does
not bother, the zoo is a wonderful place to cool off because of the in ground
water fountains you can run around in and the many shaded areas. Checking the
weather forecast is very important before any travel and a great site is http://www.weather.com/wx/b for any
destination. It is very important to
remember sunblock, hats, and sunglasses when visiting the Phoenix zoo so make
sure to pack plenty of each!
The Zoo, along with exotic animals from around
the world, is also rich in vegetation found in the beautiful Sonoran
Desert. The variety of plant life
available is beautiful. Many different forms of cactus, trees, bushes, and
flowers can be found all around the zoo. The colors of the plants are bright
and vivid. Some even have unusual
flowers that you will not see anywhere else.
The plants are well cared for at the Phoenix zoo and kept looking
beautiful!
The first structure you approach upon arrival is the ticket
booths. Very simple and the color of
sand, the structure does not disrupt the natural beauty of the desert. After
passing the ticket booths, you walk onto a brick path. This path is unlike ordinary brick
paths. The bricks of this path each
contain the name of a person or family who has contributed to the zoo. Since this zoo is not funded by the
government, it depends on help from patrons and supporters. This path also
serves as a bridge that goes over a man-made lake that overtime has accumulated
turtles, fish, and different species of water birds. After crossing this
bridge, you reach the main gates and after passing the turnstiles, you
immediately enter into an area of learning and life.
Source (https://www.facebook.com/PhoenixZoo)
The
Phoenix zoo has many different areas to visit first. With a steady amount of walking, you can see
animals from different regions of the world.
The zoo is divided into 3 main trails: The Arizona trail which has desert
animals, the Tropics trail which has animals that live in tropical regions, and
the Africa trail which has animals that live on the savanna. A recently added
children’s trail is an educational and fun way for children to see the
different animals while engaging in activities that help children grow and
develop physical skills. Be prepared to
walk because this zoo covers a lot of area and has paths that go both up and
downhill! If you have small children, wagons and strollers are popular items to
bring so your children can enjoy in the zoo without getting tired out. Be sure
to check out a map before arriving so you and your family can make sure you see
every animal and activity. You can print the map from here
http://www.phoenixzoo.org/images/phxzoo_map.pdf
or just ask for one when you arrive at the zoo.
The cleanliness of the zoo is
surprising. Even though the smell of
animal dropping dominates the air, the ground are kept clean and groomed. You will not step in any gum or trash. The Phoenix zoo has personnel walking around
keeping everything looking spectacular. The enclosures of the animals are very
clean as well. The animal droppings are promptly scooped up and the zookeepers
keep the animal’s water sources looking fresh and clear like rivers. The
restrooms are clean and well-stocked and dining areas are outdoors, but still
very clean.
The Phoenix zoo is very tuned in
with its surroundings. Built with a
small mountain, the zoo is very balanced.
It does not include too many actual buildings as a way to preserve the
natural desert. Most of the structures
consist of canopies or gazebo-like areas.
As I said earlier the entrance is very simple and does not disrupt the
desert landscape, but compliments it.
Every animal enclosure is fitted perfectly into the space provided, and
the closures are not clumped together so you can really enjoy each animal one
at a time. This makes the zoo the perfect place to see what the true Arizona
desert looks like and learn and observe each animal.
The
Phoenix zoo is a wonderful place to take your family. They have activities for children and adults
to enjoy in together. This is a fun
environment to learn all about the natural world. Just remember to pack those coolers, put on
sunscreen, and bring a camera because you are definitely going to see some
animal you or your family have never seen before!
(Source for picture:http://www.articlesweb.org/news/what-are-the-exceptional-features-of-phoenix-zoo)
