The zoo is a great family outing any time of the year. Whether you visit your hometown zoo or take a quick trip to a neighboring community to experience their zoo, it's an adventure that can appeal to families with kids of all ages. We will share below some close to the New River Valley, but first how do you keep your visit from being the "same old walk around the animal exhibits?" By doing a little pre-work to make your zoo visit event more interactive.
Here are a few ideas for helping your kids experience the zoo in a different way. Try something different each time you visit or assign one child (or a team if you are taking a group) to each of the tasks and see what new things you can learn.
Map It! Print out a world map or maps by continent (you can find several free map options here). Use a clip board and colored pencils and identify the countries that each animal is from as you move through the exhibits. At the end of your trip, take a look at the world tour that the animals helped you take!
From A to Zoo! Using a small notebook, list all the letters of the alphabet, A to Z, and use that to guide a scavenger hunt throughout the zoo. Will you be able to find an animal (or maybe something else in the zoo) that begins with every letter of the alphabet?
What Would the Animals Tell You? Use a notebook again to play "reporter" in the zoo. After learning about a specific animal from the educational displays, ask your kids to imagine how the animals would answer some basic interview questions about their background and even their life in the zoo. Encourage them to write down some notes and then create a story (or even a newspaper) about the animal. Be sure to take some pictures to accompany your story!
Whichever activity you choose, enjoy your visit to the zoo!
Asheboro, North Carolina
World's largest natural habitat zoo. At the North Carolina Zoo, connect with wildlife from two different continents as you explore 500 acres of animals in natural habitats. Walk from Africa’s grasslands to North America’s Arctic coast. Escape to the forests and streams of North Carolina’s beautiful Central Piedmont. Located at the foot of the Uwharrie Mountains, the Zoo is just outside the charming southern town of Asheboro. Discover more than 1,700 animals and 52,000 plants along five miles of shaded pathways.
4401 Zoo Parkway, Asheboro, N.C., 27205
Max Meadows, Virginia
Fort Chiswell Animal Park Facebook
Fort Chiswell Animal Park is a 45 acre zoo with interactive safari tours (bus) and a walk through petting zoo. This is your chance to get up-close and personal with animals from around the globe including Puff the Camel, Zelda the Zebra, and many more. If you enjoy animal encounters, don't miss this unique opportunity!
569 Red Hollow Road, Max Meadows, VA 24360
Natural Bridge, Virginia
Located in scenic Natural Bridge, Virginia the 180-acre park is home to over 1,000 animals from 6 continents. Drive along 3 miles of road in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. With the Blue Ridge Mountains as your backdrop, animals of all sizes, shapes and colors approach your vehicle in search of a tasty bucket of feed! In addition to the Safari Drive-Thru, stroll along the pathways in the Safari Village where you will find a wide variety of exhibits everyone can enjoy!
229 Safari Lane, Natural Bridge, VA 24578
Norfolk, Virginia
The Virginia Zoological Park is a 53-acre zoo located adjacent to Lafayette Park in Norfolk, Virginia. Home to more than 700 animals representing over 150 species.
3500 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23504
Roanoke, Virginia
Founded in 1952, Mill Mountain Zoo is an unique outdoor family friendly destination located on top of Mill Mountain that offers 360-degree views of the Roanoke Valley. Guests can experience animals in an environment similar to their native habitat and learn about our conservation efforts with endangered, vulnerable and threatened species around the world. Mill Mountain Zoo provides refuge to animals that are non-releasable due to injury, captive birth, and owner-relinquishment. There are approximately 130 animals at the zoo.
Mill Mountain Spur Road, Roanoke VA 24014
Washington, D.C.
Smithsonian National Zoological Park Facebook
Founded in 1889, the Smithsonian's National Zoo sits on 163 acres in the heart of Washington, D.C.’s Rock Creek Park and is home to 2,700 animals representing more than 390 species.
The Zoo’s commitment to conservation, research, and education also extends to the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, located in nearby Front Royal, Virginia. SCBI scientists and animal care experts conduct veterinary and reproductive research to save wildlife and habitats for some of the world’s most endangered animals on the sprawling 3,200-acre campus.
3001 Connecticut Avenue, Washington, D.C., 20008
You can find more guides on our website at nrv.macaronikid.com/guides. If you know of a zoo we missed that is close to our area, please let us know by emailing mackidnewrivervalley@macaronikid.com.
