Santa Barbara Zoo
Address: 500 Ninos Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93103, United States
Phone: +1 805-962-5339
Services: Accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible car park, Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible seating, Wheelchair-accessible toilet,
Crowd: LGBTQ+ friendly, Transgender safe space,
Planning: Getting tickets in advance recommended,
Children: Good for kids, Good for kids birthday,
Phone: +1 805-962-5339
Services: Accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible car park, Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible seating, Wheelchair-accessible toilet,
Crowd: LGBTQ+ friendly, Transgender safe space,
Planning: Getting tickets in advance recommended,
Children: Good for kids, Good for kids birthday,
Category: Zoo, Garden, Non-profit organization, Tourist attraction
Rating: 4.6
Site: http://sbzoo.org/
Worktime:
Rating: 4.6
Site: http://sbzoo.org/
Worktime:
| Day | Time |
|---|---|
| Monday | 9:30 AM–5 PM |
| Tuesday | 9:30 AM–5 PM |
| Wednesday | 9:30 AM–3:30 PM |
| Thursday | 9:30 AM–5 PM |
| Friday | 9:30 AM–3:30 PM |
| Saturday | 9:30 AM–3:30 PM |
| Sunday | 9:30 AM–3:30 PM |
Click here to view more comments
Name: K*** D******
Date: 2024-06-18 13:08:02
Rating: 4
Comment: Super cute zoo with its fair share of animals. Can easily be done in a day. Loved the huge play area for kids, great idea! Best part we got pretty close to a kangaroo and also got to fulfill a life long dream of feeding a giraffe, what an experience!
Name: A***** M*********
Date: 2024-06-17 03:51:33
Rating: 5
Comment: This zoo is smaller than I expected but it was beautiful. Very family/kids oriented and plenty of bathrooms and food/drink options. We spent about an hour and a half here and we saw most of the exhibits. We will be back and we loved the gift shop 😊❤️
Name: N**** G****
Date: 2024-06-17 02:08:44
Rating: 5
Comment: This zoo is so AMAZING! Had the best time here with my family. My partner booked us an encounter with the capybaras and now I can die a happy woman. The staff were amazing and let us know everything was up to Poppy and Antonio, which we were totally on board with. Lucky for us, Poppy AND Antonio were fully on board. We got to feed them a bucket of greens and give them all the scratches. Brooke, their handler, was amazing and full of knowledge about them, as well as the rest of the zoo. Our attendants were the best as well, offering to take pictures while we all hung out, I’m so sorry I don’t remember everyone’s names 😅 It is a small zoo, but if you have little ones it’s perfect! There’s also an enclosure where you can walk through and there’s kangaroos and wallabies just hopping along. You can brush the goats. There’s a ranger area. Lots of fun activities for the family. You can feed the giraffes (not sure if you have to pay, we didn’t do this). I think my favorite part, besides the animals, was the staff. They were all so kind and helpful and they’re literally everywhere. The food, to me, was reasonably priced as well. Lunch for 3 and we spent a little over $40, I got a Cobb salad, our son had a hotdog and nachos, and my partner had a quesadilla and 2 waters for us to share. I can’t rave about the zoo enough and we’ll definitely be back.
Name: J***** F*****
Date: 2024-06-12 23:15:32
Rating: 5
Comment: Lots of fun getting to see all the animals. Make sure to make more than one loop around to see them in different places and doing different things.
Name: K**** M*
Date: 2024-06-10 01:40:21
Rating: 5
Comment: Loved our afternoon visit. Wasnt too crowded. Easy to navigate. Beautiful gardens, too!
Name: K*** D***
Date: 2024-06-09 21:08:59
Rating: 4
Comment: Quite a large zoo with a variety of exotic and interesting animals, would recommend for any family or group of friends looking for a fun time
Name: E M*
Date: 2024-06-05 01:48:50
Rating: 5
Comment: My 2-yr-old daughter and I went on Saturday, June 2nd. We arrived at 2pm. No line. Not crowded. It’s a smaller zoo, but we both enjoyed it. The animals looked healthy. The penguin pool had some algae growth, but I’m not sure if it’s intentional or not. Going inside the kangaroo area was a fun & unique experience. The train ride was perhaps a bit cheesy, but it was nice to sit down for 15-20 minutes. We were about to walk to all the exits in our 3 hours there, but there was minimal time spent and just watching. Would we go back again…? Yes, I think we would / will.
Name: -*
Date: 2024-06-05 00:41:04
Rating: 4
Comment: Its an okay zoo, honestly the property and grounds with its views of the coast and hills was incredible, a definite highlight of the zoo.
Name: I** M*****
Date: 2024-05-28 14:51:05
Rating: 5
Comment: Amazing zoo for all ages. Happy seeming animals, clean, amazing layout and exhibits, friendly staff.
Name: A*** C*****
Date: 2024-05-27 23:17:56
Rating: 5
Comment: This place was very nice. Had a great time with my daughter and her family.
Name: L*** t** P***
Date: 2024-05-27 19:13:57
Rating: 5
Comment: 1st time visiting the Santa Barbara Zoo. We used the Museums for All tickets. Kids loved it. All the animals were out even tho it was a little crowded (Memorial Day Weekend).There were plenty of places to rest, an area for the kids to play, and bathrooms throught the park.Not too much walking between exhibits and good signage and maps located throughout the zoo.
Name: T***** H*****
Date: 2024-05-25 02:52:00
Rating: 5
Comment: This zoo is medium sized and really fun! It has a train ride with lots of info about the animals, I highly recommend it! The gorillas, capybaras, and monkeys are my fave!
Name: E***** T***
Date: 2024-05-17 00:56:26
Rating: 5
Comment: Very well kept, clean, tidy, efficiently run. A pleasure to visit.
Name: D*******
Date: 2024-05-16 01:56:41
Rating: 5
Comment: Lovely zoo. Very friendly for children and people with disabilites. Good variety of animals, large and small, birds, amphibians
Name: H**** M******
Date: 2024-05-14 18:00:29
Rating: 5
Comment: So much fun! Staff was very nice and informative.
Name: L*** M**** H***********
Date: 2024-05-14 12:04:21
Rating: 5
Comment: A smaller zoo, but engaging and delightful for the kids. Can easily be a half day adventure. Views of the ocean make this a special place. The onion rings are the best! Although lunch offerings are limited and a little expensive, but convenient.
Name: T D
Date: 2024-05-11 19:35:55
Rating: 5
Comment: Loved it!!! The kids loved it!!!! Everyone lovvvvveeddd it!!!! The train tour was really neat and a fun experience! Those conductors do a spectacular job!!! I loved how everyone...workers and the tourists would all wave whenever the train went by🙋♂️🌞 my daughter absolutely loved feeding the giraffes and my youngest loved the slippery hill...definitely recommend ...a must see!!!! Amazing place!!!
Name: Y***** R********
Date: 2024-05-09 23:40:09
Rating: 5
Comment: I love this zoo ..so beautiful and peaceful
Name: K** F***********
Date: 2024-04-29 04:40:40
Rating: 4
Comment: Nice zoo! Beautiful area. The kids had lots of fun. We went on a Sunday around 1pm. Was able to go inside the kangaroo enclosure but missed the giraffe feeding. Experienced most of the animals, a few were either sleeping or not around. Still enjoyed our visit. Will return.
Name: J******* D**
Date: 2024-04-09 20:51:31
Rating: 5
Comment: Great zoo with natural-looking enclosures. Family fun!
Name: G******* C****
Date: 2024-04-09 20:43:32
Rating: 5
Comment: Loved the cool breeze and the views, enjoyed the beautiful landscapes and the friendly staff. Very kid friendly.
Name: t**************
Date: 2024-03-27 20:49:22
Rating: 5
Comment: Beautiful little Zoo the animals were out and not hidden or asleep. The kids especially loved the little hill!
Name: J*** M*
Date: 2024-03-25 02:30:19
Rating: 5
Comment: This was about our third trip to the zoo, and we still saw new things! We were able to see the animals being fed, including animal interactions with their caretaker. A very nice zoo, it was just very chilly in the end! Never fear, a trip to the gift shop got me a very nicely designed hoodie!
Name: K****** P***
Date: 2024-03-23 15:18:40
Rating: 5
Comment: It was a great experience!! I bought 3 tickets for a party of three. We had a blast.
Name: G******** O****
Date: 2024-03-16 20:51:22
Rating: 4
Comment: Had a great time with my family... The only thing is all of their bathrooms were broken because of a bad sewer man. Unfortunately from my daughter and wife they had to squat on all porta potties. You cant beat the weather or the view. Well definitely be coming back.
Name: S******* D**
Date: 2024-02-25 19:40:52
Rating: 5
Comment: This zoo is really nice. It is not too crowded, neat and clean and the animals look happier than a lot of other zoos. Santa Barbara Zoo is smaller than a lot of zoos and it can be easily covered in 3 - 4 hours. The tickets are moderately priced and are good for the size.There are a lot of unusual exhibits in this zoo that I have not seen too often elsewhere. The red panda, anteater, capybara (the largest rodent), fennec fox (smallest variety of fox with huge ears) and axolotl (an aquatic salamander that retains the larval features) are among the rare and spectacular occupants of SB Zoo. Visitors are allowed to walk through the aviary housing some colorful and attractive Asian birds. The wallabies are housed in an enclosure which is also open to walk through and one can see the wallabies and emus up and close. There’s a large variety of turtles in display from all over the world. The African lions look particularly content, enjoying their enclosure overlooking the Pacific Oceanfront and bathing in the California sun !There are boards with every exhibit that are super educational and highlight fun facts about the animals, not just some boring scientific soliloquy. Last but not the least is the train ride, which takes you around the perimeter of the zoo. My kids enjoyed this one too.
