Before I moved here, the zoo was always on my must-do list when visiting. Now that I live here, we make an effort to come every few months. It is an accredited zoo and the enclosures are very well maintained. Animals are normally visible, some shy, but that's to be expected. For a free zoo, the size is amazing. There's also tons to do- a train that goes around the zoo, a carousel, and even stingray feeding (my favorite). Food is OK- nothing crazy. Water stations are available and you are allowed to bring in your own food and drinks. Plenty of available restrooms and rest/seating areas all around the zoo. I adore this place. My family member has a membership so we get to ride the train for free. If you're in the city and you skip the zoo, you're seriously missing out! read more

Saint Louis Zoo - Cheetah - Zoos Near Me - St Louis, Missouri

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There's no doubt that the St. Louis zoo is one of the best zoos in the US! At the zoo. You can find a huge array of monthly themed activities and events not only geared towards families but also for adults to enjoy without kids present. I went with to the Animals Aglow lantern festival with some friends and we loved glancing at all of the beautifully decorated lanterns around the garden. I love that they included all different types of lanterns--mechanical lanterns, musical lanterns, ornate, and simple lanterns. I can tell that they really thought about the entire design when they added each of these installations to the zoo. They were also easily accessible to kids who have physical disabilities, which is a huge plus. One of the things I wish we had available when going to the zoo is a digital map that tells us where we're going, because even though I've been several times I always get lost lol. BUT I am today years old when I found out they ALREADY have a digital, interactive map that directs you to all of the exhibits in real time. (Found that out on their website!!) I wish I would've known this sooner but it's awesome that they created this concept! But what can I say, I love the Zoo and am looking forward to their other exhibits and amenities opening this year!! read more

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This is one amazing zoo and is free to enter. The parking is paid but street parking is free. Tons of history since the St Louis world's fair was at that location. Some of the original buildings are still in use. I would recommend taking the train around as it gives you a nice view of most of the animals. To my surprise, the cost of food and drinks are reasonably priced. read more

Absolutely love this zoo coming in from AZ, where the zoo fee there was NOT free, but STL ZOO IS! Parking can be a hassle here if you don't want to pay for $20 parking, but street parking is available - just be ready to walk a lot if you go that route. There is a North and South entrance that you can enter from, but there is significant construction happening inside by the North Entrance. Aside from all that, the animals here are much more active and not sleeping! We were lucky to be here when the new sloth habitat appeared! They are located inside the Primate House which leads to more primates and then bam - the tigers! This place is HUGE with a beautiful park in the center to lounge. We also paid to attend ZOO Lights which had light up dragons and animals by traditional Chinese art. It was absolutely pretty AND parking was free for that. It is a lot of walking, be prepared to bring umbrellas during the spring, and lots of water! read more

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Amazing free zoo. I am lucky there is a wonderful free zoo both in DC by me and where I am from in St. Louis. The Penguin and Putfin house is the greatest hit. It usually is much colder then the rest of the zoo except when it is below freezing and it feels warm. The bears are amazing too and the polar bear exhibit area has a recent update. Rivers Edge is great too but haven't been in some time. read more

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The St. Louis Zoo is incredible! The events they put on are always a blast--I love Zoo Lights, and Boo at the Zoo this year with my nieces was so much fun! The zoo also offers programs where you can pay for animal encounters and learn even more about them. I've done the penguin encounter twice, and it's just as amazing every time! You get up close with these little guys, and the zookeepers are so knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Hands down one of the coolest experiences in STL! read more

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St. Louis Zoo. Pound for pound. camel for camel. Monkey for monkey. For the price of free, this is absolutely incredible for everyone in the family. Variety of animals to check out. The quality and quantity is top tier. I have no other words to write. Brevity in a review demonstrates persuasiveness. In this way, if you want a great experience for free, then come check this place out. FYI, there is $20 parking or free street parking. read more

