The Nashville Zoo is one of the best places to go in town. It'll be fun no matter how many times you go. read more

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Okay, I've never been a zoo person because they usually bore me and I can get sad looking at the animals plus huge crowds. I actually bought a membership this year, mostly to get discounts on the adult events, but I've used it to visit during DinoTrek and when people are in town. I absolutely love the Sips for Species series and will go as much as I can. I think it's a great deal and a fun way to spend an evening while supporting the zoo. Zoolumination is always nice and brings in people, so I'm looking forward to doing that again this year. read more

This zoo has the feel of Animal Kingdom! It's very green with wood fences and we loved walking through the entrance with music. We used our John Ball zoo membership to get the AZA 50% off discount so it was $15 for adults, $13 for kids, and $10 for covered parking. Surprisingly, we loved the flamingo exhibit the best, probably because they were all so active squawking and bopping each other :). The tiger enclosure was a close second! We grabbed popsicles by the meerkats and spent 3.5 hours walking around. You can bring your own snacks and drinks too (there were drinking fountains to refill your water bottles). Overall, we had a great time at this zoo. One thing I'd do differently is print maps ahead of time for the kids (they have QR codes to get zoo maps, but no paper copies). read more

Nashville Zoo - 50% off admission with reciprocal membership (John Ball zoo) - Zoos Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

I haven't been to a zoo in years and this seemed like the perfect activity on Easter Sunday while visiting our daughter. We had brunch first then were pleasantly surprised with "eggstravaganza" baskets full of candy for all who wanted them. We respectfully munched on chocolate, lollipops, and gummy candy. It was a nice touch and unexpected. The Zoo charges $10 for parking. There were 5 of us so we paid $155 for parking and park entrance. They have reasonably priced food, drinks and snacks throughout the park, but you bring in water bottles and food as long as you respect park rules. No straws or lids to keep the critters safe. We all had animals we wanted to see and were able to meander through the zoo. I loved the tortoises who seemed so chill and almost like they ran out of steam mid step at times. The various were very entertaining. It was a joy to watch them swinging and enjoying their company. The giraffes were very majestic. The rhinos big and hulking! They provide binoculars to see the bigger animals from afar. My daughter was excited to see the brand new capybara (Bree) who they are building an exhibit for along with anteaters. The exhibits are well maintained and the staff very friendly. I enjoyed brushing the goats and taking selfies with them. The kangaroos were too cute as they sleepily lounged about and fed their babies. I loved the macaws with the vivid colors and eagles w/ impressive wing spans. The flamboyant flamingos were fun to watch as they moved with grace on their long legs. If you haven't been to the zoo in awhile or have and looking to enjoy a nice day, stop into the Nashville Zoo! read more

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Had a great time at the Nashville Zoo. The park is clean, easy to get around, and there are a lot of animals to see. The exhibits are well maintained, and the staff was friendly throughout our visit. It's a fun place for both kids and adults, and it's easy to spend a few hours exploring. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the Nashville area. read more

Nashville Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

We LOVED this zoo! Wasn't expecting much honestly as we hadn't heard anything specifically, but the gem charmed us with knowledgeable staff and docents, hands-on experiences, a great variety of creatures, wonderful exhibits, and a beautiful setting. Getting to see a tiger close up was a highlight as was petting and walking amongst the kangaroos. So soft! Only thing I'd love to see improved is the food available, please add more gluten-free options and healthier choices. We went off-site for lunch and came back. Overall a fabulous day with amazing animals! read more

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Nashville Zoo is a fun and well-maintained place to spend a few hours, especially for families. The exhibits are spacious and thoughtfully designed, and it's clear the animals are well cared for. We really enjoyed the walking paths, the variety of animals, and the beautiful landscaping throughout the zoo. Some areas can get crowded during peak times, and the ticket line is largely uncovered/unshaded so come prepared with sunscreen or an umbrella! The food is somewhat pricey, but you're allowed to bring your own to picnic on the zoo grounds. Overall, it's a great local attraction and definitely worth a visit if you're in the area. read more

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My family and I went to ZooLumination which was amazing. Be sure to dress warm. The art is breath taking. It feels super magical, and really you can get through it within about an hour probably. It was very well organized, relaxing, and enjoyable from beginning to end. There's ice skating and a zip line too. I definitely recommend it for families, couples, or friends. I would absolutely go again! read more

