I’m a teacher and summers off mean wondrous long days with my Littles.  Summer also, however, means two months without my normal paycheck.  Trying to keep a four-year-old busy while also attending to a nine-month-old can be a challenge, and it’s easy to hand over a credit card every time an opportunity arises to have us entertained and fed. My favorite way to get us out of the house on the cheap?  The Detroit Zoo!!

Become a Member

I know.  I say cheap and then follow it up by telling you to spend $79.  But if you are a family of four, a single trip with parking would cost you $54.  If you plan to go to the zoo more than once a year, then a membership more than pays for itself.  We go about once a week because, once you’re there, you really don’t have to spend any more money to have a great time.  We typically spend three or four hours per visit and never come close to seeing the whole zoo. One day, we’ll park in the structure or adjacent lot and do the front portion of the zoo; then next time we’ll drive to the back of the lot along 696 and park near the back by the Rackham Fountain Member Entrance (when it’s open) so we can see the other end. Also, they have no restrictions on outside food and there is TONS of picnic space (we just bought a travel blanket from Costco that we LOVE).

If you’re a new parent and your partner has a traditional 9-5 job, consider doing the “Individual Plus Guest” membership. The zoo is only open until 5 pm (except on Wednesdays) and children under 2 are free.  For at least a few years, you can take advantage of a slightly cheaper membership and have the flexibility to take anyone you want!

You have the option to buy online, but memberships are good one year from date of purchase so I would suggest getting or renewing while you’re there.  It doesn’t take long!

Rain or Shine

We love the zoo, and not just in the summer.  In fact, one of the first dates my husband and I went on was to the zoo — in December!  It was the first time I’d been there since I was a kid and I remember how magical the butterfly house felt!  I love seeing that magic light up my preschooler’s eyes now.  Despite calling him Mr. Destructo at times, he is beyond gentle walking amidst these fragile winged friends.  Make sure to bring some coins to toss in the fountain or watch roll down the donation funnels!

I know it’s been a rainy start to summer, but that hasn’t stopped us.  We went a few weeks ago, ate our PB&J sandwiches under the roof of the Railroad Station and then made a dash for the butterfly house.  My four-year-old also loves the attached aviary and has just started taking an interest in Science on a Sphere, located in the same building.  It’s actually really interesting — and gave me a cool, quiet place to nurse!  From there, we made a dash to the Penguinarium, then the Otter House and finally the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Centers.  I thought about trying to get to the Arctic Circle, but we had a baby in tow (she can be such a party pooper!!).  In hot weather, though, this is always our final destination.  Not only is it nice and cool, it’s tied with the butterflies for my favorite part of the zoo.  My baby daughter seems to love it as well — she started kicking her legs and batting her arms as the blue, shimmering lights danced back at her!

Wild Summer Nights

If you love free summer concerts, then this is a must!  We bring blankets and pot-luck-picnic with friends.  The zoo stays open late Wednesdays in July and August specifically for the 6:30-8pm concert, but you’re free to opt animals over music (as my son and his buddy are prone to do) if you’d rather enjoy some zoo-time in the cooler evening hours.  Concerts start July 1 and run until the last Wednesday of August.  You can see the line up here, but the only one I recognize is The Verve Pipe (I probably shouldn’t expect them to sing “Freshmen” if they’re categorizing them as Children’s, right?).  This is free for members, and they offer reduced $6 admission for non-members (but after you pay for parking, your best bet is still a membership).

MemberFest

This is a two-night event for members only (Members last names A-L are asked to come Tuesday, July 21, and Members M-Z are Monday, July 20).  The zoo will close at 5 pm, per usual, but re-open from 6pm-9pm for members only.  A few of the special perks are free train rides and a free carousel ride. My son LOVES the train.  Unfortunately, the lines were so long that we realized the train ride would be pretty much all we’d get to do so we decided to pass.   Instead, we went right after my husband got out of work, ate dinner there, and earned enough for two free merry-go-rounds in the process.  Being able to tour the zoo in the cooler evening hours was probably the best part, especially because some of the animals were more active (and some more frisky, so be warned!)  