I had a wonderful time exploring the St Louis Zoo. It was wonderful to learn about all the animals present and the conservation efforts being done or supported by the Zoo. I did not get to see all the animals but I saw a polar bear and puffins for the first time. I was able to see the intentionality by the zoo to try as best as possible to make the spaces occupied by the animals stimulating by having sensory items to enhance curiosity and play. Also the zoo is free and you can make a donation. You can also get free street side parking close to the Zoo. read more

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Wild lights at the zoo. Online reservations required. Free parking after 4pm for this event. Well lit. Plenty of direction to explore. Picturesque moments throughout the entire walk. Concession stand is reasonable and budget friendly. Holiday kettle corn tub is delicious. Barcardi hot chocolate was delicious. Ciders and alcohol here as well. Your ticket includes 4d theater of Rudolph the red nose reindeer (10 min) carousel ride ( 5 min I believe) Penguin exhibit. Music , man made snow, and dancing props. Candy shop and gift shop is open for purchase. Check website for additional information on days and hrs of operation, it is select days. Great outing for families, date night etc. read more

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The St. Louis Zoo is by far one of my favorite zoos! I absolutely love it here. I live in LA and have been to much larger zoos, with diverse habitat, but this one stands out for its charm, openness, and how easy it is to navigate the exhibits. The staff and visitors were friendly, and the whole experience felt relaxed and enjoyable. The weather was cool and crisp during my visit, which made it even better -- but honestly, I think I'd love it here any time of year. And the best part? Admission is completely free! Definitely worth a visit -- and don't forget to donate to support this gem. read more

Saint Louis Zoo - Sweet Gorilla - Zoos Near Me - St Louis, Missouri

Even though it was so hot out... a trip to the St Louis Zoo is always great. I grew up 30 min from here and this is one of the places I always recommend. I brought my children up going to this zoo also. read more

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THE BEST ZOO! Wow. It just kept going! Came out here to visit and my brother and so happy we came. Amazing that this place is free! So many exhibits, extremely friendly staff, and so many animals!! read more

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This is my 2500th Yelp Review! The St Louis Zoo is world class! We are so lucky to have it here! Saturday 11/15/25 was a beautiful 80° day in November. The zoo was packed! We ended up parking on Oakland and walking across the highway over the bridge. Both lots were full. We saw the Rivers Edge, Big Cat Country, the bears, etc. The train was a little slow but I'm sure they weren't prepared. Glorious day to be at the zoo! read more

Saint Louis Zoo - 11/15/25 Elephant - Zoos Near Me - St Louis, Missouri

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In my opinion fall and winter are the best time to visit the renowned St. Louis FREE ZOO! The animals are active and playful and the crowds significantly less. Parking in one of two lots is $20, $5 for members, but at this time of the year, especially on weekdays, spots are available on the street. I prefer the north lot with the main entrance, restrooms and gift shop for its convenience and close proximity to my one favorite habitats ... the bears, the train and the carousel. Our last trip included half of the many environments and habits. We saw the bears outside being very playful. The polar bears and penguins, both with indoor and outdoor environments. After enjoying the bears we headed towards the gorillas, apes and monkey exhibit, then up a slight hill to the Big Cat Habitat for an up-close and personal interaction with this cheetah and the Amur tigers, known for their distinctive and unique stripes. Watching them move so gracefully is mesmerizing. The Zebras were equally majestic and fun to watch. The next stop was the kids climbing experience which they loved. We skipped the reptile house -just can't, even though I was told by a 10 year old I needed to conquer my fears, and called it a day. Concessions, including Starbucks, were open with plenty of options. read more

Saint Louis Zoo - Beautiful Cheetah at the Cat Habitat in the St.Louis Zoo. - Zoos Near Me - St Louis, Missouri

