Visiting a zoo or aquarium is one of those experiences that has a way of staying with you. For children, it may be the first time they see a sea turtle or a snow leopard up close. For adults, it has a way of reawakening genuine curiosity and care for the natural world.
A little preparation makes the whole day easier. This guide covers what to bring, how to get around, what kinds of experiences are available and how to feel confident that the animals you’re visiting are receiving excellent care.
What to Bring and Leave at Home
Most certified zoos and aquariums have food and beverage options on-site, including casual cafes, snack stations and sometimes full-service dining. Some facilities may also allow outside snacks and sealed, non-alcoholic beverages, which is helpful if you’re traveling with young children or managing dietary preferences.
If anyone in your group has food allergies or specific dietary restrictions, we recommend calling ahead or checking the facility’s website before your visit. Most teams are glad to help you navigate your options so everyone has a comfortable day.
Pack these basics:
- Comfortable, closed-toe walking shoes — you will cover more ground than you expect
- Sunscreen and a hat for outdoor venues
- A refillable water bottle (many facilities have water stations)
- A small bag or backpack you don’t mind carrying all day
- Layers, especially for aquariums where indoor exhibit spaces can run cold
Leave these at home:
- Balloons (they pose serious risks to animals if released or dropped)
- Outside alcohol
- Large hard-frame strollers that can be difficult to navigate on busy paths
How much walking should you expect?
More than you might think. Larger zoos can cover anywhere from 50 to 100-plus acres, and a full visit can easily add up to five or more miles of walking. Aquariums tend to be more compact, though multi-level facilities still add up over the course of a day.
Before you go, download the facility’s map or review it on their website. Most maps show every exhibit, dining location, restroom and rest area, and many facilities also have an app with live updates. Reviewing the map ahead of time is also a great way to build excitement, especially with kids. Knowing that a favorite animal is in a specific area gives everyone something to look forward to before you even arrive.
Most venues offer stroller and wheelchair rentals at the entrance if you need them.
Accessibility at Zoos and Aquariums
Zoos and aquariums are actively working to make their facilities welcoming for visitors of all abilities, and most are well-prepared to help when you reach out before your visit.
If you use a mobility aid, need sensory-friendly accommodations or have any other accessibility consideration, call or email the facility directly. Staff can walk you through the layout, identify the most navigable paths and let you know about any available services, such as quiet hours, sensory kits or accommodation for medical equipment.
It’s also worth asking about materials and programming for visitors who are blind, visually impaired or have low vision. Some facilities offer audio description features, braille signage or accessible exhibit guides. Availability varies, so a quick call ahead helps you know what to expect and what to request. If the facility has a companion app, check whether it includes any audio tour or interpretive features you can use with your own headphones — some do, and it’s a meaningful way to engage more deeply with what you’re seeing.
Visiting with a service animal?
Call ahead. The facility can prepare you for how they handle animal-sensitive areas, walk you through the entry process and make sure the visit is comfortable for you, your service animal and the animals on exhibit. Most have specific protocols in place and appreciate the advance notice.
Reaching out takes five minutes and makes for a smoother experience from the moment you arrive.
Experiencing Animal Encounters
In-person animal encounters are available at some facilities and vary widely. Check the facility’s website for what’s offered, since these programs change seasonally and often require advance booking.
What you may find at some locations:
- Touch tank experiences at aquariums, where visitors can gently interact with rays, sea stars or small sharks under staff supervision
- Ticketed encounter programs such as a giraffe feeding experience, a behind-the-scenes keeper tour or a bird feeding opportunity
- Designated animal contact areas with domesticated species, typically in a separate section of the facility
Direct contact with large or exotic animals may be available depending on the certified institution. For example, swimming with dolphins or meeting an exotic ambassador animal. If a specific encounter is a priority for your visit, confirm availability before booking your tickets.
Animal demonstrations and enrichment
It’s natural to wonder about animal demonstrations before you visit. When you see a dolphin engaging with a trainer or a bird of prey responding to a cue, you might ask what that experience means for the animal.
At American Humane Certified™ facilities, demonstrations are not separate from an animal’s care, they are part of it. Enrichment keeps animals mentally and physically engaged, and trained behaviors are developed through positive reinforcement as part of each animal’s daily care routine. That activity happens whether an audience is present or not.
Animal choice is an important factor in supporting positive welfare. Animals may voluntarily choose to participate or not participate in any session; their choice is respected.