For a Little Bit of Money

I’ll occasionally give in and splurge on a train ride (though it’s free for children under 36”).  It’s $3 one-way and you can get on at the Chrysler Main Station near the front entrance or at the African Station in the northwest corner of the zoo (past the lions and rhinos).

At our most recent visit, we kept hearing dino noises while hanging out at the fountain, so we decided to try out Dinosauria.  Turns out I was pretty impressed!  You enter through a dino-bone arched entrance and walk along a misty trail on a self-guided tour of an animatronic Lost World.  Each dino has a fact sheet that older kids were stopping to read, and there’s also an app you can download using the link above (scroll down a bit).  The exhibit is $5 a person (free for under 2), but you can purchase an $8 combo pack to get the trail + a ticket for a simulator ride or 4D movie experience (more on that below).

   ** I do want to give a quick warning.  Two of the dinos were a bit graphic.  My son was not fazed in the least (should that concern me?), but I was a little surprised.  I mean, I wasn’t expecting (nor hoping for) purple singing dinosaurs, but if you have a really sensitive kiddo, I just want you to be prepared!  

So, we walked over to the Wild Adventure Zone (inside the Ford Education Center by the fountain) and chose the ride.  I stayed with the baby while my brother (aren’t uncles great??) and son went on the “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs” simulator.  The kid LOVED it.  He came out babbling about being chased by dinos and asking to go again.  My brother said it was just okay — basically a screen with some big seats that move forward, backward, side to side.  I told Christian we’d put the TV down in the mini-van and hit reverse a few times!  

   **Some Things You Should Know: There is a minimum height requirement of 36”.  Also, the ride lasts 15 minutes and starts on the 30 from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm.  Without any other combo or package, the ride is $5/person.

While they were fleeing prehistoric creatures, my daughter charmed the zoo workers (she really is such a ham).  They told us a bit about the 4D Theater— which is currently showing Sea Monsters and Rio (they say the latter is everyone’s favorite).  It’s a 20-minute show with 3D glasses and it also appeals to touch, sound, and smell (pretty much all the senses except taste, they said).  There is no age/height limitation and children under 2 are free. All others are $5 (again, unless you’ve purchased a package or combo).

   ***Some Things You Should Know: They can not let you in after the show has started, so plan ahead a bit.  Sea Monsters shows on the :15 of every hour and Rio on the :45 (starting at 10 and ending at 4).

Consider buying the ZooMore Package.  For $12, you get 4 tickets for any combination of your choosing (Dinosauria, Rio, Sea Monsters, Ice Age Simulator Ride, the train, or the carousel).  Obviously, you get the most bang for your buck if you stick to the first four, but the tickets do not have to be used on the same day (they are good until the end of October).  So, if you know your four-year-old is going to talk you into at least a few train rides this summer, you can save a few bucks off the dinos.

I would love to do a Family Fun Friday, but our summer weekends get so busy!  If you’ve done this, please comment below and share your experience!!

If You Really Want to Splurge

Ride the train both ways! No, I’m kidding.  The zoo offers some amazing experiences that my husband and I have talked a bit about, but we definitely won’t consider seriously until the kids are at least old enough to really appreciate and remember.  Here are some ideas for a Zoo Bucket List:

— Mingle with the Macaronis:  A one-hour visit with the penguins that offers the chance to feed them.  My best friend used to be OBSESSED with penguins, so I had called the zoo years ago to see if we could do this for her 16th birthday.  

Well, the price was a bit out of my price range (still is, ha!)  ….. $750 for a group of 5.

— Breakfast with the Giraffes:  You eat then you feed them!  This is definitely different than the $5 per piece of food you can buy near the front entrance….. $500 for a group of 5.

— Breakfast with the Butterflies:  A continental breakfast followed by releasing new butterflies into the garden … $300 for a group of 5.

— Animals After Dark: This is the one on my wishlist!!  How cool would it be to spend the night at the zoo?? I hope they’re still doing this in 2020!!

That’s it for now, but the zoo is always expanding!  We still haven’t seen the new Wolf Habitat and we simply can NOT wait for the new Penguin Conservation Center!!

For more info, including year-round events, check out www.detroitzoo.org

What is Your Favorite Thing to Do at the Zoo??