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| - The Calgary Zoo is a great place to visit any time of the year and during different times of the day. They have fire pits and warming stations on cold days and cooling stations on hot ones. There are a wide variety of events and programs, from Zoolights to the Safari Brunch and from school programs to singles events. You can book the Zoo for a corporate banquet or even a wedding reception. Although if you're looking to hire a pianist, be forewarned that there is no piano on-site.
I'm not wild about seeing caged animals but I do applaud the Calgary Zoo for its dedication to animal conservation. At least the animals aren't crowded and they have made a good attempt at creating surroundings that bear some resemblance to an animals' natural environment. They have been revamping the place steadily throughout the past few years.
The staff have enrichment programs to keep the animals active. Even the tortoises get their daily workout in the rain forest. Beware of the ice-cream obsessed geese, though. On one visit, I was chased around by one who eyed my ice cream lustily. One family laughed heartily as they filmed me running to avoid the goose's teeth, all while screeching "Get away! You can't have my ice cream! It's MINE!"
Smart layout. It's very easy to spend time in one area each visit (e.g. Africa, North America, Eurasia, Australia, etc.). I'm looking forward to seeing the Dorothy Harvie Conservatory once it has been completely revamped. I miss the butterflies. It was decent enough before but what I saw today from the outside looked stunning.
Having visited the Zoo several times with family, friends and by myself, I can say that the animals are more active when it's not so warm out and they are pretty active right before mealtime. If you want to avoid crowds, go on a weekday or during holidays. For instance, fellow shutterbugs tell me that Boxing Day is a great day to go to the Zoo.
I was sad to hear today that the manta rays are gone. A staff member said they weren't doing so well in Calgary so they were sent to another zoo, which is the best decision they could have made.
Having paid $30 to see Sea Life Park Hawaii, I consider the $14 admission to the Calgary Zoo a steal. If you want to really get your money's worth, get an Annual Pass or Discovery Passport. You get discounts to the gift store, Zoo events, food and more. I bought my pass last November and I feel I've definitely got my money's worth.
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