If you haven’t visited the Philadelphia Zoo in some time, there are more reasons now than ever to return.
No trip would be complete without spending time observing Mommy, the zoo’s Galapagos tortoise who became a first-time mom at 97 years old, and Abrazzo, the 96-year-old father. Four Galapagos tortoise hatchlings, named after each of the Golden Girls, are there too.
The zoo also features zoo-topiaries, sculptures fashioned entirely from plants. Visitors can discover a butterfly, a fish, a giant giraffe, a peacock, and a snail, all of which are made up of more than 10,000 plants that form the sculptures.
Thirteen new larger-than-life climbing sculptures are present, including an eagle tucked away by the zoo entrance. Although kids and adults are welcome to crawl over them for pictures, zoo staff also invite them to read the educational signage and learn how they can help the environment that supports them.
The Philadelphia Zoo also plans to unveil a new experience, Flamingo Cove, that will allow visitors to view these impressive birds in an up-close format.
Visitors can also treat themselves to a tasty array of food items at the zoo, such as a Philly hot dog on a pretzel bun served with cheesesteak meat. A Chinatown burger features hoisin ketchup, spicy pork belly, and a pickled cabbage slaw. Healthy items on the menu include a grilled chicken sandwich and grab-and-go salads and wraps. Look for house-made churros for dessert and refillable souvenir drink cups bedecked with images of some of the zoo’s residents.
The Philadelphia Zoo is at 3400 W. Girard Avenue. Programming, tickets, and more information about the zoo is available online.