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First off signage and GPS lead you to the back guard entrance of zoo, so better signage from freeway needed, you will also be traveling through a few residential neighborhoods so be aware of kiddos. Ok so first of all, entire visit started off bad at ticket booth. One of the families traveling with us read the website to honor Snap/Benefits so counted on a discount utilizing the no child left behind program. Imagine the embarrassment they felt when told the program wasn't honored, I knew the family couldn't afford so I purchased everyone's tickets. The price of 29.00 was reasonable for a day at the zoo but website misleading. No single day senior discount either only on yearly membership. Finally parking is 10.00 for a zoo visitor, There is not one sign driving into the park, through parking lot, but it will be added on to your ticket. The zoo itself is nice, lots of shaded area and easily navigate. I would say a 3-5 hour visit is adequate for planning. I personally would make sure you eat before and bring your own water.Any type of park like this you expect higher prices, but 20.00 for a refillable soda? I can see this in a park where you're spending 8-12 hours, but not in a 3 hour visit. My other complaint was the extras, some things expected like a zip line. However to go in an avery to see birds? A special engagement an extra 5 dollars, every thing had an extra price. So once again disappointed kids because budgets weren't realistic to actual costs. Hopefully this review allows you to go and enjoy a beautifully landscaped zoo and avoid the disappointments of not being prepared for budget overruns. read more

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Great zoo with a TON to see. They were in between a few events, so we saw Halloween, Illumination AND Christmas displays around the grounds. The eastern half had more dead-ends where you had to back track versus being connected to the next exhibit. I'd definitely recommend 3-4 hours to see most of the grounds. The amount of Halloween decorations was phenomenal compared to other zoos we've seen at Halloween time. The kangaroo exhibit was neat that you could walk so close to them. read more

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My kids and grandkids loved it. The prices could be a little lower lots of toys and gifts to high. The animals are beautiful read more

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Love the zoo! This zoo has a relatively simple paved path so you can follow from start to finish. There weren't many map signs tho so I'm glad that I had downloaded the zoo map. The creatures building is neat and I was impressed that it even had seahorses. Some of the paths and zoo were closed due to a recent storm which was disappointing but can't be helped due to Mother Nature. A lot of the big animal exhibits had glass in a viewing area which is nice for photos. Some slightly sloped waking areas but not hills. The big disappointment was that the gift shop had no magnets, that's the one thing that I collect from every zoo. read more

Nashville Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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I've been to Zoolumination before, but this year they really increased the amount and intricacy of the exhibits. So beautiful. It's quite a bit of walking as there are so many lights to see but you can go at your own pace. The reptile and amphibian building is open as well and we went in there to warm up from the cold. read more

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I absolutely love the Nashville Zoo! Being that they are AZA accredited, I felt good about my visit. We visited right when they opened which allowed for close parking and a light crowd. The grounds are kept beautifully, no wear and tear, no trash. The groundskeepers did a phenomenal job creating and keeping up with such a beautiful zoo. The enclosures were decorated well and large and there are plenty of animals to see. There are quite a few activities to do around the park including a carousel, 4d theater, zip line, and train ride. They also offer backstage passes to meet animals. My favorite part of the zoo is their veterinary hospital/theater where you can watch the veterinarians work. There was no "show" when we went but it was still cool looking into the glass window and seeing the vet rooms. This isn't just any zoo, Nashville Zoo is big on education and does a lot with conservation work. I'm a big fan and highly suggest visiting! read more

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Love the new parking garage and walkway structure, the expansion is much improved. The giraffes were very friendly and cutie today with the best show from staff! Great animal tour explanations and customer service. I really liked the kangaroo exhibit as well where we learned that packs are called mobs and one singular male populated the whole mob! ‍Sauceyy business over here lololo. I throughly enjoyed my time. Also the top slide on the playground is my favorite after climbing up the ropes 10/10. read more

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We went to Zoolumination and the decorations were AWESOME!! We walked around the whole zoo for a couple of hours and were able to see many of the reptile and fish exhibits as well. There was also ice skating and a really cool zip line ride that brings you really high up so you can get a great view of the whole area. 10/10 would recommend for everyone! read more

