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Ms. Vera

by Ms_Vera from St. Louis

Last Post 17 days, 8 hours Ago


What Free Zoo?
Jun 7, 2007 | 6:28 PM
Category: Entertainment
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Okay. I got off work on Tuesday (I think) and decided, "wouldn't it be nice if I took Christian to the zoo?" It was so nice outside i figured it would give us something to do. And St. Louis is all the rage when it comes to "free zoos." Well, here's a little advice when visiting our wonderful zoo.

First, I pulled up expected to have to pay to park. But $10?? To let my car sit quietly on a parking lot?  Okay. I'll take that one. I want the baby to have fun and I'm not in the mood for walking a mile.

Well, we get out of the car and I pop open the trunk of my car -- no stroller.

Hmmm. I just picked him up from daycare, and he's still a little sleepy from nap time.

So, I ask, "Christian, do you want to walk or do you need a stroller?"  He wanted the stroller and to be honest, I did too. Okay. so I figured, $4, $5 bucks tops.

Oh was I wrong - $7! I know, I know!  It's only three more dollars than I expected to pay, but jeez! $7 to push a kid around? But wait...it's for the baby. We'll have fun. As some of my friends say, "just charge it to the game."

Okay, so we're all excited, entering the "free zoo." Now, here's where the bill starts to mount:

For the both of us:

$8 for th Childrens Zoo
$10 to ride the train
$5.75 for a hotdog -- you know what, skip the weiner, we'll eat the Nutrigrain bars and cheez-its stored in the diaper bag!

Then, Christian saw the penguins and just had to have "Happy Feet." So, I got him a sticker book - $6.99.

Now, I'm not trying to be funny or cheap and I understand the cost of keeping something like the zoo running, but geesh! All I wanted to do is spend a couple of hours at the zoo with my son.

They could've used the $1 million dollars used to build that mangled metal mess out front to offset some cost and keep things cheap for families. Between 2:30 and 4:30 I spent $42 bucks to really just see an elephant. That's was his big thing. We gotta see the elephant.

All I'm saying is, if you go to the "free zoo" be prepared.

 Wear walking shoes and park on the street. Bring your own stroller and food. That'll leave the money for the gifts and train rides and you won't leave with your pockets empty like I did.

Okay. I gotta go to the ATM now.



 

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Member Comments Total Comments: 33
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jeanette read my blog view my photos
Jun 7, 2007 | 6:44 PM

Grants farm was only $8.00 parking.$6.00 for a stroller because on the website it said you couldn't take one in.Well you can !smart people took theirs.But really if I would of gotten tired enough I could of fit it that stroller.It was worth putting all our junk in.LOL.$1.00 a bottle for the goat wasn't bad.25 cent for a handful of food to feed camels and other animal.They were in machine like gumball machine.Free Tram ride.So grants farm was a deal compared to your visit and we had so much fun on top of it.I didn't buy sno cones or anything there the kids did for their gang.I didn't ask how much they spent on anything.
candsw read my blog view my photos
Jun 7, 2007 | 8:47 PM

Ms. Vera you sure are right. Nothing is free anymore...

trip to the Zoo...$42
Christian having fun and you making a memory...priceless
lilmomma28 read my blog view my photos
Jun 7, 2007 | 8:48 PM

Jeanette.... The snow cones were like $3.00 but, they were HUGE!!!!! Things really weren't that pricy at all.... We all had a GREAT TIME and definitely didn't go home broke..... LOL!!! The zoo is FREE!!! Just all the good stuff costs.... There are passes available so I have heard that you allows you to go into everything(Children's, Insectarium,etc...) At a discounted rate... Not sure though, never have done it myself.....
candsw read my blog view my photos
Jun 7, 2007 | 9:02 PM

lilmomma you are right you can become a Zoo friend and get parking passes, passes to the children zoo, and to the train. Definantly something to consider if you want to go alot.
rosie read my blog view my photos
Jun 7, 2007 | 9:58 PM

we cant even get together for a trip to the zoo, and gas prices would make it another 40 bucks, an hour and a half from it..oh well guess we will go to the ol farm and see the domestic animals i was raised around
crickyann read my blog
Jun 7, 2007 | 10:02 PM

Have gotten pretty good trying to live inexpensively lately, and understand where you're coming from. Nothing is really "free", but some corners can be cut. At the zoo, I'd arrive soon after opening at 8 am-there's plenty of free close-by parking and the Children's Zoo is free until 9 am.
Jeanette, I agree Grant's Farm is still a bargain even though you have to pay to park. I still enjoy it as much as the kids.
mr_wildflower read my blog view my photos
Jun 7, 2007 | 10:20 PM

Fenton Park.....Everything is still free...Just have to bring your own food and entertainment......
artgalmommy read my blog view my photos
Jun 7, 2007 | 10:59 PM

