Overview

The Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium is a Gilbert personal favorite. It’s what started Gilbert Adventures eight years ago. We have visited many times for anniversaries and special occasions. Our most recent visit was two years ago to visit their GloWild Zoo Lights and Penguin March. Kansas City Zoo offers all my favorites and something for everyone.

Getting There

Tickets range from $19 to $22 a person. However, if you are a resident of Jackson and Clay County you can get in discounted at $9.50 to $11 a person. Make sure you show your ID to get the discount. Anyone ages two and under get in for free. I mentioned that we are members of the Oklahoma City Zoo, showed my membership card, and they applied the AZA 50 % discount off our tickets. There is plenty of parking options with an overflow option. Don’t let parking be the reason you don’t get to enjoy the zoo.  

Noteworthy Animals

There are several animals I love at the Kansas City Zoo. First, is the polar bear, which you find on the right as you enter the zoo. I always seem to gravitate towards the polar bear when I arrive. There is only one, but it’s worth seeing. Next, would be the kangaroos in the Australia exhibit. One time when we were there, I caught the kangaroos in the middle of a kangaroo fight. It was certainly a sight to see. Finally, before you leave you need to go see the penguins. What I love about Kansas City Zoo is that they have all kinds of penguins ranging from big Emperor Penguins to the tiny South American Penguins.

Experiences

One experience I have been able to have was the Penguin March two years ago in December. It’s free, so you just need to buy a ticket and make your way over to the Helzberg Penguin Plaza and enjoy a front row view of the penguins. What made my Penguin March memorable was that it was cold, rainy, and my glasses were getting wet. None of that stopped me from enjoying the penguins and they were so cute waddling down sidewalk.

The Kansas City Zoo offers a SkyTram that takes you over the entire African exhibit. You can decide between a single trip ($4) or a round trip ($7). If you look down, you’ll be able to see zebras, ostriches, giraffes, and rhinos. Tickets are sold separately.

Kansas City GloWild is one of my favorite zoo lights. It was the first stop on our Zoo Light Specular road trip. All day leading up to zoo lights the weather was very questionable. We decided to still procced with the trip and we’ll see how the weather turned out. We went through thunderstorms and possibly lightning just to arrive in a nice easy rain. When we pulled in the parking lot we were one of four cars, all who I think were zoo workers. It was a little creepy. Then it dawns on me that we have the whole zoo to ourselves and for the first time we don’t have to worry about bumping into people. My favorite part was there was a section that had Effile Tower, and we got to dance underneath it just the two of us. That won’t happen again. Rain was not going to stop us.

Facilities

My go to Café is the Beastro Café that is right next to the gift shop. The Beastro Café is the perfect stop to grab your coffee to start your zoo trip and end your zoo trip with lunch. There are a variety of café sit down places and concessions stand on the go options for you.

Overall Impression

I love the Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium. It’s a special place for the Gilbert’s. I look forward to my next Penguin March and GloWild visit. Next time I get take my son and that makes me excited.