Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo — Attraction in Gulf Shores

This zoo really is one of the smaller ones around, but it's still got a variety of animals and it allows for more one on one experiences with the animals. That's actually the reason I was so excited to go because the Gulf Breeze Zoo doesn't offer any animal encounters other than a petting zoo. When we went it was during the first few weeks in January and it was a little crowded, but if we had gone during the summer it would have been way too hot and crowded. I suggest that, if you live in the area and want to go, that you try and make it for the off season (i.e. not summer).

During this season, you're able to spend time with the kangaroos, lemurs, sloths, and ant eaters (?) for either $5 or $10 each for 15 minutes with each animal. The handlers are there with you while you play with or pet the animals and answer any questions you have about the animal you're with. It was such a rewarding experience and it's definitely a MUST for kids - they'll never forget playing with lemurs!

If you are bringing children and intend to pay for an animal encounter, I would highly recommend the lemurs as they are the most playful and active animal out of the group. The sloths, as you can imagine, don't do much and the kangaroos are usually just laying down or eating, so there's not much to do other than pet them. The lemurs, however, are swinging around the big open cage, jumping around, climbing on you, playing with whatever you've got in your hand - plus they're like energetic cats, you can rub their bellies if you ever get one in your lap.

There's also an eating area if you bring your lunch along with food to buy if you need to - though I wouldn't really recommend this as it's a little pricey. Plus, there's plenty of restaurants to go to either before or after you to go the zoo. You and your family/significant other will have a blast here. Highly...

Where do I start, well at the beginning I suppose.

We had a day, to ourselves as a family.

So the zoo was on the to do list.

Here's the take away; Clean !!!! bathroom's, parking lot, restaurant, entire place tidy and sparkling clean.

The Zoo is expanding and it's great for the conservation of all these specie's calling the space home. Please no naysayers or long-winded speech's about where rare species belong because of humans, I think adults all over the world 🌎 understand humans can be difficult. Good citizens/neighborly people know conservation is imperative for many animal species. Zoos are especially close to my heart, I think people need experiences with animals and new places and new people to learn new ways of being better people.

You can encounter a 🦥 sloth, lemurs, giraffes and kangaroos here!!! You can see big Cats, I mean big!!! Within 3 feet of you! You can see so many rare birds and beautiful animals. The restaurant is new and has incredible veiws, weather is rather beautiful all year round.

Remember, come with a learning heart, be mindful of the signs and have an adventure.

Final note, if you think you only need the beach in Gulf shores on vacation, think again! These animals teach us humans every day, about all things we are responsible for in this beautiful world, our vacations should have a moment of education in a fun environment where the littles in our lives holler how amazing it is to see an ostrich or giraffe or lion or tiger oh my. This is a marvelous little gem in the whole state!!! The keepers are knowledgeable and kind, you will find everyone here really knows the animals and loves all of them. Take the time to fall in love anew with all...

I usually love this zoo and we have gone several times but we had a horrible experience today. We paid for me and my son to do the giraffe feeding and we stood in the area super early. There were a few other families and no sign posted on where to stand, so we ended up standing on the left hand side along with another two familes including the family in front of us with a little boy with a walker that had mobility issues. Once the young man came to start the feeding thing he let a family through that was also on our side, then proceeded to tell the rest of us (me the boy with the walkers family and another family) that we would have to go to the end of the line which by that time was way far back. I ended up having to disappoint my 7 year old son as we could not stay that long today (we are from Mississippi and had a long drive back) even though we got in line early, we had to get our giraffe feeding refunded. I’m extremely disappointed and upset by the zoo staff for not only making us go to the back but the little boy with the walker. He was waiting there just as long as the others and he should have never been told to go to the back of the newly formed line. They should have instead just taken a family from each side alternating as it would have been more fair, and those of us that waited long wouldn’t have to go to the far back. There needs to be a line sign posted and a volunteer that has more logical discretion leading this animal encounter. I’m so upset and hate to be writing such a horrible review for this otherwise...