Disclosure: We were invited on a multi-day media trip. Entry fees were included in our stay. Regardless, all opinions are my own.

Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo

A couple weeks ago my family and I visited Fort Wayne, Indiana. While less than three hours away from the Cleveland, Ohio area, we had never been before and couldn’t wait to explore the city. Fort Wayne is a city in Northeast Indiana and there is a lot to see and do, which makes it a perfect weekend trip for the family!

One must-see area is the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo. Don’t let the name fool you, this isn’t just a zoo for the kiddos. Ranked consistently as one of the top zoos in the USA, we were really impressed with Fort Wayne’s Children’s Zoo. Interactive exhibits and 40 acres of animals including lions, hyenas and monkeys make this is a must for any animal lover. Here are four reasons we thought the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo was pretty awesome!

Unique Rides at Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo:

Yes, rides! Of course a lot of zoos have a train or carousel rides (they have those too), but very few have a log ride and skyride. Tucked into the African Journey area, you can hop on the Sky Safari which will take you up into the treetops. You’ll glide 38 feet into the air while grabbing a bird’s eye view of lions, zebras, geese and more.

Ready for another adventure? Hop on the Crocodile Creek Adventure Ride, in the Australian Adventure section of the zoo. Here you’ll climb into your own dugout canoe and explore The Outback. Best of all, there is no paddling required.

Want more? Your whole family can take a ride on a miniature train, or take a spin on a colorful creature on the carousel ride.

The rides cost only TWO tokens. Each token only cost a $1 each and are available at machines located throughout the zoo. Want a deal? You can get six coins for just $5.00 so plan ahead if you think you’ll be riding a few.

Gorgeous Grounds at Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo:

There are four main areas to the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo: African Journey, Australian Adventure, Central Zoo and Indonesian Rainforest. Each area is unique in what it offers in regards to animals and exhibits, but one theme that is carried throughout are the beautiful grounds. From the lush grass in the African Journey to the shark cut-out in the Australian Adventure (which is perfect for pictures), you’ll fall in love with all there is to see beyond the animals.

Up Close With the Animals at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo:

If you are at the zoo, you’ll want to see the animals of course! No worries here, The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, has the most ferocious beasts such as the African lion and Sumatran Tiger, to the most adorable creatures you’ve ever seen, like the prairie dog and sea lion.

In addition to just seeing the animals, you can also get up close and personal with some of them too. For the twelve and under kiddies, the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo offers up pony rides for just a few tokens. Or, the whole family canvisit the farm where kids of all ages can brush a goat, and say hi to the pigs for no extra cost.

Stingray Bay which features a 20,000 gallon saltwater tank filled with stingrays, can not be missed. We loved reaching over the walls and touching the stingrays that swam by. This area is completely safe for all guests and is included in your zoo ticket.

Have you ever fed a giraffe? They sure were hungry when we stopped by and happily chewed on the leaf lettuce that was available for purchase. They were adorable!

Delicious Food at Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo:

If you want to bite into some delicious dishes, The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo has you covered.  You can grab pizza and salads at Tree Tops Cafe in the Indonesian Rainforest or grab popcorn and snacks at the Pony Express in the Central Zoo. Stop in at the Market Oasis in the African Journey section and you will find hot-off-the-grill specialties and snacks. For our lunch we went to Ray’s Barefoot Grill. They specialize in burgers, sandwiches, wraps, salads and more. I loved that they offered a daily special, so I chose the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich. It was delicious!

Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is open daily at 9AM with the last admission at 7PM. The zoo closes at 8PM. Zoo admission is $14.00 for adults, $10 for children, and $12.00 for seniors. Babies ages 1 and under are free. The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is a reciprocal zoo which means if you have a membership to another participating zoo you’ll save 50% on admission.

We spent four hours at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo but could have spent much longer. The amazing animals, fun rides, delicious food, and gorgeous grounds made our first visit to Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo memorable. We can’t wait to go back!