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Tips Use the digital map; it is like a GPS. It really helps you navigate the zoo. Great place to spend time with your family. It's free, and this is such a huge zoo. They have stroller rental and a phone charger for an affordable price. The best part is the zoo keeps updating with new things to do, and that includes the new interactive map, that allows you to use it as a GPS, a new place coming in 2026, and a new wild care park in 2027. I love the night light events. There are a lot of things to do in this zoo. If you are visiting St. Louis, it is a must to go here. read more

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A FREE Zoo !? Whaaaat ! This zoo is absolutely worth the visit . Saw so many rare animals I've NEVER seen before , Okabi , Amur leopard ,Addax,Currasow ,Oryx & Langur. It's full of attractions and shows as well. Love love love ! read more

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Being born and raised in STL, some of my earliest memories are here at the zoo - being pushed around in a stroller and in awe. Now, with no willing party to cart me around in the same fashion, this wonderful place still captured my awe. I loved walking around the Animals Aglow displays this weekend. The colors and variety in the displays had me captivated - especially the butterfly tree. The zoo is always worth a visit, but this was a very special treat. read more

Saint Louis Zoo - Lantern display 2026 - Zoos Near Me - St Louis, Missouri

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As an animal and zoo enthusiast, the St. Louis Zoo is one of the best in the country, and best of all, admission is free. The parking costs, but there are a few museums of this caliber that have free admission, so it definitely balances out. The zoo is huge, and there are so many animals there, many of which I had never seen at any other zoo (i.e., the African painted dogs). I spent 2 1/2 hours at the zoo and I still didn't cover its entirety. As a matter of fact, I got lost leaving since there are so many sections! My favorite exhibits were the penguins, cheetahs and insectarium. I learned a lot about the animals and thoroughly enjoyed myself. There are ample bathrooms throughout the zoo and they are very clean. Overall, I highly recommend. read more

This is such a wonderful zoo. And admission is free! Amazing. Yes you do have to pay for train rides and the carousel but those are extras that many people aren't interested in. I will say the train ride is over a mile long which is unusual for zoo trains. Maps are available at the entrance- paper or QR code. The day of our most recent visit was quite crowded because everyone was taking advantage of the warm December day. But we still were able to get around without issue. read more

I have always loved our zoo. This review is specifically for the after hours adults only event in August. It was great to support our zoo and sample plenty of wines and cocktails. There was one food truck and they were working it, but you can imagine they were overwhelmed. There were fun commentary bobble heads and train rides, and a coupon for a full sized drink. I would definitely attend again! Photo from the Animals Aglow festival because we enjoyed that as well. read more

Saint Louis Zoo - Animals Aglow festival 2025 - Zoos Near Me - St Louis, Missouri

Just visited on a beautiful 85 degree day and our experience was SO MUCH BETTER! Almost like a totally different place when you're not on the verge of hypothermia (like my previous review.) We opted for street parking again to avoid the $20 parking lot. Unfortunately, when we first came here, the street parking was full so we left and went to the Science Museum and swung back here around 2pm and LUCKILY found a spot. (Phew!) This visit we noticed a lot of changes around the zoo, especially the money exhibit including a raised walkway and playground for the kiddos. Many of the animals were out this trip, which was so nice! Stopped into the gift shop before leaving a snagged a souvenir magnet for $4 and a keychain for $5. Not terrible. Love that this zoo is FREE entry! We'll definitely come back next time we're in town! read more

Saint Louis Zoo - Polar bear was probably our favorite. - Zoos Near Me - St Louis, Missouri

