Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Walk on the Wild Side
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I love the L.A. Zoo, and I feel that the animals are well treated and the facilities are being improved all the time. The new gorillas exhibit is amazing, you feel right up close. I've also been four inches away from a red ape (with glass, of course). I do often feel like I'm wandering around the backs of enclosures, or on some sort of service road, but I guess that's due to the fact that most of the space is devoted to the comfort of animals. There's a great tip sheet for doing the zoo with kids at http://tinyurl.com/7ldacp.
Reviewed by: Linda from on Jan 20 2009
I read a lot of the reviews before going to the zoo today. Despite all of the bad reviews, we still decided to go to the zoo. I am so glad I didn't listen to what other people said about it. My husband, me and my 15 month old son all had so much fun. There were tons of animals and it is a very beautiful place. The price is great and I will definately be going again. I will definately recommend it to others you have never been before. The only complaint I have is that the food is very expensive. Other than that, it is a fun place to take the family and well worth the $12 admission.
Reviewed by: tanya from on Nov 08 2008
The zoo at first looked fun but after i was like this sucked big time. The alligator didnt even look real and you can not even see the gorillas. The only thing that I liked was food.
Reviewed by: Lili from on Jul 01 2008
We are from Reno, Nevada, and were looking for a treat while in Southern California to reward our animal-loving 10 year old for a great report card. We've done the amusement parks in the past, were looking for something more... enriching. This Zoo was not "all that". Be advised that it is hilly and there is a lot of walking involved (we are not afraid of some good old-fashioned walking, but this seemed extensive). Although the park provides a tram, it costs, if memory serves, $4 extra per person. It only cost $25 to get in for three of us, they expected us to pay $12 more for shuttling? Why not charge all visitors a little more and include the tram service??? Also, they repeated various animals throughout the park, it seemed like their stock was low so they were using "fillers", and there were still a number of empty cages. The map provided was pretty vague regarding which animals were where, so instead of customizing our experience based on our interests, we had to go down every corridor 'just in case'.
Reviewed by: HeatherR from on Apr 29 2008
If your ever in the area and your on a budget with the kids this is the place to go. It was $10 for aduts, don't remember how much for kids but it should be a few bucks off.
Reviewed by: PhilN from on Oct 16 2007
The zoo is much smaller than I would have expected. The animal's habitats are very small and its kind of sad how little space they have to live in. My kids enjoyed it, but they are just toddlers and since the exhibits are so small, you can see the animals pretty well. The San Diego zoo and Oregon zoo are both much better.
Reviewed by: Brandi from on Jun 30 2007
I just went to the zoo this saturday. I generally love the zoo. I have to say though that when I needed help no one would step forward. My little cousin broke her sandal. It was hot and she couldn't walk on the hot conrete so I carried her. I tried to ask 2 staff people for help. One told me to call security and the other dismissed me outright. I finally found a Public Safety Police Officer named Atkins who told me I would have to buy a stroller for the 7 year old. I was on my way out of the park and just wanted help from one of the many carts driving around the park to drive us to our car in the lot. He offered no alternatives. I was dismayed. What is public safety if not helping a child get back to her car safely.
Reviewed by: A Yahoo! Contributor from on Jun 17 2007
I have never been to a more dirty and stinky zoo in my life. i have been to a lot of smaller zoos that were nicer than this. Maybe my expectations were too high but i will never go back. The animals lived in small and dirty enclosures. The grounds were very dirty and stinky. I just couldn't believe what I saw. I would not recommend this zoo to anyone
Reviewed by: A Yahoo! Contributor from on Apr 14 2006
Los angeles zoo is a must the children zoo is wonderful and your kids will love it!! take the train and see it in confort and don't miss any thing stay until it closes!
Reviewed by: Daniel from on Sep 26 2005
I went there with for one of my drawing classes. I was a little disappointed with how many animals were not there. Or they were not out for the people to see. I do look forward to seeing the gorilla attraction though.