Name: d**** p**
Date: 2024-02-20 07:46:16
Rating: 3
Comment: The zoo is a great half day activity! Good view of the sea in the background of the exhibit!Too bad half the exhibit is empty or closed!
Name: A**** F*******
Date: 2024-02-04 00:07:16
Rating: 5
Comment: This zoo is wonderful. Animals look well taken care of. The highlight of my visit was the kangaroos. They allow you to walk inside the enclosure! The grounds are beautiful. There is a train you can ride that takes you around the entire zoo. I loved this place
Name: K**** E******
Date: 2024-01-28 08:16:51
Rating: 5
Comment: Really good the light it was really awsome i recommended to take the family
Name: O****** Z
Date: 2024-01-28 07:48:03
Rating: 3
Comment: Was a fun day with my daughter 😎not the biggest place and there’s not many animals to see it was very relaxing👍
Name: A******** S*********
Date: 2024-01-21 00:06:41
Rating: 4
Comment: Lots of animals. Clear area. A big playground for your kids. Big parking and some free lots outside the zoo. Pay attention and buy tickets online. We didn’t know about that and had to wait for 2.30 hours before free tickets.
Name: O*** W********
Date: 2024-01-11 05:07:23
Rating: 5
Comment: It was very clean, there wasnt too many people, staff was nice. good for both kids and adults
Name: R******** R********
Date: 2024-01-08 16:21:08
Rating: 5
Comment: It is a fantastic place with beautiful animals and excellent customer service.
Name: V***** G****
Date: 2024-01-02 16:38:20
Rating: 4
Comment: This is a relatively smaller zoo compared to a few others in larger cities. Perhaps due to weather or other reasons, several animals were not there in the exhibits but overall our family had a good experience and we were able to walk around the entire zoo within 2 hours or so.
Name: R****** K***** (****** M***
Date: 2024-01-01 17:43:02
Rating: 5
Comment: We went for the Christmas / holiday light show. It was remarkable. Even people who thought it might be more of the same holiday light shows were in awe. Little kids were just amazed at what they saw, and adults loved it too.
Name: c**** k*****
Date: 2023-12-29 01:05:32
Rating: 5
Comment: The light show was absolutely beautiful! Most of the animals were sleeping but the light exhibits were so lovely! Highly recommend bringing the family!
Name: Z****** P********
Date: 2023-12-23 07:46:04
Rating: 5
Comment: Had a great time. The art displays were a very cool edition.
Name: R**** L*******
Date: 2023-12-18 21:40:18
Rating: 5
Comment: Lots of up close encounters with animals. Fun ambiance. Great little zoo!
Name: R****** Y****
Date: 2023-12-18 15:58:40
Rating: 5
Comment: Zoo is really nice. You can get close to animals. Cant wait for the zoo lights for Christmas the zoo lights are here. Amazing time and interaction we spent over 2 hours there letting the kids run around and enjoy everything. Great place for the holidays. They had coffee and smores
Name: G****** G*******
Date: 2023-12-17 21:13:32
Rating: 5
Comment: Had a great time at the zoo. My wife and I got the individual plus membership to make sure we could stop by every time we visit Santa Barbara. Animals look well taken care of and staff is informative and friendly.
Name: H**** H****
Date: 2023-12-17 03:58:17
Rating: 4
Comment: Its a nice small zoo. We spent about 2 hours.
Name: �****
Date: 2023-12-08 22:44:43
Rating: 5
Comment: This Zoo is special one. Besides that you can walk into kangaroos enclosures and birds aviaries with no barrier experience. How organic. It felt extraordinary to be so close to these birds and animals.The amazing white headed whistling duck was unexpected discovery. I did not realize I’d be having a favorite duck specie.Beautiful all around. Animal are very happy and well fed. Large part of the zoo delicates to kids play area. The hands on experience area will be opening soon with goats and pigs to interact with directly.The ticket can be bought online ahead of time for $25 and parking is $11 also convenient to buy ahead of time and avoid lines if any.
Name: * d******
Date: 2023-12-08 18:53:32
Rating: 4
Comment: Neat little zoo with a cool condor exhibit. We saw them fly and it was quite a sight. They have a train that goes around the whole zoo. Make sure you feed the giraffe! Fun!Great light show happening now!
Name: E**** G********
Date: 2023-12-02 00:07:23
Rating: 5
Comment: Went with my GF on a Tuesday, almost empty. It was amazing to be in a zoo with barely anyone there. They were setting up for a light show and were due to close at 3:30 that day.
Name: J*** S******
Date: 2023-12-01 16:30:38
Rating: 5
Comment: Nice and simple Zoo. Ive gone here many times growing up. Ive seen many animal attractions come and go. Just wish they would have kept the elephants (as they were my favorite). I do recommend going on a weekday in the morning, less people at this time.
Name: r*** w*****
Date: 2023-11-23 01:49:25
Rating: 5
Comment: Zoo lights. Different in the dark. Giraffes baby 🦒, kangaroo 🦘 and wallabies, lion roars, red panda, snow leopard 🐆,flamingos. Paid parking. Train ride for the kids.
Name: T** T***
Date: 2023-11-12 19:02:59
Rating: 5
Comment: I had not been in years. Glad to see that it is renovated with beautiful decorations throughout the property. This place is definitely appealing to young and old alike. Was fascinated to see the axolotl exhibit! Make reservations online.
Name: O**** C****
Date: 2023-10-23 21:28:34
Rating: 5
Comment: Very nice small zoo. I was visiting from Los Angeles. Very friendly staff even the emu that was in heat was chilling. They have beer 🍺
Name: J***** D******
Date: 2023-10-17 00:42:24
Rating: 4
Comment: This Zoo is pretty cool, although it seems that some animals are better taken care of than others.
Name: J***** W******
Date: 2023-09-25 09:53:11
Rating: 5
Comment: We did the Sleepover Safari with our Cub Scout pack and it was an amazing experience. We camped next to the emus and kangaroos at night. We got a tour of the facilities at night and a train ride before the zoo opened in the morning. It also included zoo admission the next day. We learned so much about the animals and what it takes to take care of them. The staff were all kind, knowledgeable, and very patient. Highly recommend this experience if you are thinking about it.
Name: K******* A*****************
Date: 2023-09-21 15:16:58
Rating: 5
Comment: Great Zoo for my 3 year old! Not too big, but enough for him to be entertained. The play area was a hit as well. We will conquer the train next visit
Name: A*** T*****
Date: 2023-09-20 17:49:51
Rating: 5
Comment: When I visited I was thrilled to see not only condors but this magnificent Turkey Vulture. I told him how pretty he was while he was preening himself. He hopped to a different branch and spread his wings! He showed off all his feathers, but then a pair of women came over and muttered how ugly he was. It seemed like he understood what they had said because he pulled his wings back in. Birds are quite intelligent, I wish people would watch what they say. The zoo was wonderful to visit.
Name: B***** R****
Date: 2023-09-11 19:24:06
Rating: 5
Comment: I Love this zoo. Great atmosphere! Everyone is very friendly and its fun to see all the animals. Feeding the giraffe 🦒 is my favorite because they are so cute and friendly.
Name: C**** C
Date: 2023-09-06 01:08:51
Rating: 5
Comment: New Red Panda!!! Love the train and the wallabies walkways!!! Feed the giraffes and play on the playground!!! Awesome day every time!!!
Name: C****** B*******
Date: 2023-09-05 20:36:11
Rating: 5
Comment: What a great zoo! We have been coming here for a few years. We love that it isnt oversized but with a variety of larger animals. Because it is on the smaller side you are able to pop in for a couple hours with visiting relatives, or for lunch a stroll with little ones. The whole park is accessible forPros:-lots of grassy areas to have a picnic or take a break-play area with musical interactive structures, a hill for sliding down on cardboard (which is provided), tables and chairs and a coffee bar attached-15 min train ride that circles the park is located directly across from the play area in the center of the park (separate fee, for 2 adults and 2 kids it was $21)-holiday specific events (check their website)-knowledgeable and friendly staff-great gift shop-opportunity to feed giraffes (Separate fee closed during lunch hours 12-1)-Available to Rent: Red Wagon, 2 seater stroller, 1 seater stroller and electric scooters. Reg Wagon was $8 for the day and fit our 7 year old and 2 year oldCons:-some days are reservation only, so be sure to check their website or call so you are not turned away at the gate-$11 parkPro Tips:-EBT discounts are available and do not require a reservation in advance. They are part of the program, museums for all. Each ticket is $3 up to 5 people when presenting your EBT card.
Name: S******* O*******
Date: 2023-09-02 23:26:36
Rating: 5
Comment: My almost 2 year son loved all the animals, definitely one of the nicer zoos weve been to.
