Best Zoos & Aquariums In Sacramento
Sacramento Zoo
3930 West Land Park Drive
Sacramento, CA 95822
(916) 808-5888
www.saczoo.com
The Sacramento Zoo occupies 14 acres in leafy William Land Park, smack in the middle of one of the city's oldest and most attractive neighborhoods. Since the institution's founding in 1927, Land Park residents have been accustomed to hearing lions roar. Visitors delight in hearing them, too, along with sounds made by the more than 400 animals on display in modern exhibits. Baby animals born at the zoo are newsmakers in Sacramento, commanding headlines each year. Besides being a place where visitors can observe lions, tigers, giraffes, polar bears, and 140 other species of critters, the zoo is dedicated to educating visitors about wildlife conservation. As one of just over 200 fully accredited zoos in the nation, the non-profit institution takes wildlife stewardship seriously. More than 450,000 people visit the zoo annually, including thousands of school-aged kids on field trips. To avoid those squealing masses of children, plan to visit on non-holiday weekend mornings or after 1 p.m. on weekdays.
Capitol Aquarium
1920 29th Street
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 452-5556
www.capitolaquarium.net
Think of it as a tropical fish store on steroids. Since the 1970s, spectators as well as collectors have been flocking here to view the colorful sea creatures swimming in more than 500 sparkling aquariums stacked up against the walls. Visitors can feed the koi, get up close with an electric eel, admire many species of living coral, and learn how to care for saltwater and freshwater fish. It's an especially cool place to visit on hot summer days. Call to schedule a self-guided tour at a time when school groups are not present.
Folsom Zoo Sanctuary
403 Stafford Street
Folsom, CA 95630
(916) 351-3527
www.folsom.ca.us
Since 1963, this small but heart-grabbing facility has offered sanctuary to wild animals that have been orphaned, injured or rejected as pets. The educational focus is on responsible behavior toward all animals, whether domestic, wild, or somewhere in between. Creatures on display include the traditional tigers, bears and birds, but what makes this facility unusual is its focus on half-wild animals, such as feral pigs, horses, sheep and deer. The sanctuary's underlying mission is to reduce the trade, use and possession of captive wild animals as pets.
