Jax Zoo offers unbeatable family fun

The zoo has unveiled a new section of the park this past spring that was designed for the little patrons and their curious minds. The two-and-a-half-acre Kids' Zone includes a variety of eye-openers to keep even the busiest child fascinated. It features an animal care facility where children are actually able to get up close to the animals and feed them.

Also included in the new play park is the Splash Zone. It is a 4,000 square foot romp area for kids to climb, jump and get wet in. Life-sized models of Florida's coastal animals like whales, dolphins and manta rays have been integrated into the Splash Zone and they come with fun, water spouts for the kids to cool off in.

A forest play area, two kid-size mazes and a dining area are also included in the play park. ''This new park is great. We have a family pass that allows us to come as often as we like and my 2-year-old can't get enough of playing in the water. The design of the water park is safe and it's also comfortable for me to relax in while I watch her play,'' stated Navy wife Sara Simmons. ''When my husband is out to sea, it provides my daughter and I a place to go that we both enjoy.''

A curious giraffe saunters over to the viewing area for a quick snack from one of the zoo's educators and to give patrons a chance to pet his long neck.

Just around the corner, another major exhibit that is home to native animals and plants can be found. ''Wild Florida'' boasts two and a half acres of natural wetlands that dwells black bears, red wolves, bald eagles, alligators and Florida panthers, just to name a few.

The zoo environment has been providing family entertainment for years. Most adults today can recall a trip to the zoo with their loved ones.

What keeps kids and families at the front gate to these man-made animal kingdoms? ''I love seeing the animals,'' exclaimed 8-year old Allyson Nordean, who was visiting the zoo with Sabal Palm Elementary on a school field trip.

''I get to see what they look like up close, where they live and how they eat. My favorite part of the zoo is getting the chance to feed the Lorikeets. I think it's really neat when they land on me and eat right from my hand.''

Plain and simple, the zoo provides answers to all the questions that curious, growing, little minds come up with about animals. Why pull out an encyclopedia to hunt down the answer to those questions at the dinner table or while watching animal shows on the television when the zoo provides fun and exciting ways for anyone to learn about the animals that call the Jacksonville Zoological Gardens home?

Eighteen-month-old Ava is delighted with the life-size animals and water fun at the Kids' Zone Splash Park.

Gone are the days of walking from cage to cage and staring at the animal that is lounging in a corner somewhere and then moving on to the next cage. The Jacksonville Zoological Gardens provide educators to teach zoo patrons about the animals through hands-on training and interaction. They involve the guests in animal education, focusing on respect to the animals and their habitats.

At feeding times, you can find a zoo-keeper patiently an-swering the wide-eye children's questions as a 15-foot giraffe gingerly eats from his or her hand and who is oblivious to the little human paws that want to feel its neck.

Families can enjoy a train ride that allows patrons to see the zoo from a different perspective. The route will take riders completely around the entire zoo and throughout the duration of the ride, they can enjoy facts and tidbits about each animal that is seen.

A leopard prowls around his habitat as a little boy looks on in wonder.

The zoo provides one of the largest varieties of animals in the country for visitors to come and see. From the Plains of East Africa, down under to Australia over to South America and back across the world to the great state of Florida, animal enthusiasts of all ages can be sure that they will enjoy the Jacksonville Zoological Gardens interactive and exciting learning experience.

The zoo is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and holidays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Discount tickets are available for military members at the Information, Tickets and Tours Office or the NAS Jax USO.