Looking for a unique and memorable birthday party idea? Forget the traditional options like clowns and character performers. Instead, why not consider a zoo sleepover?
Zoos around the world, including the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park, offer incredible sleepover programs for kids and parents. Imagine setting up camp in tents, snuggling in sleeping bags, and even having a baby giraffe as a neighbor, munching on acacia leaves. In the morning, enjoy delicious pancakes around the campfire while sharing exciting stories from the previous night’s encounters.
These zoo sleepovers offer rare opportunities to get up close and personal with animals. Cuddle with adorable koalas, hand-feed majestic white rhinos, and even touch the backs of some of the world’s largest snakes. Rates vary depending on the season, ranging from $89 per child in winter to $209 per adult in summer. And the price includes dinner, breakfast, snacks, and beverages.
Other zoos, like the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, offer behind-the-scenes Nocturnal Adventures where you can bunk in the manatee aquarium or the Harold C. Schott Education Center ($35 per person). Some zoos even have kid-only programs, like the Denver Zoo’s Bunk with the Beasts Overnight Adventures for children aged 7 to 12 ($60 per child). In most cases, parents are required to stay with their kids overnight.
It’s important to note that some zoos may require society membership to participate in the sleepover programs. For example, the Snore & Roar sleepover at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C., requires a $40 annual membership fee for non-members ($45 per person for the sleepover).
If you’re in the United States, there are several zoos with sleepover programs to choose from, including the Atlanta Zoo, Birmingham Zoo, Franklin Park Zoo and Stone Zoo in Boston, Bronx Zoo, Cosley Zoo near Chicago, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens in Florida, Memphis Zoo, and the New York Aquarium and Central Park Zoo.
Imagine the excitement on your child’s face when they find out you’ve planned a zoo sleepover for their birthday. While it may require some saving up, the experience is truly priceless. Become the coolest parent around and give your child a birthday they’ll never forget.
