Tell me about Philadelphia Zoo...

[PIERCEDRN]

Oh one more thing! DO NOT USE A GPS. It will get you to the zoo- but you will be traveling through some very bad parts of town.

I stopped for gas and was shocked at how cheap it was in talking with the attendant he pointed out the drug deal going down and said that's why it's cheap here. I thanked him and hightailed it out of there.

I second the No GPS rule. It will take you through a Demilitarized Zone.
This is my biggest worry about this device in my DW's car.
I work in Camden, NJ (basically the unhappiest place on earth) and once plugged in my work address to see where it would take her if she used it.
It took her right through the Red Light and Drug district. They should reprogram the GPS so they scream "Don't you dare stop at this stop sign!!! Are you nuts?!!! Lock your doors!!!"

 

[Illuminations_Rocks]

I agree about the area - it's not like a suburb, but for Philly it really isn't that bad. I've been in worse. I've ridden the mountains of public transit. It's a tourist area. Do not live in fear of it. And where you park... well, you're not in the actual neighborhood. There are guards and plenty of other zoo patrons if you're there during normal zoo hours. I have never not felt safe. I've also missed the parking lots and had to go into the neighborhood to turn around - it really wasn't that bad. Annoying with the trolley tracks, but not bad. I'm not saying it's a great area, but I wasn't in fear.

But there is usually someone there selling some kind of fake thing - like DVDs or watches.

As far as the zoo, I recommend for you to buy one of the souvenier keys. They have little machines around the zoo that you put the key into and it tells you a fact. Totally cute and it makes a darling little souvie. And, if you ever go back, you won't need a new one. You only need one but your kids might each want their own.

They also do the cool zoo face painting (animals).

I love just about every exhibit and house there! For food, I've gotten the stuff at the stands and I've had packed lunches. I prefer a packed lunch because I'm not too crazy about the food, but I'll eat it and it is way easier. Definitely check out the ice cream stand near the kid's area!

 

[leahjade]

We really enjoyed it and the food prices weren't bad at all. We didn't even notice that it was in a bad neighborhood - there were so many families and attendants around and we parked right in the lot and had a short walk. We got a AAA discount so that was nice.