Saint Louis Zoo

Saint Louis Zoo is at 1 Government Dr. in Forest Park. More than 17,000 animals representing more than 581 species from around the world live in this zoo's scenic, natural settings. Highlights include the lushly landscaped Donn and Marilyn Lipton Fragile Forest, an outdoor compound home to separate habitats for chimpanzees, orangutans and western lowland gorillas. At Red Rocks, lions and tigers coexist peacefully with zebras, giraffes and antelope in natural settings. Grab your pith helmet for a trek to River's Edge, a 10-acre habitat inhabited by Asian elephants, cheetahs, giant anteaters and viewing areas that provide an opportunity to observe hippos underwater. The Bayer Insectarium has 100 species of insects and a walk-through butterfly dome. Penguin & Puffin Coast offers a close-up look at these birds, while the Andean Bear Range and Sun Bear Forest habitats are home to Andean and Malayan sun bears. The Centene Grizzly Ridge is home to two grizzly bears where visitors can view the bears through 22 glass-panel windows. At the state-of-the-art habitat McDonnell Polar Bear Point, a cave room with a glass viewing wall allows visitors to observe the bear as he swims in a dive pool. Keepers interact with and train the bear in a grassy “tundra” area. The Judy and Jerry Kent Family Sea Lion Sound habitat replicates a Pacific Northwest coast landscape complete with a 35-foot-long underwater viewing tunnel, a see-through pool and an 800-seat amphitheater for sea lion shows. Guests can touch stingrays at Stingrays at Caribbean Cove presented by SSM Health. At the Emerson Children's Zoo kids can touch animals and play at the playground. The Mary Ann Lee Conservation Carousel features 64 hand-carved wooden animals, each one representing a protected or endangered species. The 1.5-mile Emerson Zooline Railroad, a miniature railroad, traverses the grounds. Time: Allow 2 hours minimum.