Zoo Northwest Florida - (850) 932-2229

We visited this zoo over the July 4th holiday weekend and had a pretty good experience overall. Allow me to say that it is still doing quite a bit of clean up after hurricane Ivan and there are a few pathways and exhibits that are destroyed as a result of that storm. This is not a zoo with a lot of funding so recovery has been slow and painful for them. THe zoo has a nice little gift shop and snack area when you come in. They are participants in the reciprocal zoo program, so if you have a membership at another larger zoo you may get a discount off of your admission. (We did from Memphis Zoo.) They sell food for the animals at the ticket register as well. Walking through the zoo there are a number of decent exhibits- keep in mind this is a small zoo so you will not see sweeping vistas for animals to roam and run, nor tons of realistic animal habitats. It is pretty much chain link, wire and plexiglass between you and the animals. That being said, they have orangutangs, lots of

This zoo has quite a bit of animals considering it is in a small local area. There are new exhibits opening up all the time. They opened up a bat house in Oct 2004 and most recently an area for a komodo dragon. There are orangutans, gorillas, chimps, lions, tigers, black bears, new coyotes, wild dogs, zebras, and camels. Just to name a few of the animals there. Small concession area, but you can bring a picnic lunch, they have tables before the entrance, then you can return to the zoo. Don't forget about Zoo Lights, they decorate for the holidays and it usually draws a pretty good crowd at night.

I have been to the Gulf Breeze Zoo several times, and I think it is fun for all ages, not just for adults or kids. I do not know of any other zoos in the area, and the animals that are in there are a sight to see. It is a little pricey (over $10.00 a ticket) but it is worth it and you get to see things that would not see anywhere else. PROS: Easy to find, great for families CONS: None