The sun is out, the temperature is lovely. Spring is upon us… and so is Spring Break. It’s a perfect time to visit the zoo. And lots and lots of people will be here. Below I’ve listed some tips to make your trip go smoothly.
PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS IN ADVANCE:
There tend to be lines on this busy week — but if you come with tickets, you can walk right in. And both gates will be open: our main entrance (the one off our parking lot at the edge of Hermann Park) and the West Gate off Cambridge (formerly MacGregor), right across from the Ben Taub Hospital.
You can buy Zoo tickets at the courtesy booth at any Fiesta (33 locations). PLUS you get a discount on the price: $9 for adults, $6 per child!
Buy your Zoo tickets in advance and at a DISCOUNT at Fiesta Marts!
The good news is, there is a Fiesta within 5 minutes of us — at 4200 San Jacinto. You can pop in there for tickets the day of, in leiu of our gates, and save $$ to boot.
BETTER YET, BECOME A MEMBER!
Become a member. Oh so many advantages to this one! First of all, it completely eliminates the need for tickets. And, there is a special Members Express Entrance at both gates so you can breeze right past normal admission lines. You get a 10% discount in the gift shop, discounted prices on many events like our fabulous Feast for the Beast, and any Behind The Scenes Tours and even discounts for your friends and families tickets. Because of all this, you’ll find membership easily pays for itself!
CLICK HERE right now to become a member on the spot, and see a full list of the benefits.
There will be a membership booth at both exits during spring break (3/12-21) so you can join upon arrival. TIP: If you’re thinking about this option for a spring break visit, I’d suggest you join online.
ARRIVE EARLY IN THE DAY
The parking lot can fill up quickly on a week like this, so coming early is your best bet. Not to worry though — here’s several alternatives:
CARPOOL
Get together with the family next door, your best pals, a group from church or school… BONUS: Be green and feel good!
USE ALTERNATE PARKING LOTS
1. Memorial Hermann Medical Plaza at 6400 Fannin. This is an large lot and so close to our West Gate. Start at level 6 and above. And there are 3 entrances off both Main and Fannin, just past Cambridge (formerly MacGregor). Take the elevators to Level One and you can be at our West gate in minutes.
2. Park Plaza Hospital’s Garage on Hermann Drive at San Jacinto. This is essentially on the other side of the park from the main medical center, east of the Museum of Natural History. You can enjoy a pleasant walk through Hermann Park (past squirrels, ducks, picnic benches and sparkling waters) to the zoo’s main entrance.
PARK ELSEWHERE AND RIDE THE RAILS
The METRORail is fast, clean, air conditioned and will drop you right at the zoo… Did I mention that it’s also FUN!?! Make it part of the day’s adventure.
1) Why not park downtown at any theater district parking lot? Then it’s a short few blocks to the Main Street Square stop. Tickets are available at easy-to-use kiosks right on the platform or can be bought in advance at most grocery stores (Kroger, HEB, Foodtown, Fiesta, etc) and other locations. CLICK HERE to find Metro ticket sale locations near you.
2) From the South, catch METRORail at the Fannin South Park & Ride lot, located at 1604 West Bellfort (between Knight and Fannin).
TWO METRORail STOPS SERVE THE ZOO
1) The closest is the Memorial Hermann Hospital/Houston Zoo stop at the Texas Medical Center — at Cambridge (formerly MacGregor) and Main. You can walk along the sidewalk on the Hermann Park side and enter through our West Gate in minutes. That is directly across from Ben Taub Hospital.
2) The stop past #1 is called Hermann Park/Rice U which is at the light of Fannin and Sunset. Walk directly across Fannin into Hermann Park. From there you can walk in either direction around the Park to either Zoo entrance gate. If you want to reserve your legs for zoo grounds, you can just cross Fannin and immediately find a stop for the charming Hermann train.
The Hermann Park Train
Board when it comes along and enjoy the short jog to Kinder Station, which is right at the Zoo’s Main Entrance. Those who board the train should pay for that ride at Kinder station. Tickets are $3 per person; children under 11 months free and $5 for all day rides.
CLICK HERE for train hours and more information about Hermann Park.
CLICK HERE for a METROrail map — this one is made to download to carry with you.
OR, HOP ON A BUS
There are several lines that serve the Houston Zoo, Hermann Park and the medical center area. Here is a list:
1 Hospital
2 Bellaire
4 Beechnut
8 South Main
34 Montrose Crosstown
26/27 Inner/Outer Loop
CLICK HERE for more information.
METROrail TICKETS
You can save $1 per zoo ticket when buying tickets at the zoo admission booths by presenting your bus or rail ticket.
While a METROrail ticket is only $1.25 per person, you can CLICK HERE to learn about some discounts for students, seniors, medicare cardholders and the disabled.
RIDE YOUR BIKE
If you live in the inner loop, this could be a nice way to get here. Reduce your carbon footprint, increase your exercise, and enjoy the great outdoors! Don’t forget that city busses have bike carrying programs if you are coming from further out and would like to tool around on your bike before and after your zoo visit. CLICK HERE for information.
A way to bring your bike from outer areas via the Metro bus.
Bike racks dot Hermann Park and there are be more around the attendant museums and medical buildings. There’s also one at the train station in Hermann Park and a smaller rack outside our west gate.
DOWNLOAD OUR APP!
Don’t forget to download our FREE iPhone App before you come. It will be a great help, telling you all about the animals you’ll visit (just added tons of new stuff) and eliminating the need for a map or checking our kiosks to find anything from keeper talks to rest rooms to ice cream! WE LOVE THE APP!
For more information, CLICK HERE and HERE
Written by Rochelle Joseph. Please stop by my animal and nature blog at http://naturegirrrl.blogspot.com/
Photo credit: Thank you to Fiessta, Hermann Park.org and RideMetro.org for use of the photos above.