Name: K** P
Date: 2023-08-30 05:10:31
Rating: 5
Comment: Lots of fun! They have a couple sections where you can walk among the animals which was super cool (the Birds of Asia section and Australian Walkabout). The staff were all super friendly. There were lots of beautiful spaces to hang out. The gorilla section was super cool!
Name: L***** E****** R*****
Date: 2023-08-28 05:11:10
Rating: 5
Comment: So nice! Its a small zoo but is pretty, also the train even if seems for kids, it gives you great stories about the animals, recommended!
Name: J***** C******
Date: 2023-08-21 06:16:36
Rating: 5
Comment: So so so fun and nostalgic! My partner and I visited Santa Barbara for a fun day-trip and made our first place of interest the Santa Barbara Zoo! It was the # 1 attraction on Trip Advisor that visitors must see. Soo… we had to do it! It was so worth it.RESERVATION REQUIRED:Before you go to this Zoo—Make a reservation!! We didn’t realize until last minute that you needed to make a reservation for a time slot BEFORE entering the zoo, which was super inconvenient since we came at 10 AM and the next open slot was 1 PM.WILDLIFE FUN:The wildlife was beautiful and very intriguing to see. The staff who worked with the animals were very kind, careful, and respectful to the animals. We loved visiting the Kangaroo / Emu section (where a group of visitors could go into the enclosure with tour guides and to be within feet distance of kangaroos and Emus.) Very safe environment. Obviously…you cannot touch the animals but it was awesome to see them so close up.We did not eat at the Zoo but we heard from others that the food was good.
Name: W*** D****
Date: 2023-08-17 03:48:03
Rating: 5
Comment: Its not a big zoo like in San Diego, but were used to a really small zoo in Eureka so this was quite a big upgrade. My sons favorite was the lions, but all they spent the whole time staying at the giraffs in the neighboring enclosure, lol. I was really impressed by the California Condors. We missed the Australian Walkabout because it closed early but it looked like fun. Definitely worth the trip for anyone with small children.
Name: P*
Date: 2023-08-14 06:17:15
Rating: 5
Comment: This is one of the better zoo layouts and animals I have seen in a long time and I am NOT a zoo person because I tend to really feel bad for the animals. SB however out does LA and Orange CountyZoo for sure. Enjoyed seeing the birds, Red Panda, Leopard… all the animals. Nice walk and enjoyable.
Name: J**** Y*****
Date: 2023-08-10 15:57:44
Rating: 5
Comment: Spending a couple of hours at the SB Zoo is one of my favorite go-to ways to spend the day. Santa Barbara tends to be about 20 degrees cooler than where I live, so it is a must during the summer months. My nephew (2) loved it, and my son (13) loved it. Its a great learning experience, too! You get to see the animals up close and really spend the time you want at each exhibit. The zoo train is a must.
Name: E**** V*
Date: 2023-08-06 23:39:29
Rating: 4
Comment: This place its always good, its sad that not all exhibitions are open but always a good place to take a walk.More exhibits are coming, they have kangaroos now so thats a plus, overall still the same, and always good family time.
Name: K*** D********
Date: 2023-08-01 20:11:53
Rating: 5
Comment: Really great zoo tons of cool animals. Also my favorite part was feeding the Giraffes. Great for kids and plenty of shade and places to rest as well.
Name: M**** S******
Date: 2023-07-29 23:21:02
Rating: 4
Comment: Honestly no. knew of. this. Zoo Here in Santa Barbara I liked it. It has quite a bit of diversity. and a lot for recorder. it. I recommend. besides. their. workers are. very good honest and very kind. The rest sells I leave when. come
Name: R***** B*****
Date: 2023-07-26 01:32:10
Rating: 5
Comment: We visit the Santa Barbara zoo every time we are in town. Its one of our kids favorite activities, ages 1 to 15.This year we rode the train and spent about 2 hours wandering around to view the different closures. The gift shop is spectacular by the front of the zoo. Good snacks speckled around, including Dippin Dots near the train gift shop area! Yum. Perfect on a hot day. The leopard was my favorite exhibit. The monkeys, lions, and giraffes were great, too. They also offer a time window from approx 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. where you can feed the giraffes.Definitely make a reservation and buy tickets online! Its busy!!! Sunscreen, a hat, and lots of cold water is a must during the summer. 👍
Name: E**** Y*
Date: 2023-07-25 22:34:56
Rating: 4
Comment: Between the LA/SD zoos, I love the SB Zoo the most for its medium size and unique animals interactions.Its not too large or busy. Doable in 1.5-2 hours.Try to go earlier as the animals are being fed and zookeepers are maintaining and interacting with the animals during those hours.My favorite area is the Australian Walkabout which allows you to get pretty close to wallabies, emus, and kangaroos. Also the Giraffe Deck is unique. Youre able to feed a giraffe 5-6 pieces of lettuce for $8 from 10:30a-12p or 1-2p.Parking is $11 if you arent a member or you can park at the Dwight Murphy Field and walk in if you want.Theyre currently still working on the red panda exhibit and there were a few animals that were off-exhibit like armadillo, toucan, etc.
Name: J*** A******
Date: 2023-07-25 04:58:16
Rating: 5
Comment: We drove al the way from Anaheim California, not disappointed at allMy son wanted to see de Capibaras, and we saw them, also the Gorilla,jirafes, lions,cangaroos and leopards are a good attraction,
Name: A******** B****
Date: 2023-07-21 19:26:58
Rating: 5
Comment: Awesome zoo, we had a great time here! Nice mountain and sea views as an added bonus. We especially liked the Gorilla, Lion, Giraffe, and Kangaroo exhibits. For Kangaroos, you get to go right into their enclosure.Its a smaller zoo, and they only sell a limited number of tickets, so make sure to get your ticket online in advance. Tickets are very reasonably priced at $25 for adults, and $15 for children under 13. The big benefit is that its not crowded, and you get a much closer look at the animals. This being a smaller zoo, you can see the entire place in 2-3 hours.
Name: G*******
Date: 2023-07-11 15:24:57
Rating: 5
Comment: Amazing scenery near the beach. The animals look healthy and well taken care of. There are some food options if you end up hungry after walking around for several hours. I love the bathroom locations and that theres plenty of shade and places to sit.
Name: e**** e******
Date: 2023-07-08 03:43:15
Rating: 4
Comment: Located in the beautiful coastal city of Santa Barbara, the Santa Barbara Zoo is a hidden gem that captivates visitors with its diverse array of wildlife and stunning ocean views. As an avid animal lover, I recently had the pleasure of exploring this charming zoo, and I must say, it exceeded my expectations in many ways.One of the standout features of the Santa Barbara Zoo is its naturalistic habitats. The enclosures are thoughtfully designed to mimic the animals native environments, providing them with ample space to roam and thrive. From the towering giraffes gracefully grazing in their expansive savannah-like enclosure to the mischievous monkeys swinging through lush trees, each exhibit exudes an authentic ambiance that truly immerses visitors in the world of these fascinating creatures.One of my favorite experiences at the zoo was the opportunity to engage with the knowledgeable and passionate staff members. The zookeepers, educators, and volunteers were more than happy to share interesting facts about the animals and their conservation efforts. Their enthusiasm was infectious, and it was evident that the well-being and conservation of the animals were top priorities.The Santa Barbara Zoo also offers a variety of educational programs and interactive experiences for visitors of all ages. Whether its attending a captivating animal presentation, participating in a behind-the-scenes tour, or feeding the gentle giants at the giraffe encounter, theres something for everyone to enjoy and learn from. These activities not only entertain but also foster a deeper understanding and appreciation for wildlife conservation.Another aspect that impressed me was the zoos dedication to conservation initiatives. The Santa Barbara Zoo actively participates in breeding programs for endangered species, contributing to the preservation of vulnerable animal populations. They also emphasize sustainability by implementing eco-friendly practices throughout the facility. Its refreshing to see an institution that recognizes the importance of conservation and takes concrete steps to make a positive impact on the environment.The Santa Barbara Zoos location is an added bonus. Situated along the picturesque coastline, the zoo offers breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. The combination of the cool ocean breeze, lush greenery, and the sounds of exotic animals creates a serene and enchanting atmosphere. Its the perfect place to spend a leisurely day, exploring the exhibits and enjoying a picnic with loved ones.While the Santa Barbara Zoo offers a memorable experience, there were a few minor areas that could be improved. Some parts of the zoo felt slightly outdated, and a few exhibits could benefit from expansion or renovation. However, these minor shortcomings did not detract significantly from the overall enjoyment of the visit.In conclusion, the Santa Barbara Zoo is a delightful destination that provides an engaging and educational experience for visitors of all ages. With its breathtaking location, captivating animal exhibits, dedicated staff, and commitment to conservation, its no wonder this zoo continues to be a beloved attraction. If you find yourself in Santa Barbara, I highly recommend setting aside a day to explore the wonders of this hidden gem.
