Oakland Zoo

Been here a handful of times and enjoyed it everytime! I prefer this zoo over San Francisco zoo. I love that there are rides for the kids in addition to the children zoo. Weather seems to be great all the time. This is an awesome zoo!

Run away! Terrible! Dirty and outdated park! Unfriendly staff.
Only few signs to help you visiting the park, no maps, from some places
in the park you can hear the highway… I really wanted to discover it with the kids
and have a fun day. It was a poor experience. Realizing that all zoo are prisons, at least this one looks like one.
+ My son has been sick after eating their icee drink/​ice cream… :(
I still don’t understand why people gives 4 star for this circus.
I still prefer going to the SF zoo, cleaner, updated, food /​way better, you can hear the ocean,
playground and farm for kids are awesome…

Hmmm, I have been told it’s an amazing place. Even better than San Francisco Zoo.
My husband and I decided to visit it; unfortunately, we were not impressed.
Not a lot of animals, nothing interesting. Even their rides are not fun.
Definitely, I loved SF zoo more.

I absolutely love any zoo and all animals but when I came here to Oakland Zoo it seemed as if most majority of the animals we wanted to see were either asleep or hiding. The animals didn’t seem excited or full of life, then again they were captured and forced into a business for show. Anyway the location of the zoo is gorgeous, right off the freeway and a view of the bay. Overall it was a good experience, not great but good.

We love the Oakland zoo! The Animals and exhibits are well taken care of. We always have a great time! Got to see the Tigers up close this time and the otters were out swimming and playing. Great place all around for the littles to learn and explore!

Loved all that this Zoo offers, it has just the right amount of activities in all areas (educational and fun).
Will come back again!
Tips: Come early before it opens so you can park by entrance area~

PROs: lots of animals, gd location, plenty of parking, ribs in the play area are delicious
CONs: closes at 4pm, long lines for train
Tips: get there early as soon as they open.

FYI — I’ll change the rating to 3 AFTER I receive MY refund…
I booked the Zebra Zone for my granddaughter’s 4^th birthday party and paid $ 300 in cash for the birthday package which includes unlimited rides for the birthday girl, 12 zoo passes and 6 parking tickets.
My son and my granddaughter as well as my sister with her husband and Twins got there few hours before the party and they did have fun.
The rest of my family and I got there around 130p to start the set up. We started grilling the hamburgers and hotdogs because the kids were hungry.
I paid extra $ 100 cash plus for 4 pizza and tons of drinks and they supposed to deliver at 230p. The pizza and drinks never came. We left around 4p.
On top of that, the rides were closed! They left me a message letting me know that the rides are closed AFTER we were already there. No big deal but I do want them to replace the red bracelet for the unlimited rides as my granddaughter wore it last Saturday and we had to strip it from her hand after we got home so it’s not usable anymore.
I called today asking for my money back and she said I won’t get my refund in two weeks although I paid cash. That’s fine but the person who answered the phone sounds puzzled and told me that it didn’t sound right, I assumed she was talking about us not getting our pizza or the rides being closed.
Luckily spoke to Scott and the security before I left the party so they are my witness.
Didn’t get any call back today to confirm about me getting a refund so I’ll be calling them back again or I’ll be paying them a visit soon…

I love the Oakland zoo, it’s definitely better than the one in San Francisco. I purchased a San Francisco membership so if you go to the Oakland zoo you get a discount. Driving was worth it.
The prices are reasonable, kids under 2 are free, adults $ 17.75 and kids 2 and up 13.75. The train was my favorite part as you go through an amazing ride you get to see fantastic views. They also have rides for the kids such as the airplane ride, carousel (which wasn’t operating that day) a car ride and a small kiddie coaster. I was disappointed on the fact that my daughter didn’t meet the height standards and didn’t let her ride but saw several children smaller than her riding the rides.
They have a cool sky ride that is located inside the zoo were you can see the Bay Area skyline, too bad it wasn’t operating that day. The zoo is very big so be ready for some long walks. They have a few places were you can purchase snacks and drinks.

