Getting the family together for a group outing can be tough. Everyone's schedules are packed and it can be tricky to pick an activity that they all can agree on. Movies? Good luck getting everyone to settle on one of those. Amusement park? Too hard to keep the group together when half of them aren't tall enough for the rides and the other half get motion sickness.
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo wants to make it easy for family members from every generation to get together and make memories that will last a lifetime - so round up the special people in your life and visit the Zoo for Senior Safari on Wednesday, August 19 - featuring FREE admission for all guests age 55 and better from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Special programming and activities for Senior Safari are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., including live music from the Progressive Field Dixieland Band, blood pressure screenings courtesy of MetroHealth's Senior Health and Wellness Center, and an exhibitor area in the Palava Hut pavilion with representatives from additional wellness-based organizations.
No trip to the Zoo this summer is complete without feeding the giraffes at the all new Ben Gogolick Giraffe Encounter in the Zoo's African Savanna area. Guests can feed Romaine lettuce to the giraffes from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily through Labor Day. Romaine lettuce is $2 per leaf and is available at the giraffe deck site.
After visiting the Zoo's herd of giraffes, head over to the Northern Trek area to see Sly, Sal, South, Squirt, Seatab and Missy - the six African penguins in the Penguin Shores exhibit. These penguins are visiting Cleveland for the summer only to serve as ambassadors for conservation through September 27 as part of the Zoo's contribution to the Cleveland Water Alliance and Sustainable Cleveland's Year of Clean Water. Penguin Shores is free with regular Zoo admission.
Complimentary transportation on the Zoo's tram is available to bring guests from the Welcome Plaza to the Primate, Cat & Aquatics Building where guests will see a variety of animals including the Zoo's oldest residents, two male Aldabra tortoises, along with red pandas, gorillas and more than 30 displays of freshwater and saltwater marine life.
Northeast Ohio's most-visited year-round attraction, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $13.25 per person, $12.25 for seniors ages 62 and older, $9.25 for kids ages 2 to 11 and free for children younger than 2 and Zoo members. Parking is free. Located at 3900 Wildlife Way, the Zoo is easily accessible from Interstates 71, 90 and 480.
For more information, visit clevelandmetroparks.com/zoo or call (216) 661-6500.