Zoo Miami's $5 Days Return July 4-8

Look no further for affordable family fun for the Fourth of July. For the third year in a row, Zoo Miami is offering a sweet summer deal of $5 admission, backed up by Ford Motor Company.


"Zoo Miami is such a great community resource and we want as many families as possible to enjoy it," said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company.  "In celebration of Independence Day, Ford is pleased to provide support so that the Zoo is accessible to more people during this holiday week."

Representatives from Ford will be setting up shop in the zoo on July 4, 7 and 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors will receive giveaways when they register to win a new Ford Focus and will be able to view some of their latest car models.


Guests visiting Zoo Miami on these discounted days can enjoy a few other goodies in addition to visiting the lions, tigers and bears along with the normal attractions offered by the zoo.  On July 7, Blue Bell will be helping guests cool down by distributing free samples of ice cream to lucky zoo visitors from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., as part of Scoops for Conservation, a partnership between the Zoological Society of Florida and Blue Bell Ice Cream that encourages donations for wildlife conservation. Pepsi Next will also be distributing free samples to help keep visitors refreshed on July 7 & 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.


“There is always so much to explore and take part in at the zoo, so for $5, it’s really a steal,” said Eric Stephens, Zoo Miami Director. “Each visit is like a whole new experience.”


To help plan the perfect visit, Zoo Miami has launched a handy mobile application for iPhone and Android owners that equips users with a map, calendar, animal information and more. The application can be found by searching for Zoo Miami in the App Store or Android Marketplace. Free Wi-Fi is also offered in four large, convenient locations throughout the zoo.

For the whole Zoo Miami experience, guests should plan to explore the new Playworld Playground for some wet and wild fun for the kids. If visiting on a weekend, the Hippo Slide, the world’s largest inflatable water slide, is open to the public for a seriously slippery experience.


Along the way, the Samburu Giraffe Feeding Station allows visitors to get up close and personal with a giraffe’s 14-inch tongue for a few bucks. Guests can also feed our Indian rhinoceroses, hop on for a camel ride or choose from the many different ways to travel through the zoo to view and learn about all our animals.


The special and limited $5 admission days are available only from July 4-8 and cannot be combined with any other offer or promotion.


Zoo Miami is located at 12400 SW 152 Street; Miami, FL 33177. General Zoo Admission is: $15.95 per Adult and $11.95 per Child (3-12), plus tax.  Children under two, Zoo members and parking are free. Zoo Miami’s hours are 9:30 am-5:30 pm; ticket booths close at 4 pm.  For more information please visit www.zoomiami.org or call 305-251-0400.

Zoo Miami’s Playworld Playground Is Now Open

Jungle Journey

Zoo Miami is excited to announce the opening of its new Playworld Playground that contains two play areas, Jungle Journey and Ocean Voyage. With more than 1.5 acres of play and picnic space, kids ages 12 and under have plenty of room to explore the splashing water features and jungle gym while parents supervise in comfortable shaded seating.

In the Jungle Journey playground, children have 11 play features to help them create their own adventures. While the jungle gym could keep them busy for a while, kids can find themselves making their way past a wobbly bridge, through a hollow log and escaping life-size gorilla and hippo figures. Their imaginations may take them on a wild journey, but kids remain safe on spongy floors as they bounce around the playground.

After their jungle adventure, kids can cool down by splashing through spouting blow holes and overflowing buckets of water in the Ocean Voyage playground. This water-themed area includes 28 features that are guaranteed to get kids dripping wet. It would be hard to stay dry around water shooting cannons, a whale tail waterfall, and touch-activated rods spraying water. The ocean theme comes to life with shells and glossy starfish on the floor as guests walk in.

Ocean Voyage

“This $1 million state-of-the-art playground has been a highly-anticipated addition to Zoo Miami,” said Eric Stephens, Zoo Miami Director. “We are so excited to open it and offer our guests a top-notch play experience.”

Directly next to the playgrounds are two new shaded pavilions that are available to rent for special events like birthday parties or picnics.

With parents and kids sure to work up an appetite, the Playworld Playground is conveniently located next to the new and improved Oasis Grille. There guests can chow down on everything including hot-dogs, salads, fruit, burgers and refreshing drinks in the shade of the African-outpost themed area before heading to their next adventure in Zoo Miami.

