Norfolk Zoo 4

Our Favorites at the Zoo in Norfolk. Giraffes - I love to see the giraffes interacting with the other animals and reaching up to eat leaves off a tree. The platform is high up so you can see them at eye level. Elephants - The elephants are located around the corner from the giraffes. The elephants are not always out for kids to see. Sometimes they are in their cages, getting seen by a doctor, or if you are lucky, they are out walking around in the open. In my experience, it's hit or miss if the elephants are out to play. Lions - The lion exhibit is well protected, so don't be afraid. The viewing areas are mostly thick glass. Sometimes you will see the lions up close and sometimes they are off sleeping in the sun. Train - If you have small children, you can ride this train in circles for hours and they will think it's the highlight of the zoo. Barn animals - Ohhh wheee they are stinky, but the kids love petting them through the gated fence. Water Spouts - At the entrance and exit of the Norfolk Zoo, there are a few water spouts for the kids to run through and cool off on a hot summer day. This zoo is a perfect size for smaller kids..not too big and not too small...just right! I recommend the annual pass!

The zoo is nice, but small. There are pros and cons to that. You can walk around it even if you only have an hour or two, but I don't think you could make it a whole day event. The staff is friendly. There are minimal food choices and a pretty small gift shop. The animals are entertaining, but there aren't as many as you'd see at a zoo in a larger city. They do offer a military discount, but it's only $1 off. Overall, worth a visit, but there are other more exciting options in town.

The zoo is a great outing for you and your kids. It's small enough to see everything in about 2 hours. There is a small water splash garden at the beginning. It's great for hot days but be aware if you don't want your kids getting wet. My son loved the train that goes around the zoo. It costs about a dollar and it's fun for little kids. We usually started to the left and saw the Asian animals, then the giraffes, zebras, elephants, then the lions, then went over to the birds and reptiles. I highly recommend their yearly member pass. We got a lot of uses out of the zoo pass.