Being avid animal lovers we enjoy nothing more than an opportunity to spend time checking them out. Being South Florida locals, that normally means dodging alligators in the local pond, or staying away from giant iguanas. Whenever we need a break for our daily lives and we are looking for things to do in Miami, we love to take a trip down to Zoo Miami. If you’re visiting South Florida and looking for family friendly fun, or just different types of animals than the ones you find on South Beach, we strongly suggest a visit to Zoo Miami.
Miami Zoo hosts over 2000 animals in 100 exhibits, all spread along over 3 miles of paved walkways. There are several major features of the zoo that make it stand out as one of our favorite zoos. first of all this place is huge! Because Zoo Miami is located in an area of the county that was once only sparsely populated, they have a massive land allocation that allows them to feature animals in large habitats with plenty of room to roam. This means they have a much better quality of life than animals in smaller zoos.
This lion has plenty of room to roam
Secondly, the zoo has a really large variety of animals on display. Due to South Florida’s climate, the zoo can support habitats from areas of the world such as Africa, Asia, Australia, and South America. This gives us the opportunity to see anything from a white rhino to a Siberian tiger.
White Rhino
Tiger relaxing in the shade
The Zoo is not just about mammals though, there’s also a massive display and commitment to supporting endangered bird populations. The zoo’s Wings of Asia aviary is the largest of its kind in the western hemisphere and supports over 70 species of exotic birds. On top of that Zoo Miami is a large player in the conservation of large birds of prey such as the Andean Condor and the Central American Harpy Eagle.
Harpy Eagle Up Close
In addition to the animal exhibits the zoo also has several playgrounds to keep children entertained, and rotating exhibits such as National Geographic’s Critter Cam display. We’re also excited to see that Zoo Miami is going to focus on the local environment and conservation by opening a dedicated Florida Everglades display in 2014! We have annual passes to the zoo, so we pop down there whenever we need a quick animal pick me up! It really is one of our favorite things to do in Miami, and is great fun for the whole family.
If you are looking for Zoo Miami Coupons, take a look at the Smart Destinations Go Card. You can build a card with Miami’s Top Attractions or select from their pre-built cards to save up to 55% off top attractions, including Zoo Miami. Plus, follow our link below and enter the coupon code TAKEFIVE to take an additional 5% off the already great price.
We included an animal photo gallery with some photos of some of the animals you can expect to see on your trip to Zoo Miami! Zoo Miami (originally Miami Metro Zoo) is open 365 Days a year and located in the southern portion of Miami-Dade County. For more information on the zoo, take a look at the Zoo Miami website here.
Zoo Miami Address:
1 Zoo Boulevard
12400 SW 152 Street
Miami, FL 33177
Zoo Miami Hours: 365 Days a Year from 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
