Welcome to this month’s Blogorail Peach Loop. Today we are sharing some great zoos and aquariums your family should visit.
ZooAmerica in Hershey PA
ZooAmerica is a small zoo in Hershey PA that has a lot of history and heart! We are all about mixing our fun and learning, and ZooAmerica is the perfect way to accomplish this!
Everyone knows we LOVE Hersheypark, and ZooAmerica is an extension of Hersheypark in a way. ZooAmerica is connected to Hersheypark, and there is same-day admission to ZooAmerica included in your Hersheypark ticket! Obviously, the zoo hours are not the same as Hersheypark hours, and in some ways, this is good because ZooAmerica is open year-round except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Yes, we all know that it snows in the wintertime in Pennsylvania. Hersheypark is closed in the winter. I mean, who wants to ride a roller coaster in blinding snow… However, except for the listed holidays, the zoo is still open! ZooAmerica is definitely different in the winter than it is in the summer!
ZooAmerica is not a huge zoo; however, it is just the right size to peruse as a break to a day or two at Hersheypark. It also is a fun place to go in the winter and finish up the day with some chocolate over at Chocolate World. Also, keep in mind that ZooAmerica offers some behind-the-scenes tours. I know I personally would like to do the after hours tour!
ZooAmerica features more than 200 animals representing 65 species and five regions of North America. There are many types of habitats to view these animals in from the above Alligator Snapping Turtle to…
…this bear taking a stretch by the water. I personally enjoy watching the bears. I certainly miss seeing them while they are hibernating!
I like how the indoor exhibits mimic the natural habitat of the animals, making it easier for us to see how they react when they would most normally be active. It was dark in the Swift Fox’s exhibit, but the way the exhibit was lighted, it was easy to see him move around.
I also like watching the animals in this desert exhibit. It’s like a seek-and-find trying to look for all the residents, like the owl above.
Did you know the zoo began after Mr. Hershey was given a dozen prairie dogs over a 100 years ago? You can read more about the history of ZooAmerica on their website. ZooAmerica has a large Black-tailed Prairie Dog exhibit, and it’s interesting to watch them scurry around.
I think ZooAmerica’s Bald Eagles are the nicest I’ve seen in any zoo, and I like being able to see them in what seemingly is the wide open spaces.
If you are looking for a fun zoo adventure this summer, check out ZooAmerica in Hershey, PA!
check out the other great posts from the Blogorail!
Here is the map of our Blogorail Peach | Family Adventure | Zoos & Aquariums
- 1st Stop – Mousekatools Mom | The Aquarium of the Bay
- 2nd Stop – Adventureland Pam | Georgia Aquarium
- 3rd Stop – This Roller Coaster Called Life | Zoo America
- 4th Stop – Magical Memories with the Mouse | Wildlife Zoo & Aquarium
- 5th Stop – Family Travel Escapades | Louisville Zoo
Back in the day, admission to Zoo America was free. My friend and I would leave college in Harrisburg, travel all back roads to get to Hershey, and do the tour in Chocolate World and visit the zoo. Those were the days! I haven’t been there for a long time!
This looks like a great zoo to visit! I haven’t had the pleasure of visiting the northeast, but when I get a trip planned, this will definitely be on our list of places to go! I love that picture of the bald eagles! That one is just looking right at you!
That looks like a really cute zoo and I never would have expected a saguaro in PA!!! That photo surprised me. Some day, I have to get to Hershey. It’s on my bucket list for sure.
I didn’t realize that Hershey Park has a zoo! It looks like there is a nice variety of animals there and a great place to have some quiet time after a busy day of riding coasters.
This looks like a great add to a visit to PA. I am always a sucker for the Southwest exhibits. All those animals are always so active. Fun to watch.