On your vacation stop at the Oklahoma City zoo and see one of the top rated zoos in the world.  Not only is it a zoo it is also a botanical garden to please anyone that enters.

There are many things to do at the zoo.  Take a look at some of them:
Safari Tram

Operates daily from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Cost:  $3.50 adults, $2.50 children ages 3-11.  Children two and under ride free.
Enjoy a narrated ride through the south and western halves of the Zoo with stops in the southwest corner across from the Mexican gray wolves and at Lion Overlook. The main tram station is located west of the main entrance. Guests may embark and disembark at the station located at the main entrance with a total ride time of approximately 25 minutes. The Safari Tram will operate weather permitting.

Centennial Choo-Choo TrainCentennial Choo Choo (runs seasonally)

Cost:  $2.00 for adults, $1.00 for children ages 3-11.  Children two and under ride free.  Prices are per person, per ride.
This 1863 replica locomotive driven train tours guests though the hoofed stock in the southwest portion of the Zoo. A matching grant from the Oklahoma Centennial Commission put this exciting attraction in motion!

Swan Paddleboats (seasonal)

Cost:  $8.00 per boat, per 30-minute ride.
Guests can paddle their way along Zoo Lake in these two person Swan Paddleboats. Tickets can be purchased at the Lakeside Café next to the dock. The paddleboats will operate weather permitting when wind speed is under 15 MPH.  Guests under the age of 16 must ride the Swan Paddleboats with an adult.

Endangered Species CarouselEndangered Species Carousel

Operates daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Cost:  $2.00 per person, per ride.
Kids and adults alike will enjoy taking a spin on this handcrafted, one-of-a-kind carousel. Made from basswood, the carousel displays 42 exotic animals. Overlooking Zoo Lake, the Endangered Species Carousel is in the Adventure Zone on the east side of the Zoo. Guests must be 42 inches in height to ride alone (weather permitting).

The Sea Lion Show – (seasonal)

Cost:  $2.00 for adults, $1.00 for children ages 3-11.  Children ages two and under are admitted free.
The Sea Lion Show features California sea lions in an exciting and educational show at the Noble Aquatic Center Performance Arena.

April-Labor Day

* Thursday & Friday: 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.
* Saturday: 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
* Sunday: 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

While you are at the zoo you will see a huge variety of different species.  The Asian Elephants, in their new habitat, will be a special treat.    Another special treat will be the Butterfly Garden.  The beauty of the wide variety of butterflies will certainly catch your eye.  Cat Forest/Lion Overlook provides adventurers with a closer look into the lives of lions, tigers, snow leopards and a variety of wild cats in habitats similar to their native homes.
This 4.2 acre habitat features nine species of cats and more than 4,000 plants replicating the animals’ native environments.   Take a trip through the tropical rain-forest and see the gorillas, orangutans and chimpanzeesthat live there.

With over 80 exhibits, you are sure to find an ectothermic, or cold-blooded, reptile or amphibian that will fascinate you. From the Giant Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus) to the tiny but beautiful Poison Dart Frogs, children and adults alike will be amazed at the diversity of reptiles and amphibians not only around the world but here on exhibit at the Oklahoma City Zoo.

You can see the locally found Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) or the exotic, large, and impressive Egyptian Cobras (Naja haje). If amphibians are your interest you can view European Fire Salamanders (Salamandra salamandra bernardezi) with their bright yellow coloration or the large Smokey Jungle Frog (Leptodactylus pentadactylus). You can also find Beaded Lizards (Heloderma horridum ssp) and Gila Monsters (Heloderma suspectum ssp), the only venomous lizards in the world. Either way, you will find a diversity not only of species but forms, habits, and habitats to enhance your learning experience at the Herpetarium.