We unfortunately had a disappointing time at the zoo. Admittedly, it's mostly on us. February was a bad time to go. A lot of the exhibits were closed and many of the animals were not in their habitats because it was very cold. What we did see was enjoyable! The cheetahs were super cool and the indoor primate hall was a big highlight. The thing that I'm taking stars off for is how confusing the layout is. It's incredibly difficult to find specific animals and exhibits based on the map and the map is not updated to notify you which exhibits are closed. The zoo is enormous (obviously) so it's difficult to backtrack if you missed something hidden around a corner, especially if you're disabled or have mobility issues. I wish there was a more detailed map or a list of where every animal is. We completely missed several entire sections. Almost every single place to get food or gifts was closed. The only place open was the big Lakeside Cafe. Nothing anywhere prepared us for so many stands being cold. I guess I was just supposed to expect that? I'm an out-of-towner so it would be nice to have something to tell me what was and wasn't open. Also, the gift shop is severely lacking in cheap souvenirs. I would have loved to buy several stickers, post cards, and buttons but the cheapest sticker was $5! read more

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Whenever I travel with my family we will inevitably find our way to the local zoo. Chicago, San Diego, and Seattle, each time I go to one of these Zoos I just find myself thinking, "man we are so lucky to have the St. Louis Zoo." Without a doubt this zoo is the best in the country. It is a hidden gem of the city that more people should talk about. From the conservation side you have polar bears, elephants, cheetahs and almost any crowd pleasing animal you can think of. The zoo is constantly upgrading with new and improved attractions. There is a recently updated area for the polar bears, an interactive money enclosure, an upcoming new children's zoo, and an interaction outdoor play area. There is always something happening to make the zoo bigger and better. What really makes the zoo stand out though is that it is FREE. Let me say that again, it is absolutely free to get in. There are add ons like train rides, carousels, stingray exhibits and a couple others that charge, but the costs are minimal. If you get a Zoo membership (starting as low as $80) parking costs drop to $5 or free, and you get tons of tickets for these attractions. This is a family membership. Compare this to something like the San Diego Zoo where membership starts at $70+ per kid and ~$130 per adult. The value you are getting at the St. Louis Zoo just blows everything else away. If you park on the side streets in forest park, bring in your own food/drinks (allowed), you can visit the Zoo at no cost. In many other cities the Zoo is simply not accessible to most families. read more

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We've been to the zoo countless times before but this was my first time as a wheelchair user. I wanted to make a quick note here that the zoo is INCREDIBLY accessible. We used the family bathrooms with ease. Most of the paved areas were easy to navigate, and when there were paths that were at too extreme of an angle, there was always another way around. To access the train, simply wait at the assigned area for the conductor or their assistant to guide you onto the accessible car, where you will be strapped in for a comfortable ride. Everyone was very accommodating and friendly. Food choices were also pretty good, I had a greek salad for a lower carb option. Everything here tastes like the elephants' smell to me, but what are you gunna do. It's adequate nutrition on a long hot day, no complaints here. read more

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Hands down the best zoo in the US! Free entry and they have holiday events along with private events you can join if you get added to their mailing list. Believe the zoo is expanding. Overall just a very classic and nice experience for a zoo. read more

Saint Louis Zoo - Holiday after hours, you will need to buy tickets in advance, especially for the weekends. - Zoos Near Me - St Louis, Missouri

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One of the best zoo I've ever been to. The enclosures were animal friendly, and were landscaped and partitioned well with minimal caging allowing for a very intimate experience with the animal. IMO- it's better than the San Diego zoo, especially when it's free! You'll still have to pay for the extras like giraffe feeding or the tram ride. read more

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The animals weee well cared for & the grounds were meticulously maintained. Lots of signs, walkways, benches, stocked clean restrooms & vendors. A nice selection of gifts & food options. read more

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I am so lucky to live in STL where we have the BEST zoo! Seriously! Visiting the zoo is something I do often and always have such a fun experience! Recently, I went for a visit with my mom and nieces (12) and we had the best time walking around on a nice day. So many of the animals were outside playing around so it was a great time to visit! We even were lucky enough to see the grizzly bears and the polar bears moving around a bit. Of course, the penguins are my favorite so I spent a lot of time with them! We also spent a lot of time watching the zebras, camels, kangaroos and other animals in that section. The Ape's and Monkey's were having such a good day playing so they were cute to watch. We rode the carousel which was also a lot of fun! Grabbed a snack midway throughout our day to recharge. Spent lots of time in the shops looking for just the right gifts. What a fun day! read more