Speaking of adventures, now guests can rent pedal boats, water tricycles and kayaks on the lake at Amazon and Beyond on weekends (Friday-Sunday) and holidays from 10am-5pm.

Zoo Miami is located at 12400 SW 152 St., Miami. General Zoo Admission is: $15.95 per adult and $11.95 per child (ages 3-12), plus tax.  Children under 2, Zoo members and parking are free. Zoo Miami’s hours are 9:30am-5:30pm; ticket booths close at 4pm.  For more information please visit www.zoomiami.org or call 305-251-0400.

Jungle Island Welcomes Biji and Japa, the Stars of the New Leopard Exhibit

Five-year-old Biji (prounced Bee-ja), a female melanistic leopard, or "black leopard"

Japa, a 4-year-old male spotted leopard

Jungle Island is proud to announce the grand opening of a brand new exhibit that will showcase two new residents to the Jungle: Japa is a 4-year-old male spotted leopard and 5-year-old Biji (prounced Bee-ja) is a female melanistic leopard, or "black leopard." The two came to Jungle Island from a sanctuary in South Carolina.

The exhibit’s grand opening event was streamed live online for the public, a unique feature for an attraction in South Florida. Interested viewers were able to log onto Jungle Island’s video feed and watch the opening event live! The recorded video is available on  www.ustream.com/channel/jungleisland.

The cats will be housed in a newly designed habitat that features similar elements to the park’s existing Tiger/Liger exhibit. Visitors will be able to walk right up to the glass and get an up-close view of these magnificent creatures.

Leopards are the smallest of the four “big cats,” and are known as agile and stealthy hunters. Just like its cousin, the jaguar, leopards can climb trees and like to spend a good amount of time off the ground. Their new habitat on Jungle Island has been specially designed to give these cats the ability to climb and jump as they would in the wild.

The new leopards join the jungle’s already diverse animal family which includes some of the world’s most incredible animals including a set of orangutan twins, a liger and a cassowary.

For more information on the new exhibit, visit www.jungleisland.com/leopards or call 305-400-7000.


Jungle Island is located at 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail, on Watson Island in Miami, and just minutes from world famous South Beach. The popular attraction shares space on the island with two other popular attractions, the Miami Children's Museum and Ichimura Miami–Japanese Garden. 


Jungle Island is open 365 days per year, from 10am-5pm on weekdays, and 10am-6pm on weekends. Admission is: Adults (Ages 11-64) $32.95 plus tax; Seniors (Ages 65+) $30.95 plus tax; Children (Ages 3-10) $24.95 plus tax; Children (Ages 0-2) Free. 

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Hard Rock Cafe Miami Partners with Zoo Miami and Zoological Society of Florida Through Limited-Edition Pin Series to Benefit the Association Of Zoos and Aquariums and Zoo Miami

The Jaguar Pin

Lions, tigers and bears have made their way to Hard Rock Cafes across the U.S. and locally at Hard Rock Cafe Miami in partnership with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).  Hard Rock Cafe Miami has launched a special Jaguar pin with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the AZA and Zoo Miami.  This limited-edition design features a jaguar from the Amazon & Beyond exhibit and is now available for purchase at Hard Rock Cafe Miami for $14, while supplies last. Hard Rock Cafe Miami is one of 24 Hard Rock locations nationwide offering city-specific, endangered species guitar pins. Please visit www.hardrock.com/miami or call 305-377-3110 for additional details.

In celebration of this pin, Hard Rock Cafe Miami will be hosting a Happy Hour fundraiser for the Zoological Society of Florida on June 9, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at its Bayside location (401 Biscayne Blvd., R-200).  There will be a live band, hors d’oeuvres, cash bar and a raffle to win rockin’ prizes, including the entire 24 Hard Rock Cafe Endangered Species Pin Collection, tickets to Feast With The Beasts, an Annual Pass to Zoo Miami and more!  A $10 donation benefits the Zoological Society of Florida’s wildlife education and conservation programs. Visit www.zoomiami.org to RSVP.

Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation. Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting an institution dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation, and your link to helping animals in their native habitats. For more information, please visit www.aza.org.

