#Columbus zoo gift shop free#

Pronghorns graze on the hillside and do their business like no one is around. The Ohio Wetlands you will find lit with blue, white, and clear lights for your enjoyment. While up in North America, check out Santa’s Holiday Home, located in the “Battelle Icebear Outpost.” It is a cute setup with singing Polar Bears and a display for the young ones to climb through. The Brown Bears also rest against the glass, and WOW, they have some massive paws. The other two are brilliant and taking a nap. We find Santa at the Polar Frontier, hanging out on the sign! There are 3 Polar Bears in their habitat, but only one is active. The area also has some beautiful light displays for you to enjoy.īefore the Polar Bear Exhibit, you will find the “Bob Evans My Barn.” Next to Polar Bears, Lisa is a significant cow lover, and they have cows!! Chickens, a Pony, Pigs, and Sheep are also on display for viewing pleasure.Ī Reindeer Exhibit will have you looking for Santa and put you in a festive mood. Should you need to take a break, catch the train and take in the zoo from a different view. You can also take in a Camel Ride up above Bison Hill. North America houses not only the Polar Bears but also Brown Bears and Arctic Foxes. You get a reduced price if you return the next day and bring your cup.

#Columbus zoo gift shop free#

We opt to head to North America Polar Bears, here we come!īut first, hot chocolate is calling! When you purchase hot chocolate during Wildlights, it comes in a souvenir cup, and you get free refills while you are there. It seems Jungle Jack’s Landing is also closed for the season. To help you decide where to visit first, a road sign noting many places to explore assists you. Looking around the area, you will notice an abundance of stationary lights near the center lake, and they come to life thanks to 93.3 every 15 minutes starting at 5:00 p.m. Claus Kitchen is available during Wildlights. Lights, lights, and lights are everywhere. There is a shuttle that takes you there, and after seeing the location, take the shuttle. We love Christmas time and all of the lights.!ĭue to the season, the African exhibits were closed, but North America is still open. Thank you for taking care of everyone that comes through those gates.Ī Junior Zookeeper Gift Shop, with more decorations, can be found in this area. Just a hop, skip, and a jump away, Casey has located Cinnabon, and off he goes before Lisa can say, “where do you want to go first,” Lisa notices the EMS building, and of course, the EMT comes out in her, so she has to snap a picture. We arrive early in the day so that we are also able to enjoy Wildlights in the evening.

Note to self: next time, wear gloves and more than a sweatshirt. Let us say this, even if you go in the daytime on a cloudy day with a temperature of 43 degrees, it is still December, and the wind blows a LOT harder as you roll on. We find them in the Zoo Marketplace building today, where you may also purchase souvenirs and see their decorations. The cost is very reasonable at $35.00, and several are available. With Lisa still recovering from a total knee replacement, we rented an electric scooter so that she was able to enjoy the animals and attractions. The holiday season is a buzz throughout the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium with lights on display and the giant lighted Christmas Tree as soon as you enter. Our adventure took us past shuttle Stops 1 and two on the way to our parking location. Once through the gates, you will notice shuttle stops to help you get to the entrance quicker and safely. You may find hours and other pertinent information at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Admission comes with your tickets and annual zoo membership. Starting November 16th and going until January 6th, Wildlights bring magic to the zoo. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is open all year round except Thanksgiving and Christmas, with varying hours. All opinions, thoughts, and suggestions expressed herein are our own and not influenced by the company or its affiliates in any way.” “The reviewers were given two complimentary admission tickets and one parking pass in return for our honest review. From the moment you pull onto the lot waiting to go through those gates, you get a giddy feeling like you are five years old waiting on Santa! Well, at least Lisa did!! Located 24 short miles from downtown Columbus and less than 5.5 miles from Dublin, this fantastic world-renowned zoo is a great place to visit with your family. We could not find any better way to spend a brisk Sunday in December than at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Powell, Ohio.