Great zoo this place is fun kids love it parents love it this place is good for dates the animal are groomed and clean. I haven’t been here in years awesome people that work there very friendly and helpful. I’m going back soon

The Oakland Zoo is a special place for my family. We’ve been members for 3 years and will remain members for the foreseeable future. Yeah, we may be a little biased but this Zoo is on its way to becoming a world class zoo.
We tend to head there after breakfast, after morning rush hour and before the evening commute. We let our four year old lead the way and she usually bolts to see the red-​ass baboons! We love those critters and actually sit and have lunch as we follow their antics. The giraffes are another favorite and today we actually saw the keepers feeding them along with some very lucky families.
The rides are always a hit with our kids, but today it was the end and start of Spring Break for some local school districts, so imagine the mayhem. Parking it usually never an issue but today we had to park down the hill in Knowland Park.
If you’re a tourist and want to get out and visit a local attraction, stop by and experience the Oakland Zoo.

I am not a fan of zoos. As a matter of fact, as a child the animals at this zoo made me feel very sad. I remember thinking that the animals looked broken and depressed, nothing like I saw on PBS wildlife specials. However, after being talked into going with another family, I can say that things have improved a great deal. The enclosures are much bigger and the animals look about as thriving as I think they could in captivity. There are lots of places for kids to run and climb, too. The petting area has brushes that the children can use to comb the goats. This is good for children that are nervous about actually touching the animals. The food is okay. Not great, but you can get a simple salad if you are looking for something healthful. Between this one and the SF Zoo, I perefer this one.

The Oakland zoo is amazing, the park is lovely and very well laid out. This zoo is really geared towards children and is interactive on many levels, there is always something to touch or inspect.
Not the animals though, do not touch the animals.
The skyride is one of the best parts about this zoo, it is an old ski lift that runs over some of the big cat exhibits to the top of a hill over the bison compound. You get an amazing view of the Bay area skylines and water on a clear day. Totally worth the $ 3.
We usually pack a cooler with food and picnic in the park outside the Zoo gates, we got a membership on Groupon last year and will totally be getting another this year!

A nice zoo, not very big but worth the admission. Lots of active animals, and even a petting zoo with goats. Very popular with children and families so be prepared to be surrounded by small and loud human animals as well.
Some tips:
— Avoid rush hour by going late! We headed over around noon on a Saturday and traffic was PACKED, backing up the freeway exit (Golf Links Rd) for at least half a mile of stopped cars. There were lines of cars trying to get into the parking lot, and a long line at the ticket window. When we left around 2pm, there was no traffic and no lines. Since the zoo closes at 4pm, that still gives you 2 hours to enjoy the zoo, which is plenty.
— Look for deals online, I bought a LivingSocial for $ 24 for 2 adult tickets (regular price $ 17.75 each).
— Parking fee is $ 9
— Food and drinks seem to be allowed in, so bring a picnic!
— There are a handful of rides for kids in one area of the zoo (that I skipped), but the rides do cost extra.

Do. Not. Go. On Valentines Day.
It was so crowded, although I must say we still enjoyed it. It was 80 degrees in February! What in the world is going on; I had to strip down to my tank top. Thank goodness I brought my sunscreen because I was getting toasted.
If you have toddlers, you won’t get around to most of the exhibits, just like us. Since we didn’t see most of them, we plan to come back on a non-​holiday to check out the rest of the animals. I almost forgot to mention that their kids play area is fun. Enjoy!