Rated one of the top ten zoos in the U.S. by Tripadvisor.com, Zoo Miami houses more than 2,000 animals in natural habitats and provides visitors the feel of a safari. Enjoy animals like okapis, giant river otters, elephants and rhinos in large open air exhibits; a giraffe feeding station; camel rides; an Indian rhino encounter; meet and greets with Nickelodeon’s favorite animal rescuer, Diego; tram tours; family cycles; water play areas; a monorail and state-of-the-art exhibits like Amazon & Beyond.  Zoo Miami is located at 12400 SW 152 Street. General Zoo Admission is: $15.95 plus tax, per adult and $11.95 plus tax, per child (3-12). Hours are 9:30 am–5:30 pm; ticket booths close at 4 pm.  Parking is free. Annual pass holders and children under 2 are also free. For more information, please visit www.zoomiami.org or call 305-251-0400.

The Zoological Society of Florida, founded in 1956, is the non-profit support organization for Zoo Miami. Today it is one of the largest membership organizations in South Florida, with approximately 50,000 members. Its activities and programs include fundraising, marketing, volunteer services, educational programs, special events and member programming. Its mission is to encourage an appreciation for the world’s wildlife and to help conserve it for future generations. For more information, please visit www.zsf.org or call 305-255-5551.

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Summer Savings Pass Available for Admission to Lion Country Safari, Miami Seaquarium, Museum of Discovery & Science and Zoo Miami

Lion Country Safari, the Miami Seaquarium, Museum of Discovery and Science and Zoo Miami will be offering a Summer Savings Pass for the third year in a row.  The Summer Savings Pass will give its buyers unlimited admission to all four attractions throughout the summer! Four attractions… Four months of fun… One low price!


The Summer Savings Pass will be available for purchase at each of the participating parks beginning on May 15 and will be valid for admission to each of the attractions until September 30, 2011.  Lion Country Safari, Miami Seaquarium, and Zoo Miami will also have the passes for sale online at their respective websites www.LionCountrySafari.com, www.miamiseaquarium.com and www.zoomiami.org.  Museum of Discovery and Science will have the passes available by phone at 954-713-0930.


At $54.95 plus tax, per adult and $44.95 plus tax, per child (ages 3-12), this pass grants unlimited admission through September 30th at Lion Country Safari, Miami Seaquarium, Museum of Discovery and Science and Zoo Miami. Annual pass holders of these attractions will be eligible to purchase this pass for only $29.95 plus tax, per adult, and $19.95 plus tax, per child. For more information on the Summer Savings Pass visit www.summersavingspass.com


Lion Country Safari

The drive through safari

Lion Country Safari is a four-mile drive through safari with more than 900 animals roaming free within inches of the tour vehicles including giraffe, zebra, rhinos, lions, wildebeests and more. Admission includes entry to Safari World Amusement Park with animal encounters (giraffe feeding, bird feeding and petting zoo) and demonstrations, free rides (Ferris wheel, kid’s train, carousel, paddle boats, water sprayground and more), games, shopping, food and thrills. 


Lion Country Safari is located on Southern Boulevard (SR80) (just 15 miles west of I-95/10 miles west of the Turnpike) at 2003 Lion Country Safari Rd., Loxahatchee. The park is open daily, for more info call 561-793-1084 or visit www.LionCountrySafari.com


Miami Seaquarium
It’s a South Florida attraction like no other. A place where dolphins walk on water and a killer whale flies through the air; slithery moray eels lurk in coral reef caverns; giant sharks patrol their territory; sea lions delight children of all ages; endangered sea turtles and manatees find a safe haven; and gentle stingrays glide beneath your finger tips at the new Stingray Touch Pool. It’s a world-class marine-life entertainment park with eight different marine animal shows and presentations offered daily. It’s a place of inspiration, education–and fun!

The Dolphin Interaction Program
at Dolphin Harbor

There’s no greater thrill than getting in the water with the friendly, intelligent and graceful dolphins at Dolphin Harbor. Two different dolphin interaction programs offer fun for everyone. Reservations are required. For more information, or to make reservations, please call 305-365-2501.


Miami Seaquarium is located on the Rickenbacker Causeway, on the way to Key Biscayne at 4400 Rickenbacker Causeway.  The park is opened daily from 9:30am-6pm. For more information, call 305-361-5705 or visit www.miamiseaquarium.com


Museum of Discovery and Science

The "Runways to Rockets" exhibit

Spend a day of discovery exploring hundreds of interactive exhibits and summer traveling exhibit Animation featuring Cartoon Network. Discover the amazing Everglades in the Florida EcoScapes exhibit. Hang out with bats, turtles and sharks. Meet an alligator and be charmed by a 6-foot-long snake. Take a ride to Mars or soar through the skies in one of nine cockpit simulators. Whether you’re 2 or 82 visit the Museum of Discovery and Science and enjoy a full day of family fun.