Name: L* P
Date: 2023-07-07 17:22:45
Rating: 5
Comment: Very nice small zoo right near East Beach. Parking is $11 for the day and is a bit congested. Zoo entry is $25 per adult, $15 per child and you are asked to reserve a time online ahead of time. Season passes are available for $100/year, including parking and one guest per day. Like most zoos, it is kid-friendly, but still very enjoyable for adults. Great variety of animals, especially considering the size of the zoo. Natural and humane animal enclosures. Many animals go to bed by 4 pm, so earlier visits are recommended. Impressive collection of California Condors. Very enjoyable otter exhibit. Underwater penguin viewing. Good signage. Restaurants are very pricey, but picnics are allowed. There are generous & shady picnic opportunities. Some good views of the water from higher up. Animal experiences are available, but are much pricier. Kangaroo & Wallaby Walkabout allows you inside the inclosure with the animals, but with no touching. Cute train ride for nominal fee.
Name: T**** B***** (******* P************
Date: 2023-07-03 22:24:21
Rating: 5
Comment: I had the opportunity of photographing a wedding here and absolutely loved it. The CA light really came through and made an amazing day. Really cool place to get married especially if you are an animal lover. The giraffe area was a hit with all of the guests - you get to feed them! They also had a few other animals out and about mingling with the guests throughout the day. The reception area is beautiful overlooking the mountains. Its a really unique and special venue.
Name: S***** T
Date: 2023-06-27 03:31:02
Rating: 5
Comment: This is such an amazing zoo. It’s definitely on the small side but there’s so much to do and see. Don’t forget to grab a drink and relax on the train ride!
Name: J*** W******
Date: 2023-06-26 14:58:16
Rating: 4
Comment: A friend took me to visit the Zoo. Lots of walking around, most of the animals not available or hiding. Sad that the elephants are gone.
Name: T****** V*****
Date: 2023-06-25 15:37:01
Rating: 5
Comment: Its a very nice little zoo, thoughtfully designed and well-maintained. There are many exotic animals. The only thing I didnt like was one of the food stalls where it was advertised that food was available, but they didnt actually sell any that day. The zoo shop, on the other hand, offers a wide variety of great items to choose from.
Name: M***** G*********
Date: 2023-06-24 18:12:12
Rating: 5
Comment: Very beautiful and easy enough walk. One sad part for me, the rhino is fake…. I was sadly fooled for a little over a second, I will awkwardly admit. I’m from PDX and haven’t been able to visit the rhino yet so I think I was just over excited.Great view of the beach through the trees if you stop to look.
Name: R**** T
Date: 2023-05-31 21:58:25
Rating: 5
Comment: Small but Amazing designed and managed Zoo! The landscape design and environment design is fantastic and animal enclosures are all clean and enjoyable. Had fun with family and I will definitely do another visit soon.
Name: R*** B*******
Date: 2023-05-31 19:29:31
Rating: 5
Comment: A nice zoo to take the family. Easy to walk around and see everything under a couple of hours.
Name: A**** G*
Date: 2023-05-30 03:09:18
Rating: 5
Comment: Mediumn size zoo to spend a few hours. Things to note: Lots of shade, food choices at entrance only, there is a train ride, reservation might be needed to get in, there are baby changing stations and stroller rentals, some hills, and a cool playground. Def recommended!
Name: D*** H******
Date: 2023-05-27 05:37:56
Rating: 4
Comment: Zoo is nice. This was my second time visiting the zoo. This time there was around 30 minutes of wait time to scan the entry tickets. It was a bad arrangement from the zoo administration at the entry gate as many kids were waiting in line to get in. Finally someone opened another entry gate to let us in. My toddler enjoyed seeing the animals.
Name: S** B*****
Date: 2023-05-23 22:39:37
Rating: 5
Comment: Great place to make memories !! From the birds,thru the lion and everything in the cases..loving the train and playing at their spots..the lovely view make me want to come back!! Thank you Santa Barbara Zoo!!
Name: K******
Date: 2023-05-18 04:50:34
Rating: 5
Comment: Beautiful smaller zoo! Close to the beach and gorgeous scenery.There’s a lot of cute animals to see here. There’s a train ride around the zoo that’s fun for a break. There’s a grassy area for picnics and it’s a generally family friendly place.We were able to see everything in about 2 hours and be on our way to explore the rest of Santa Barbara. I loved the enclosed bird area!
Name: S***** B****
Date: 2023-05-05 00:43:18
Rating: 4
Comment: A really well curated small zoo. All the animals can be seen in 3 hours. There is a lot to learn about the animals there. All the incloseurs are well designed so you can get great views of the animals. The kids had a great time there. Do not skip on the Australian Walkabout. Best part of the zoo. Its awesome being so close to real kangaroos.
Name: B**** A*
Date: 2023-04-27 21:39:36
Rating: 5
Comment: The Santa Barbara Zoo was awesome! Our son loved the experience. They have a great variety of animals and some interactive experiences where you can interact with the animals. There is also a short train ride that he loved. My son absolutely loves giraffes and the highlight of his trip to the zoo was when he got to feed the giraffes. For a small fee, you are allowed to stand on a platform and feed the giraffe. Good options were limited on the day we visited as only one snack bar was open. My sons favorite experiences were the giraffes, lions, bird sanctuary, and treason ride. The train and animal feedings are not included with the ticket price and parking was also extra. Recommend getting there early as parking can be challenging. There is also a small park for the kids to play at as well. All in all a great experience that we will be repeating many times.
Name: R*** V***** H***
Date: 2023-03-28 21:33:38
Rating: 5
Comment: 1st time visiting and was impressed with the exhibits and activities. Highlights of SBZ; a small train that runs the entire perimeter of the zoo with conductor narration, a large playground and picnic area, feeding opportunity for the giraffes, and a first-time experience for me being able to walk through a kangaroo/wallaby enclosure.
Name: B*** G
Date: 2023-02-22 22:07:16
Rating: 5
Comment: We love the zoo! Ive been going here since I was a toddler and today was my toddlers 1st time and she loved it. Even in the rain and gusty wind the zoo didnt let us down. The staff is friendly and always have lots of little fun facts to share about the animals. Theres a couple places to eat, even though we opted to take a picnic which was fun to enjoy on the hills looking over the ocean. We recommend going earlier in the morning as thats when most of the animals are out. Dont forget to ride the train to catch a peek of the zoos backstage area. We think the best part was walking up so close to all the outback animals in the Australian walk about.
Name: n***** M*****
Date: 2023-02-18 08:41:54
Rating: 4
Comment: I came here in 2020, and I am coming back again. The zoo is small, and you can see most of the animals and make your kid tries feeding the giraffe for 8$. There is also a train that shows you places you wont see during walking in the zoo. The train driver is friendly and explains what you visit during your train tour. There is also a kids area or park for toddlers to enjoy, and takes memorial photos for them while waiting for the train tour. The lion and the tiger are always sleeping. The birds area was temporarily closed. We couldnt see crocodiles, too, even though we followed the map. It is an exciting to experience for kids .
Name: Z** L**
Date: 2023-02-17 23:22:51
Rating: 5
Comment: A very small, but beautiful and well laid out zoo. They have a lot of great animals to see with some interactive exhibits as well. There is also a train that circles the entire zoo however, it is for an additional fee and is designed toward kids. As mentioned it’s beautiful and it would be fun to walk around even if there were zero animals in there. One of my favorite parts was feeding the giraffe.Growing up in San Diego I became very spoiled when it comes to zoos, and this one is definitely at least a quarter of the size of that one, but it is still really fun and worth seeing. It’s $15 for adults and it’s easy to spend a few hours there. The exhibits are well done, and the animals seem to be well taken care of. I would definitely recommend to any fan of zoos.
Name: L***** S*****
Date: 2023-01-15 07:27:40
Rating: 5
Comment: Attended Zoo lights on January 6, 2023. So much fun! Was pleasantly surprised at the elaborate displays and vibrant colors. Really a fun night with the kids. Hot chocolate and spiked hot chocolate was available - both yummy! Hopefully the Zoo will do this again for the 2023 holiday season! SB zoo is always a fun day but this was truly an extra special treat!
Name: B****
Date: 2022-12-29 23:45:36
Rating: 5
Comment: Very fun, Im glad they were still open for lights in the rain. Its a tad expensive just to walk around and see lights with no animals but they were very detailed. Try to go when its not raining so you can go on the cool swings!
Name: E**** Y
Date: 2022-12-15 05:52:20
Rating: 5
Comment: I loved the Zoo Lights in 2022. Just 1 hour was enough time to meander through the zoo pathways and enjoy hot coco while viewing the lights. Cute date night activity or family activity.
Name: A M
Date: 2022-12-01 00:32:26
Rating: 5
Comment: Very nice place the light show was really cool and neat we all had a good time my kids enjoyed it as well we did some of the zoo Animals 😀 😊
Name: V****** R
Date: 2022-11-14 00:37:11
Rating: 5
Comment: First time visiting this zoo for my daughters second birthday and to be honest it has to be my favorite zoo so far. It’s not very big, but it is very beautiful and well kept. The plus side is it’s right by the beach so it’s very fresh. They have a really cool section where you can walk in and see emu and kangaroos up close and personal. My daughter also loved the train ride, it’s $7 per person for a 15 min ride through the back of the zoo & the conductor provides you with a lot of information the whole ride. I would love to visit again. Very toddler friendly.
