Dallas Zoo

The Dallas Zoo, founded in 1888, is the oldest zoo in Texas and its largest, spread across more than a hundred acres in Oak Cliff, just south of downtown. It splits into two main sections connected by a walkway: ZooNorth, the older side with the children's zoo, primates, big cats, the herpetarium and a host of smaller habitats, and the Wilds of Africa, the larger southern side built around African ecosystems. The headline experience is Giants of the Savanna, a multi-species habitat where giraffes, elephants, zebras, ostriches and antelope share open ground, and where the giraffe feeding platform puts you face to face with those long purple tongues — one of the most popular animal encounters in Texas. The Simmons Hippo Outpost has a deep viewing window where you can watch hippos glide underwater, and the zoo's gorillas, chimpanzees, lions, tigers, penguins and okapi round out the roster. Daily keeper talks, animal feedings and seasonal programs keep a visit lively. The zoo is open every day of the year except Christmas, generally 9am to 5pm, and all guests, including members, must reserve tickets online in advance; prices start at around twenty dollars and vary by date, with children two and under free. Note that ZooNorth closes on November 6 and 7, 2026 for the zoo's annual gala, with discounted tickets for the rest of the zoo on those days. DART light rail stops at Dallas Zoo station by the entrance, which makes it one of the easiest family outings in the city.

The zoo has reinvented itself over the last two decades, replacing older enclosures with large mixed-species habitats and investing in conservation work in Africa and beyond. Giants of the Savanna was a landmark when it opened, as one of the first zoo habitats in the country to mix elephants with other species, and the hippo outpost raised the bar for underwater viewing. A giant giraffe statue near the DART station, one of the tallest statues in Texas, marks the entrance and makes for the obligatory family photo.

Practical notes: buy tickets online for your date before you go — walk-up sales are not the norm — and look out for discount days and special events. Parking is in the zoo's lots for a fee; DART light rail is the stress-free alternative from downtown. The grounds are large and hilly in places, so bring a stroller or rent one, and plan rest stops; there are cafés and snack stands throughout. Summer is brutally hot by midday, so arrive at opening and head straight to the Wilds of Africa while animals are active. In winter, the zoo's holiday light event runs on select evenings when scheduled, separately ticketed. Giraffe feeding and other encounters cost extra and sell out on busy days, so buy them early in your visit.

How to do it: go early, take the walkway to the Wilds of Africa first and do the giraffe feeding while the line is short, then the hippos, gorillas and chimps. Return to ZooNorth after lunch for the children's zoo and the cats. Allow four hours with children. It pairs naturally with the Perot Museum or the Arboretum for a two-day family itinerary, and with lunch in nearby Bishop Arts for parents who want a reward.