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I love the Nashville Zoo and have been to several events over the years here. Most recently I visited for Zoolumination (4th year in a row) and the beautiful lights continue to be one of my favorite Nashville events. They've even added a skating rink and some other small additions to better the guest experience. read more

Nashville Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Just came back from having the funnest time at the Nashville Zoo with my family! Our first time and we loved it. Make sure to take advantage of their military discount if you are active duty or a veteran, it is $10 off per ticket for everyone in your party but the caveat is you have to purchase the tickets in person at their booths. Definitely worth it though! It came out to $100 for 4 adults and 1 child for us. The size of the zoo is nice! Not too big and not too small. Plenty of animals to see and all the well known ones with a couple of off the wall animals as well. We got our steps in and got to see a bunch of amazing animals at the same time. I love their interactive areas with the goats as well as the kangaroos! You're able to walk around with them in their habitat. We weren't able to pet the kangaroos but the goats were nice! Got lots of pictures of all the animals they have. The scenery for the zoo is very nice too, they picked a great location! Plenty of trees for shade and the trails are all pretty much level so no walking up hills or anything. Would definitely be back again! read more

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Zoolumination gets better and better every year! Displays, snacks options, and well directed walking trails. Lovely! read more

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This zoo is also a historical site! They have house tours and a black history tour both which I highly recommend. Their animals look happy and they have rangers talks that were very informative. It is paved throughout, and a fun place to spend time. The giraffes weren't out but we could see them peeking their heads waiting to say hi. read more

This review is for the zoolumination. We were in town for a small weekend trip and decided to attend. Plenty of lights and a good amount of things to see. It took us about 1.5 hours to walk around. Plenty of parking and quick entry. We had a good time. read more

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We absolutely loved our experience at the Nashville Zoo! There is SO much to do and so many places to eat! Real food! Coffees for Mamas! This park was designed by a Mom and everything has been thought about to be accessible! It was easy to go here with kids! Restrooms were clean. The park itself was clean. Lots of places to stop and rest. Lots of shade and areas to cool down! Everything is well maintained! All of the employees are friendly and seem to truly love their job and be genuinely interested in the animals! Everyone was helpful and the whole atmosphere was happy and upbeat! The food was delicious and priced really well! Plenty of places to purchase water and cold drinks! The Dino experience was definitely worth the money and very unique! Kids could play at this playground for days and it would absolutely be worth purchasing a season pass if you live nearby! Very well maintained place and very efficient management. We had a blast and this will be a lasting family memory!!! read more

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Updating because the management team reached out and apologized that this happened and gave me a complimentary ticket to use. Overall, it seemed to be a miscommunication between closing times of the staff. read more

Nashville Zoo - Voucher for food - Zoos Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Giraffes were super cool, tigers were hidden such a shame. Souvenir kinda expensive but to be expected. Food Court AMAZING. Idk what they're doing to the chicken they made but holy god please keep it up. Was very disappointed about the fact that only the women's restroom had a little monkey exhibit and not the men's restroom so idk feels kinda sexist read more

Nashville Zoo - Giraffes were definitely the highlight super active. - Zoos Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Personally, I believe It was very disability-inclusive! They offered a free sensory kit with a fidget toy, communication cards, earplugs, and a map that had specific "quiet" areas and also marked louder areas. read more

This is one of the cleanest zoos I've ever been to! They clearly do daily upkeep and really truly do a great job with decor of foliage and making it feel cozy while also natural and real. Wonderful trails to walk around and view the diverse wildlife and they are always updating or adding new exhibits to make each experience and visit new and different. Prices are standard for a zoo, is what it is. Huge parking lot. Kind employees who (at least seem to) like working there! I don't visit often, but about twice a year and always a place I am looking forward to coming back to. read more

