A Day At The Zoo

If you've ever wondered where to go when you visit Colorado Springs, I have several suggestions for you. The first being: The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo! It was recently named a TripAdvisor Top 10 Zoo and is absolutely a Colorado must-see.

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is a family favorite and was stop 1 on our Fit Family Road Trip. What is more perfect for a trip focused on keeping it fit and active than a zoo on the side of a mountain?

From cmzoo.org:

Mission
A leader in conservation, captive breeding, and animal care, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo connects people with wildlife and wild places through experiences that inspire action.
Vision
Every kid. Every time. Goosebumps!
History
The Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926 by philanthropist Spencer Penrose to house his growing collection of exotic animals. In 1938, after substantial development, Mr. Penrose incorporated Cheyenne Mountain Zoo as a non-profit public trust for the people of Colorado Springs.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Today
Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s ONLY mountain zoo, offers a new experience every time and transforms visitors from passive viewers to active participants. Through comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts, and truly fantastic animal experiences, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is able to touch the lives of our guests more than ever before. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s hope to help visitors fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Of the 224 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just nine operating without government support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues, and donations for funding.
Terrain
The elevation at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo rises from 6,800 feet above sea level at the front gate to nearly 7,000 feet at Asian Highlands and Rocky Mountain Wild.
Animals
800+, representing over 200 species, more than 30 of which are endangered.

Highlights of our visit

We had some behind the scenes access.

The zoo has a new addition. A baby giraffe born just last week!

One word: adorable.

Mom and baby.

Feeding the giraffe is our favorite part of visiting this zoo!

If you're worried about the recent Colorado wildfires and smoke being an issue: don't be. The zoo was not affected by the fires and smoke is not a problem. In fact, look at this beautiful clear sky:

My boys wanted to head straight for all things creepy, crawly, and slimy. Frogs, snakes, and lizards, oh my!

The Komodo Dragon was a huge hit.

He didn't appear near as excited to see us as we were to see him.

The otters were on of my favorite things to see.

The Budgie Buddies

I love their vision! "Every kid. Every time. Goosebumps." So awesome, and I'd say they're doing a good job!

I love that this zoo is so interactive. You can feed the giraffe, feed the chickens, feed the budgie buddies, ride the carousel, take a pony ride, play in My Big Backyard, and more! This is so much more than just a walk-through zoo. My kids were captivated the entire visit.

Whether you live in Colorado like us, or you're coming to visit, definitely add this to your list of places to see!

Disclaimer: We received media passes to visit Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. As always opinions are 100% honest and my own.

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