When you see the American Humane Certified™ mark at a facility, it means an independent, third-party audit has verified that the animals in that institution’s care meet rigorous, science-based welfare standards. Our standards are informed by an independent Scientific Advisory Committee of leading veterinarians, animal scientists, behaviorists and ethicists.
More than 80 facilities across 18-plus countries currently hold this certification. When you see the American Humane or Global Humane Certified™ mark, it’s a sign the animals you see during your visit receive humane care that has been independently evaluated against evidence-based, species-specific criteria.
How to Make the Most of Your Visit
Go early.
Animals are most active in the morning, especially on warm days. Many species move indoors or to shaded areas during peak afternoon heat.
Plan a loose route.
Use the map or app to identify must-see exhibits and work outward from there. You don’t need a minute-by-minute schedule, but having a rough path saves backtracking.
Attend a keeper talk.
Most facilities schedule keeper presentations throughout the day. They’re often free, usually 10 to 15 minutes, and genuinely informative for all ages. Keepers share real information about the animals in their care,their behaviors and the conservation work the facility supports.
Be a respectful visitor.
Avoid tapping on glass, making sudden loud noises near enclosures or trying to provoke a reaction. These behaviors cause stress and affect the experience for the animals and for everyone around you.
Ask about membership.
If you have a great visit and want to come back — and most people do — ask about membership programs before you leave. Many facilities offer annual passes at a meaningful discount over repeat general admission pricing, and some include reciprocal access to other zoos and aquariums nationwide.
Photography Tips for Capturing Memories
Zoos and aquariums make for incredible photography, and most welcome visitors to take photos and video throughout the facility.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Turn off your flash. Many animals are sensitive to sudden bursts of light, and flash photography can cause stress or startled reactions. Most facilities post signage in areas where flash is prohibited. When in doubt, leave the flash off entirely.
- Watch for posted signage. Some exhibits have specific photography guidelines displayed near the enclosure. These exist for the animals’ welfare and are required reading before you start snaping pictures.
- Be present, not just behind a screen. Some of the best zoo and aquarium moments happen when you put the phone down for a minute. Both work well together.
Be Mindful of Loose Items Near Enclosures
If you’re on an elevated walkway or standing near an open-air enclosure, keep a close hold on anything you’re carrying, especially small toys, battery-powered items or anything with lithium-ion batteries.
Lithium-ion batteries and other small objects pose serious health risks if they find their way into an animal’s environment that they then ingest.
If something does fall into an enclosure, do not attempt to retrieve it yourself. Alert a staff member or keeper immediately so they can handle it safely.
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Zoos & Aquariums
Policies vary by facility. Many allow outside snacks and sealed non-alcoholic beverages. If anyone in your group has dietary restrictions or allergies, call ahead so staff can help you plan accordingly.
Many major zoos and aquariums offer stroller and wheelchair rentals near the entrance on a first-come, first-served basis or via advanced reservations online or over the phone. Arriving early improves availability. If you have a specific mobility or accessibility need, contact the facility before your visit so they can help you prepare.
Yes. Facilities can walk you through their process for service animal visits, explain how animal-sensitive areas are handled and help ensure the experience is comfortable for you and your animal from the start. If you’re unsure or have questions not answered on their website, give them a call.
Look for the American Humane Certified™ designation for facilities in the United State or the Global Humane Certified™ designation for facilities around the world.
Facilities carrying this mark have undergone an independent, third-party audit against science-based welfare standards developed by a committee of veterinarians, animal scientists, behaviorists and ethicists.
Certification focuses specifically on the welfare of individual animals and is verified by independent auditors, not self-reported. A full list of certified facilities is available at americanhumane.org.
At American Humane Certified facilities, animal demonstrations are an extension of each animal’s enrichment and behavioral care program, developed through positive reinforcement. The activity continues as part of the animal’s routine regardless of whether visitors are watching.
Certification includes an evaluation of training practices, so visitors at certified facilities can be confident the care standard has been independently verified.
Yes. Certified and accredited zoos and aquariums fund thousands of conservation projects globally, support captive breeding programs for threatened species and contribute directly to field research protecting wild populations. Visiting a certified facility is one way to support that work.
Meaningful Moments Connecting with Animals
The connection people feel around animals is real, and it matters. A visit to a well-run zoo or aquarium can spark curiosity, deepen understanding and leave you genuinely invested in the animals and ecosystems you just spent time with. That’s not a small thing.
Choosing an American Humane Certified facility means you can walk in confident that the animals you encounter are receiving care grounded in science, verified by independent experts and held to a standard that reflects how much those animals’ lives matter.
Find an American Humane Certified zoo or aquarium near you at americanhumane.org.
