Special note: I have signed us up for group discounts at the Zoo. Unfortunately, due to the special promotion, the group discount price is the same, however, you can purchase special meal packages for lunch at a reduced rate. In order for us to get the best rates, we have to buy more tickets. Each year they see how many tickets your group bought the year before and if you buy a lot, you get a better and better price. Currently, our regular group price during the regular season will be $11 for adults instead of the regular rate of $14. Right now you can buy your $7/4.50 ticket and special meal packages at this page rather than at the door. So, please if you can, go this link and buy your discounted tickets and meals so we can get credit for using the group discount site. The half price ticket is available there so even though you are not getting a larger discount, it would still help our group if you purchased your tickets there. The site is https://tickets.cinci.... In the box where it asks for your store name, enter HikeZoo to enter.
Thanks.

Hey all!

January and February are Penguin Days at the Cincy Zoo and the 28th is the last day to get in 1/2 price. So, I thought we should take this opportunity to enjoy this discount with a nice steady walk through the zoo for about an hour, followed by a special social tour for of the zoo. I expect we will do about 3 miles. This way we will be warmed up before we enjoy the animals. So, this will be a combo urban walk/social event and doesn't neatly fit on either site.

On Penquin Days, the Zoo offers half-price admission to get in which is $7 for adults, $4.50 for kids and seniors. There will be special events scheduled throughout the day as well. I emailed the zoo about group discounts, but don't expect lower rates. Generally, discounts are based on full admission, but maybe I can get food discounts. If anyone has children, the Entertainment book does offer free children's admission with paid adult.

There is a fee for parking, so I suggest we meet at 9:30 at the Mitchell exit Kroger and carpool over to share in the cost of parking rather than paying full price or risk street parking. There is a park and ride at the Kroger lot so we should be able to carpool from there with no problem. For those who prefer to meet us there, please meet at 10am at the Membership office across from the main restrooms as you enter the Vine Street Parking Lot entrance. This is the main Historical Vine Street Entrance!

The Kroger off I-75 Mitchell Ave is located at 4777 Kenard Ave - Cincinnati OH 45232-1992 for those with GPS devices. If coming from the South, turn left on Mitchell, then left on Kenard. If coming from the North, turn right on Mitchell, then left of Kenard.

For those that have never visited the zoo, the Cincinnati Zoo is rated as one of the best Zoos in the US.
Founded in 1873, the Zoo and officially opened its doors in 1875, making the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden the second oldest Zoo in the United States. The Zoo was founded on 65 acres in the middle of the city.

The Zoo was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1987 due to its significant architecture featured in the Elephant House, the Reptile House, and the Passenger Pigeon Memorial. The Zoo’s Reptile House is the oldest existing Zoo building in the country, dating from 1875.

The Zoo has long been successful at captive breeding, starting with trumpeter swans and sea lions back in the 1880s. The Lindner Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW) was founded in 1986 to strengthen the tradition. The research conducted here has made the Cincinnati Zoo an international leader in the protection and propagation of endangered animals and plants around the world.

Today, the Cincinnati Zoo continues to set the standard for conservation, education and preservation of wild animals and wild spaces. Over 1.2 million people visit the Zoo annually. The Zoo features more than 500 animal and 3,000 plant species, making it one of the largest Zoo collections in the country.

Here is a link for the Zoo website if anyone wants to learn more about the zoo.

http://www.cincyzoo.o...

The Zoo has several self-tours listed on their site and unless the weather is unusually pleasant, we will probably follow the Indoor door for maximum temperature comfort. (this is after our steady paced walk so we may find ourselves quite comfortable with the great outdoors at this point) Here is a link to the Indoor Tour. I was not planning on the I-Max movie, but am open to it if folks want. For folks that do not want to walk first, you can meet up back at the Membership Office approx 11:15. Please be patient if we are not there exactly at that time. The link is:

http://www.cincinnati...

For walkers, here is a general map of the Zoo for our walk:

http://www.cincinnati...

To recap our schedule:

*9:30 Kroger parking lot at Mitchell and Kenard so we can carpool over to the Zoo and share cost of parking.

*10am, Meet outside the Zoo Membership office to begin hour walk around the Zoo. Hoping it will not be too crowded at this early in the morning.

*11:30 Recircle to the Membership Office to pick up any folks who skipped the preliminary walk. Enjoy the Zoo.

Somewhere in there, we can squeeze in lunch. I'm inclined to the main cafeteria for drinks so those that prefer can buy lunch there and those that want to brownbag can still sit with us.