Zoo Lights closes at 10pm nightly in downtown Houston. It is open seven nights a week from November 20 to January 10. Tickets purchased online are valid any night of the event and can be used up until the closing time of 10pm.
The lights and displays are available to view until 10pm, although the last admission is at 9pm. Other activities, such as carousel, train and camel rides, are available until 9:30pm.
Can you arrive late to the Houston Zoo?
It is understandable that there may be circumstances that prevent someone from arriving at the Houston Zoo exactly on time. The zoo’s website states that it is open daily throughout the year including holidays, with closing times varying each day.
It is also important to note that although the zoo is open late, many buildings may close earlier than the rest of the zoo.
Visitors should expect to be able to enter the zoo up to 30 minutes prior to closing each day, although this may be less depending on the season. Although it is possible to arrive late, it is best to plan to arrive at the zoo closer to its opening times in order to best experience all that the Houston Zoo has to offer.
Visitors can check the zoo’s website to verify the exact opening and closing times for their particular visit.
Do they sell alcohol at Houston Zoo Lights?
No, the Houston Zoo Lights does not sell alcohol. Although guests are allowed to bring food and drinks into the Zoo Lights, including alcoholic beverages, consumption is not allowed at the event. The goal of the Houston Zoo Lights is to create a family-friendly atmosphere which does not include selling or publicly consuming alcohol.
Therefore, alcohol is not sold at the event.
How long does it take to go through the Houston Zoo?
The time it takes to go through the Houston Zoo varies greatly depending on the individual and how much time they decide to spend at each exhibit. On average, it takes about two to four hours to explore the entire zoo.
However, it’s possible to spend even more time depending on how long you want to observe the animals, read informational displays, and visit the various attractions. Additionally, there are sometimes lines to access some of the attractions, so you may want to factor that in to your estimated time.
Visitors also often decide to have lunch at one of the cafes or enjoy a frozen treat at the snack stand, which can add to the amount of time spent at the zoo.
How much is it to feed the giraffes at the Houston Zoo?
The Houston Zoo offers a variety of experiences and animal food stations, including the chance to feed our giraffes! The cost per person to feed the giraffes is $5 and includes 1 cup of seedless, specially formulated giraffe feed.
There is a limit of 1 cup of feed per person, and no other food items are allowed to be used to feed the giraffes. For the safety of our guests and animals, any other objects used to feed the giraffes will be confiscated and disposed of by Zoo staff.
Feeding the giraffes is a wonderful opportunity to observe the animals up close, watch them interact and have some fun! All proceeds support the Houston Zoo’s mission of connecting communities with animals for conservation success in Houston and around the world.
How big is the Houston Zoo?
The Houston Zoo is located on 55 acres and consists of over 6,000 animals in their collection. It includes a major complex of large and small naturalistic habitats, tropical and temperate forests, a large lake, and a safari park.
It splits into two sections for easy navigation: African Forest and the Urban Jungle. The Urban Jungle section is the most popular, with giraffes, gorillas, elephants, tigers, and other exotic animals living in natural habitats.
The African Forest section is more wild, with the lions, gazelles, cheetahs, and other animals living in a virtual safari park. The Houston Zoo also contains activations for visitors to interact with the animals, such as a free-flight bird show and a splash park for kids.
The entire grounds also have play areas, water features, and various trails to explore. The Houston Zoo is an attraction as it is one of the largest zoos in the country and welcomes around 2.5 million visitors annually.
How long does the Houston Aquarium take?
The amount of time required to explore the Houston Aquarium depends on the individual. For those who are content to appreciate the beauty of marine life from the outside, a pleasant visit may take between 1-2 hours.
For those who like to explore in more detail, the Houston Aquarium has much to offer and may require up to 7 hours. The Aquarium includes a Mayan Temple, tropical rainforest, and touch pools where visitors can interact with a variety of aquatic species.
There is also an array of dining options and an interactive Stingray Reef where visitors can view and feed stingrays. For small children, the Aquarium offers themed play times and daily sea lion shows.
A day at the Houston Aquarium is sure to be a memorable and educational experience that can take uphours.
Is Houston Zoo good for animals?
Yes, the Houston Zoo is good for animals. The zoo has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums since 1980 and meets or exceeds the highest standards of animal care. The Houston Zoo is home to over 6,000 animals representing 800 species, providing them with naturalistic, spacious habitats, exceptional veterinary care and enrichment to encourage natural behavior.
The zoo is part of a much larger effort to prevent species extinction and is actively involved in conservation, research, and education. The Houston Zoo has conservation efforts and partnerships in over 20 countries as well as in our own backyard and is committed to creating a better future for wildlife and insuring species diversity into the future.
Does the Houston Zoo have penguins?
Yes, the Houston Zoo does have penguins. They have a Penguin Exhibit which opened in October 2021. The exhibit includes several species of penguins, such as Macaroni, Gentoo, King, and Rockhopper. Guests at the zoo can get a close-up look at these Antarctica-loving birds in the interactive habitat.
In addition to viewing, they can also learn all about these animals in the educational displays, touch pools, and desktop video presentations. The exhibit also features a few interactive areas like a specially-designed observation deck and an underwater viewing window.
With its fun activities and educational space, the Houston Zoo’s Penguin Exhibit is an amazing experience for the whole family.
What kind of food should I bring to the Zoo?
What kind of food you should bring to the zoo will depend on the type of zoo you plan on visiting and what type of food policies the zoo has. If you are visiting a typical zoo such as a zoo in a major city, you should check with the zoo ahead of time to see what type of food they allow into the park.
Most zoos will only allow snacks and light meals, so you may want to plan accordingly and pack things like sandwiches, salads, fruit, vegetable snacks, and bottled water. If you’re visiting a “petting zoo” or another type of zoo that allows visitors to feed animals, you may want to bring along some special treats like apples, carrots, and other items that animals generally enjoy.
Lastly, you may want to avoid bringing very greasy and heavy foods that could easily draw too much attention from animals.
What do you wear to the zoo?
When visiting the zoo, it is important to wear clothing that is comfortable and appropriate for the weather. Make sure to protect yourself from the sun by wearing a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. A lightweight breathable top with long sleeves can protect your skin from sunburn.
Additionally, wearing light-colored clothing can help keep you cooler on a hot day. It’s also a good idea to wear closed-toe shoes like sneakers for extra protection. Shorts or pants that are loose-fitting and made of lightweight material like cotton will keep you cool and comfortable.
You may also want to bring a light jacket or sweater if the weather becomes cooler during the day. Lastly, you’ll want to bring a drawstring bag or backpack to carry anything you’ll need during your visit such as snacks and extra clothing.
Do zoo lights bother animals?
Zoo lights can potentially bother animals if they are too bright, loud, or the animal is not acclimated to them. Some lights can create a disturbance for animals that would normally be active at night.
Additionally, nighttime visitors at the zoo can also disturb the animals if they are too loud. Although some animals may be bothered by the lights and noise, many animals have easily adapted to the presence of zoo lights, showing no outward signs of disturbance.
It’s important for zoos to work to create an environment for the animals that is comfortable and safe. Some zoos have begun to use more energy efficient lights that are soothing and not too bright, which has decreased the number of reports of animals being disturbed.
It’s also important to limit the amount of noise visitors are making, so animals are not stressed or anxious. If zoos are properly managed, lights and noise should not be a regular issue or bother animals at all.
