With five huge biomes housing hundreds of species of animals, birds, insects and fish, the Indianapolis Zoo is a fun-packed family day out.
The air is thick with the sounds of life as birds and insects welcome in the day early in the morning in the Forest Biome. Here, there are black bears and endangered Amur tigers prowling in the undergrowth and red pandas hanging down from the trees.
Wander from the forest to the desert to see slippery snakes and quirky meerkats and to marvel at the Jamaican iguanas – a rare species which has been successfully bred in captivity by the staff at Indianapolis Zoo.
In the Ocean Biome, there’s sea life galore – penguins, seahorses, floating moon jellies and many more weird and wonderful marine creatures. Children will be particularly thrilled to touch the rough skin of the dog sharks. And at the Marsh Dolphin Adventure Theater, where dolphins leap and dive around, you can learn about the conservation of these intelligent and playful creatures.
For an afternoon of family-friendly excitement, try out the Kombo Family Roller Coaster, visit the Kroger Splash Park and take a 10-minute train tour of the zoo on the White River Junction.
Before evening falls and the animals head inside, make sure you’ve seen the African wildlife in the Plains Biome. Sign up to have a go at feeding the graceful giraffes and visit the viewing platforms to see where the lion is king. With zebras, cheetahs, gazelles and whacky warthogs, you don’t need to go on an African safari to see these animals.
The journey continues at the White River Gardens and Hilbert Conservatory, where ever-changing displays of plants and trees delight and inspire. After a busy day exploring the zoo, find a lovely spot to relax in the Ruth Lilly Shade Garden.
Indianapolis Zoo is situated 1.6 kilometres from central Indianapolis on the banks of the White River within White River State Park. It is open every day during the summer and closes on Mondays and Tuesdays during the colder months. It is also closed at Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year. A fee is charged for admission.
