by Robert Freeman

Created on: June 10, 2009   Last Updated: December 11, 2009

No trip to Omaha, Nebraska would be complete without a visit to the city's number one tourist destination, the Henry Doorly Zoo. At over 130 acres, this impressive zoo is the home to over 17,000 animals from 962 different species, with 44 of those being on the endangered species list. Henry Dorrly Zoo's sheer size is only climaxed by the records held by the numerous exhibits and buildings within its confines combined with the fact that it started out as a humble park founded by the City of Omaha in 1894.

Riverview Park; as the zoo was originally named; became the Henry Doorly Zoo following a $750,000 donation from Margaret Hitchcock Doorly in 1963 who requested the park be named after here late husband. The city was more than happy to grant her this humble request.

General Information:

Location: 3701 South 10th Street

Hours: 8:30 to 5:00

Admission: Kids 3-11 are $7.75 & Others 12+ are $11.50

www.omahazoo.com

Where to Get Food:

The Henry Doorly Zoo offers three different ways to enjoy a nice meal while inside the park. The first and most inexpensive way to eat some food is by bringing your own food from home and sitting down at one of the comfortable picnic tables available at a first-come-first-serve basis throughout the zoo.

The next choice available to zoo goers is to grab a hot dog, pretzel, or ice cream from one of the many concession stands periodically along the zoo's walkways. The last and by far the most fun way to eat at the Henry Doorly Zoo is to go to the Durham's Tree Top Restaurant which serves cafeteria style food and overlooks the largest indoor rainforest in the world.

Fun Things to Try:

Most zoos in the United States offer an array of animal exhibits and occasionally some shows and some hands-on experiences but that's all. The Henry Doorly Zoo goes above and beyond the normal zoo standards by offering its visitors some one of a kind activities that suit those of all ages. For a small fee of two dollars you can take the little ones for a ride on the beautiful Wildlife Carousel where they can ride a giraffe, lion, tiger, and of course the zoo's version of a horse, the zebra.

Omaha Zoo Railroad and Skyfari:

The whole family can hop on the Omaha Zoo Railroad that will take you on a two and a half mile ride through the zoo and allow you to see all the exhibits without having to lift a foot off the ground. If lifting your feet of the ground is something you like to do and you have two bucks, then you need to take a ride on the Skyfari. This aerial

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