How to Get More Out of the L.A. Zoo: Question for Parents

To All You Parents Out There:

We live so close to a great resource—the Los Angeles Zoo—and so our family, which includes three kids under 12, got a membership two months ago. We all love roaming around, and so we've been going every two weeks or so. It's enough to get our money's worth and support the zoo.

But I can't help wondering if there's a way to have a more meaningful experience there. We wander past the animals in their environments and my kids enjoy hitting the playground. So my question to other moms and dads is what can we do to get our kids to engage with the animals and their stories a little more?

I know I can hire a zoo tour guide, but that would cost us a whole lot—and that’s not why we bought a membership to begin with. What do you other parents do to get your kids more interested in the zoo so that they can learn more about animals and connect with them.

Thanks! An ER MOM