Nashville Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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We joined the Nashville Zoo shortly after moving here and have been enjoying it. It's well worth the money. We've now visited in summer and fall. We've also visited for Boo at The Zoo and Zoolumination. There is plenty of free outdoor parking in front. It's not a long walk to the entrance. There is also a garage. It has been easy getting in and out for regular visits and special events. Staff has always been friendly at the front. The pathways are well maintained and clean. My favorite part of coming here is knowing I'll get lots of steps in. The Nashville Zoo offers a nice variety of animals. My daughter's favorites are the tiger in the Asian themed area and the aquatic building. There is also a beautiful veterinary center with seating and a viewing area to watch surgeries being performed. The playground alone makes the membership fee worth it. The area is well done with two large play structures plus yard area. They have a mini zip line next to the playground. For really young kids they have an enclosure with padding. This area is socks only. The only downfall is that watching more than one kid can be tricky since the area is so big. Boo at The Zoo is an additional cost and a fun holiday activities. Boo at The Zoo is fun to experience once or if you're looking for something to do with a group. The kids trick or treat and the zoo is decorated with Halloween decorations. They also have a dance floor and the carousel is running. Rides appear to be an extra cost. Zoolumination is my favorite holiday activity at the zoo and was very well done. The lights and installations were impressive. For this event you can buy for one date or an unlimited pass for the three months that it runs. The unlimited is worth it if you'll be visiting more than once. This event can get quite crowded. Santa pictures are available in the barn area. The cheapest package with a digital photo was $60. Ice skating is available in a small rink for an additional charge. Most of the food spots were closed on a weeknight, but everything was open on a weekend. Pass on the $9 cocoa. My family purchased several and it wasn't hot. The Nashville Zoo is a great activity for the kids. It's a great spot to check out or visit regularly if you're a local. read more

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Awesome zoo!! Plenty of shade and lots of beautiful enclosures for the animals. Plenty of zoo attendants to tell you all about the animals too. Please go! read more

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I came to the zoo twice this year, once in the summer for the usual exhibits and animals, and once for Zoolumination. I really loved the seasonal Zoolumination, there were way more lights and things to see than I expected! Be prepared for crowds and cold temperatures, but in my opinion the views are worth it. The regular zoo is cool but feels dated. Especially compared to other zoos in major cities, it feels like if you don't have young kids with you there isn't a ton to do and the animal exhibits are just fine. I still think it's worth visiting to take a walk around, and I know they're doing construction so maybe we'll see some newer exhibits soon! read more

Nashville Zoo - Zoolumination - Zoos Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

The thing that I love about this zoo is that there are minimal cages. Most are in enclosed spaces on little islands, or down below. This is great for the animals and also for pictures. I feel like you get closer to them. Everyone who worked here was super nice too. read more

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Sooo close to 5 stars. While it is a beautiful and very well kept zoo. It wasn't quite the San Diego Zoo 5 star zoo. It is very clean, very relaxing and very nice. I would absolutely still recommend it to anyone looking fora nice zoo. Would be nice to add a touch of amusement park to it. Canned water for A LOT of money was a bit of a let down also. read more

Well-maintained grounds. There aren't too many exhibits- they have a lot of animal species, but they are so far apart from each other that unless you get there early, you will potentially miss an animal you want to see. Have been to the Chicago Lincoln Park Zoo (which is free), and you can walk it in a good amount of time and see the animals. Same with Green Bay and other zoos in IL and WI. We got free tickets, but $10 for parking. We were told, "Show them on your way out." We drove all through the exit, and nothing or no one was there to check (so, odd, and why have your ticket clerks say you'll have to show on your way out if there is nobody or nothing there). Overall. Beautiful grounds, spaced way too far apart with not as many animals as you'd expect for how big the grounds are- there's also a random electric Cadillac car in the middle of a walkway, too many vendors, and it seemed more of an "adventure park" than a zoo. read more

