This story is sponsored by the Nashville Zoo.
I love traveling to the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere. It never feels like a zoo – it feels like walking through a jungle, observing wildlife. It has a playground that is worth admission alone. It has a zip line and train rides that littles love. (Just remember to buy tickets ahead of time or enter our contest to win!)
But my favorite part is, of course, the animals. With more than 3,700 animals from all over the world, it can be hard to narrow down some must-visits for your trip. Let me do that for you:
You have to visit Caribbean flamingoes and more at the Flamingo Lagoon.(Courtesy of Amiee Stubbs)
Flamingoes
You have to visit Caribbean flamingoes and more at the Flamingo Lagoon. (Everyone loves flamingos, right?) But if you want to see even more flamingos, you gotta watch Chilean flamingos parade around and greet Zoo visitors. Every day (weather permitting). The flock struts around the Screaming Gibbon Pizza Kitchen between 11:30 a.m. and noon each day, so make sure to work that into your plans!
Komodo dragons
One of the Zoo’s newest habitats is one they built for Komodo dragons, and it is amazing. It’s the largest komodo dragon habitat in the world and there are both indoor and outdoor viewing areas for you to observe the huge lizards. You may see Lil Sebastian, the Zoo’s Komodo dragon that measures 9 feet.
Clouded leopard
The Nashville Zoo says the clouded leopard is “arguably (its) signature species,” so you must make time to see the magnificent animals. Clouded leopards are one of the rarest cat species and not much is known about them. The Zoo is helping lead the charge to conserve them, and more than 43 cubs have been born there since 2009.
The Andean bears exhibit is always engaging!(Photo by Jim Bartoo)
Andean bears
You can view two Andean bears, Luka and Pinocchio, at the Nashville Zoo’s exhibit “Expedition Peru: Trek of the Andean Bear.” The Andean bear species is vulnerable, and the Zoo attained Pinocchio last year in hopes of conservation. And while you’re there, women, make sure to use the restroom. Six cotton-top tamarins are hosted there, because even restroom breaks at the Nashville Zoo are fun. (It’s even won America’s Best Restroom award from Cintas.)
Eastern hellbenders
Yeah, the name kind of sounds like a Stranger Things villain, but the work that the Nashville Zoo has done to ensure these vulnerable salamanders survive is pretty cool. The Zoo has been devoted to the conservation of the largest salamander species in the Volunteer State, and it’s fulfilling to see the product of their work. (You can read all about the Zoo’s efforts to ensure this species lives on here.)
The Tiger Crossroads exhibit is a hit among Nashville Zoo guests.(Byron Jorjorian)
Tigers
What’s a visit to the zoo without viewing tigers? The Nashville Zoo’s Tiger Crossroads exhibit is enjoyable – and it’s also award-winning. Three Sumatran tiger cubs, Bulan, Zara and Kirana, roam the habitat, and their rambunctious spirit is always a lot of fun to observe.
Lorikeets
Another amazing hands-on experience you can have is a visit to Lorikeet Landing. Walk through the aviary habitat and you could be greeted by one of the 50+ Australian lorikeet parrots that call the Zoo home. Buy attraction tickets so you can feed them and get even more up close with them.
Who can resist goats?(Amiee Stubbs)
Goats
OK, so you’ll probably pass at least a couple of goats in pastures on the way to the Zoo. Why visit the goats there? Well, it’s because the goats are part of the Critter Encounters exhibit (along with tortoises, alpacas and more), and you pet all the animals there. Plus, goats make everyone happy, right?
Red kangaroos
No visit to the Zoo is complete without stopping by to say hello to the red kangaroos in the Kangaroo Kickabout, one of the Zoo’s most popular exhibits. You can view the marsupials from an outside area, peering in, or you can walk the trail of the 4,500-foot habitat that mimics the Australian landscape. While walking the trail, you can view the kangaroos going about their daily routines right beside you. Yes, that’s right – you can walk in the exhibit with the kangaroos, who may cross your path. (Just make sure you stay on the trail!) If they get on the path, you’re more than welcome to pet them.
A bonus:
I know I said I’d only name 9 animals, but I have to make an exception. Remember how I mentioned the tamarins in the women’s restroom in the Andean bear exhibit? Well, men, you don’t need to feel left out. Because if you use the restroom in the Entry Village, you’ll find a special exhibit consisting of Booleans pythons.
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