Day One- Henry Doorly Zoo

8:00 am- Breakfast- To save time, opt for your hotel’s continental breakfast if available. Otherwise, grab a pastry and some coffee or juice at Delice European Bakery and Coffee Bar.

 

9:15 am- Arrive at the zoo. Park your vehicle and make your way to the ticket counter.

9:30 am- Enter the zoo

As you arrive at the zoo, you may be overwhelmed by the vastness of things to see. Start by making your way north towards the Desert Dome where you’ll see plants and animals of the desert. After that, head downstairs to the Kingdom of the Night, the world’s largest nocturnal exhibit. Next, make your way down to Dairy world, the petting zoo. Circle around through the Small Mammals, Wolf Woods, and Monkeys, then head on over to the Durham’s Bear Canyon. When you’ve had your fill of Grizzlies, Malayan sun bears, and polar bears, walk across the path to the Cat complex, where you’ll see lions, tigers, jaguars, and more. Next, check out the primates in the Hubbard Gorilla Valley and the Orangutan Forest.

 

12:30 p.m.-Lunch- TreeTops Restaurant- Since you’ve still got an afternoon of fun ahead of you at the zoo, stick around for lunch at the TreeTops Restaurant. Enjoy dining with your family while overlooking the Lied Jungle, the world’s largest indoor rainforest. TreeTops serves cafeteria-style and is open daily.

1:00 p.m.- The IMAX- Now that you’ve eaten your fill at the TreeTops Restaurant, sit back and take in the adventure of the IMAX Theatre. Shows here are larger than life.

2:30 pm- Train Ride- After a long day of walking, you’ll probably want to see the rest of the animals by rail. Board at the Keneflick Train Depot, and then sit back and relax as you pass by the Zebras, Hoofstock, the African Veldt, Cheetahs, and the Gaur. On your way out of the park, be sure to pass through the Giraffes and the Scott Aquarium.

6:30 pm- Dinner- The Spaghetti Works Restaurant- After a full day at the zoo, you’ll definitely enjoy the all-you-can-eat pasta at Spaghetti Works. If your more in the mood for a salad, you’ll love the salad bar, which has been built into an old Model-T!

 

          Open: 7:30am-9pm, M-Th, 7:30am-11pm, F-Sa,

 Children 5-11- $ 6.75, Children 4 and under- Free

Train Rides- Operates daily between Memorial Day and Labor Day,

And weekends in April, May, Sept. and Oct. weather permitting.