I don't know about you, but often when I attempt to take a very little kid to the zoo they seem to have a hard time becoming interested in many of the animals. I first had this experience when visiting zoos (both out-of-state and in Houston) with one of our nieces. She was about 3 at the time. Then, I noticed the same thing when my own daughter came along, and I have also observed it with some of her friends. Because the animals are often in large enclosures, the details can be hard to spot for little eyes and attention spans.
Eventually, I realized that I got a lot more bang for my buck when I started focusing on some of the smaller attractions (in addition to a few of the very large attractions like the elephants and giraffes with a few tweaks). Here are a few of our favorites if you are visiting the Houston Zoo with very littles or if you just like seeing the wild things up close yourself. Oh, in here is a link to the map and the app to find them easily.
Here is the quick favorites list (moving counter-clockwise around the zoo from the entrance), and below is a bit more detail:
Galapagos Islands (pretty much the whole exhibit)
Koi Fish in the Reflection Pool
Orangutan
Giant River Otter's & Fish at South America's Pantanal
Petting Zoo in the Children's Zoo
Giraffe Care Area & Feeding
Lion Tunnels
Gorillas
Elephant Bath Time & Care Area
Reptile & Amphibian House
Carruth Natural Encounters (one of our long-time favorites!)
Also, when visiting the zoo here, it is important to remember:
You MUST buy your tickets online, so buy them ahead of time for easy entry using your phone.
Pack your patience if you are driving and parking. The parking area can be crowded, but it is worth it once you get in. During very busy times (like holidays and Spring Break) offsite parking and shuttles are available in the vicinity. If you are staying in the area, you might be close enough to walk or take the Metro train and avoid all of the car congestion.
Pack your snacks (but leave glass, straws, and alcohol at home). Food is also available for purchase on site.
Scooters, skates, bikes, etc. are not allowed (details here).
Orangutan Exhibit: This one is a bit inconsistent and highly dependent on the whim of the orangutan. However, as you can see from the picture, sometimes you can have a close encounter (like the one you see above).
Galapagos Exhibit: Lots of tanks, both large and small, make this an awesome exhibit for the really little ones to view fish, seahorses, jellyfish, sea turtles, sharks, sea lions, and penguins. Note that you will have to leave your strollers outside of this indoor exhibit. (They caused quite the traffic jam when the exhibit first opened.) The penguins tend to be really interactive with the kids.
Elephant Bath & Elephant Care Area: The bath is a great way to see the elephants running (yes, running) around. Find current times here along with many other daily events that make the animal viewing easier. Also, I visited many times before I ever wandered over to the building (behind a wall, see map) where the elephants receive care. This is another great way to see them up close.
Giraffe Feeding: This one is quick (and cost extra) but fun. Daily timing information here. Even if you don't feed the giraffes, there is a care building that typically offers great sightings. Also, the giraffes (along with the resident ostrich and zebra) tend to come pretty close to the habitat gate.
Giant River Otters + Big Fish: In the "South America's Pantanal" area, kids can view otters that are generally pretty active. There is also a little cave/seating area where they can get a close-up view of large fish like grouper.
Carruth Natural Encounters Building: For years, this unassuming little building has been one of our favorite stops at the zoo. Honestly, when my daughter was a toddler, there are times that we have visited the zoo just to stop here and then go to the butterfly garden near the exit. Those two stops alone provided plenty of fun. The Carruth building houses moon jellyfish, active otters, and piranhas, among other creatures. The lights are dim and the building is climate-controlled (a great option for rainy days or very hot days). There is a little viewing tunnel that small kids love crawling through, and the naked mole rats are fun to watch, too. Huge fish and jellyfish (plus a sloth and a viewing tunnel).
Goats & Llamas: There is a small petting zoo for domesticated goats and llamas located in the John P. McGovern Children's Zoo area (map here). This is a great place for adventurous littles to interact with gentle animals, weather and daily schedule permitting. There are also river otters in this area (we apparently love otters in Houston, ha ha). In this same area, there are a few small playgrounds. This is an excellent place to rest your legs while the kids run around. Be aware that there is also a carousel which does require an extra charge (just a heads up).
The Gorilla House: A lot of visitors miss seeing one of the best exhibits because it is tucked away at the back of the zoo. However, it is worth the little walk to get there--if for no other reason than it offers blasting air conditioning. There is an outdoor gorilla habitat, but the viewing house allows little kids (and adults) to get up close and personal.
Koi in the Reflection Pool: This is a shady spot to rest and have a snack. It is also a great place to allow little kids to see the koi fish up close. Just be sure no one falls in!
Reptile & Amphibian House: This is a fantastic stop soon after you arrive or right before you leave (as it is near the entrance and exit). There are so many snakes, lizards, small alligators, and other creatures to explore. And, of course, it provides air conditioning and rain shelter.
Lion Viewing Tunnels: This is another one that can be hit-or-miss, but it is a bit hit when it works out. There is a covered walkway above ground to view the lions. At certain parts of the day, and I am assuming it is near feeding time, the male lion paces back and forth right near the gate making himself easily seen to even children in strollers. We often catch him doing this toward the end of the day about half and hour before closing and in mid-morning (around 10 or 10:30). Perhaps it has been coincidental, but we have gotten lucky at these times a lot, if so. There is also an underground viewing tunnel, and we have often seen the lionesses sleeping near the viewing window.
I hope you enjoyed these close-up viewing tips. What about you? Do you have any tips for close encounters at the Houston Zoo?
I know some families just want to wander (which is great). However, if your kids like to have a game to play along the way, I created this little zoo safari hunt based on animals we like to see at the zoo. Thanks for reading, and see you around soon!
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