We all pay taxes, but in most cases its tough to truly appreciate what they fund. Como Zoo and Conservatory put it to good use, and yes there are things to see and do year round. Get the kids out of the house and enjoy.
The Twin Cities has two zoos. The Minnesota Zoo a huge expanse of grasses, lands, building and a selection of more local habitat animals. It has an El type of viewing tramway,shows and amenities. It is a long drive, very pricey and crowded. My Zoo in Como. Located in the heart of the cities, nested in the Lake Como Parks area of St. Paul...Charming homes, Tangle town Streets, lovely parkways, quaint shops and restaurants. In the middles is an old fashioned Zoo, but modern in its exhibits and facilities. .Lions and Tigers and Bears..oh my, Apes and giraffes..birds that fly and some that don't..Docents that know everything, picnic tables and restful places.Then off to the flower conservatory to see the most magnificent floral display anywhere. Everything is handicapped and older people accessible. You can event rent a scooter. A great place for lunch with friends...and when you leave...there is an old fashioned carousel to ride..
The zoo is fun, and it's the right price--free! Sad penguins, fun monkeys, baby giraffes. Check out the attached Marjorie McNeely Comservatory. The flowers rotate through the seasons and they are always gorgeous! Open 365.
love all the exhibits, and clean. the rides are not much. haven't had achance to see the new water ride area. Parking can be difficult
Living in Minnesota, a trip to the Conservatory is always a welcome break from the dreary winter. Always a beautiful day trip. The zoo is really improving, years ago, awful, sad place. Now, much more open, family friendly and have added more interactive attractions. The "kid park " used to be really shabby, made some improvements, getting better. Food need a lot of work. There is no charge to enter, but please donate whatever you can!
My family visited the CPZC last weekend and we had a blast. We were looking to get out of the house an this was exactly what we were looking for.There is no price of admission, they do take donations. The indoor conservatory was great with plants, flowers and wildlife as they were showing off the new baby snakes, frogs etc.We ventured out to the zoo area and were able to see the primates, aquatic center, polar bears and zebras.Overall the experience was awesome and we look forward to going back in the spring.
The ideal place to spend a dull winter day and rejuvenate is the Como Park Conservatory. Here you can enjoy the colors, sounds and smells of a warmer climate. The conservatory is always so well groomed, everything in full bloom.There are benches where one can sit and take it all in. We are fortunate to have this lovely feature in the Twin Cities.
This is a great time for the family, donations are accepted as entry fee for both the zoo and the Conservatory. The zoo is constantly working to upgrade the facilities and it shows - so much has changed since I was younger, even in the last five years it has changed for the better. The conservatory is always changing out flowers so it is different every time you go. It is best to visit on a dreary/cold/rainy day though (especially on the weekends) as it can get packed and finding parking is bad. There is a shuttle available from down on Como Avenue (by the fairgrounds) which works well - we have taken the shuttle to the zoo and walked back through the fiargrounds int he past.
The guest experience at this zoo was great! Everything was very clean, maps and signage were easy to follow and most of the animals were displayed in their enclosures for everyone to see. It's also FREE (donations accepted) which is a plus. Unfortunately, many of the enclosures were very small, lacking natural elements and some seemed to be quite outdated. Most of the animals were frantically pacing or laying in their concrete cages, obviously bored and distressed: not behaving naturally. It was a very sad sight.
We visited the arboretum on a trip to the twin cities. So beautiful and so warm! A great escape from the frigid temperatures. The suggested donation makes this an affordable attraction for anyone. Probably going to be an annual visitor.