Summer Fun - A Weekend in Wichita; The Sedgwick County Zoo

Wednesday, July 21, 2021


On our last day in Wichita, we visited the Sedgwick County Zoo. One of the top ten zoo's in the country, it is home to over 3,000 individual animal and roughly 400 different species! It sits on 250 acres and consists of indoor and outdoor exhibits. We spent four hours inside this quiet, family friendly space, and I'm pretty sure we could have spent more. Here are some highlights!



We were met by the always stunning flamingos! I loved how on display these beautiful birds were. So graceful. So elegant. So pink! At our own Kansas City Zoo, the flamingos are tucked back and hard to get to. These were right there for everyone to see. You can't miss them!




Up next were the penguins. This is an outdoor exhibit, which we were kind of shocked by, because you think of penguins as cold natured. However, these are Humboldt Penguins from South America, and they are used to warmer climates, where temperatures reach the triple digits! That's hot! To keep cool, they expel body heat through bare pink patches around their eyes and beaks, which are featherless spots on their bodies. I guess this is one reason they can remain in an outdoor exhibit. I love how zoo's expand our knowledge!




McKinley has become a fan of all things snakes! Remember his tenth birthday cake? It was snake themed and not a fun project this go around. So when we visited the indoor reptile and amphibian exhibit, let's just say he was in heaven. I was fine with the frogs and turtles, until I peaked around the corner of a glass window just in time to see a frog leap through the air. An enclosed exhibit is not a great place to shriek! However, it happened. I'm only human. You don't expect things to jump at you when looking to see what resides there. You won't find many snake photos below. You will find darling turtles, slimy frogs, and some lizards. Snakes, so not my thing!









Birds! Did anyone see the movie? I did and I hate birds to this day! I tell everyone I love them on chic fabric, but in real life, they scare me. You don't know where they are going, when they might swoop down, and when they might poop! Birds are fowl....see what I did there? But when you head to the Tropic Exhibit, these birds are anything but. They are beautiful birds of flight all around you and I wasn't scared once. We found they pretty much stayed within their little habit located along this beautiful tree lined walkway. There are 60 different species, but you have to look for them! They are tucked away, and sometimes zooming by, and they are hard to grab on film. Bat caves, waterfalls, and a so much more. This is a special place.



You continue your walking tour through North America, seeing creatures we all know and love, before making your way to Africa. I love a good gorilla sighting. These massive animals looks so calm, but you know in the wild that's not the case when provoked. This central Africa inspired space is vast. So many species of monkey's can be found as you explore the eight acres. From gorillas to Amur tigers to African elephants, and a pride of lions, take it all in.










One of the coolest things we experienced was feeding a giraffe! To be so close to these incredible animals was amazing! This attraction is $4 for non-members, $3 for members, and a memory that will last forever! 





The last exhibit we visited with the orangutan and chimpanzee habitat. We love monkeys! The baby orangutan was in full play mode and we loved watching it explore. This is an indoor exhibit and the last stop on the zoo tour.  










We had the best day and we would definitely visit this zoo again. I loved how quiet and clean the entire zoo was, directions to the habitats were clearly marked along the sidewalks, and there were various types of eateries throughout. And, for this beer loving mama, I made sure to try The Pride of Wichita Pale Ale. Wichita Brewing Company created this beer specifically for the zoo stating that with the zoo being so dedicated to protecting wildlife and preserving the natural habitat of these animals, WBC believes in their mission. When you purchase a can, part of the proceeds go back to the zoo. A drink with a cause, love it! We also picked up a souvenir cup for discounted refills when needed. And it's super cute! 


If you are a looking for a fun, family friendly outing that provides learning experiences, extensive species of animals, reptiles, and more, you must head to the Sedgwick County Zoo! It was a great end to our amazing weekend in Wichita! Thanks for hosting us!



XO,

Andrea

PS: Our weekend was sponsored by the City of Wichita, but all photos and thoughts are my own.

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