Easily one of the best zoos I've been too in a long time. So much variety and things to do and it's FREE. I can't believe it. My home state zoo bleeds you dry of cash and is so boring. This one easily takes the whole entire day to enjoy. Some things require payment like parking in the zoo lots, some activities, and the train but since you are not paying a gate admission, it isn't that much of a pain. We easily avoided having to pay out of pocket if we didn't want to spend a lot. If you do choose to pay for things, the price is very affordable and reasonable. We decided to buy a couple things since we did not pay anything for admission. Think about it - a family of five going to the zoo for under $30? Unthinkable. The animals are in great health and the habitats are easy to get to and offer unique views on the animals. The enclosure are also well thought of and the property is full of art sculptures and flowers. Makes for a beautiful walking experience. This zoo has most of the "big 5" animals and so many unique species from all over the world, each corner turned offer something new to see. The day flies by when walking around here. So much fun. I am shocked that some people choose to complain about this place because once again folks, this place is FREE to enjoy. read more

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We decided to stop by the zoo because there's free admission, at least in the winter... and we know why. It's because 60% of the animals are missing! lol. They are either in hibernation or it's too cold for them to be outside. Some cool animals that we saw- tigers, monkeys (indoor), zebras, penguins and some others. I really wanted to see the polar bears but they weren't out. Everything was closed as well, so no concession stands or fun snacks or beers to purchase. It was definitely cold though. Something to pass the time. Also, the roads to get here is confusing! Our uber driver like literally drove in circles for 20 minutes because she kept missing the turn about. lol. read more

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Always love coming to this zoo when we come visit family. Free entry, 20.00 or free parking. Food, drinks, and merch is very reasonably priced. There is alot of new things coming and they r expanding read more

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We are so lucky in St. Louis to have one of the best zoos ever. The admission is free and and this zoo has so much to offer. The different exhibits of animals brings such a great experience to people of all ages The layout of the zoo is easy to navigate, but you can grab a free map if you need it. There are also so many great choices for food and drink within the zoo, but you can also pack a lunch. I have been going to the zoo in St. Louis since I was a young child and now I take my own kids and my class for field trips. Yes, it is probably the best field trip you can ever plan with any grade level. The animals are well taken care of! I highly recommend you getting a zoo pass to ride the train and see the sea lions and save on parking if you don't wanna park on the street. Remember the admission is free so it's more of a donation to help this great zoo going in such a great direction. One more thing I would like to add if you don't mind, the landscaping is beautiful. I don't just take pictures of the animals, but I also take pictures of the beautiful plants as well. read more

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We always love a good trip to the zoo, but it's especially fun during their seasonal events! This is our 3rd year going to Boo at the Zoo and we had a blast! The music, decorations, and Halloween festivities are always so fun. They offer train rides and carousel rides with the purchase of your tickets. They also have fun seasonal snacks and drinks for purchase throughout the zoo. The only small bummer is the long wait at the south entrance to get in every year- but I've heard the north entrance is much easier!! We love the STL zoo and can't wait for our next trip! read more

Saint Louis Zoo - Zoos Near Me - St Louis, Missouri

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We drove around 3 hours to come to to this zoo. Actually, it was longer because part of the highway to get there was closed and we had to detour a lot but that's another conversation about the great Missouri highway system. First, the signs for the zoo aren't clear. Yes, yiu see the giant animals at the top but that's not quite where the zoo is. The zoo, is actually at the bottm. We paid for parking because there were no on street parking spots let. Our zoo has free parking but you pay for admission. This zoo was opposite: free admission and pay to park. OK, fine. Once we got in the zoo, we were met with closed exhibits, being charged to see stingrays, and the longest line in history to see the penguins (which we didn't get to see). I had heard so many great things about this zoo and can say, I was let down. The kids didn't have a good time and my kids love the zoo. My daughter did get a stuffed monkey so there's that. I really just expected more. When I told thise who hyped this place up, I was told that the zoo had changed. What we saw, wasn't the zoo they went to years before. That explains my let down. Plus, a large portion was under construction so we didn't get to see the animals that were in thise areas (here's looking at you giraffes). read more