Name: L* I*****
Date: 2022-11-04 20:24:32
Rating: 5
Comment: First time back after 3 years away. Love the new exhibit and animals! Great place for the family. Takes about 2 hours to go through everything with one kid.
Name: R****
Date: 2022-10-30 20:26:03
Rating: 5
Comment: Great clean small zoo Ive been too. Easily walkable in about 3 hours with a snack break and gift shopping included. If youre planning on taking a ride share (Uber, Lyft) they will drop you off right at the admissions gate and pick you up from there as well.
Name: S**** P******
Date: 2022-10-23 22:00:11
Rating: 5
Comment: What a beautiful zoo!! There are so many places to sit and have a picnic so my husband and I brought snacks and water to hang out and take our time wandering around. Stroller and wheelchair friendly but there are a few areas with steep slopes.Only downside is the paper maps they give out are outdated, not sure if they have put out new ones yet. There are volunteers everywhere who are willing to guide you to where you want to go
Name: F*** F***
Date: 2022-09-29 01:15:14
Rating: 5
Comment: About a 15 min drive south from the airport.very intimate small zoo.went on a Wednesday and reserved tickets online.a little tip if you wanna save$11 on parking. You can park free outside the zoo,except on Mondays when the city does street sweeping.its only like a 5 min.walk to the main entrance.was not crowded at all.fed the giraffes for $8 per person
Name: L****** B*******
Date: 2022-09-13 18:23:31
Rating: 5
Comment: I was blown away by this zoo! Its smaller but the way they designed it and used the natural flora was beautiful and felt larger. None of the animals looked stressed (Im no expert), the enclosures looked clean, and I saw some interaction between animals and keepers and they looked positive. Im always on the fence when it comes to zoos, I do know animals should be free but their conservation programs are so important. Recommend.
Name: J****** K****
Date: 2022-09-13 17:56:57
Rating: 5
Comment: A fantastic zoo, the smaller size meant it was easy for a mid trip stop on our way elsewhere. I would recommend to everyone I know, and will be back again!
Name: M*** D****
Date: 2022-08-29 18:29:27
Rating: 5
Comment: I had not been there in 25 years! The Zoo is beautiful! Friendly staff and Amazing Animal Friendly Exhibits! I would much rather spend the day here, in Beautiful Santa Barbara then the hot and not so nice L.A. Zoo.
Name: J M*********
Date: 2022-08-21 14:04:18
Rating: 5
Comment: The animal interactions were great. Absolutely loved getting to go into the kangaroo enclosure. All the other animals were sleeping right up against the glass which for me was really cool to see so close up.
Name: A**** M**
Date: 2022-08-17 03:43:30
Rating: 5
Comment: Beautiful Zoo! Our hotel was 5min away so of course we had to make a visit. They had a lot of animals and quiet a few exhibits closed. We read it was a small zoo but it was white bit! Not LA Zoo big lol but lots of walking and sightseeing. Good prices and awesome play area for the kids to run around. We also loved the train ride! The conductors commentary was pleasant 😊
Name: T***** S*******
Date: 2022-08-09 15:12:48
Rating: 5
Comment: Cute small zoo in Santa Barbara. Staff were friendly and it looks like the inhabitants are well cared for. A must visit if you have little ones. Our teenager liked it as well, but we spent 2 hours there vs what can be a day trip for little kids.
Name: H********* .*****
Date: 2022-08-04 21:38:17
Rating: 5
Comment: Awesome place that we took the kids to. Smaller than some of the other zoos that we visited, which actually made it so we didnt have to walk as much LOL. Very well kept, animals well taken care of and healthy. One of the best giraffes exhibits weve experienced yet, the giraffes head was about an inch from my hand, with no glass or gate between. They even have a giraffe feeding time that you can take advantage of. We will be going back for sure.
Name: Z
Date: 2022-08-02 16:36:10
Rating: 5
Comment: Very good looking place and lots of different animals for a great price. Not too many people. And even though it technically is a zoo, there are many different (and beautiful) plants. Only real downside is that it’s a bit far from Santa Barbara‘s center IF you’re on foot.
Name: Y*** R*****
Date: 2022-07-26 16:45:21
Rating: 3
Comment: I will start with the staffs, the foot-soldiers, to give them a good A for their kindness and their smiles.I give the SBZoo operation a good C+ for pushing this apps thing for navigation and even to buy their food. Btw, the food was cheap quality and expensive, for the price charged you can do better, but we were hungry and ate it to the last crumb.Selling beer, wines and other alcoholic drinks is not a good idea, yes for special events/adult evenings. Their fund team must be creative but above $ think respect and common sense. We already got the Funk Zone and State St with wild happy, animated and loud animals.The animal exhibit gets a B grade, some parts were amazing, well the animals are amazing but seems that the population was smaller than in my last visit. It was sad to see the petting Zoo with only few animals. But having a rabbit is a stretch. I included a picture.Back in the days our Zoo was loud, full of life and colorful, now the animals do not seem to be animated, loud and moving much. The walks through are nice, but remember those are caged wild animals that would prefer to stay away from curious loud visitors and noises.A funny event was to see a Crow sharing the open exhibit with some other birds. The pose/stand of the Crow was magnificent, almost pompous, I included a pic. You should check with your Temp agency next time you got a cage/bird opening. I saw few freeloader ducks as well.I may have covidPTSD but, imo, you should continue to limit the amount of public, if you add your summer camp population its way too many humans.My suggestion to the locals, wait for the winter and visit the Zoo on a rainy day. The SBzoo residents behave soo different and happy during a wet day.
Name: C****** H
Date: 2022-07-24 17:34:28
Rating: 2
Comment: I have been coming to the zoo since I was little. We decided to take my son and family visiting because of the wonderful experiences weve had before. For what we paid for admission, including the train ride, we were sadly disappointed. Many animals were off exhibit which made for a fairly quick walk through the zoo. Feeding the giraffes was an awesome experience. I recommend getting to the giraffe exhibit first as feeding times vary.While looking at the animals, a little girl came up to us hysterically crying saying that she lost her zoo camp group and needed help. We were over by the snow leopard exhibit and I took the girl all the way to the front before I could fina anyone that worked at the zoo to help her find her group. It was a bit unsettling as a parent to see that the zoo camp groups clearly didnt have a good head count to know that she was missing.The food at the food court was outrageously priced and my husband had to give the guy our order three times and then he told my husband he was having a meltdown and needed someone else to take his order. Then when my husband asked for a receipt, the manager told them they dont provide receipts. My husband told him that was ridiculous and that even vending machines give receipts nowadays. After about fifteen minutes, the guy was able to provide my husband with a receipt. The only reason he wanted a receipt was because they guy had such a hard time with his order and he wanted to make sure we werent overcharged. I would recommend bringing your own lunch because the food from the food court was awful and was over $50 for two adults.The bathrooms throughout the zoo were absolutely filthy and looked like they hadnt been cleaned in a while. We were considering becoming zoo members but after this experience, we have decided against it for now. Hopefully they can start taking better care of the zoo and the exhibits so that it is a good experience for all in the future.
Name: S****** H***
Date: 2022-07-04 16:35:50
Rating: 5
Comment: This small zoo is absolutely beautiful. Exhibits have been designed and updated with care. You can see it all in 2 hours, more if you have kids and want to longer and check out the various kid play areas.
Name: D***** S************
Date: 2022-06-20 22:55:10
Rating: 5
Comment: Entry from 2018:Excellent choice for little children with the elephants, giraffes and monkeysThe total expenditure for a family of three added up to $48. That includes tickets for entry, toy train ride and jumping castle. Don’t miss out on visiting Jake the Fake Mosaic Snake.The zoo also runs a workshop fir building toys for animals. Similar to what is used in OT for early intervention for humans.The staff at the gift store was friendly and helpful.Parking is $11 per car.We returned for Father’s Day in June 2022. Our experience was awesome because the playground had reopened after it was closed during pandemic.This visit also concluded our one year membership. We would have renewed the membership but the commute from Los Angeles is getting more and more demanding there’s so many construction sites on the highway.
Name: T***** d**********
Date: 2022-06-08 19:21:01
Rating: 5
Comment: Always a beautiful fun day for everyone in the family. Cool people, animals, and environment. Update- we have been going a lot again post-COVID, and its wonderful to be outside without a mask! There are a number of awesome new animals, and be sure to check out the new Australian Walkabout where you can go inside with the kids and see kangaroos, wallabies, and emus up close.
Name: V*** L***
Date: 2022-05-20 22:43:22
Rating: 5
Comment: Although this zoo is considered small, I have small kids so it is perfect for them. They loved the penguins 🐧🐧🐧🐧. Cant wait to see the 🦘🦘🦘 kangaroos coming soon!! They love the train ride and there were plenty of tables to sit and have a snack under shady trees. Spent almost 4 hours here just taking our time. You can run through it in an hour and a half but I wanted to enjoy the weather and relax. Hitting the photo booth and gift shop on the way out was best for us. Ok Im editing this review because its 8 months later and the 🦘🦘🦘🦘 kangaroos are here. So awesome how they made it so that you are actually in the enclosure with them!! A great addition to this zoo.