The Museum is open seven days a week; Monday through Saturday from 10am-5pm, and Sunday from noon to 6pm with extended IMAX hours on most evenings. Exhibit admission is $11 for adults; $10 for seniors; $9 for children 2 to 12. Children under 2 are free. The Museum of Discovery and Science is located at 401 SW 2 St., downtown Fort Lauderdale. For more information visitors should call 954-467-MODS (6637) or visit www.mods.org; for tickets call 954-713-0930.


Zoo Miami
Discover what makes Zoo Miami a unique experience for visitors of all ages. Rated one of the top ten zoos in the U.S. by Tripadvisor.com, Zoo Miami houses more than 2,000 animals in natural habitats and provides visitors the feel of a safari. Enjoy animals like okapis, giant river otters, elephants and rhinos in large open air exhibits; a giraffe feeding station; camel rides; an Indian rhino encounter; meet and greets with Nickelodeon’s favorite animal rescuer, Diego; tram tours; family cycles; water play areas; a monorail and large exhibits like Amazon & Beyond. 

The Indian rhino at Zoo Miami

Zoo Miami is located at 12400 SW 152 St., Miami. General Zoo Admission is: $15.95 plus tax, per adult and $11.95 plus tax, per child (3-12). Hours are 9:30am-5:30pm; ticket booths close at 4pm. Parking is free. Annual pass holders and children under 2 are also free.  For more information, please visit www.zoomiami.org or call 305-251-0400.

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Jungle Island Has Something For Everyone During 75th Anniversary

Mama Cass jumps in the air for a treat.

Jungle Island will be celebrating its 75th anniversary later this year. What began as one man's dream, originally called Parrot Jungle, in 1936 has blossomed into one of the Florida's oldest and most recognized attractions! 

Come see some of Jungle Island's biggest stars, such as Mama Cass, the world's most lethal bird and the only trained cassowary anywhere; or Vulcan the 900-pound liger and his Tabby tiger friends Mahesh, Orobella and Rahda. Also ask about visiting with our lovable Lemurs-an experience you'll never forget!

Stay up-to-date with what's going on at Jungle Island by visiting the website or Facebook, as new experiences and events are introduces and the 75th anniversary approaches.  

Free Admission for One Year

Now through March 31st when you buy a one-day park admission to Jungle Island, you'll receive an Annual Passport for free. The Annual Passport gives you unlimited access to the Jungle for 365 days including annual events such as our Easter Eggstravaganza, Halloween Spooktacular and more! Not to mention pass holders also receive discounts throughout the park including in our gift shop and Lakeside Café. The Passport also gets you discounts at other area attractions. 

Easter Eggstravaganza

South Florida's longest-running Easter celebration returns to Jungle Island. The annual Easter Eggstravangaza is an egg-citing three-day event, April 22-24, featuring daily Easter Egg Hunts with more than 50,000 eggs, stuffed with more than 800 pounds of candy, toys and prizes!

Plus, experience the famous pie-eating contests, arts and crafts stations, animal encounters and entertainment that will fulfill every child's delights. Look out for special appearances by the Easter Bunny himself!

Host Your Own Event At Jungle Island

Jungle Island's Treetop Ballroom creates exceptionally beautiful and lavish events--regardless of size. The highly-skilled staff dedicated to quality service and attention to detail. From elaborate galas and parties to spectacular seven-course dinners, Treetop accommodates any event with their executive kitchen. The culinary creations are sure to please even the most particular palate.

Whether hosting a few guests or a few thousand, Treetop ensures each person feels part of an intimate ballroom affair. The catering and banquet personnel are experts at guaranteeing every guest is regarded as a priority. From weddings to corporate meetings to birthday parties and bar mitzvahs, Treetop will help design a dream event.

The culinary experts can create a custom menu for any event based on your theme, dietary needs and price range. Additionally, Treetop is proud to offer a variety of set menus, which can help in the meal selection process.

Please call 305-400-7230 for more information or visit www.treetopballroom.com.

Jungle Island is located at 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail, Miami. Please call 305-400-7000 or visit  www.jungleisland.com for more information.




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