Oakland Zoo - Who Knew?

I think I had visited the Oakland Zoo once, when I was a teenager. I'm not sure, it didn't really make an impression on me. I remember the bus ride -- it was a school field trip -- but not much else. If I would have remembered my first visit, I would have hardly recognized it today, because of the multiphase renovation projects underway since 1985.

So, when my friend Sandy held her son's third birthday bash there, I was curious, but I didn't have high expectations.

The Oakland Zoo, who knew? It is as much fun and in some ways better than the San Francisco Zoo.  From the gondola ride that gives you a birds-eye view of the giraffes, tigers, lions and bison, to the elephants, the Oakland Zoo has a lot to offer.

When you arrive at the zoo, to the right is a playground with a picnic area and toddler-friendly rides. This is where the birthday party was. Admission to this area of the zoo is free. The rides are geared toward preschoolers, although there is a small roller coaster for the early elementary school set, and a wonderfully long train ride through the zoo. Overall this area is a bit confusing to navigate, and is understaffed. Most of the rides appear closed, but if you ask one of the employees they may just open it for you. There is also very little signage to tell you how many tickets are required for the rides. So, even if you manage to get the attention of an employee, you still might need to run and buy more tickets. This happened to a couple seated in front of us for the train ride. That said, if you have a two, three or four year old, this is great place to spend a few hours.

After the party we headed to the zoo. The first thing we did upon arrival was to ride the gondola (a ski lift like ride). This was a highlight of our visit, and the boys loved it. Of course, I should put out a safety warning. This is a ride where your feet  dangle.  I definitely wouldn't want to be on this with flip flops or with a wiggly preschooler.  The view is spectacular (this is how I got that up close shot of the lion), we will definitely ride it on our next visit.

One thing I miss with modern zoos is the disappearing population of elephants. I understand why,  many of the small, concrete landscapes of the 60s and 70s are detrimental to the health of elephants. The San Francisco Zoo closed down its exhibit in 2005, and it is unlikely to reopen it. On the other hand, the Oakland Zoo had a wonderful elephant exhibit. The boys loved seeing those amazing animals.

So, how did we manage to live in the Bay Area without knowing that the Oakland Zoo is pretty cool? I'm not sure. From San Jose it is a short 45 minute ride, closer than the San Francisco Zoo.  We will definitely be back!