Check out all the different species that live in the Island environments from the Caribbean to Madagascar show off their beauty and uniqueness.  You will have a chance to see giant Galapagos Tortoises (Geochelone nigra), Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber), Abaco Island Boa Constrictor (Epicrates exsul) and the rather robust San Esteban Island Chuckwalla lizard (Sauromalus varius).  Along with seeing the species you will learn about the ecosystems that they live in and how nature balances things to make their existence possible.

You will also get to see animals native to Oklahoma such as black bears, cougars, bobcats, river otters, southern flying squirrels, turkey vultures, western diamondback rattlesnakes, roadrunners, Mexican grey wolves and many more!

In the Pachyderm area you will be able to get to know a little about the Indian and Black rhinos, watch pygmy hippos swim in their pond and listen to a variety of wild birds from around the world.

From the many regions of the world, see more than 1,500 aquatic creatures – California sea lions, sharks, kaleidoscopic coral and much more.

Check out the Childrens Zoo area too.  This is a special place that will give your children memories of joy for years to come.

Hours
The Zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and all guests must leave Zoo grounds at closing time.

The Zoo is closed only on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Zoo Admission
* Adults (ages 12-64): $8
* Kids (ages 3-11): $5
* Seniors (ages 65 and older): $5
* Children two and under: FREE
* Military Discount: The Zoo is proud to offer a 50% discount to members of the military, their spouse and up to five dependents.
* Parking is free
* Same day re-entry allowed
* The Zoo accepts major credit cards, traveler’s checks and personal checks
* Group rates begin with groups of 15 or more.  See “Group Information” page for group rates and pricing
* Please note that admission rates are not discounted late in the day.

Pets, roller blades, bicycles, skates, wheeled shoes, frisbees, glass containers, alcoholic beverages and straws are not permitted on Zoo grounds. Please do not share your own food with the animals or chase the free-ranging animals.
State law prohibits smoking inside zoological parks. Please help us abide by this law by refraining from smoking within the Zoo and the parking lot.

Physical Address (Ideal for GPS Directions):
2000 Remington Place
Oklahoma City, OK 73111

Mailing Address:
2101 NE 50th St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73111

Phone Number: 
(405) 424-3344

Oklahoma City Zoo – Oklahoma City, OK is a post from: Oklahoma Tourism

On April 19, 1995, Oklahoma as well as the country, was rocked when the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was destroyed in a bombing. Today the largest memorial of its type in the US is located at the site of the bombing. The Memorial was erected to honor not only the victims who perished in the bombing, but also the survivors and the rescuers.

The National Memorial was established through the Oklahoma City National Memorial Act of 1997. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today the Oklahoma City National Memorial Foundation administers the memorial while the National Park Service assists with interpretation. Several different segments comprise the Memorial, which spans 3.3 acres. The Memorial is open daily, 24 hours per day.

One of the most visited segments of the Memorial is The Gates of Time. Dual bronze gates signify the entrance to the Outdoor Memorial and are stamped with the time that destruction of the site occurred, 9:02 a.m. The Reflecting Pool, which consists of a slab of highly polished black granite over which a slight layer of water flows, is situated where Fifth Street once ran.

Perhaps one of the most poignant parts of the Memorial is the Field of Empty Chairs. 168 chairs were hand-crafted from bronze, stone and glass to represent the 168 lives that were lost in the bombing. Arranged in nine rows, the chairs are meant to represent not only the empty chairs that will forever remain at the tables of the victims’ families but also the nine floors of the building that were destroyed. 19 much smaller chairs represent the nineteen children who were tragically killed in the blast. Three of the larger chairs also contain the names of unborn children who were killed in the bombing. Their names are listed below those of their mothers. Flowers are frequently left at the Field of Chairs.

The Survivors’ Wall represents the only original portion of the Murrah Building that is left remaining. The names of more than 800 people who survived the bombing are inscribed on the wall. On the north side of the Memorial, visitors will find the Survivor Tree, an American elm; that was the only tree to survive the blast. Records indicate the tree is more than one hundred years old. Oklahoma City National Memorial-Memorial to the Lost

On April 19, 1995, Oklahoma as well as the country, was rocked when the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was destroyed in a bombing. Today the largest memorial of its type in the US is located at the site of the bombing. The Memorial was erected to honor not only the victims who perished in the bombing, but also the survivors and the rescuers.