I’m so glad this zoo exists in the Bay Area where people can take their kids or simply enjoy a huge animal park in the heart of the suburban Oakland Hills, which is so easy to get to right off of Interstate 580’s Golf Links Road Exit, smack dab in the middle of Knowland Park. This place is the epitome of what a hidden gem is supposed to be. As a lot of people would assume that San Francisco has the bigger and better zoo in Bay Area. That is so not true, as the SF Zoo is in a less desirable location, weather speaking so many of they’re clearly limited in the animals they showcase. In fact, thanks to its location, I could make the argument that the Oakland Zoo is the second best zoo in the state, save for the legendary San Diego Zoo. But that’s neither here nor there.
I hadn’t been to the zoo since I was a wee child, but I knew I had to bring my sister and her two young kids here when they arrived for a visit last August and they weren’t disappointed. After an easy drive and totally affordable $ 9.00 parking fee you arrive under a huge safari gate. Ticket prices aren’t too bad when you consider how much everything else up-​charges nowadays, it’s $ 17.75 for adults, and seniors 65 – 75 and kids 2 – 14 are $ 13.75, everyone over and under those ages are absolutely free.
The best thing is that the Oakland Zoo has every animal imaginable, from the traditional giraffes, elephants, lions, zebras, hyenas, monkeys, birds to a huge indoor (and air conditioned) reptile center where you can sit and relax while the kids run wild. There’s even a small outdoor petting zoo on the grounds, which was great because they were feeding the animals as we entered, but be sure to use plenty of that Purell that they provide upon exit because the place (and your hands) smell.
What I love about this zoo, is they really put on a show in making sure the animals are not only well taken care of but also the exhibits are lively and clean, so for families looking for a good time and wanting to take a walk and explore the Oakland Hills in a way that safe and unique, then this is the place for you. Even during the holidays they have something called Zoo Lights, in which they close at sundown and then reopen to showcase the unique holiday lights the crew puts up on fixtures and trees. That combined with the mini children’s amusement park, called Adventure Landing, in front (tickets to ride do cost extra) makes this place the ultimate joy for families. We took the train ride hoping to get a tour of the park, you don’t really in a short ten minute ride, it really just takes you to the kangaroo side of the zoo that’s not accessible by foot, and we only saw maybe one or two total animals, so that was a little disappointing.
But we did have a great time, it’s the one of the best places for a picnic with the family in the zoo’s huge park areas, and I hope one day they do succeed in not only expanding to the greater open area of Knowland Park, but make good on their promise to one day house a pair of giant Pandas on loan from China. After all, their gondolas literally head up a barren hill and come right back down with nothing to look at or visit. Wouldn’t it be great if we could all see it end up somewhere of significance? Until then, I’ll have to be satisfied with what they do have and celebrate that!

Definitely my zoo of choice in the bay. Great views of the bay, separate ride area (Adventure land) and super friendly staff. They also provide healthy snacks throughout the zoo. Our daughter loves this place! Don’t forget to ride the train :-)

3.5 stars
I like this zoo because it’s not as crowded as the other zoos so there wasn’t much of a fight for a spot to see the animals. The animals were also more active than I thought they would be. The lemur feeding was pretty adorable. The tigers were also more active than I thought… I even saw one tiger kind of run across the field and playfully pounce on another tiger. I recommend that you go to the feedings if possible!
The bad thing about this zoo is the food. I know I’m not supposed to expect much from zoo food, but when we went, ALL the cafes/​food areas were closed except for the one at the beginning of the park. And when we finally got to the central café (after unsuccessfully visiting 3 of the other cafes), they told us they didn’t have the vegetarian option available AFTER we ordered (kind of ironic really). And needless to say, the food was overpriced and shabby. But again, it’s a zoo so you can’t expect much from the food. Oh, and I didn’t see a recycling bin in the café… aren’t zoos supposed to be about conservation?

Zoo Light Review: Parking is hard to find. This is a very family friendly event. Be prepared to be around a lot of families and kids running around. The food options in the cafeteria are not good and are overpriced. The bathrooms are gross. The light show is cute and meant to entertain kids. It’s a good fun event to bring the kids to if you’re in the Oakland area during the Holiday season.

