What To Know Before Visiting the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (Honda of Cleveland Heights)

Visiting the zoo is a favorite pastime for many families and animal lovers. If you haven’t explored the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo yet or it’s been a while since your last visit, you might be wondering how you can prepare to make the most out of your day. Our team put together a list of six important things to know before visiting the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

brown and white giraffe on green grass during daytime by Leo_Visions is licensed with the Unsplash License

Tickets Are Available Online

Instead of waiting to purchase tickets when you arrive at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, save time by purchasing them online. General admission tickets let you access both the zoo and The RainForest, a special exhibit that lets you explore jungle animals and their habitats. Prices vary by age, but children under two years old get in for free.
You can also upgrade your tickets to the Total Experience, which includes unlimited use of the train, carousel, and 4D theater, besides admission to the zoo and The RainForest. The Total Experience Pass also saves you cash on popular activities and purchases throughout the zoo. If you’re planning to visit the zoo with 20 or more people, you may also be eligible for a group discount if you make reservations in advance.   Request group tickets online to get this deal.

​Residents Get Free Admission on Mondays

If you live in Hinckley Township or Cuyahoga County, then you’re in luck. On Mondays, you can get free admission to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Simply confirm your residency when you enter the park by showing the attendant your driver’s license or state ID card. You can also use a utility bill with your address and a photo ID to establish your residency.
While you’ll have full access to the zoo, The RainForest will still cost an additional $6 to access on Mondays. It’s also important to note that the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo does not offer residents free admission on holidays that occur on Mondays between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

​Plan a Full Day To Explore the Zoo

Make sure you set aside enough time to enjoy everything the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has to offer.  While the number of people in your group and your pace will determine how long it takes to see each exhibit, most people find they need between two and four hours to see everything in the zoo section.
To plan which exhibits and attractions you want to check out during your visit, download a map of the zoo from the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo website. This way, you can plan the best route to see all of your favorite animals, from elephants and kangaroos to cheetahs and penguins.
If you plan to visit The RainForest on the same day, allocate at least another hour and a half to explore. This 2-acre section of the park features two levels and over 600 animals from jungles around the world. It also includes over 10,000 plants and 15 bird species that fly around an indoor aviary. As the largest rainforest habitat of its kind in the United States, the section even has a 25-foot waterfall, a discovery center, a research hut, a tropical rainstorm exhibit, and an interactive weather booth.

​Bring Your Own Water and Snacks

While the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has plenty of fantastic restaurants and concession stands throughout the park, you can save a little money by bringing your own water and snacks in with you. The zoo allows guests to enter with outside food and beverages as long as they aren’t in glass containers and don’t contain alcohol.
If you get hungry for lunch, you can also grab a quick bite to eat at the food court in the plaza, which features plenty of popular fast-food restaurants. You’ll also find tons of kid-friendly meals at the Wilderness Grill, like chicken tenders, hot dogs, and mac and cheese. For a wider variety of dishes kids and adults will both love, check out the Amazon Cafe in the Rainforest, which offers everything from grilled cheeseburgers and personal pizzas to fried cod po boys and Cleveland hot chicken sandwiches.

​Check the Zoo’s Calendar for Special Events

The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo hosts plenty of fun events and programs throughout the year. To make your visit even more special, plan to buy tickets ahead of time for one of these exciting events. One popular program to look out for is the Inside Tracks Tour. Join staff members on a golf cart to tour the zoo by zipping around from one exhibit to the next. Over 90 minutes, you’ll learn all sorts of fun facts about how the staff care for animals and what steps the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is taking to protect wildlife for future generations.
The zoo also hosts a unique Keeper for a Day program that gives middle school, high school, and college students an opportunity to shadow staff members so they can see what a career working with animals is like firsthand. Keep an eye on the zoo’s online calendar of programs and events to learn more about upcoming activities and purchase tickets.

​Memberships Offer Unlimited Admission

If you just can’t get enough of the animals at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, we have good news. You can purchase a year-long membership to get unlimited admission to the zoo and The RainForest. As a member, you’ll get plenty of other exciting perks, like a free subscription to Z Magazine and discounts on certain events and activities. To learn more about all the awesome benefits that come with being a member of the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, visit the Cleveland Zoological Society’s website.
We hope our team’s list of six important things to know before visiting the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo helps you better enjoy your day. Do you have any advice we didn’t include in this blog post? Drop us a line so we can include your tips in the next article we write about the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.
If you’re planning to visit the zoo yourself and need to get your vehicle in for a routine maintenance service before then, schedule an appointment with our service center online. We’ll make sure your car is in tip-top shape before you leave for your adventure. If you need a new set of wheels to get you there, our friendly auto sales experts are here to help. Browse our online inventory or visit our dealership in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, today.

This article was originally published here: https://www.hondaofclevelandheights.com/blog/what-to-know-before-visiting-the-cleveland-metroparks-zoo/