01/08/08

Oh! The Zoo and the Polar lights....

by sambobc

My husband and I went to the zoo for the Polar lights display in December of '07. We do love the Pittsburgh zoo and the prices can be reasonable. . but, I guess I was expecting more of a lights display. There were cheap Chirstmas displays lathered all over the place and it didn't appear that there was any real effort put into it. The snacks were a little pricey, but the best part of the trip wa there was an ice sculpter doing a series of shows. We stayed to watch and found out he was the person who did our weddiing ice sculpture 5 years ago.

I was expecting alittle more for the money...

Seeing the animals was nice, but since it was dark, it was alttilte hard to see the animals that were outside. And it was very crowded...EVERYWHERE!!!!!!

but on another note, my husband did enjoy it. He complained about the food prices, and the crowds, but he enjoyed it.

• Pros: Ice sculpting display, aquarium, caroling staff members
• Cons: Prices for snacks, crowds

09/29/07

Get a GRIP people!!!

by a_barnes

I just wanted to write because I read some of these reviews on the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium. Are you kidding me right now?:?? The two people who wrote about how the 'Monkey House' smells SO bad are ridiculous!!!!! Monkeys don't give themselves manicures! YES, most animals stink! Get over it! You visited a freaking zoo not a mall!!! The smell they complained about most likely exists! But that smell has nothing to do with the care for the animals! I love the Pittsburgh Zoo and I DO have animal (exotic) experience, so I'm not just some tree hugger! Have you ever heard the phrase "You look like a monkey and you smell like one TOO!!" There you go!! I have enjoyed the Pittsburgh Zoo since I was a little girl, and everytime I visit it just gets better. I'm actually planning a trip for October 2007. So if you have not visited I suggest that you stop by. It's a WONDERFUL experience for all children (adults too)!!

• Pros: GREAT experience for children!!
• Cons: NONE

07/20/07

Words can't describe the smell of the monkey house

by matt1970

I lived in Pitsburgh until I was 18 and now return once or twice a year to visit family. I took my children to the zoo during my last visit (July 2007) and had a good time. However, I feel compelled to comment on several things that I found detracted from our visit. First of all, the monkey house smelled worse than anything I have ever smelled in my entire life. It was like being inside a dirty diaper. They need to clean it for the sake of the animals. Good thing it is a non-smoking zoo because if someone lit a match in there the place would probably explode due to the foul gases. The penguin exhibit and elephant house weren't much better. I've been to zoos in the Deep South (SC and FL) in the middle of summer with temps of 100+ and never encountered such a putrid smell. Also, parts of the zoo came off as being too preachy- telling you that the weeds you were looking at weren't weeds but Mother Nature. Maybe I'll try this same tactic when the city writes me a ticket for not maintaining my yard properly. Another example- the arctic village where children are bashed over the head with "messages" about how bad people are at every turn. I felt like I was in an Afterschool Special and it was all my fault. What a downer. I just want my kids to see the animals. While the underwater tunnel was interesting, the polar bears were comatose. It made me wonder how much time (if any) they actually spend in the water.

On the plus side, the employees were friendly, the playground was well maintained, and the children's zoo was great. They've put alot into the zoo since I was a kid in the 1970's and it shows. I would recommend visiting but bring a handkercheif doused with Aquavelva if you want to enter the monkey house.

• Pros: Good children's zoo- lots to do
• Cons: The smell was worse than any other zoo I have visited