Milwaukee County Zoo: Where the wild things roam
Considered to be one of the top zoos in the nation, the Milwaukee County Zoo began in 1892 when birds were kept in the city’s Washington Park.
The number of animals soon multiplied. A bear den housing two cinnamon bears opened and by 1902, the zoo grew to 23 acres. Today, the zoo spans 200 acres and is home to 1,800 animals. The first birth of polar bears took place here and it is also the home of the largest group of bonobos outside of their native Democratic Republic of the Congo.
This is a visually beautiful with lush grounds and expansive animal habitats. There’s something for everyone; an aviary, Big Cats, the Oceans of Fun Seal and Sea Lion Show as well as an animal encounter center where children can get a close-up glimpse of some of their favorite creatures.
See giraffes, elephants, bats, jaguars, moose, hippo’s apes, orangutans, flamingos and so much more at this county zoo. Seasonal special exhibits are another visitor favorite and be sure to check the zoo’s website for current programming as well as summer entertainment on zoo grounds.
There are many small snack shops as well as larger restaurants in the zoo complex, among them, Lakeview Place and the Flamingo Café, both which offer inside and outside dining.
However, you may want to pack a picnic for this wild adventure. The landscape offers some lovely shaded areas and the scenery is, well, as diverse as a jungle.
- by Lori Rotenberk , Milwaukee Reporter for HelloMetro
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Lori Rotenberk Lori Rotenberk graduated from Drake University and is a Chicago-based journalist whose work has appeared in The Boston Globe, Newsweek and various magazines. She worked as a staff reporter on The Chicago Sun-Times, the suburban section of The Chicago Tribune and The Des Moines Register. In addition, she has studied fiction writing in adult education at the University of Chicago.
