Day Trip to the Detroit Zoo
As a kid, I never went to the zoo very much, but as an adult, it’s one of my favorite places to visit.
I love the sights, the sounds and the whole experience in general. Zoo curators put a lot of time and
effort into the scenery, architecture, and foliage of each exhibit to make sure their animals feel right at
home. A couple weeks ago I went to one of my favorite zoos: The Detroit Zoo. I love this zoo for so
many reasons, and it’s not just because I am local to it. Most of the exhibits are open-air without cage
boundaries so it feels like you’re getting up close and personal with the animals. For those of you
that aren’t from around here, the Detroit Zoo is actually located in Royal Oak, Michigan and not within
Detroit city limits.
The Detroit Zoo is situated on 125 acres and features many naturalistic habitats, and is home to
more than 2,400 animals.
Detroit Zoo Exhibits include:
African Forest:
Here you will see the Great Apes of Harambee – chimpanzees, and gorillas as well as birds
such as flamingos, vultures, cranes and more.
African Grasslands:
This is where you will see all your friends who have been featured in Disney’s The Lion King from
lions and warthogs to zebras, giraffes (there is even an option to feed these guys!),
African birds, sloths and more.
American Grasslands:
Here you will find animals from North and South America which include wolverines (Go Blue),
grizzly bears (these guys are so much fun to watch when they play in the water), anteaters,
Chilean flamingos, bald eagles, prairie dogs and more.
Arctic Ring of Life:
This is one of North America’s largest polar bear habitats and one of my favorite attractions at the zoo.
Not only will you get to see polar bears up close and personal as they swim overhead, but you’ll also
see arctic foxes and seals. This facility has more than four acres of outdoor and indoor spaces you’ll
want to spend hours in this area alone.
Asian Forest:
Step inside the Asian Forest and see red pandas (they now have a fun exhibit you won’t want to miss),
Amur tigers, Japanese macaques, and camels – including a baby one named
Tula – who is just the cutest!
Australian Outback Adventure:
G’day mate and hop into the Australian Outback Adventure where you will find kangaroos and
wallabies. Since these cuties are allowed to roam free within the exhibit it allows visitors to come
face-to-face with them.
Butterfly Garden:
Home to hundreds of free-flying butterflies this is your chance to get an up-close
and personal look as you watch them eat and flutter around.
Cotton Family Wolf Wilderness:
This 2-acre naturalistic habitat features grassy hills, a flowing stream, den and more.
Unfortunately, it is now only home to one wolf, as the other recently passed away.
I love the sights, the sounds and the whole experience in general. Zoo curators put a lot of time and
effort into the scenery, architecture, and foliage of each exhibit to make sure their animals feel right at
home. A couple weeks ago I went to one of my favorite zoos: The Detroit Zoo. I love this zoo for so
many reasons, and it’s not just because I am local to it. Most of the exhibits are open-air without cage
boundaries so it feels like you’re getting up close and personal with the animals. For those of you
that aren’t from around here, the Detroit Zoo is actually located in Royal Oak, Michigan and not within
Detroit city limits.
The Detroit Zoo is situated on 125 acres and features many naturalistic habitats, and is home to
more than 2,400 animals.
Detroit Zoo Exhibits include:
African Forest:
Here you will see the Great Apes of Harambee – chimpanzees, and gorillas as well as birds
such as flamingos, vultures, cranes and more.
African Grasslands:
This is where you will see all your friends who have been featured in Disney’s The Lion King from
lions and warthogs to zebras, giraffes (there is even an option to feed these guys!),
African birds, sloths and more.
American Grasslands:
Here you will find animals from North and South America which include wolverines (Go Blue),
grizzly bears (these guys are so much fun to watch when they play in the water), anteaters,
Chilean flamingos, bald eagles, prairie dogs and more.
Arctic Ring of Life:
This is one of North America’s largest polar bear habitats and one of my favorite attractions at the zoo.
Not only will you get to see polar bears up close and personal as they swim overhead, but you’ll also
see arctic foxes and seals. This facility has more than four acres of outdoor and indoor spaces you’ll
want to spend hours in this area alone.
Asian Forest:
Step inside the Asian Forest and see red pandas (they now have a fun exhibit you won’t want to miss),
Amur tigers, Japanese macaques, and camels – including a baby one named
Tula – who is just the cutest!
Australian Outback Adventure:
G’day mate and hop into the Australian Outback Adventure where you will find kangaroos and
wallabies. Since these cuties are allowed to roam free within the exhibit it allows visitors to come
face-to-face with them.
Butterfly Garden:
Home to hundreds of free-flying butterflies this is your chance to get an up-close
and personal look as you watch them eat and flutter around.
Cotton Family Wolf Wilderness:
This 2-acre naturalistic habitat features grassy hills, a flowing stream, den and more.
Unfortunately, it is now only home to one wolf, as the other recently passed away.
Edward Mardigian Sr. River Otter Habitat:
This 9,000-gallon aquatic area provides these river otters with plenty of areas to explore including
a sandy beach.
Holden Reptile Conservation Center:
Home to 150 reptiles included the Chinese alligator, a rattlesnake, python and more.
Matilda Wilson Free-Flight Aviary:
Home to more than 20 species of birds that are free to fly, walk and roam around the lush tropical
plants. For those who are like me and birds freak them out, you end up in this area through the
butterfly house, but there is a nearby exit as soon as you enter that allows you to quickly get out of
the aviary.
National Amphibian Conservation Center:
Home to thousands of amphibians, here you will see frogs, toads, newts, salamanders and more.
This 9,000-gallon aquatic area provides these river otters with plenty of areas to explore including
a sandy beach.
Holden Reptile Conservation Center:
Home to 150 reptiles included the Chinese alligator, a rattlesnake, python and more.
Matilda Wilson Free-Flight Aviary:
Home to more than 20 species of birds that are free to fly, walk and roam around the lush tropical
plants. For those who are like me and birds freak them out, you end up in this area through the
butterfly house, but there is a nearby exit as soon as you enter that allows you to quickly get out of
the aviary.
National Amphibian Conservation Center:
Home to thousands of amphibians, here you will see frogs, toads, newts, salamanders and more.
Polk Penguin Conservation Center:
This is the largest center for penguins in the world and gives youthe opportunity to watch more than
75 penguins of four species explore their habitat while you get an up-close view. Two acrylic
underwater tunnels offer beautiful views of these guys as they swim aboveand around you.
For those of you that know the penguin exhibit asa stinky place, this one is NOT at all.
You can spend hours in it with no stink whatsoever!
This is the largest center for penguins in the world and gives youthe opportunity to watch more than
75 penguins of four species explore their habitat while you get an up-close view. Two acrylic
underwater tunnels offer beautiful views of these guys as they swim aboveand around you.
For those of you that know the penguin exhibit asa stinky place, this one is NOT at all.
You can spend hours in it with no stink whatsoever!
Fashion meets Food 