Akron Zoological Park

Pros: New exhibits are nice, and it's never that busy.
Cons: Small and not very impressive compared to the bigger city zoos.

My mother and I used to joke about going to the Akron Zoo to catch a peek of their most exotic animals. Perhaps we would be lucky and and spot an elusive deer, or rare grasshopper. Maybe the good Lord would bless us with a glance of a crow, or a ...

Pros: stylish, modern, sophisticated, intimate
Cons: small

Being a member of my hometown zoo, I get free admission in a long list of zoos in the nation. On a recent trip to north east Ohio, I visited both the Cleveland and the Akron zoos. While the Cleveland zoo is obviously built to handle masses of ...

Pros: You can see the animals clearly.
Cons: Very small zoo.

I love to go to zoos! On a recent trip to the Akron area I decided to take a trip to the Akron Zoo. Being in January I only had to pay the $1.50 parking and $3.00 to get in to the zoo. There is a lot of construction going on over the next 3 years,...

Pros: Convenient location, can see the penguins.
Cons: Some enclosures are far too small. No petting zoo.

I am a huge fan of zoos, always have been. I find going to zoos to see all the different and beautiful animals to be an enlightening and often uplifting experience. Unfortunately, there are times when going to a zoo is almost depressing, since the...

Pros: Compact, great for kids, discount coupons available.
Cons: Don't expect it to be what it is not.

The Akron Zoo has been greatly improved over the last couple of years. While it is not a big place like the Cleveland Zoo, it is the perfect size for a day trip with young children. There is "just enough" there to keep the kids happy, and the layout is compact. The landscaping in the new area is great. It is not a "destination" for a traveler, but is well worth an hour drive.

Pros: Nice layout, clean and maintained.
Cons: Small, few animals, parking fee.

The Akron Zoo was much smaller than I imagined it would be. Maybe I am just spoiled by the Cleveland Zoo. There are only about 20 animal types, and you can walk through the whole park in 30 minutes. However, there is a lot of new exhibits planned, which may give the place a little more variety.

Despite the size, the layout is nice and linear, and very nicely decorated. Very clean and well maintained.

Probably not worth the money unless it is a nice day and you are looking for an excuse to go outside.