With daily meet a keeper animal talks, train rides, the coolest elevated board walk looking out over 30 acres of wildlife, and the farm; where you can feed and pet a variety of farm animals, I'm sharing our reasons on Why You Should Visit The Gulf Breeze Zoo in Gulf Breeze Florida!
On St. Patrick's Day I planned on us taking a little drive over to the Gulf Breeze Zoo, in Gulf Breeze. It's about a 2 hour drive from Panama City Beach. We visited the zoo about 5 years ago, and have been meaning to go back ever since. At that last visit Kayla wasn't able to go with us, she was out of town for a color guard competition, and I really wanted to take her before she left for boot camp. So we got up Saturday morning, packed some snacks and headed over. The weather was perfect. Warm enough that the animals would be out and about, but not too hot, where they would be hiding in the shade.
We spent several hours there, stopping and watching all the animals, feeding and petting the farm animals, and watching the otters play and swim. I think one of my favorite parts of this zoo is the elevated boardwalk that looks out over 30 acres at the different wildlife. Zebra, capybara, rhinos and the gorilla are just a few of the animals you'll see from the boardwalk.
One of the things that I noticed at the Gulf Breeze Zoo is they make feeding and petting the farm animals easy. I've been to others where the fences aren't quite low enough for kids to interact. It's recommended to feed these animals from your feed cup, because they do bite. Just keep a tight hand on that cup, because I saw several kids who lost their cups when the animals took it right from their hands.
Gulf Breeze Zoo offers many great opportunities to learn more in depth about the animals if you are curious. Meet a Keeper Animal Talks are held daily, at various times throughout the park. (check the website for times) We had the pleasure of standing in on a few of those. They tell you stories about the animals and how they care for them. You can ask questions about the animals during this time! You never know what you might learn!
If you totally love giraffe's they offer a behind the scenes tour! It's a great deal with the price of admission included in the $75 price for a 30 minute tour.
If you want to get up close and personal with budgie's, you'll can purchase a couple of budgie feed sticks, and head into the free flight aviary. It's a one of a kind experience that Zack and Kelsie enjoyed. (I'm not too keen on birds landing on me.) Kayla and I sat on the bench in the shade outside the aviary and watched several birds fly around, and land on their hands and arms.
Of course no zoo trip can be complete without a train ride! It's something that I remember doing every zoo visit growing up in Alabama, at the Birmingham Zoo. You're in luck because Gulf Breeze Zoo has one too! You get to go in, and around where you walked that elevated boardwalk! It's a really great, not to be missed experience. It's like a wild life safari! It's a 15 minute narrated ride, where you learn more in depth about those animals that you viewed from the boardwalk. You'll also get a peek at the hippos, that can only be seen by train ride!
Gulf Breeze Zoo is open year round except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, with different hours depending on the time of the year it is. They offer several holiday events such as Zoo Lights during Christmas, Easter events, Boo at the Zoo for Halloween, and even birthday parties! Just check out their events page for more information!
Alli Smith says
The petting zoo looks like so much fun! I do love giraffes, so I'd definitely splurge for the behind the scenes tour. What a fun zoo!
Joanna says
It was a lot of fun! I hope that when we go back we get to go behind the scenes with the giraffes!
candy says
Looks like your visit to the zoo was fun and successful. We enjoy going to different zoos and see what they have to offer. Always fun outing for all age groups.
Joanna says
It was a lot of fun! We enjoying visiting zoos too! 🙂
Sarah Bailey says
What a lovely sounding zoo this seems to be. Your pictures of the animals are amazing. There is nothing like a nice petting zoo as well to get really close up with the animals.
Joanna says
Thanks! My girls always enjoy zoos with petting areas.
Jenn @ EngineerMommy says
This looks like a wonderful destination. My kids love visiting the zoo and seeing all the animals up close!!
Joanna says
We do too!
Jeanette says
Last time I was in Florida we did go to the zoo along the golf coast. I cannot remember if it was this zoo or not but the zoo does look beautiful. If I haven't already I'm hoping I will go visit there again soon and be able to see this zoo.
Joanna says
Yes, if you haven't seen this one, it's worth checking out when you're in the area!
Carol Cassara says
When it comes to family trips, you can never go wrong with the zoo! I just love that the kids get to interact with the animals and learn to appreciate them more.
Joanna says
You really can't go wrong with the zoo! We love checking them out in different areas.
Tasheena says
I can’t wait to visit this zoo the next time we visit Florida. The kiddos would love this.
Joanna says
It will be a lot of fun!
danik says
Looks like a lovely zoo to visit and explore and a great place for children to learn
Joanna says
Yes, lot's of educational opps. My youngest daughter is homeschooled, and she loved filling our ears full of fun facts she's learned in zoology!
Amber Myers says
I would love to go to this zoo. My kids enjoy seeing animals, so I know we'd all have a good time. We go to the zoo we have nearby often.
Joanna says
It's a really great zoo! I wished we lived closer to this one, we would go quite often.
JDaniel4's Mom says
This really looks like a wonderful zoo to explore. We haven't been to the zoo in a while. I wish we lived nearby this one.
Joanna says
I wished we lived a little closer to this one. 🙂
Jenn says
I haven't been to a zoo in years. This looks like you enjoyed a fun family day.
Joanna says
We had a great time!
Marysa says
What a cool place! I would love to visit with my kids sometime. It would make for a great family trip.
Peter says
MY somebody would go nuts for this zoo. For any zoo for that matter. That giraffe looks like it’s wanting to be the center odbattention
Claudia Krusch says
Looks like your visit to the zoo was so much fun! We enjoy going to different zoos too! Loved hearing all about it!
Kita Bryant says
I would love to see the otters. They have always been one of my favorite little animals.
Nikka Shae says
Now I want to visit! It’s been way to long since I visited a zoo.
Terri says
I am a huge giraffe fan! I would definitely pay the extra for the tour. I once got to watch a baby giraffe be born and that was amazing!!
Anosa Malanga says
Wow, looks like you really had a great time! I have never been to Florida and reading this makes me wanna see the place too. Hopefully this year, I can visit Florida. Will definitely include this on my itinerary then.