This is a fantastic zoo, especially if you're a resident of Nashville. The zoo has thought of everything for young families and animal enthusiasts alike. From Boo at the Zoo during the fall season to Zoolumination in the wintry months, patrons of will have a blast at the specialty events offered here. Upon asking the staff, they indicated that they actually partner with artisans from China every year to ensure new, innovative lanterns for the festival. Fantastic! The personnel who work here are always helpful, thoughtful, and willing to get you where you need to go. Several visitors who have gone with us have expressed particular interest at the veterinary, glass windowed area where you can sometimes see veterinary doctors treat animals. It's really fascinating and particularly great to talk about doctor's visits if you happen to be with young ones (who might not love seeing the doctor for annuals). I would advise going in a bit earlier in the day, especially if you have kiddos with you. The zoo can get particularly crowded on holidays and during warmer months. Winter at the Nash zoo is totally doable: less crowds, the animals are more free to roam (and less likely to hide from said crowds), and there's more freedom for you to roam as a patron too. The gift shop is delightful, there is coffee and ice cream (as well as lunch/dinner options) on sight, and a truly awesome playground with many features for young kids. What's not to love? Highly recommend, particularly the membership option for young families needing to get out of the house. They renovated the parking recently, so there's an awesome garage if you prefer covered parking as well as the standard lots. read more

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We went on a Saturday in the middle of the day, so be careful of how hot it gets, lotssssss of walking. I also think that $29 a person is a little steep for the zoo. However, the animals were great, good signage, lots of parking, overall a great experience for any animal lovers such as myself. read more

Nashville Zoo - Spider Monkey - Zoos Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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We love the Nashville Zoo, it's the closest zoo to us so we have a membership. Downside is there isn't a lot of interactive/close up experiences like other zoos. I would love if they would add feeding the giraffes. They used to have feeding turtles, but it went away and hadn't returned. Also, a lot of the events that we like to attend aren't included in the membership. They have an amazing playground. The animals shows are always entertaining. read more

Nashville Zoo - The animal show. - Zoos Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

After who knows how many visits I've realized that I have not left a review. Nashville Zoo is very nice. They are constantly making improvements and expanding exhibitions. The membership prices have increased along with everything else but it beats a single day pass and you can visit as often as you like for an entire year and includes free parking. I recommend you add the unlimited ride pass too. read more

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This was my second time visiting this zoo. It's a well maintained, cute park with a small variety of animals. There aren't a TON of exhibits, but what they do have is well taken care of. My main complaints are due to accessibility, a lot of the exhibits are up hills so maneuvering with a wheelchair can be difficult (they do have electric wheelchairs to rent and i'd HIGHLY recommend it) also a random handful of enclosures have mulch around them so you can't get to those in a wheelchair. The big issue we had was, on the way out one of the staff driving a security vehicle sped through the pedestrian cross walk and nearly hit us, he kept going and didn't seem to notice anything. When I contacted customer support about the situation all they did was tell me they'd talk to the employee, and that they hoped I enjoyed my trip. It really felt like they brushed the major safety concern under the rug. Considering I was inches from winding up in the ER i'm not sure if i'll be back to this location. read more

Nashville Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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A couple more photos from a beautiful fall day surrounded by nature, up close and personal. Moments like these made the visit worthwhile and reminded me not to overlook the beauty around me. read more

Nashville Zoo - This is a cassowary, what a beautiful, powerful bird. The standout bright blue head and turquoise neck are truly one of a kind. - Zoos Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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This zoo is amazing! It feels like you're walking through a tropical oasis throughout the entire park! Most paths are shaded but still allow for a nice breeze. All of the works we met were super kind and very helpful for our young boys! The double stroller was only $13 to rent and worked perfectly for us! You can bring in your own food which we did but we also still utilized a few of the concession stands which were Everywhere throughout the park which was also super helpful with young ones! I can't say enough amazing things about the Park area for kids! It's massive and our boys played there for hours. It is user friendly for little ones (we have a 3 and 6 year old) who were able to pretty much use the entire play space without much adult assistance. We purchased then adventure passes and it was well worth the money! Endless carousel ride, 4D movie theater, nectar to feed the birds, zip line rides, and train rides! We were thoroughly impressed with our experience and would definitely come back when in the area again! read more

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Nashville Zoo packs a lot into its venue. Plenty of parking. A lot of shade areas to sit in or walk in. Nice singing options indoor and outdoor. Plus you can bring your own coolers and snack into the zoo. The zoo has done a nice job of creating regional experiences and decor to match the habitats of the animals. Grassmere farm's historic contribution to the zoo's conception was wonderful to experience. Upgrade to the adventure pass! It includes many things- zipline, carousel, a movie, amongst others. Like most venues, food and beverages are expensive! Several exhibits are being added or renovated (August 2024), but there was so much to see we didn't feel cheated. read more

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