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Memphis Zoo in Overton Park (2000 Galloway)
901-276-9453
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
$13 adults, $8 children, Free two and under

A family membership ($79) to the zoo is a wonderful thing to have. On average, I take my children to the zoo two or three times a month. That might seem excessive to some of you, but neither of my children are in school and we live two minutes from Overton Park. If your family plans to attend the zoo more than two or three times this year, I strongly suggest getting a membership.

Enjoying the zoo in the heat of summer takes a little planning. Because we go so often, I typically don’t plan to stay more than two hours, which means we don’t see every animal every time, but nobody gets heatstroke either.

Try to arrive just before the zoo opens — usually around 8:55 a.m. I don’t have to pay for parking, because we are members (save: $3). To get to the best parking spots, drive to the front of the zoo, turn left and park in the lot that sits to the side of the zoo entrance. There are about 30 spots tucked away and most people don’t know about it, so it is rarely filled up. Plus in the mornings there is a bit of shade, so the car isn’t at 500 degrees when you leave.

If you want to do the zoo in less than two hours, it is best to pick one of three “loops” rather than try to speed through the whole place. Here are the three loops I rotate between:

• Loop 1: Cat Country, Penguin Rock, Once Upon a Farm, Aquarium, Swans, Dragon’s Lair, Herpetarium
• Loop 2: Playground, Hippos, Bonobos, Giant Pandas (enter through the exit), Primate Canyon, World of Waterfowl, Animals of the Night, Baboon Valley
• Loop 3: Playground, Giant Pandas, Elephants, Rhinos, Northwest Passage, African Hoofed Animals, Zebras, Giraffes, Butterflies

Insider tips for Loop Number 1:

• Plan to linger in Cat Country, there are more animals per square foot in this exhibit than in any other. There is a cave with steps just before you get to the Pumas and just after the Jaguars. If you are lucky, you can stand at the window and see Pumas lying right below you. Ask your children to spot the Red Panda that usually hides way up in the trees.
• Penguin Rock is lame. There are never any penguins there and it is sort of sad — with warnings about penguins who’ve died from eating things visitors threw at them. Take a detour into the tropical bird house instead. Also peek into the nursery, located at the far end of “rides” section to the left of the ticket booth. They often keep baby animals on view there.
• Don’t miss the Prairie Dog bubbles, children love sticking there heads in the bubbles and getting a Prairie Dog view. In the mornings the space can be kind of buggy, so be careful. There are lots of activities going on at the farm, we’ve seen sheep being sheared and chickens running loose. For any children excited about farm animals, this is a great exhibit. The rocking chairs outside of the expo building are a great space to stop and relax or have snack.
• The aquarium is quaint, but dark and it smells a little bit. Still they have some interesting fish
• There are picnic tables near the swans and the Asian garden, which are usually not crowded I have yet to see the Komodo dragons, but I hear they are pretty cool.
• The Herpetarium is awesome. Frogs and snakes and alligators. This is always a big hit with my children and there are some great mosaics on the floor.
• You end up right by the playground, if you are up for it.

There is some overlap in the loops. I’ll give you more insider tips on the other loops in later posts. Be flexible: you’ll find your children want to see specific animals over and over again. My two kidlets nearly always need to see the 8 minute Panda film that shows in the China theater. And now that the butterfly exhibit ($1 for nonmembers, opens at 10 a.m.) is open, we always include a quick trip in each of our loops.My kids love the playground at the zoo. It is right next to Cat House Cafe, but usually it gets pretty crowded around lunchtime, when most folks set up to enjoy their lunches. You may not want to waste time at the playground, but if it something you children are interested in, head there right away. It will be empty and they can play to their hearts content.

The zoo is a terrific opportunity to teach your children. Go ahead, read the signs and then when you tell your children the fun facts you learn, they’ll think you are the smartest human being on earth. I’ve used the zoo to improve their counting, go over colors, and discuss geography. I’m looking forward to when the little buggers can read and quiz me on animal facts.