Reviewed by: jutter from on Sep 25 2005
Walk on the Wild Side
Back to Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens
I love the L.A. Zoo, and I feel that the animals are well treated and the facilities are being improved all the time. The new gorillas exhibit is amazing, you feel right up close. I've also been four inches away from a red ape (with glass, of course). I do often feel like I'm wandering around the backs of enclosures, or on some sort of service road, but I guess that's due to the fact that most of the space is devoted to the comfort of animals. There's a great tip sheet for doing the zoo with kids at http://tinyurl.com/7ldacp.
Reviewed by: Linda from on Jan 20 2009
I read a lot of the reviews before going to the zoo today. Despite all of the bad reviews, we still decided to go to the zoo. I am so glad I didn't listen to what other people said about it. My husband, me and my 15 month old son all had so much fun. There were tons of animals and it is a very beautiful place. The price is great and I will definately be going again. I will definately recommend it to others you have never been before. The only complaint I have is that the food is very expensive. Other than that, it is a fun place to take the family and well worth the $12 admission.
Reviewed by: tanya from on Nov 08 2008
The zoo at first looked fun but after i was like this sucked big time. The alligator didnt even look real and you can not even see the gorillas. The only thing that I liked was food.
Reviewed by: Lili from on Jul 01 2008
We are from Reno, Nevada, and were looking for a treat while in Southern California to reward our animal-loving 10 year old for a great report card. We've done the amusement parks in the past, were looking for something more... enriching. This Zoo was not "all that". Be advised that it is hilly and there is a lot of walking involved (we are not afraid of some good old-fashioned walking, but this seemed extensive). Although the park provides a tram, it costs, if memory serves, $4 extra per person. It only cost $25 to get in for three of us, they expected us to pay $12 more for shuttling? Why not charge all visitors a little more and include the tram service??? Also, they repeated various animals throughout the park, it seemed like their stock was low so they were using "fillers", and there were still a number of empty cages. The map provided was pretty vague regarding which animals were where, so instead of customizing our experience based on our interests, we had to go down every corridor 'just in case'.
Reviewed by: HeatherR from on Apr 29 2008
If your ever in the area and your on a budget with the kids this is the place to go. It was $10 for aduts, don't remember how much for kids but it should be a few bucks off.
Reviewed by: PhilN from on Oct 16 2007
The zoo is much smaller than I would have expected. The animal's habitats are very small and its kind of sad how little space they have to live in. My kids enjoyed it, but they are just toddlers and since the exhibits are so small, you can see the animals pretty well. The San Diego zoo and Oregon zoo are both much better.
Reviewed by: Brandi from on Jun 30 2007
I just went to the zoo this saturday. I generally love the zoo. I have to say though that when I needed help no one would step forward. My little cousin broke her sandal. It was hot and she couldn't walk on the hot conrete so I carried her. I tried to ask 2 staff people for help. One told me to call security and the other dismissed me outright. I finally found a Public Safety Police Officer named Atkins who told me I would have to buy a stroller for the 7 year old. I was on my way out of the park and just wanted help from one of the many carts driving around the park to drive us to our car in the lot. He offered no alternatives. I was dismayed. What is public safety if not helping a child get back to her car safely.
Reviewed by: A Yahoo! Contributor from on Jun 17 2007
I have never been to a more dirty and stinky zoo in my life. i have been to a lot of smaller zoos that were nicer than this. Maybe my expectations were too high but i will never go back. The animals lived in small and dirty enclosures. The grounds were very dirty and stinky. I just couldn't believe what I saw. I would not recommend this zoo to anyone
Reviewed by: A Yahoo! Contributor from on Apr 14 2006
Los angeles zoo is a must the children zoo is wonderful and your kids will love it!! take the train and see it in confort and don't miss any thing stay until it closes!
Reviewed by: Daniel from on Sep 26 2005
I went there with for one of my drawing classes. I was a little disappointed with how many animals were not there. Or they were not out for the people to see. I do look forward to seeing the gorilla attraction though.
Reviewed by: jutter from on Sep 25 2005
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