I love the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. But damn, Cincinnati is hot and humid during summer that visiting the zoo could become unbearable. I was there in the afternoon in mid-July and, I admit, I was pretty excited to walk around the 30 hectares of open space and huge facilities. However, after an hour or so of walking, the terrible humidity just killed my enthusiasm. I saw people fanning themselves with the map guide that was provided at the help desk. Consuming bottles of water did not help much, but it provided temporary relief. The working solution to beat the heat was to stop once in a while, find a shade, and rest. Good thing is, there are plenty of seats around the zoo.
Others preferred to just stay indoors. I saw a group of people who just sat on the floor in one of the indoor exhibits with air conditioner running high. But staying indoors was not an option for me because I did not want to miss the best parts of the outdoor exhibits.
What attracted me to the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden is its history. Opened in 1875, it is the second-oldest zoo in the United States. Philadelphia Zoo is the oldest, which opened on July 1, 1874. Cincinnati Zoo was founded by German immigrants.
This Reptile House is the oldest zoo building in the United States, dating from 1875.
This is a walk bridge from the parking lot to the zoo entrance.
The zoo is home to a Cougar, White tiger, Malayan tiger, and Snow leopard.
It has an Africa exhibit that is the largest animal exhibit in its history.
In the Gorilla World exhibit, there’s the Western lowland gorilla, Black-and-white colobus, and Crested mona monkey.
Find the Two-toed sloth, Blue-and-yellow macaw, and Boa constrictor at the Discovery Forest area.
So, when is the best time to visit Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden? Do it when the weather is cooler. End of summer/early fall, or during spring season — these would be the best times to walk around the zoo.
Check out these 360-degree photos I took of the Wildlife Canyon:
Address.
3400 Vine St, Cincinnati, Ohio 45220
Google Map Link
Museum Hours
10 AM to 6 PM, Daily
How Much is the Entrance Fee
Adults: Online $26 (Gate $28)
Child/Senior: Online $21 (Gate $22)
Other Attractions Nearby
1. Purple People Bridge From Kentucky to Ohio
2. Serpentine Wall in Cincinnati
4. Kentucky’s Newport Aquarium
See more travel search tags: Ohio Travel, Ohio, Western Ohio, Travel Western Ohio, Botanical Garden, Cincinnati Zoo, Ohio Attractions, Things to See in Ohio, Unique Things To See in Ohio, Places to See in Ohio, Must See in Cincinnati
