We’ve been thinking about going to Gainesville to film for a while. We’ve been a few times in the past for work and knew that there were a few cool things to do there that were reasonably priced and very interesting. The weather was nice and both kids were up causing trouble so after a short discussion we packed up the car and headed out.
Our kids, like most, love animals and learning all about them. So using cute animals for education and entertainment can take an already fun trip to the next level. However, for a family of four to go to a zoo, aquarium, or anything of the sort, it would most likely cost around a hundred dollars or more. I won’t even bring up the cost of the theme parks in Orlando and Tampa! So what if I said there is a place where you can take your kids where peacocks roam free and animal interactions start at $10? Also adult admission is a low $8 and $5 for kids aged 4-12? Oh, and what if they have veteran, first responder, teacher, and other discounts that bring the admission down to $5 or less with a valid ID? What is this magical place you might ask? It is the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo!
The Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo is a hidden gem that animal lovers everywhere should know about. The zoo sits on 10 acres of land and houses over 70 different species of animals. This incredible place is maintained by around 100 students and 10 full-time staff members. It is also the only zoo on a college campus to be accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
The zoo’s layout is unique and set on a quarter-mile wooded trail. The trail provides lots of shade for those blazing hot Florida days and it’s also stroller and wheelchair accessible. The students enrolled in Santa Fe College’s Zoo Animal Technology program do a fantastic job and are eager to share their knowledge with visitors. It’s very apparent how much the students care for the animals and love what they do.
One thing we liked about the zoo was that a lot of the animals were rescued and that the zoo donated money to various charities as soon as you walked in. Speaking of rescues, one of the major highlights of our visit was a beautiful three-year-old bald eagle. She fell out of her nest as a chick and can’t fly away so the zoo keeps her in an open enclosure. We have never been so close to such a majestic creature. We also loved the aviary and learned about other cool animals like Matschie’s Tree Kangaroos, lemurs, gibbons, caracals, and more.
If you live in North Florida or have a trip planned to Gainesville and if you love animals, the Santa Fe Teaching Zoo is a great day trip that we highly recommend. The zoo is open 7 days a week from 9 a.m.to 3 p.m. It’s a lot of fun, it’s very educational, and great bang for the buck. We loved our little day trip and believe that it’s a fantastic way to get off your couch get a little exercise and possibly see or even do something new.
To See Our Full Video On Our Santa Fe Teaching Zoo Visit Click Here.
To learn more about the Santa Fe Teaching Zoo Click Here.
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