The perfect place for families to visit is nestled in the heart of West Palm Beach. The Palm Beach Zoo houses over 700 animals from Florida, North, South and Central America, Australia, and Madagascar.
I find the history of this quaint zoo so fascinating. It began in 1950’s with Paul Dreher, Parks Director for the City of West Palm Beach, who developed a lush botanical garden called Bacon Park. He decided to add a “barnyard petting zoo” for the kids in the community. With only $18 he opened a zoo with 2 ducks, a few chickens, a goose, and a goat. The collection was located on just one and one-half acres, and became known as the Dreher Park Zoo.
It became a favorite place for families, and the collection grew to include many more animals. In the 1970’s it expanded to the current size of 23 acres with an large selection of animals, shows, up close animal experiences , events as well as many educational programs for schools and homeschoolers.
Children can enjoy not just the animals but all the other amazing things The Palm Beach Zoo offers: The Kid Zone which includes a Wildlife Carousel and the Safari Train. Since the zoo is located in Florida it can get hot, there is no better way for the kids to cool off than my playing in the interactive fountain.
It is quite an experience seeing the amazing unique collection of animals that are offers that you may not see at other zoo’s. To name a few: Mardi the White Alligator, Florida Panther, Coati, Otters, Kangaroo, Koala, Fennec Fox and Anteaters!
Be sure to chheck out their events calendar and see the other amazing things they offer such as Safari Nights which will be on Friday evenings (4:15 to 9 p.m.) from June through October, Pour & Roar on select Saturday evenings, Teddy Bear Affair (May 23rd), Save the Tiger 5K, Saturday morning story time and much more!
Have you been to the Palm Beach Zoo before? If so what was your favorite thing about it? Follow The Palm Beach Zoo on Facebook and/or Twitter to stay up to date with new animal exhibits, events and more!
Mama to 5 Blessings wrote this post on the behalf of The Palm Beach Zoo. Mama to 5 Blessings received a family annual pass in exchange for an honest an honest review. This is not a sponsored review and all views and opinions are of my own and were not influenced in any way.
That looks like such an amazing zoo. My kids love to visit the zoo.
We have been to that zoo and loved it. Those cool down areas are not just for kids!! I loved the black bears, now I live in an area where we get to see them from our porch!
I think splash pads have become staples at most zoos and parks these days.
It looks like such a fun zoo! We love to visit the zoo a lot. 🙂
I love going to the zoo in different states to see the variety of animals that are there. The fountain looks like fun too.
I love doing that as well. We moved across the country and visited several on our way – it was neat to see the different animals.
Great zoo shots!
I’m hoping to take the kids to our local zoo this weekend.
So much fun packing a picnic lunch and spending the day learning everything we can about these amazing creatures!
Splash Parks are great for zoos. Makes the outing a two-in-one fun activity
We always visit the zoo when we are on vacation and at home. Love it!
I’m glad to see that the kids (and the animals) have fun places to cool off for the summer! WE love zoos here. I always have and now my kids do.
Us too! Zoos are the coolest places to visit! I love all the different animals!
Looks like a great zoo, I’m sure your family had a blast. We’ll have to check it out sometime.
That is a lot of animals! The animal pictures look fantastic.
I think kids learn so much by visiting the zoo. Plus the annual membership is a great investment.
A splash park at the zoo! That is amazing
My kids loved learning about animals. One of my kids eventually went to get a degree in this field!
ZOo’s are great for all ages. Looks like this one will appeal to my kids as well.
I think the water feature is so great in any zoo! They can get so hot in the summer. And I love that bear photo!
The lemurs look like a cross between a Koala and raccoon … this looks like such a fun zoo filled with so many interesting animals
We love visiting zoos. I’ve never been to this one but it looks like a lot of fun.
Oh wow. This looks like so much fun. I am sure the kids had a lot of fun.
I love zoos! My family has been to the Smithsonian Zoo in DC and a zoo in Morioka, Japan. We plan on moving farther south, so I would love to visit here!
What a fun place. We love the zoo it’s our favorite place to hang.
That black bear has the life! You are right lots to see there
I haven’t been to that Zoo before but we LOVE going to the Zoo! It’s one of my kids’ favorite places 🙂
Oh man. My kids would absolutely LOVE this!
That looks so fun. I love animals! Zoos are the perfect place to visit.
The Palm Beach Zoo looks like a great time for kids and parents alike. I will have to check it out the next time that I am down that way. Thanks for sharing.
I love Zoos! You get to see so many beautiful animals!
The picture of the bear is great! He looks very pleased to be in the water LOL!
What great pictures! Looks like you had a blast! So much fun!
This looks like a great family outing! I love that the zoo even has an interactive “water park” to help the kids cool off! This would be a big plus for us Mainers visiting Florida!
This looks like a great Zoo. I would love to watch the Lemurs. I go to the Toronto Zoo at least once a year.
I have been to the Palm Beach zoo many times! I used to live about 15 minutes away. I remember when it was called Dreher Park Zoo. I’m glad you enjoyed your time there. They always have the best animals!
I want to visit the zoo – this looks like a lot of fun. I could spend all day around animals.
Seems like you guys had a blast with so much fun and adventure there. I’d love to go too next time.
We love to take trips to the Zoo. This seems like an amazing zoo to visit and looks like you all truly enjoyed it!
We love going to the zoo! I wish ours had interactive fountains like that. Would help on those really hot days when the kids want to cool off!
I never knew that zoo existed. One of my clients goes down there periodically and their grandchildren come visit–this would be a great place to take them!
That black bear is so cute! I know they’re not cuddly and friendly, but I love that photo!
This looks like a fun zoo to visit. I love to go to zoos. Matter of fact I have a zoo trip planned soon.
I love taking my kids to the zoo! This sounds like it was a fun trip and your family looks like they had a great time. I don’t think I’ve actually seen an anteater up close so its neat to see one in your photos!
Wow. That is a neat place. Such a fun time.
What a lovely family activity. It looks like the kids had fun and the picture together is so cute
I LOVED the zoo growing up. Definitely some of my favorite childhood memories. Sounds like a fun family activity!
This looks like a nice zoo! Lemurs are my favorite!
This looks like a great zoo. I will have to check it out next time we are in south Florida.
I have not been to that one. In fact, I have only been to a few different ones in my lifetime. It looks like a really nice one!
We lived in Palm beach for many years and I don’t think we have ever gone to the zoo
What a lovely place to spend a day! My kids love anything that includes animals. I think we may head to the Philly Zoo soon!
What’s so insane is I lived there for 10 years and never went. It was literally a few miles from my house too
This is a great reminder. We need to get to the zoo before it gets too hot!