The National Memorial was established through the Oklahoma City National Memorial Act of 1997. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today the Oklahoma City National Memorial Foundation administers the memorial while the National Park Service assists with interpretation. Several different segments comprise the Memorial, which spans 3.3 acres. The Memorial is open daily, 24 hours per day.

One of the most visited segments of the Memorial is The Gates of Time. Dual bronze gates signify the entrance to the Outdoor Memorial and are stamped with the time that destruction of the site occurred, 9:02 a.m. The Reflecting Pool, which consists of a slab of highly polished black granite over which a slight layer of water flows, is situated where Fifth Street once ran.

Perhaps one of the most poignant parts of the Memorial is the Field of Empty Chairs. 168 chairs were hand-crafted from bronze, stone and glass to represent the 168 lives that were lost in the bombing. Arranged in nine rows, the chairs are meant to represent not only the empty chairs that will forever remain at the tables of the victims’ families but also the nine floors of the building that were destroyed. 19 much smaller chairs represent the nineteen children who were tragically killed in the blast. Three of the larger chairs also contain the names of unborn children who were killed in the bombing. Their names are listed below those of their mothers. Flowers are frequently left at the Field of Chairs.

The Survivors’ Wall represents the only original portion of the Murrah Building that is left remaining. The names of more than 800 people who survived the bombing are inscribed on the wall. On the north side of the Memorial, visitors will find the Survivor Tree, an American elm; that was the only tree to survive the blast. Records indicate the tree is more than one hundred years old.

National Memorial to the Lost – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is a post from: Oklahoma Tourism

 The state of Oklahoma is well known for a long and varied western heritage. That heritage is memorialized forever in the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, located in Oklahoma City. Visitors have the opportunity to encounter more than 28,000 American Indian and Western artifacts and art works as well as an extensive collection of western and rodeo exhibits. Established in 1955, the museum was originally constructed in order to honor the west and the era of the cowboy. Today, the museum is one of the premier facilities in the U.S. dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the American Western heritage.

 Covering more than 200,000 square feet, the museum contains an impressive collection of western art. In total, there are more than 2,000 works of art contained in the museum. The works of art include portraits, landscapes, sculptures and still lifes; all of which were created under a western theme. Just a few of the artists whose work is contained in the museum include Solon Borglum, Albert Bierstadt, Frederic Remington, Charles Marion Russell, Robert Lougheed, Charles Schreyvogel and Thurmond Restuettenhall.

 A variety of different galleries comprise the museum. In the American Cowboy Gallery visitors have an opportunity to learn more about the life as well as the traditions of a working ranch and the cowboy. The American Rodeo Gallery offers a variety of different displays, all of which are contained inside a 1950s style rodeo arena. Inside the Native American Gallery, visitors will have the opportunity to view a wide range of everyday objects that were commonly used by Western tribes. More than one hundred types of firearms are on display in the Weitzenhoffer Gallery of Fine American Firearms, including firearms produced by Sharps, Smith & Wesson, Remington, Colt, Marlin and Winchester.

 In addition to the various different galleries, the museum is also home to Prosperity Junction. This 14,000 square feet display is a replica of an authentic Western prairie town as it would have appeared at the turn of the century. Visitors will have the chance to take a stroll down the historic streets, look inside period style stores and even walk through completely furnished buildings. Once a year historical figures make the town come alive during the annual open house held during the holiday season.

 The area around the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is full of family activities including Remington Park, the Omniplex Science Museum and the Oklahoma City Zoo.  These are great family attractions and you’ll want to find hotel accommodations near this area.  Great rates can be found on HotelsCombined.com.

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is a post from: Oklahoma Tourism

Oklahoma Vacation is a post from: Oklahoma Tourism