One of our favorite family activities is to go to the zoo. It’s something we have both done since we were children and it’s an activity we try to keep up with Olivia as well! The zoo is a great place to learn about animals from your region as well as animals from around the world. Some zoos even have interactive exhibits for guests to encounter animals up close and personal. We don’t have a zoo in our town, however there are four within about an hour drive of us, so we have quite a selection to choose from. Of the zoos in our area, our favorite is the Oakland Zoo. Here is a recap of our recent visit to the Oakland Zoo.
Ticket Reservations:
As of the time of writing this, the Oakland Zoo is requiring visitors to reserve tickets and an arrival time slot in advance. Arrival windows are spaced every 30 minutes and the number of slots per arrival window is limited due to the pandemic. The reservation process is user-friendly for both members and non-members alike. Once you’ve purchased your tickets, you will receive an email from the zoo with your tickets. The zoo recommends printing your tickets at home, however they can also scan the barcode in your ticket email upon arrival at the zoo.
Getting There:
The Oakland Zoo is just over an hour drive for us. This works out great because we can plan our drive and our zoo arrival window based on Olivia’s nap schedule. Once mom and dad grab their favorite cup of Dutch Bros coffee, it’s off to the zoo! The zoo itself is located just off Interstate 580 on the east side of Oakland.
Parking:
Parking at the zoo is first come first served, however there are several parking lots and we have never had an issue getting a spot. Parking passes are available for purchase for $10/vehicle. If you have a zoo membership, parking passes are available at no charge. On busy days, there will be attendants roaming the parking lot assisting with directing traffic. We ended up parking a moderate distance from the main gate, however this does make navigating to the exit after a long day at the zoo a bit easier.
Animals:
The Oakland Zoo is home to a wide range of mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and birds. The zoo is split into five regions, based primarily on animals’ habitats and geographic regions: California Trail, African Savanna, Tropical Rainforest, Wild Australia, and The Children’s Zoo. The African Savanna, Tropical Rainforest, and Children’s Zoo are all accessible on foot, however the California Trail is only accessible by gondola, and a train takes visitors through the Wild Australia exhibit. On the day we visited, most of the animals were out, active, and very playful. Two of our favorites to visit at the zoo are the elephants and giraffes. Both were out in full force during our visit!
Dining:
There are two sit-down dining options for folks at the zoo: Tuskers Grill and The Landing Cafe. Tuskers is located just inside the main gate near the flamingos. Tuskers offers hot dogs, hamburgers, and chicken, as well as a few vegetarian options. We’ve eaten there on a previous trip to the zoo and enjoyed our meal. We decided to eat at The Landing Cafe on this trip. The Landing Cafe is located in the California Trail region of the zoo at the top of the gondola. The views from the restaurant are beautiful. It was a bluebird day and we were able to see all around the San Francisco Bay. The Landing Cafe offers pizza, sandwiches, and fries (including multiple vegetarian options). We both ordered the spicy chicken club (delicious!) and Olivia had a slice of cheese pizza as large as her.
