Austin Zoo - perfect for little kids! (Houston, San Antonio: how much, homes)

[jenkirk]

We went to the Austin Zoo for the first time today. My kids are 4 & almost 2. The Austin Zoo was more fun for them than the San Antonio or Houston Zoo. I would strongly recommend going if you have small children.

We watched a tortoise eat for over 10 minutes from a few feet away. It was a little gross to be so close because they really really slobber. But my kids loved it! We also saw the monkeys, tigers, lion, bear, ect. My kids also loved the chickens, ptarms, and peacocks freely roaming. They got to pet the goats and listen to the parrots mimick. It was a very enjoyable day.

If you go, I suggest taking a stroller. There are lots of small hills and steps, but they are easy to navigate if your stroller has the bigger wheels.

Here is the link to their website http://www.austinzoo.org/

[twange]

We don't have kids but we have been wanting to go there for awhile. I love the fact that it's a rescue zoo.

[gigi927]

We had a great experience with our 4 and 2 year old also. It's just big enough to be interesting, but small enough to do in a morning!

[jco]

Thanks for letting us know! My son is almost two, so I was wondering if it would be enjoyable for that young an age.

[txbreeze01]

That is a fun zoo! Another good one is the Waco Zoo. My husband and I took our 4 & 2 year old the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. We saw only 2 other families there in the 3 hours we were there! It was so nice not to have to watch our children try to see everything over a crowd of people.

[Phisch]

We've not been to any of the above zoos. Just curious, what about the Austin zoo was better? Being up close? I can see how that would be more fun.

[jenkirk]

Being up close made a huge difference. The monkeys were so interactive. We also got to hear the lion roar at meal time - I have never heard anything like that before. My little boy (almost two) did not know what to think - he was amazed.

We were there on a weekday, so it was not crowded. We could let the kids go ahead of us as long as they stayed in eye site. Unlike the other zoos where your kids can only be a few feet away.

Also the dirt, gravel paths and trees make for a better visit than the concrete at the other zoos. Though we were pretty dirty when we were done.

Mind you I really like the other zoos, and I did not think the Austin Zoo would be much fun. I was suprised by how much more fun it was for my family. Hence the post.

[Phisch]

Very cool. We're homeschooling and the animal kingdom is our science topic for a while which is why I am curious. Of course...no reason why we can't visit all three, I guess

[OzzyRules]

Why is it called the Austin Zoo? From the directions, it sounds like it's out in the middle of nowhere.

What I like about the San Antonio Zoo is that it is so central to the city.

[Mike78613]

SA Zoo felt like my time was wasted. They seem to have more birds then anything else. Plus it stinks sooo bad!! Never again would I pay to go to that zoo.

I have yet have been to the Austin Zoo.