Who says there are "no free
lunches?" In St. Louis, Missouri, you can
take the kids and family out for an afternoon of critter spying for
free. That’s right, the St. Louis Zoo is free and parking is
only $7.00. For the savvy (or, should I say, ultra cheap)
person, however, parking is available along the entrance road for
free.
The St. Louis Zoo features an abundance of kid-wowing creatures
that crawl, fly, hop, run, hang and slither. You’ll find everything from Sun Bears to scarab
beetles (click here for a map). You can even catch a glimpse of a baby gorilla in the
Jungle of the Apes house. The Primate house exhibits smaller,
more rambunctious "acrobats" such as lemurs and tamarins.
Argh…it smells in here! 
If you like to see things crawl or slither in a controlled
environment, visit the Herpetarium (reptiles and amphibians). The
Herpetarium houses poisonous snakes, monitors, turtles, frogs,
salamanders and even a Komodo dragon.
Finally, the Living World is a real educational treat. The
Living World takes you through an evolutionary trip that begins with
the primordial earth and ends with Lucy, a possible link to
humankind. The exhibit does a good job of juxtaposing
scientific evidence of life, such a fossils, with modern day
equivalents or evolutionary links. It is, perhaps, simplistic,
but a great teaching tool for all ages.
What a treat. Did I mention that the St. Louis Zoo is
free! It is also open year round and features a small railroad
for kids, snacks and daily events. For more information, call
(314) 781-0900 or visit the zoo's web site.
