Years ago, some clever San Antonio resident had the brilliant idea that the old quarry in what was then the north part of town could be easily converted into naturalistic enclosures to house zoo animals. Nowadays, the zoo covers 56 acres, is one of the most respected facilities in the United States and is home to over 3,800 animals from 750 species. It's a great place to spend a few hours or a day, no matter what your age.
Instructions
1. Start your tour at the main gate at 3903 North Saint Mary's and Tuleta in San Antonio's Brackenridge Park. Right next to the entrance is the Lion's Pride Gift Shop, though you might want to hold off going there until after you finish touring, so you won't have to lug your purchases around with you. Turn left and to the right you'll see the pink flamingos. To the left are several different kinds of bears. Pop into the aquarium at the right, and beyond that, the monkeys and the "Butterflies! Caterpillar Flight School" Exhibit. Keep going clockwise, passing the Komodo Dragons, the Gibbon Forest and the Cat Grotto on the left and the Reptile House on the right.
2. Turn left and take note of the Amazonia exhibit on the right before continuing on a bit and turning left at the Africa Is Alive exhibit. The Nanyuki Market to the right is designed to resemble an African street market. It includes a gift shop. Next up along the left are some of the all-time zoo favorites: elephants, zebras and rhinos. Off to the left beyond the rhinos are the Rift Valley and Treetop Lookout. Once you check those out retrace your steps back to the rhinos and continue going clockwise past the lions and tigers on the left and kangaroos on the right. Turn right and walk through Lory Landing, an outdoor aviary for lories. For $1 you can buy a cup of nectar and feed the lories by hand.
3. Exit Lory Landing and turn right, past Cranes of the World and grab a meal at the Riverview Restaurant. You probably were ready to sit down at this point anyway, right? When you finish there retrace your steps and go past the crane and lory exhibits to the Hippo Stand on the right. Make your way past other enclosures down to the Hixon Bird House and Fun Farm Petting Zoo beyond.
4. Retrace your steps to the bird house and turn right where you'll see a variety of other birds, including Bald Eagles on the right and owls on the left. Pass the Conservation Research Center at the left and grab a snack at the Ice Cream Deck just beyond it. Next up are the prairie dogs and the Twilight House to the right and to the left, Kronkosky’s Tiny Tot Nature Spot, a learning, playing and activity center for children under 5. Make a left there and to the left you'll see a fish exhibit and a man-made river where swimming is allowed. To the right of this are the tortoises and beyond them, the campground. And yes, you and your family or group can indeed sign up for an over-night camp-out in the zoo, which includes after-dark tours and special presentations.
5. Proceed clockwise from the campground, and pass the Discovery House and the My Backyard exhibit on the left and go out by the Tiny Tots entrance. Make a hard left and you'll see TOADally, an amphibian exhibit, and beyond it the Education Center, where lectures on nature and wildlife are frequently delivered. Retrace your steps back to My Backyard, turn left, pass Amazonia, make a left at the restrooms, then pass the Reptile House on the right and you'll soon come back to the gift shop and main gates.
6. Ride the legendary San Antonio Zoo Eagle train all around Brackenridge Park. You can catch it at the Eagle Nest Depot, Café and Gift Shop, which is just southeast of the zoo's main gates. The train runs every 15 minutes between 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. A fare is charged.
Tags: your steps, House right, Brackenridge Park, Gift Shop, going clockwise