Name: S*********
Date: 2022-05-13 04:42:35
Rating: 5
Comment: I love this zoo! The zoo really cares about the animals! Animals look content and seem pretty interested in the visitors! Beautiful view this zoo has! The new wallaby walk through was soo cool! If you go please be respectful to the animals!
Name: E**** B*****
Date: 2022-05-02 01:11:58
Rating: 5
Comment: A beautiful animal sanctuary! As someone who usually does not enjoy a day spent at the zoo due to poor living conditions for the animals, this was a joy to see them happy & content!We went with my 1 year old nephew & it was easy to walk around with him, with plenty of things to keep him interested too. Including feeding the giraffes!!My sister-in-law has a membership & says it is totally worth it if you live local.
Name: L***** R***
Date: 2022-04-27 16:22:15
Rating: 5
Comment: We love this zoo! We visit from Corona, CA, just about every year as we stay in Ventura at our familys timeshare. Its small enough not to be tiring and take all day, but has a great variety of animals and exhibits. You currently need to make reservations ahead of time, but its super easy to do online and you can just show the codes on your phone- no need for a printer. We havent had any issues buying tickets the last 2 times weve visited under these new terms.Theyve opened an Australian Walkabout encounter where you get to walk into an open animal exhibit with kangaroo, wallaby & emu. You cant touch them, obviously, but its neat to be at their level walking around them.Theres a kid play zone to let the kids burn off some energy while the adults relax a bit. Equipped with sandbox, egg features to play/climb on, musical instrument installations, sliding/sledding hill, and cargo net spider web.Something new theyve added is a trading card feature inside the gorilla observation post. You go here to pick an animal to learn more about. Grab a sheet and pencil, find the animal on your sheet at the zoo & answer some questions about it. Once its filled in, take it to the front gate and you get a trading card of that animal.
Name: M** G****
Date: 2022-04-23 04:17:40
Rating: 5
Comment: Beautiful zoo. Not huge, but compared to other zoos it was extremely scenic and detailed. A very enjoyable day. The food we had was very good. We got some very good carnitas tacos from the restaurant in the courtyard for a surprisingly good price. The train ride was extra but worth it. Overall, our favorite zoo nearby, compared to the LA and Fresno Zoos.
Name: d**** s*****
Date: 2022-04-16 00:09:02
Rating: 5
Comment: Great excursion... Strolled the park in 75 minutes, stopped to enjoy each exhibit. Got up close to Lion, Giraffe, Gorilla, Leopard, Kangaroo, beautiful tropical birds... $20.00 was worth it. Now I get why they limit capacity for 2hour time slots. We went from 3-5pm and
Name: K**** B
Date: 2022-04-12 12:56:06
Rating: 5
Comment: A nice day trip. Not crowded like the LA zoo. There was no line to get in, but we did get there at 11am. This zoo does require you to make a reservation. I would suggest bringing your own food, water and snacks since the food at the zoo is quite pricey. They have a play area for kids to run around and a hill that they can slide down on. There is an option to purchase a train ride that goes around the park which takes about 10 minutes.This was a fun thing to do and the kids loved it.
Name: T**** T*****
Date: 2022-03-28 11:56:34
Rating: 5
Comment: Beautiful place and such wonderful experience 🥰🥰 we dont have zoos in Vegas so this was my husbands and babys first time at a zoo and it exceed all expectations. The train ride was fun, the lion was awesome and the giraffe were so cute and amazing. I loved everything. Beautiful place, well kept, clean and animals seem healthy and well kept.
Name: J*** M*
Date: 2022-01-20 02:10:48
Rating: 2
Comment: The worst zoo experience I’ve ever had. The place is a rip-off for non-members. Size-wise it’s more like a park than a zoo with a limited amount of animals. Worse yet, even those limited amounts have more limits due to exhibit closures. You’ll probably see more animal statues than real animals there. My kids went in excited and came out so disappointed. The entire visit took us less than an hour.
Name: M*** B*
Date: 2021-12-26 22:18:39
Rating: 5
Comment: This is a great little zoo! It is well maintained and the animals seem more content than other places weve gone. Note you do need reservations in advance due to COVID. It wasnt very crowded when we were there and it was a lot of fun. We have two teenagers and it took just over 2 hours to see most of the exhibits. Great, safe place to go if you want to get out with COVID. Also, the food was actually really good. Not some traditional theme park fare. We got burgers and they were really delicious! We will be back!
Name: p*******
Date: 2021-10-05 06:58:13
Rating: 4
Comment: The Santa Barbara Zoo has been around for quite some time. Its a smaller zoo, the animals and park are very well taken care of. This place is a great learning experience for kids & adults. They host weddings on weekends & learning events as well.The zoo sits across from the SB Beach, which is within walking distance, as are a few large hotels on the frontage road.Some of our family members met here to get together for a weekend outing, & a day of fun. :)I always get a kick out of watching the animals, as well as taking a peaceful walk through the park. Theres grassy area for a picnic (they allow drinks & food to be brought), a play area to get out your childrens excess energy, & a train ride for all. You must purchase tickets for the train, the kids love this part of the trip!Weve been here many times over the years, its fun for children, and big kids (adults😉) alike. Im sure well go again sometime for another relaxing day out... Just a matter of time. :)
Name: R*** R*** P********
Date: 2021-09-25 18:20:54
Rating: 5
Comment: Theres a lot of animals you can see at the zoo, they have a large variety of large mammals. However when I went they were under a lot of construction and inside enclosures were closed.You can feed and pet some of the animals such as the giraffes
Name: A** S T******
Date: 2021-09-11 02:58:01
Rating: 5
Comment: Went to the first time to this zoo with my husband and such a unique experience!! Beautiful place!! The train ride was fun too!! If you buy the tickets online definitely purchase the train ride along with and the parking pass to save you time! Not a big zoo so the walking wasnt bad. The whole walk-around was about 2-3hours but because we took our time and took so many pictures!!! I took my canon camera and realized I took over 300 pictures cause I was so amazed by it all!!!
Name: H****** R***
Date: 2021-09-06 15:43:35
Rating: 2
Comment: A lot is closed, but they are still charging the full price. Dont bother with the train ride: its a rip-off. While there, we saw giraffes, lions, gorillas, penguins, and rattlesnakes. Everything else was either closed or under construction. Photos below.
Name: I**** D**
Date: 2021-08-23 08:28:50
Rating: 5
Comment: Had an amazing time here 🥰 the weather was beautiful. So many wonderful animals to see, stores to go thru and wonderful displays of fun, from all the animals. Definitely wonderful place to spend the day. Adults and kids, families of all sizes will definitely enjoy. The animals are so happy 😊 thanks for a fabulous day 🥰
Name: J*** H
Date: 2021-07-31 23:06:54
Rating: 5
Comment: Lovely little zoo. The perfect size to do in about 2 hours and you can get up close views to beautiful animals. It was easy to walk around as well. Several of the exhibits were closed for construction/upgrades but there was still lots to see including a nice butterfly garden to sit in and take a break. Really enjoyed this zoo.
Name: M******* B******
Date: 2021-07-17 16:57:25
Rating: 5
Comment: I loved the Santa Barbara Zoo. Its fun to look at and learn about the animals, and to visit the shop. All of the employees were so kind and helpful. The animals are very well taken care of and loved.
Name: W****** G*****
Date: 2021-07-15 05:24:56
Rating: 4
Comment: Awesome little place. Big animal exhibits like Lions, giraffes, leopards. Cute penguins, flamingos, birds etc. Go if you get a chance and enjoy views of the landscape and sea!
Name: G*** S****
Date: 2021-07-14 02:51:07
Rating: 5
Comment: Santa Barbara Zoo is a good time. Its not a huge zoo. I was able to see everything in less than 3 hours. There was a play area for kids and a snack stand called Buzz that served coffees, lemonade and hard lemonade etc. There are also vending machines with Gatorade and water etc. Also candy bars and chips in the vending machines for a dollar or two. The lemonade was $4.25 I believe. Not too pricey. Its a fun zoo with leopards, penguins, gibbons, vultures, turtles, black swans, goats, sheep, peacocks, an enclosed free range bird area, and more. Theres a giraffe feeding dock you can pay extra in order to feed the giraffe. Theres also a train. Members and accessible parking are free. Otherwise, its about $11. The train ride was short and sweet. We all had fun on it. It was a really good time at the zoo. Not too much of a workout and the weather was very pleasant. It usually is nice weather in this area. Enjoy
Name: S****** M*******
Date: 2021-07-10 01:17:31
Rating: 5
Comment: Love this little zoo! It is right off the ocean and has beautiful views everywhere. Very nice areas for families to have picnics. Cute train that takes you around the zoo.
Name: K***** �******* W**
Date: 2021-06-20 15:44:11
Rating: 5
Comment: I am new to the state. My son and I took the kids and this place is amazing. Its bigger than I imagined. My grandbabies had a blast. Unfortunately, we missed the Gorilla and lions. Overall, we REALLY enjoyed ourselves!
Name: A****** C**********
Date: 2021-06-18 01:17:21
Rating: 5
Comment: Nicer than the average Zoo. We loved the train and the giraffe feeding. It was a nice place to walk and relax with some views of the beach nearby. Oh, and the animals were awesome too!
