Detroit Zoo at Royal Oak (detroitzoo.org) encompasses 125 acres filled with naturalistic exhibits. It's home to 3,300 creatures native to continents around the planet. Exhibits include the Arctic Ring of Life, Australian Outback, Great Apes of Harambee, a Penguinarium, Butterfly Garden and Reptile Conservation Center. Special attractions enhance the experience and include a 4-D theater, Giraffe Encounter, railroad and carousel. Belle Isle Nature Zoo (belleislenaturezoo.org) on Belle Isle in Detroit sits on 20 acres of preserved land. Indoor animal exhibits complement outdoor features including a butterfly garden, nature walk and producing honey bees.
John Ball Zoological Garden (johnballzoosociety.org) in Grand Rapids is home to more than 1,100 animals native to Africa, Asia, South and North America and Australia. An interactive exhibit featuring farm animals is a children's favorite. Attractions include camel rides, a zipline and a ropes course. Lansing's Potter Park Zoo (potterparkzoo.org) provides a home for more than 450 animals of 160 species, including threatened and endangered species. Residents include snow leopards, Amur tigers, red pandas, tamarin monkeys and bongos. In addition to exhibits, the zoo offers special events. One of the nation's largest giraffe herds calls Binder Park Zoo (binderparkzoo.org) in Battle Creek home. The 433-acre zoo is the residence of 600 creatures representing 140 species. Visitors can enjoy 51 animal exhibits.
Wandering peacocks, peahens and ducks welcome visitors to Saginaw's Children's Zoo at Celebration Square (saginawzoo.com). The zoo cares for 150 animals, including llamas, a gray kangaroo, gray wolf, Clydesdale horses, a pot-belly pig and a bobcat charm guests. The mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects engage young and old with close-up and interactive experiences. Attractions include gardens and a colorful miniature train that provides riders a fun way to view exhibit areas. The Celebration Square carousel delights riders with its hand-carved ponies.
The kid-friendly Garlyn Zoo (garlynzoo.com) is a private facility located 6 miles east of Naubinway in the eastern Upper Peninsula. The Garlyn Zoo experience includes opportunities to hand-feed deer, goats and llamas and toss apples to the black bear. Native North American animals and exotic creatures, like wallabies and ring-tailed lemurs, are exhibited on 12 acres enhanced by the natural landscape.