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I am so impressed by this zoo. Not only is it huge, the animals are well cared for, everything is clean and well arranged, they are open year round, and it is FREE! One of my favourites things to do in St-Louis. Even if the weather is bad, you will get lucky and manage to see something, otherwise they have plenty to see indoors as well. I visited during the winter holidays and there was so much to see and do. The train does have some issues (if there are too many people, the wait is too long and they don't have enough trains for the demand. If the weather is bad, it will not run) so I don't recommend getting it unless in the summer it runs faster and more frequently. The light show during the winter is also so pretty! And lots of the indoors exhibits are open (penguins, insects, etc) You are guaranteed a good time if you visit! read more

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HUGE zoo and FREE?! What can be better than that?! There are so many different exhibits to see and they keep adding more! There's animals from all types of terrain from safari, ocean, rainforests, desert. The animals' areas are large and not over crowded, allowing the animals to have less stress compared to other animal enclosures. There's lots of shade. There's areas to buy souvenirs and food. They even have some photobooths. There's a train available for purchase as well that takes you around different parts of the zoo. Again, this zoo is HUGE. Be sure to bring comfortable shoes to walk in. Even parking was a bit of a hassle - there's $20 parking or you can search for parking on the street. read more

Great zoo, good location at the forest park, lot of wildlife and even insects to see. And best of all it's free. We visited during the snowy winter day, spent most of our time indoors, there were so many interesting places to visit, the birds house, insectarium, butterfly wing, primate (monkey) house, herpetarium and many more. Even though the zoo offers free entry, it doesn't compromise on quality. There's still plenty of fascinating things to see and explore. Strongly recommend everyone to visit. read more

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Sadly a very underwhelming experience. Considering the weather was phenomenal I expected the animals to be out and roaming but they certainly were not. Half of the animals were not in their cages "away with the keepers" and the other half were simply out of sight. To top it off there is construction going on in several places, blocking off certain paths throughout the zoo. It's obviously a free experience but I just wasn't satisfied with the visit and won't plan to return until the construction is done. read more

(MAY 2025) Parking at the zoo will be a nightmare during peak times but the zoo will always be worth it! There is a paid lot or free street parking. I was giving my friend a tour of our city and am so proud to be from a city that does not charge for entry for the zoo. read more

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The Saint Louis Zoo is one of the top three largest in the USA. I'm very impressed that it is a part of the giant Forest Park complex and is FREE to visit. Mind. Blown. Zoos are insanely expensive to visit and this one is very, very nice with extremely well planned and built exhibit areas for the animals. I was a bit unimpressed at first bc we saw the monkey, lion, and other areas on The Hill and there were no animals - I was like, wtf? We asked a worker who said that some of them had died and they were getting more but I still don't know where all the monkeys were... we saw some zebra and giraffes which were cool. It started picking up after lunch. We met friends in the center and I did a penny press (win) and we had surprisingly good, large, and well-priced Cesar salads and then saw the penguin enclosure which was really well done and then proceeded to see bears, elephants, red pandas, etc. We had my one-year old daughter and it was easy to use a stroller and change her while there. The prices for items in the gift shop were super fair - $3 for a magnet which we always buy when we travel - so that was great as most places charge like $7-10. All in all - def. worth a visit. Parking isn't free if you want to park nearby and walk right in - it was $20 but you can use a QR code and pay on your phone. WIN! [You can park for free on the hill outside but I hear there are lots of break-ins, even during the day] read more