Zoo Lights was disappointing as an adult. I heard this place was great for a date, but we were the only people there without kids. The light show was sad and thus I thought this place was a waste of money. The rides looked fun at least. I hear the food got an update and they offer things like samosas now. But, all they had for tea was black Lipton tea and they were out of coffee. I wanted something decaffeinated anyway and there was no decaf coffee or herbal tea, which is what I really wanted.

This zoo is really cool. All the animals were awake and moving. I really wish the bears and wolves were in. Overall very good spot to bring your family for fun. Looking forward to my next trip.

zoo lights review
$ 1 off members free parking for all
Little disappointed
Wet night but too late for train at 745
Limited access to regular zoo layout
Light show on lawn area but kids lost interest quick.
Good for the walk otherwise little over priced

This review is specific for ZooLights.
For $ 8 per adult and $ 7 per child, you can enjoy the Oakland Zoo at night to see their display of lights for the holiday season. I’m a lover of the zoo and a lover of lights so this was sounding like a really great event! To be honest, I’d say it’s really cool to experience once, but after that you probably wouldn’t need to come again.
You should know that I’m a twenty-​something who came here on a date and not a mother of a young child, so I’m not the target audience of ZooLights here. But we figured it would fun to see the lights, so why not? A note about the prices, unfortunately, if you want to go to the zoo in the day time and go to ZooLights at night, they don’t have any discounts or packages. You’ll just have to pay separate admission for both.
There’s a lot of things that you could do at ZooLights that could make it a really fun experience. Another note: the animals are NOT OUT during ZooLights. Of course, you’ve got the lights displays around the zoo (mostly up front, in the rides area, in the children’s zoo, and on the strip towards the zoo. They close off the right side of the zoo (where the african animals, gondola ride, etc. are). As you walk, you’ll see the café open and selling Go-​Bites which are basically small snacks to enjoy as you walk to see the lights. Walk some more and you can line up to meet and take photos with Santa. The line isn’t usually TOO long. Next, you’ll see the grass area where they’ve set up the light show. It’s pretty cool to see the different light up animals «sing» along to the medley of Christmas songs. Walk more and you’ll get to the Children’s Zoo area. Here, the Reptiles and Amphibians room is still open for you to see those animals and the same goes for the Insect room. You can even check out some tortoises inside their warm shelters. Going outside the zoo, you can visit the rides area where you can ride the train around the zoo and the little ones can ride some kids rides.
Lots to do, but definitely would be more fun if we had some kids with us!

Came to this specific zoo because it’s the closest zoo to me as oppose to the sf zoo. I have never been to the zoo before and because I had a project for my anthropology class, my friend Tim and I decided to go. The zoo animals are so cute! Very sad that they’re held in captivity. The elephants look so depressed… makes me feel for them. I hope to come back during my free time and just take pictures of them with my dslr (when I save up for it lol). The zoo is always better with a group of friends. Recommend for outings, field trips, family time, couples, married life, etc.
This review is for Sara T. :-)

3 ½−4 stars for this one.
A tip to everyone so you don’t make the same mistake as us… do not park in the parking lot to the left after you enter unless you’re tryna hike all the way to the zoo entrance. We didn’t know there were parking lots right next to the entrance so we unfortunately wasted a good 5 – 10 mins walking up a hill wondering why so many cars were passing us and why the entrance was so damn far. Yes, we turned back and drove up. saw another couple make the same mistake on our drive back. Don’t let this be you!!! Haha.
We got a groupon for our visit so it was pretty cheap. This was our first time coming to this zoo. Don’t let the map mislead you into thinking it’s huge… it really isn’t. There’s just a lot of free space everywhere and you can get around the whole thing in about an hour and a half. Depends on how long you take observing every animal as well.
Also, be prepared to hike uphill… Did I go to the zoo or did I go on a hike, I really don’t know.haha. It was more strenuous than the hike I went on last weekend, no lie.
Lots of different animals to see. My favorite was the squirrel monkey, they were so adorable! And I guess this cute black goat at the petting zoo. but it didn’t really do anything, even when you touched it.
There are «exclusive» animals you are only able to see if you take a train ride ($ 3) to «Australia». There were wallaroos (?) and emus and I was lucky enough to see a baby kangaroo in its mother’s pouch. Soooo cute!!!
There’s also a sky tram you can take to get a view of the whole zoo. I believe it was $ 2 per rider. You also get to see all the construction going on at the zoo.lol.
They are offering a holiday themed visit at the zoo called ZooLights (starting Dec 3, I believe) so be sure to check that out! I would have definitely wanted to go to that, but I think going to the zoo once is more than enough for me!

