Aquariums, Wildlife Centers and Zoos in Houston

Aquariums, Wildlife Centers and Zoos in Houston

by Steve Bullet

Visiting the city of Houston with your family should be not only fun, but educational! There are one or two nature preserves, aquariums and zoos in Houston that ought to be on your list of locations to visit. Induce your child's love of nature and re-ignite your own by visiting the many species of animals and fish in these places.

The Houston Zoo

Set up back in 1922, the Houston Zoo is located in the Medical District near Hermann Park. When it opened, it had less than 40 animals, but has grown to encompass 55 acres of land with over 6,000 animals on exhibit. This zoo in Houston has activities for everyone, including flamingo, bat and vulture feedings, talks with the keepers of varied animals, tortoise encounters, and watching red panda sessions. Animal exhibits include a reptile and petting zoo, 230 species of birds, amphibian building, an Asian elephant habitat, arena of primates, and an African forest, complete with rhinos and giraffes. There aren't a lot of zoos in the world that permit you to feed the giraffes, but this zoo in Houston offers its patrons that opportunity! Older youngsters will also love the 4D theater, while small children and the youthful-acting will enjoy the carousel ride. By visiting this zoo, you'll be supporting several projects that help sustain many various endangered wildlife species and threatened natural habitats. The Houston Zoo is open all year, excluding Christmas Day.

Downtown Aquarium

You'll find more than fish at the Central Aquarium. Found on six acres, it is home to over 200 species of fish and marine animals, but there are birds and mammals, too! You'll think you're at one of the zoos in Houston when you visit the Maharaja Church tiger exhibit, and the Houston aquarium even offers those interested an opportunity to sleep overnite near the tigers ' enclosure.

Your family will learn about the wildlife that is native to Louisiana swamps including catfish, crayfish, alligators, snapping turtles, and bullfrogs. The Forest exhibit features beautiful macaws, piranhas, snakes, and stingrays. Have fun attempting to find the Reticulated python or electric eel in the Sunken Temple. There are 3 touch tanks so children can experience close encounters with different sorts of sea life. The aquarium in Houston offers entertainment rides, as well , including a train ride across the property, a big Ferris Wheel, a carousel, and the Lighthouse Drop, a thrill ride with a 65-foot plunge! Downtown Aquarium is open each day, with extended hours on Friday and Sat..

Armand Bayou Nature Center

If you'd like to observe fauna in a natural setting, the Armand Bayou Nature Center has over 2,500 acres of property to explore. There are butterfly gardens, and even an 1800s farm site to go to visit so that you can find out about how Houston's first settlers lived. With unspoiled forests and marshes, this preserve is ideal for bird watching and hiking. There are some animal exhibits, including several types of spiders, birds, snakes, and bison. Pontoon ship or canoe tours are another fun way to explore this nature center. Their hours of operation vary throughout the year, so consult their internet site before visiting.



Steve Bullet has been interested in the zoo and the <a href="http://houstonplay.org/attractions/">Houston aquarium</a> for many years. He has written op-eds and editorial pieces about attractions in Houston for many online publications. For more information about aquariums and <a href="http://houstonplay.org/attractions/zoos-in-houston/">zoos in Houston</a> please visit his site.

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