Miami MetroZoo
Published On: Oct 25, 2006

Miami MetroZoo
1 Zoo Boulevard
12400 SW 152 Street
Miami, FL 33177
Admission included with the Go Miami Card

Get ready for the wilderness at Miami's MetroZoo.

The MetroZoo in Miami is an educational smorgasbord of exciting exhibits, fabulous entertainment, and family rides 365 days of the year. There is not a single disappointment anywhere on the grounds.

Full of featured attractions and new births all year long, the Miami MetroZoo knows how to fulfill the nature lover in everyone. As much concerned with education as entertainment, the zoo offers student groups that visit during the school year behind-the-scenes walk-throughs, daily Ecological instruction, and even programs on weekends. The zoo staff is regularly asked to participate in field trips for classes visiting the zoo and offers resources for teachers and students to encourage lifelong learning.

Dr. Wilde's World has become a very popular part of the zoo and features seasonal and traveling exhibits in its indoor air-conditioned gallery. Visitors can learn about various regions and cultures of the world any time of year as exhibits and displays are constantly changing. Dr. Wilde has recently added a new ride, The Wild Earth Jeep Simulator, which takes riders on a virtual African safari. One person drives the jeep through the wildlife as another person takes photos of the animals. After the ride, you can get printouts of the photos you took.

In October 2006, the MetroZoo picked up the traveling exhibition titled The Scoop on Poop exhibit as a part of Dr. Wilde's World. This exhibit is the largest ever on poop and tells visitors all about what animals and humans do with our waste. It offers a full treatment of the subject based on a book by Dr. Wayne Lynch.

The American Bankers Family sponsors the zoo's aviary. In its Wings of Asia exhibit, the zoo shows real live dinosaurs and The Field Research Center gives visitors a chance to actually touch replicas of dinosaur fossils and bird skeletons. Aquatic birds are the feature at the Potamkin Conservation Center, situated behind two waterfalls in the Observation Center. The Wings of Asia is a favorite of several media organizations including Sky Magazine and American Way Magazine and features more than 300 rare, endangered, and exotic Asian birds.

CommerceBank is the sponsor of Miami MetroZoo's Children's Zoo. The children's zoo allows families to get intimate with small creatures and meet strange animals like blue-tongue skinks. In Toadstool, children can view small amphibians, invertebrates, and reptiles. A big hit of this section of the park is the Butterfly Garden, a colorful and beautiful array of a great collection of many species. The children's zoo also has a snack bar, remote control boats, and a carousel. But the best feature of all is the petting zoo. Children of all ages actually get to run their fingers through the animals' hair, wool, and feathers.

The MetroZoo also features a water play area and a playground. In addition, there are great shows like the Wildlife Show, a demonstration of natural behaviors of various animal species. A trip to the zoo also includes presentations by the zookeepers who feed the animals while patrons watch and discuss the natural habits of the creatures kept at the zoo. Zoo visitors can also feed the pelicans at Pelican Cove or attend the ANIMAGIC Show, featuring actor and magician George Iglesias and his sidekick Lucas. The show includes some audience and animal participation is terrific family entertainment. The zoo also offers public tram tours and guests can rent pontoon-like paddle boats.

A trip to the Miami MetroZoo is a treat any time of year. Special exhibits, events and private parties are featured throughout the year. Some of the more popular attractions include MetroBoo at Halloween, the Giraffe feeding station in October, the Feast of Beasts in December, and the Great MetroZoo Egg Safari in April. Don't leave Miami without visiting the MetroZoo.