Monday, February 13, 2012

Widgets

Fort Worth Zoo ~ Ft. Worth, TX


A Spring Break favorite is always to hit up the zoo.  And we have lots of great zoos to choose from here in Texas.  If you & your family live in the DFW area, then you probably know all about this jewel of a zoo.  But for anyone thinking of traveling to the northern half of the state for Spring Break (or any weekend for that matter), you should definitely make a visit to the Ft. Worth Zoo a priority.  Although, take my advice and drive there....we made the mistake of a 6 hour train ride to get to this zoo before....

The Ft. Worth Zoo is the oldest zoo in Texas, opening in 1909 with less than 10 animals.  Since then, it has grown into a nationally-ranking zoo with over 7,000 native and exotic animals.  Currently, the Ft. Worth Zoo has 12 permanent exhibit areas (The World of Primates, Meerkat Mounds and Texas Wild! being some of our favorites).
The Museum of Living Art (MOLA) opened in 2010 and was a fantastic exhibit for my 9 year old boy (my 10 year old daughter liked it too, but don't let her know I told ya).  The MOLA houses more than 100 amphibian and reptile species, including North America's largest saltwater crocodile, a 15.5 foot Burmese python, and a Komodo Dragon.
The MOLA has art everywhere - from hand-painted murals, to gorgeous animals, that are pieces of art in themselves.
Did you know that Texas is home to more species of animals than any other state in the nation?  And the Texas Wild! exhibit houses most of these, providing visitors a glimpse into every area of Texas - the dusty desert of West Texas to the piney woods and swamps of East Texas.  You can see the WHOLE state in one exhibit - foliage and animals included.  
The zoo is a fantastic place to spend an entire day - it boasts fun attractions for all ages too.  The Texas Wild! Petting Corral, the Tasmanian Tower rock climbing wall, and the Texas Rose Express Train are a few fun activities to try.

While you are in the Fort Worth Area, here are more fun things to try:

Texas Travel Facts on the Ft. Worth Zoo:
Location: 1989 Colonial Parkway Ft. Worth, TX
Hours: Hours very depending on season, typically it is 10 am -5 pm daily (check here to be sure!)
Admission: Adults $12.00 Children (3-12) $9.00 Toddlers (2 & under) Free ** Wednesdays are half-priced!
Parking: $5.00 per vehicle
Recommended Time: 4-6 hours
Good to know: Weekends tend to be busier, Many educational programs with school children are in the weekday mornings, so afternoons tend to be quieter, strollers are fine (available to rent), ice chests are discouraged, but we brought in our own lunch

3 comments:

Impulsive Addict said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE the Fort Worth zoo. I've been many times (as a teacher) but would LOVE to take Emma. She adores animals. This may be something to do when I'm there on Wednesday or Thursday. Let's hope this nasty weather moves away before then.

Macey said...

I love the zoo! I wanna go.

Steve said...

The zoo is one of our favorite hang outs wherever we go. The Fort Worth one looks great, as long as that glass wall between your child and that humongous alligator is solid.