Sooooooooooooooooo true!
harp read my blog view my photos
Jun 8, 2007 | 7:11 AM

Well grandma Reed wants to go to Grants Farm this Saturday,so if weather permits we are going. I already got pennys ready for the smash penny machines to get smash pennys for my collection. I need at least 2 more smash penny books to keep em in and they got em at the gift shop I think there $5.00........
I realy don't want anything else.Later this summer we will be going to the zoo then it will cost,I want marbles there lots of em and few stuff animals. My and dad will get them for me because they just do..
Ms_Vera read my blog view my photos
Jun 8, 2007 | 7:20 AM

ooohh, crickyann. That's a good idea. I like to get up early anyway. But I wonder if the animals would be out?
Bushido_Hacks read my blog
Jun 8, 2007 | 8:25 AM

If you get to the zoo earily, you can park on the side of road for free on Government Road or Fine Arts Drive. You have a better chance of doing this during a weekday. This should save you $10.
amcgee73 read my blog
Jun 8, 2007 | 9:34 AM

Hey I feel ya, but have you ever been to the zoo in Kansas City, MO? Oh my god, they should not call it a zoo. We spent way more than 40 bucks and we saw no animals. It was filthy and I swear so many people were complaining. I even called the persons in charge of that zoo when I came back to St. Louis and told them they oughta come check out our zoo. This was a few years ago, so I dont know if they have made any improvements. But, hell everything in that place needed improvements.
Has anyone else been to the Kansas City Zoo?
eduk8 read my blog view my photos
Jun 8, 2007 | 10:30 AM

Become a zoo friend and you'll save a ton of money. Look into it.
crickyann read my blog
Jun 8, 2007 | 10:32 AM

Ms_Vera, yes the outdoor-displayed animals will be "out" in the early mornings. It's the heat of the day in St. Louis summers when you'd probably least likely see them. They'll be seeking shade and moving little to conserve energy (Can you blame them?)
Ms_Vera read my blog view my photos
Jun 8, 2007 | 11:44 AM

Wow, sounds like KC's zoo sucks. I'm glad we do have a nice zoo, It was the unexpected expenses I incurred because I didn't plan ahead that upset me.
jana read my blog view my photos
Jun 8, 2007 | 1:53 PM

Vera I love you girl you tell it just like it is! The Truth.....I have to say we took the kids to the "Free" Zoo a week ago and we spent a small fortune!
Don't get me wrong people the zoo is a wonderful place to take the kids and spend a beautiful day at the park. Living on a budget it can make a beautiful experience turn into a
financial nightmare. Picnic in the park anyone?

Peace`Jana<3
scrapingirl view my photos
Jun 8, 2007 | 3:12 PM

ms vera- do i know the cost of the zoo can be outrageous and my baby is 20 years old and still loves to ride the train and visit the childrens zoo! She wants to go at least three times a season. Not to mention the parking .....wow! Last year I heard alot about being a zoo friend and this spring I decided to look into it. Much to my suprise, it was not as costly to join as I imagined.... we joined for $ 60.00 (for the year) but for that price you get 6 FREE parking passes, 36 FREE passes that can be used on the train, shows, childrens zoo enterance. Plus you get discounts on food and drinks. I think being a zoo freind will pay off in the long run for us.
mlb1276 read my blog view my photos
Jun 8, 2007 | 3:25 PM

I had some company come to St. Louis over the weekend, they wanted to visit the zoo, so thats where we went while they was here, I think we covered just about ever inch of the park and seen just about every animal there. Even though i didnt have to spend anything myself i am shore they spent a bundle there was 5 of us that went and ya multiply that by 2 drinks each and the sea lion show and a few gifts from the gift shop, and parking in the south lot. thats about all we did. If i can find time ill post pics in my album. Will not post all of them but some as we took well over 120 pics.
mincooper read my blog
Jun 8, 2007 | 4:24 PM

I can't believe people are complaining about the zoo.

Los Angeles Zoo Admission $10
Bronx Zoo $14
St. Louis Zoo FREE

How else is the zoo going to support feeding the animals and upkeep. Our zoo is very cheap compared to other zoos.

You did not have to park in the lot you could have parked on the side streets and walked. It comes down to planning.

I will support organizations that have limited funds and if you don't like it don't return.

Nothing is free but to think that you would not have to pay something when visiting a non profit, lets get real!
bassoonist22 read my blog view my photos
Jun 8, 2007 | 6:45 PM

Don't forget, if you get there the first hour the children's zoo is open, you can get in free! We always leave early so we can park on the street near the North Side entrance and head for the Children's Zoo first. By the time we are done, other folks are making their way there.
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Ms_Vera

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Member Since: 9/13/2006


 

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