Had high hopes for this zoo because it had a higher rating than the San Francisco Zoo. I was able to buy a pair of tickets on groupon for $ 13 each (Retail $ 17 each) which saved some $$ to use on parking instead. Parking was $ 9 cash.
Pulled pass the parking ticketbooth and on the left were parking spots but don’t be fooled by those lots because there’s a huge hill you have to go up before you actually reach the big parking lot right in front of the entrance with plenty of parking spots.
Followed the map by going clockwise around the zoo. At first glance, it was seemed like the zoo was Huge but after the trip it realize that it’s really not that full of exhibitions. Just spaced out and quite some hills. (suggested to wear comfortable attire, esp. shoes)
Passed by the monkey/​chimpanzee exhibitions first which in my opinion were the most live animals in the zoo. (Other animals tend to be sleeping or eating. lookin all depressed and everything)
Another notable area of the zoo was the petting zoo. You can go around petting goats and sheeps but they just stand there looking like they intoxicated so they don’t really budge any reactions. Clean your hands after petting highly suggested.
Other animals included in the zoo were … elephants, giraffes, tigers, lions, some birds, the typical zoo animals.
Also there’s an «adventure land» small theme park with rides at additional cost. Took the train ride to Australia theme outback where u could see emus and wallaroos only accessible by riding the train. $ 3 per person. Not a MUST ride attraction but a cool follow up.
One thing i do like about this zoo as opposed to the San Francisco Zoo is that it is more clean and less crowded. Pleasant experience for a chillax day.
Also Living Socials has 2 Adults for $ 11 for the seasonal Zoo light during nighttime right now For the winter. Ahhhh Savings!!! Now u can spend the extras at chiptole =)

I really love this zoo.
I loved it as a kid in the 80’s, and all these years later, I still get that same feeling of excitement when I am in their parking lot and see the «Oakland Zoo» sign. I know I’m about to have a really cool day.
I think one of my favorite things to do is ride the sky tram. It is such a beautiful view, and it’s satisfying to see the animals in all of that open space.
The people that work there have been polite, helpful, and great at giving us little hints or tips to make our visit better.
Plus…who can have a bad day after watching the otters?

It was our first visit to the zoo and we already decided to get a membership. The zoo is in a very good location. It’s a perfect combination of a zoo and a picnic area.
We recently visited San Diego Zoo and the Safari Park. But I still think that this zoo has its own special treat to offer for adults and kids. I find it’s more relaxing and not as crowded. The animals are in a natural setting. But the cooler Bay Area weather makes it easy to go around.
The ticket prices are reasonable. Even the extra $ 3 for the skyride is worth it. The kids love the train and skyride.
The Children Zoo area is great for our two toddlers. There are lots of n play area and photo ops. The viewing area are made to allow young kids easy access.
The shows are simple and educational. I love the part where they allow the kids to touch and get close to the animals. Experience is the best education for kids.
I love this place and would recommend it as a place for young families to send an enjoyable and educational excursion.

