cincinnati zoo & botanical garden

Being an avid animal lover I've been to quite a few zoos around the world.The zoo is fairly modern with a wide variety of animals . The animal enclosures are nice and don't look run down like some other zoo's around the world .

This is our first time in Cincinnati and this zoo is great for being built in 1873! We got there at 10am and spent until 4pm. There is lots of walking up and down hills. The cashier talked us into the upgrade but I won't pay it again. The 4D movies are good but the only ride open was the carousel and no interest to our family. I wish we would of been told the train was closed. A regular admission would of been better. I also wish we could of seen the botanical gardens but in March everything was still brown. We could tell there will probably be lots of bulb blooming. I am so glad we spent the day there as there were many unique animals and exhibits. Well worth your time!

The zoo is a magical place to spend part of a day! There is so much to see and do. It is perfect place for people of all ages!

If you are traveling to the Cincinnati area you have to go to the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens. My family and I have had memerbships to this zoo for years and it gets better every season. The zoo is designed in a circular pattern with a few off-shoots so it is easy to see everything without having to backtrack. There is ample food and beverage availability and the gift shop has everything sort of souvenir you may want. My favorite time to go is in May when all the zoo babies can be seen.

The Zoo at Christmas is a wonderful evening stroll with light displays. But the attraction doesn't stop there... The Penguins parade during cold weather. The animals have comfortable accommodations while all visitors travel wide paved paths and have a good view of each area and can ask questions of Zoo staff who have a working knowledge the habitat and habits of the animals.

The best zoo that I have ever been too. The employees were very friendly. The zoo was not fully open because it was so cold but we still spent over 3 hours there. Could be a whole day in the warmer months.

The Cincinnati Zoo has so much history and they have spent so much time making their land locked location top notch. The staff is unbelievable and the whole experience itself will easily take you a day or two. Obviously very kid friendly, the exhibits and animals are simply amazing, and will keep young kids and adult kids entertained all day long.

Luckily, we got 50% off discounted tickets online before we arrived, which were only good until March 15th. We have been to most (if not all) of the zoos in Ohio, including Toledo, Columbus, Cleveland, Akron--plus the Wilds in Cambridge. We weren't impressed with the number of animals hiding indoors for a 40-degree day. Most of the outdoor enclosures were completely vacant. We've had better luck seeing animals at the Columbus Zoo or Akron Zoo during December than the Cincinnati Zoo during the month of March.

It was very interesting and informative! Great time with the fam. Clean and relaxing... We went on a week day though!

I went here right after a business trip in Cincinnati and I found it to be a great way to end the trip. It was fairly late on the weekend, so there weren't many people there. It was also my first time seeing a flamingo in real life, which I didn't expect to see there. The zoo even had solar panels, so you know they're socially responsible!

I've been going to the Cincinnati Zoo since my children, now 20 & 18, were babies, and every time we had a fantastic time! Over the years they have added more areas and new displays. The zoo is easy to walk and also has a fun train that circles the entire grounds. The Zoo is also available for special events. I attended a few, with the Boy Scouts (we stayed overnight a few times) and with my Business. In summary, you cannot visit Cincinnati and not go to the Cincinnati Zoo.

Me and two teens visited the zoo. It is older and has the structure of zoos in the 70's and 80's. Too much concrete and not enough "natural" like environments. We have visited many zoos in the U.S. This just wasn't one of my favorites. The zoo was very clean and the staff were helpful and kind. I did enjoy the beauty of the older neighborhood in which the zoo was located.

The combination of beautiful gardens and fun animal exhibits makes this attraction great for the whole family.

The zoo is great. We have had passes for years. We enjoy it all year round. The Holiday lights are fantastic.

The Cincinnati Zoo is a great day trip for families or couples. Billed as second to only the San Diego Zoo (in terms of research), there is a great deal to see and do at the zoo. One of the most popular exhibits in the winter is the Manatee exhibit which currently has two manatees swimming. Also be sure to check out the night stalker exhibits, which starts with an Owl and moves through vampire bats and on to cats. Another favorite is the reptile house that has baby alligators in a pool at the center of the pavilion with snakes and turtles throughout the room. A little off the beaten path (and not in the reptile house), there is even a real live (Komodo) Dragon, which the kids love. Speaking of kids - many area families have annual passes and visit frequently. Lots of stroller activity, especially near the polar bears. Pretty much every major attraction has stroller parking in front of it. Afternoons are usually quieter (after 2pm or so), however, many of the animal feedings are in the morning. Check their website for schedule information. Plan to spend most of the day, especially if you like animals. There is enough to see that you could stay all day, or just an hour, if you want to pack other things in throughout the day. There are plenty of vendors for food throughout, many with the option for an adult beverage. The zoo even holds beer and wine tasting events in the spring and summer (special separate ticket required). Expect to pay less than the ballpark, but 10-20% more for food items than you would at LaRosa's outside of the zoo. The gift shop near the main entrance/exit has a lot of cute things for kids and adults, again, at a markup above what Toys R Us would charge. The 4D theater also has tickets, the train, the carousel, etc. all have places to spend a little extra. Again - with profits going back to research, its hard not to buy something. While the main entrance is on Vine Street, pros know that there is a secondary entrance off of Forest Avenue when the lines get long in the summer or for Festival of Lights in the winter. There is also street parking in this area, which avoids the $10 per car that the zoo parking lots charge, just be sure to check the street signs. If you are looking to save a few dollars on admission, often area Kroger stores have discounted tickets, so it may be worth stopping by a customer service desk to pick these up.