Name: J**** B* d* L***
Date: 2021-05-18 15:31:26
Rating: 5
Comment: I didn’t realize how awesome this Zoo is and could be once it’s done with renovations…. I love that this Zoo is close to home and has a great amount of sights to see. The amount of animal exhibits is pleasing and I definitely would return here with my wife and/or family. We took the train ride that went along the perimeter of the zoo grounds and it was a nice opener to walk the rest of the place. This is another place I’ve always passed by on the freeway but never visited. At least I know if I’d have time to check it out once again, it’s a worthy option.
Name: h**** e******
Date: 2021-05-14 04:12:08
Rating: 5
Comment: Great place to take the family. Got to see a lot of the animals. Fed the giraffes, saw the lions, beautiful birds. Very clean and food was not bad at all. Great time. And location is always awesome, Santa Barbara is great!
Name: M****** C*********
Date: 2021-05-02 18:36:53
Rating: 5
Comment: The zoo was quiet and.peaceful. Saturday night at 6pm was a great time. It was perfect temptature not packed. It was quiet, the kids loved it. No crowds and plenty of room to move around and enjoy everything. Price was fair and Ill be coming back.
Name: B***** C*********
Date: 2021-05-01 04:34:48
Rating: 4
Comment: This is a small zoo, and I would say it is a great experience for kids. However, for adults I would say it is passable at best, and would recommend it as a general activity only if one specifically feels like visiting a zoo. The enclosures were a bit on the small side. I was able to complete the visit in 2 hours, while also going to some see some animals multiple times (granted, this may be due to several areas like the aviary and reptile enclosure being closed under covid regulations). Mask wearing was pretty universal btw.The zoo really needs to figure out their timings though. I went in at 3 PM, and I was able to spot a large majority of animals. However, guests entering after 4 15 would have a pretty poor time, as most of the animals had gone in for their bed time by then (birds got more active at that time though)Ill have to say that the highlight of my trip (in April 21) was undoubtedly seeing the lion cub. Its 6 months old right now, and it felt special watching it play around with its mom and dad, just like Ive seen many times in nature documentaries. That itself made the price of admission worth it for me. The condor and giraffe sections were pretty good as well.Overall, this would be a recommendation with several caveats.
Name: J**** B*****
Date: 2021-04-02 23:29:26
Rating: 5
Comment: A small zoo that has well trained personnel caring for the animals and the park overall.Navigating the attractions did not take but a few hours, and everyone had fun. Clean, well organized, and well maintained.
Name: A M*******
Date: 2021-03-09 21:10:44
Rating: 5
Comment: Awesome little day trip. Drove up from San Diego just to go to the zoo and it was well worth it. Not a very big zoo, you don’t need more than an hour or two here, but I was impressed by all the animals they had.
Name: N**** F*******
Date: 2021-02-27 22:04:44
Rating: 5
Comment: Very cute Zoo with amazing animals. Right now there is a cub in the lions exhibit and you can see mom, dad and baby Pauline all play in the lions den. Giraffe exhibit is also awesome as you get the ocean view in the background.
Name: C******** K***
Date: 2021-02-17 23:46:32
Rating: 5
Comment: Awesome day at the Santa Barbara Zoo!! It is definitely a must see when visiting our beautiful city. No zoo in the world has the Pacific Ocean as a backdrop! Need to make reservations due to covid. The staff have done an amazing job keeping everything safe and clean right down to the train rides. You will not be disappointed!!
Name: B**** C*******
Date: 2021-01-27 02:19:34
Rating: 5
Comment: Beautiful. Feels like a big park with animal exhibits. Saw fair share of active animals. A must for otter fans, very playful when we went. Very good value compared to other California zoos. Very basic food and drink but wasnt expecting 5 star restaurant. They do have beer and wine but didnt try any this trip. Looked great for kids. 5 stars, never felt cramped and was above expectations for a medium/small zoo experience.
Name: J**** M*****
Date: 2020-12-09 18:26:09
Rating: 5
Comment: Really great small zoo. During Covid times you need to book a time to come in to keep from overcrowding. Felt very safe and open during our visit. Some very cool animals and interactive exhibits. Beautiful views of the surrounding area. They have their own beer too!
Name: T***** M******
Date: 2020-11-09 22:59:14
Rating: 5
Comment: This zoo is pretty great. We came during COVID 19 and as a result there were not very many people here. That is the best case scenario for a zoo on a nice November afternoon. Since it was cool outside we also got to see lots of animals. Not having the crowd was the best part. Feeding the giraffes is also highly recommended!
Name: A*******
Date: 2020-10-11 22:34:16
Rating: 5
Comment: Loved how I was able to take my kids to the zoo during this crazy time. They allow you to go at the time you choose to buy your ticket and they have limited tickets available. Kids get to walk around and enjoy seeing the beautiful animals they have. When ordering food you need to download the app to order from there. It was a different experience given the fact we had to wear our face masks but we all really enjoyed ourselves.
Name: C******
Date: 2020-09-17 20:50:06
Rating: 4
Comment: Just went this September. The zoo is fairly small to begin with but felt smaller due to Covid-19 restrictions, because all the indoor exhibits (reptiles, insects, etc) are closed. You also need to make a reservation ahead to get into the zoo, in addition to the giraffe feeding. They only let walk-ins in if they have enough spaces but I wouldnt count on it.Overall its nicely laid out and fun thing to do if you are in the area.
Name: F**** o* t** T****
Date: 2020-09-13 21:50:20
Rating: 5
Comment: Smaller zoo with a cool train. Great burgers. I loved the jalapeno burger . Bun was not your typical bread. It was tasted freshly baked. Well maintained. Loved all the beautiful landscaping and cool benches.
Name: C**** D***
Date: 2020-08-30 06:49:56
Rating: 3
Comment: Very plush grounds. Because it was so plush it was hard to see the animals, but we have to be happy theyre in a good habitat. The monkeys were the best to see-- they had an amazing area-- youll see in pictures below. Like I said it was a little disappointing that we didnt much but it was great to get out and see the birds the monkeys the capybara, a snow leopard and little farm animals. Souvenir shop was open on the outside and masks were required the whole time you were there.
Name: C****** H******
Date: 2020-08-20 15:28:49
Rating: 5
Comment: A nice small sized zoo with many animals. Very well maintained especially under our pandemic conditions. A nice relief away from life even if for a moment. Enjoyed it very much.
Name: T*** N******
Date: 2020-08-16 16:49:59
Rating: 4
Comment: My visit was fun. I came late afternoon where most of the exciting animals were asleep. However, I was able to see the giraffes, birds and enjoyed the train ride.
Name: J*** T*************
Date: 2020-07-20 00:17:06
Rating: 5
Comment: Fun place for families to enjoy a day of animal watching. Go early while the animals are most active. The train ride gives you a behind the scence look at the zoo. Be sure to bring water bottles and good walking shoes!
Name: C**** J*******
Date: 2020-03-03 00:00:03
Rating: 5
Comment: A great place to come for a relaxing afternoon, we went on a Monday and it wasnt very busy so we got to see everything with no crowds. They have some of the most incredible animals there for you to view and you can even feed the giraffes, there is a food Court incase you get hungry or want a beer. Keep in mind the prices are a little high but alot of that revenue goes to the animals.
Name: �*
Date: 2020-02-13 06:26:55
Rating: 4
Comment: This zoo has nice picnic areas for family. It seems a good place to go for a walk and have a fun with kids. Clean and well maintained but a little bit pricey amd not many big animals like elephants,lions or tigers.
Name: J*** M****
Date: 2020-01-11 22:57:02
Rating: 5
Comment: Very cool place to go. Took my sister, nice and mom there we all had a great time. The gibbon was active while we were there. Facilities were stocked and well maintained. Feeding the giraffe was was awesome experience for my niece. The little train ride was cool too.
Name: M****** P*******
Date: 2019-10-17 16:59:53
Rating: 5
Comment: Best zoo ever! The kids and I had a great time here. So many photo opportunities! Love the layout and all the variety. Beautiful way to spend a day in sunny Santa Barbara!
Name: B******* F*******
Date: 2019-10-14 00:53:59
Rating: 5
Comment: First time there. Small but very nice. They have a cool variety of animals, pleasant foliage, and ocean views. We capped off our day by taking the train, it was great. Everyone was very friendly. One keeper stopped to give an impromptu talk about rhino hornbills and their mating practices.Its a pretty cheap admission for what you get. Also I almost walked out with one of each shirt and a couple hundred dollars of debt.And beware: they have Dippin Dots which is too delicious to describe and will inexplicably entice you to eat several pounds of it.
Name: A***** C*******
Date: 2019-09-04 12:52:47
Rating: 5
Comment: Santa Barbara Zoo is a great zoo! I feel like the exhibits are larger than some of the bigger zoos in California. Our favorite is Chadwick, the geriatric lion. The gorillas, giraffes, and the elephant are all wonderful! There is a large assortment of birds and other animals. You can tell they take great care of the animals, giving them puzzles and changing up their environment for enrichment, so important. Great day trip! Highly recommend!