I’ve loved this Zoo since I was a kid (and that was a long, long time ago)!
A wonderful place for a pic nic, birthday party or any other gathering. Companies and families should really consider having their event here.
The zoo is clean and well kept.
We entered from the lower entrance, parking at the Tiger Timbers parking lot.
Seeing exhibits, all with some creature or another to entertain us and/​or for us to learn a little something new. Beautiful plant specimens. Fun sculptures for kids to crawl around on. At the main entrance is Adventure Landing where you’ll find admittance is free, but rides do require the purchase of tickets. More pic nic area, perfect for parties.
Be sure to use your free map to find your way around. We found ours to be very helpful and kept us from too much back tracking.
The zoo is on a hilly landscape, so wear comfortable shoes and bring a wheelchair, stroller or other transport device for those who may tire easily. The zoo does rent strollers. You can call for details or check out their web site.
Drinks and food are as expected, expensive. Not bad, just be prepared. There are ATM machines inside and I do believe most purchases are credit card friendly. Don’t forget to pick up or bring your Zoo Key!

The kids and I really enjoyed ourselves looking at the different animals and the weather was not too hot which was perfect.
My favorite animals were the gibbons, they are super cute. My daughter enjoyed brushing the goats coats.
The zoo was clean and the parking wasn’t bad at all.
We finished off our day by taking a train ride.
Loved it!

It all started w/​Groupon. I bought a deal for my kids and planned to pay the full admission price for myself on the day of but when we got there one Saturday morning, I was told that they are closed for an event. The nice gentleman asked if I can come back the next day however, I told him that I live in Santa Cruz and that driving over 100 miles two days straight was not plausible for me. He apologized and gave me a voucher for free admission and tickets for my next visit.
Score!!!
Parking is $ 9 per vehicle and plenty of it. There are 2 entrances to the zoo and while this is a spacious zoo, it’s pretty easy to navigate. The one thing I wish they have are signs pointing where to go to see the animals.
The food offerings are cheap, granted I didn’t buy any but I noticed the prices. You can pack your own lunch; plenty of places to eat and unwind. Most of the zoo is stroller-​friendly but some of the exhibits inside are not. Folks would park their strollers outside.
Since I had free ride tickets, we were there for a brief time. Some of the rides require an adult in order for a toddler to ride. One sweet kid told me to get on anyway and another kid told my daughter she can get on the airplane ride w/​Gavin. It’s not just a ticket but these 2 wanted to make Gavin happy so they allowed us on regardless.
— lions
— tigers
— alligators
— baboons
— macaws
— giraffes
— elephants
— otters
— zebras
— bears
Just to name a few. The ones I listed are my favorite animals. Most of the cats were napping and in the shade around noon so I suggest going towards closing time if you want to see these awesome creatures up.
Thank you for the awesome Sunday last week.

First time at this zoo. The parking was bad if you were trying to go up on the main parking lot. It was full by one hour of opening. So we ended up parking by the parking entrance. The hike to get up the hill was tiring! We paid a total of $ 35 for two adults and our 13 month old was free. There were a lot of animals I thought there would be. The only down side was all the hills you had to walk up and down from.
Other then that, I was surprised with the many different animals. Would I go back? Maybe when my son is older and could enjoy it more. But glad I was finally able to make it to the Oakland zoo.
There was shade, and couple small snack bars. Ordered a hot dog, nothing special.

Lions and tigers and bears — oh my!
Yep, the Oakland Zoo’s got it all. I’ll admit, I’m not much of an animal guy. I think the last zoo I attended was the U2 Zooropa tour in the 90s. But my animal-​loving friend convinced me to join her today, and I’m really glad that I did. This is a very cool, modern zoo. If I had kids, I’d be taking them here every weekend. This place appeals to children of all ages. After all, who doesn’t like staring at monkeys and lemurs or petting goats? There’s plenty of animal eye-​candy here for sure. There are delightful sights and sounds around every corner. There’s even a small amusement park section with rides and the like.
We must have spent over 2 hours exploring every inch of the park. So I would recommend wearing comfortable shoes. Hell, I was jealous of all the kids getting pushed around in strollers (these spoiled toddlers have it easy).
Adult admission is like $ 15 — which is a reasonable price for an afternoon of fun and photo opps. Also, parking is $ 8. So I’d recommend carpooling if possible.
All in all, hanging out at the Oakland Zoo was a perfect way to spend my Sunday afternoon. I’m so delighted that this business was the subject of my 400^th Unilocal review!
:)

