Wichita Moms Blog has proudly partnered with Sedgwick County Zoo for this post. However, all thoughts and opinions are our own. {Because we LOVE our zoo.}
How do I even begin to talk about how much I love the Sedgwick County Zoo? I suppose it all began when I was a mere young thing myself. I have always enjoyed going to our zoo and was so excited to finally have kids so I could go without worrying that people might think I was just a random adult perusing the penguin exhibit…
We started taking our own kiddo when she was six months old, and she loved it even then. That girl could take one heck of a stroller nap! And now that she’s older, she’s making up for all she missed out on during those leisure nap-taking days.
Here’s my personal rundown and a quick glance at the zoo:
What is the best part of the zoo? Flexibility! The zoo is open every day of the year (with the exception of “prep day” for its signature fundraising event, Zoobilee – which I’ve always thought sounded so fun)! No matter the time of year, if it is a nice enough day, it’s manageable to squeeze in a trip. The zoo is conveniently open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the winter and 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the summer. And another favorite? We always bring a picnic lunch and watch the ducks while we eat.
What makes the zoo a good value? Membership! We splurged a little and bought the yearly zoo membership. We use it WAY more than what we actually paid for it. We love it because we don’t have to turn each trip to the zoo into a marathon to “get our money’s worth”. We can pop in for an hour and see Maelle’s (or my) favorite animals and don’t have to worry about ticket prices. We even keep the stroller in the car just in case the weather allows…and if momma is wearing the right shoes.
When is our favorite time to visit? We love to visit right after school! Since I am a teacher in Wichita, I can be at the zoo by 3:45, and we still have an entire hour and 15 minutes enjoying the outdoors and wildlife. The animals are so incredibly active at that time because they are pretty sure it’s dinner time, and in most cases they are right. We also noticed cooler or potentially rainy days are awesome too as the animals seem to be more playful. We love to grab a box of popcorn for Maelle and a Coke for a tired momma, and we have a perfect little mommy/daughter date. All after a day’s work and daycare pickup!
What are we looking forward to the most about the zoo this summer? We can’t wait for the updated Rainforest habitat. We’re totally pumped to see how it turns out. Maelle loved it when she was tiny, and I’m sure she’ll love it even more with all the updates.
What is your favorite part about our beloved Sedgwick County Zoo?
