Photo Tour of the Los Angeles Zoo

By: Andrew Bermudez

     On the same day that I visited the LAIR, I also checked out other areas of the LA Zoo. Located in Griffith Park, near Glendale, CA, the LA Zoo is a place teeming with animals. The zoo is very large, but not the largest I've been to; the San Diego Zoo, the San Diego Zoo's Safari Park, and Disney's Animal Kingdom are all larger.

     However, one noteworthy thing to point out is the massive construction effort that is being put into the zoo. In the wake of the LAIR's completion, construction has already started on the zoo's next expansion: Rainforests  of the Americas. No opening date has been listed yet, but I'll have to guess it'll open sometime in either 2014 or 2015.

     In the meantime, there is still a lot to see, including lots of baby animals! Here are some pictures I took.

Awww! Baby Bighorn Sheep!

The tiger cubs were very active.

Awwww! Baby Giant River Otters!

I swear he was posing for the camera.

     If you plan on visiting the Los Angeles Zoo, be sure to visit their website for admission rates, hours, and more. Be sure to pack up a lot though, because the Los Angeles Zoo is a guaranteed all-day excursion. Since I've visited this zoo several times throughout my life, I can share some advice if you plan on visiting.

• The best food in the zoo is up at the Mahale Cafe near the Masai Giraffes and Chimpanzees. It's a long hike to the cafe from the entrance, but it's worth it.
• Since it is near the entrance to the zoo, you may instinctively head to the children's zoo first. However, you should save this area for the early afternoon, when it's less crowded.
• All three of the zoo's attractions (Zoo Tram, Conservation Carousel, LA Zoo Choo Choo) require additional fees. Decide how badly you want to go on the attractions before forking out the three or so dollars needed to ride.
• Save the gift shops for last. It's not a good idea to carry around several souvenirs all day, and the main gift shop, the International Marketplace, is at the entrance and exit.

That's all I have for now. Right now, as I type this, we're already planning another outing. This time, its to San Diego, where I'll be flying high on a brand-new, marine-themed roller coaster. Can you guess where I'm going next?