Maybe it’s because I’m old. Maybe it’s the fact that I don’t have any kids. Don’t get me wrong, all the animals are great. There are monkeys, Tigers, lions, bears, alligators, rhinos and giraffes etc.
The Saturday I went the parking lot was packed. The zoo is built on a hill so even though the Oakland zoo is small compared to other zoos, the hike up and down was exhausting.
The feeding time schedule is loosely followed so prepare to wait, and the way the animals are fed is quite boring. When the employees brought dead rats out for the alligators the large reptiles moved about as fast as the Statue of Liberty. In other words the gators laid in the water like inanimate flotation devices.
The food. Where do I start. The nachos I ordered were stale. So I returned to the counter and told them the chips were stale and they opened a new bag of chips and poured cheese on the chips. They then told me they were out of jalapeños. Nachos and a soda was about $ 9. I thought about getting upset but Oakland has had enough riots this month already.
But despite my opinion of the zoo. Which is kind of like an animal prison and adult hell for me. I believe if a person has young ones, they will find it worth while. Exposing a child to God’s beautiful creation and providing exposure to these majestic creatures will enrich their life in some ways.
So my final assessment is people that are old and have no children, the Oakland Zoo is a no go, better off turning the tv on to Animal Planet. For people with Children, go, it’s probably cheaper and more wholesome than most activities available to kids these days. Adults are $ 15, children’s admission price ($ I don’t know the price because I didn’t have to pay for one).

I hadn’t been to this zoo in years, since I was a kid, but I went recently with a free ticket I received though the library’s Discover & Go program.
It’s not one of the best zoos, but it is a place that families will enjoy together.
There is a fun aerial ride that takes you above the park for some cool views. It costs a few dollars extra, but it was enjoyable. There’s also a train ride and a few small kiddie rides.
One really different part of the zoo was inside the petting zoo, there’s a «cat café.» OK, so there isn’t any coffee, but there are some nice kitty cats that you can hold and pet.
This zoo makes a nice day out, but I wish the animals had better facilities and more space. It’s an outdated zoo.
Tip: It’s quite hilly; bring along some water, a packed lunch, and wear your walking shoes. There’s isn’t a lot of shade, so bring along a hat and sunglasses.

What to review for the big 1000^th? I thought of all the special places that are important to me. The one place that occupies a large part of my heart is the Oakland zoo. It holds so many memories for me: good times with my brother, mom and dad. And two very special animals: Effie the elephant and Rosebud the chimp.
My childhood home was very near the zoo and my mother stayed in that house until she passed way. When we first when to the zoo it was called Knowland Park and the Snow zoo. To us it was the zoo! It was a dilapidated paradise where you enter the zoo on Golf Links. We walked in the back entry and looked at the animals and climbed the hills surrounding the playgrounds and cages.
Highway 580 cut our back access to the zoo; then it moved up to its present hilltop location and covered the salamander pond. It is an improvement for the animals and now wins awards. It is an ideal place to bring families. There are many activates for children and adults, The Christmas lights are wonderful
Although, I don’t get to the zoo as often as I did as a child and a teen when I walked there almost every day, I still go a few times a year. After I drive in the entranced I pause at the spot where I can still see the remains of the back-​way in. I stop again at the top of the hill and look down, so I can see my old home. It amazes me how steep the hill is even after the freeway cut through it, was no wonder I was a thin young teen and now a plump adult. Scampering up the hill must have burned a lot of calories.
When I park and enter the zoo it warms my heart to see so many people enjoying this «new» zoo. I hope their memories will be as wonderful as mine.