Name: K**** R***
Date: 2019-08-11 23:47:07
Rating: 5
Comment: The Santa Barbara zoo is beautiful!! We can go multiple times a year and enjoy it every single time. People young and old will enjoy this zoo. They have a play area for children to enjoy while parents eat on the tables located right in that same area. This zoo has beautiful walking paths throughout. They pass right through animal exhibits, making it feel like you are one on one with the animal. There is many benches around the zoo where you an sit down and enjoy your meal or a snack. The animals that are kept here are beautiful and look healthy. The exhibits are well kept and cleaned often. The guides are full of information on all the animals they are working with. Got lots of information on Marylu the gator. She has been there since the zoo opened. The Santa Barbara zoo is big enough to not get bored but small enough to enjoy the walk around It. The bathrooms are clean. Very happy and will continue to return. My families favorite spot.
Name: G*** B*****
Date: 2019-07-15 19:11:08
Rating: 5
Comment: This is a pretty zoo. In NC we have the worlds largest natural habitat zoo. But this may have the best background views. Staff is friendly. Views are wonderful. The grounds are easy to walk around.
Name: G****** R******
Date: 2019-06-16 00:31:26
Rating: 4
Comment: They do a great job for a small town zoo! A few exhibits could use some love to make them larger for the animals.Parking is $11 dollars, train goes around the zoo, updated gift shops, good amount of animals and worth the money.
Name: E***** D*********
Date: 2019-05-12 04:31:19
Rating: 5
Comment: We went to the Pour & Roar 21 & over IDs checked. Fantastic fun. You pay $80 bucks for wine tasting for 3 hours. There were at least 50 booths with different wines. You can visit all animals walk the grounds. You get to keep wine glass.
Name: C**** M****
Date: 2019-04-30 00:59:03
Rating: 5
Comment: This is a very nice zoo. You can walk through the entire facility in a couple of hours and see just about everything. The snow leopard is over 20 years old. The gorillas are two half brother bachelors waiting to go into a group of females. Also, check out the rainforest display, especially the colorful but poisonous frogs. Really neat. Only $18 to get in but they stop selling tickets at 4pm, after which time I think it’s free.
Name: O*** S****
Date: 2019-04-13 15:45:47
Rating: 5
Comment: Amazing creatures! Just as Jehovah intended them to be.The zoo is small in comparison to other zoos. However, its very clean and the staff is friendly. Some even give you small facts about the animals your looking at. Its great to see a zoo that has employees who love animals and love to work at the zoo.
Name: E***** D******
Date: 2019-01-24 16:35:10
Rating: 5
Comment: Amazing zoo! Great variety of animals in wonderful enclosures and environments. Great exhibits. Easy layout allows you to cover a lot of ground and see so many things without realizing how far you have walked. Special areas just to let kids play, very family friendly. Super friendly staff! Overall great experience.
Name: M*** G*****
Date: 2019-01-09 06:27:04
Rating: 5
Comment: Great zoo. Its small enough to see everything in a day but big enough to have the animals people want to see. The train ride is a must. Goes all around the park. The animal enclosures have sign giving information about the animals. Great views of the ocean for the picnic area.
Name: B**** C******
Date: 2018-09-22 15:54:12
Rating: 5
Comment: We absolutely love coming here. Its the perfect size zoo. Its never too crowded, the animals are so close you, and the staff are always super helpful. We are now passholders and plan on going in our free time as much as we can. Such a peaceful place. You can see the ocean while you have a giraffe in your eye sight. Its just incredible.
Name: b**** b******
Date: 2018-08-22 01:38:40
Rating: 5
Comment: Great little zoo, full of charm. You can do the whole zoo in about 2/3 hours. They have great exhibits covering reptiles, insects, birds (penguins as well), gorillas, lions, giraffes, alligators, leopards, elephants, otters, turtles, piranhas, and dinosaurs 😉. I know I may have missed something...They have a cute little train (you need to pay extra for) that takes you all around the zoo. The kids love the green hill they can slide down on. Again, great little zoo that I have never found crowded and is always a pleasure to visit.
Name: R Q
Date: 2018-08-16 18:20:47
Rating: 5
Comment: A beautiful small zoo thats cool to walk through. Lots of open grass and picnic tables to enjoy lunch if you choose to bring one. In the morning there are a ton of moms with their strollers and toddlers about. Its worth it to do the giraffe feeding and we appreciated that there were other animals we could feed for a nominal fee.
Name: S****** H********
Date: 2018-08-12 21:55:08
Rating: 4
Comment: Small zoo but over all nice. The train ride could have been better. The play area for kids was fun. & for $4. You can feed certain animals. Which kids enjoy
Name: L**** C*** l*
Date: 2018-06-26 06:14:49
Rating: 5
Comment: This Zoo is great for the little ones. The exhibits are close to each other and pretty much one right after the other but in groups. The Zoo animals have an ocean view on top of a mountain. There is shade and grass for a picnic lunch. One thing that I was surprised about was the no lid or straw policy. Had a great time.
Name: D***** C*******
Date: 2018-06-17 23:23:30
Rating: 5
Comment: We absolutely love this place. Great environment, friendly staff and the animals are great to see. The new koalas are adorable, they were actually awake and climbing the last time we went (I tried to take a picture but there was a glare since theres a clear window separating them from us, I posted one).
Name: X*** H****
Date: 2018-06-02 03:13:29
Rating: 5
Comment: My family and I love this Zoo. We love Santa Barbara! One of the few places to go where tickets arent $100 a person! And you can bring your own food!! So we love to have a picnic on the lawn at the top of the hill about half way through setting for a beautiful day with the animals!
Name: p***** m******
Date: 2018-05-20 06:31:40
Rating: 5
Comment: This is a small zoo but is amazing! Everyone is friendly and you can see most of the animals up much closer than at a large zoo. My favorite animal was a huge anteater who had twins. She didnt have enough milk for both so zoo keepers became the mother of one of the twins.. Mother anteaters carry their babies on their backs until they are about a year old. It was awesome to see her carrying her one baby draped over her body. The baby was almost as big as the mother. The zoo also has a family area where they had interesting activities for the children. I plan on going to the Santa Barbara Zoo whenever I visit my daughter and her family. Five Stars ***** A+
Name: A***** O*******
Date: 2018-05-05 16:19:18
Rating: 5
Comment: Perfect place for a family day! My husband loved bumping into Darth Vader and the crew, it made our visit extra special. Its nice that there is a photographer at the entrance so you can actually get a good family pictures. However they are cruise ship prices. We didnt have any trouble brining on snacks with is nice because you can have a little picnic on the grassy area, as long as there isnt a big crazy event going on like it was when we went. I dont recommend going on spring break if you want to see anything. We felt a bit rushed from one exhibit to the next. The stroller was almost impossible to get through the more crowded ones like the penguins. When I was a kid (Im 30) it was like $1 to ride the train, now its like $8. Same with feeding the giraffe. There is no more carousel, and the days of simply rolling down the grassy hill is over. They commercialized it and made a kid area with AstroTurf that the kids can ride cardboard down on. Which I guess is great if your kid has allergies. It just seems wrong though. Some exhibits were empty but Im sure that changes from time to time. Parking was crazy, again it was a busy day. All on all it was a nice day outside with the family.
Name: J***** D* V***
Date: 2018-04-24 13:33:03
Rating: 4
Comment: Nice, clean, small zoo. Can see the whole place in just a few hours. Get their early for lot parking. I believe theres also very limited street parking2.
Name: C*** S****
Date: 2018-04-22 05:58:49
Rating: 4
Comment: Great zoo to spend a couple of hours at. While smaller than I thought it would be, the exhibits are beautiful. The train is more entertaining for kids than adults, but you do get some good views of the giraffes and lion. The only downside is the costs, as the train and entry were a bit pricey. Still, its worth the visit.
Name: D****** O****
Date: 2018-04-16 20:45:31
Rating: 5
Comment: Very nice place to go either with kids or without kids. I went without kids this time, and enjoyed looking at the animals, the views and scenery, and sat down to have a nice beer with my lunch. Made for a very nice relaxing day. Take the shuttle from the wharf. its only $0.50!
Name: S**** S*****
Date: 2018-04-01 00:36:47
Rating: 5
Comment: Zoo was clean and well maintained. Good variety of wild life. They have a train tour for 15mins but we had to pay separately for that. Overall it was a good experience and we had fun.Good place to spend time with family.
Name: M**** D*****
Date: 2018-02-21 04:20:10
Rating: 4
Comment: For being a small zoo, price and drive was worth it. Very well maintained and nice views. Reason they get 4 stars is because their system went down and only were accepting cash. Really liked that they had a big grass field were you can have a picnic or have the kids run around.
Name: M*** D* C*****
Date: 2017-11-05 21:46:23
Rating: 5
Comment: Really nice smaller zoo. Can see the whole thing in a couple hours but exceeded my expectations for a smaller city zoo. Lots of animals and educational material with feeding demonstrations.
Name: R*** T******
Date: 2016-08-15 02:28:03
Rating: 5
Comment: Love coming here because you get the zoo with some great animals and the view of the beach as your back drop. After you can cross the street then play in the sand and water. One of my favorite relaxing places to go.
Name: m****** a******
Date: 2024-06-26 15:03:57
Rating: 5
Comment: Really cool place for all ages. Ions Leppard cages monkeys stealing your stuff lol aquatics center was my favorite