Como Park Zoo and Conservatory

http://www.comozooconservatory.org/
1225 Estabrook Drive
St. Paul, MN 55103
651-487-8200

Hours: April-September: 10am-6pm daily
October-March: 10am-4pm daily

Come enjoy an inspiring adventure that teaches children compassion and care for animals, plants and the planet Earth. There is something for everyone--from exotic wild animals at Como Zoo to beautiful botanicals in the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory. Even take a trip on the wild side at Como Town amusement park.

Exclusive Museum Adventure Pass Offer

  • 15% off in Garden Safari Gifts
  • $10 off a Family Membership on day of visit
  • $3 off any single education program registration
  • Choice of one complimentary coffee, any size or flavor, at Zobota CafĂ© with the purchase of a second coffee of equal or greater value OR five free ride tickets to Como Tow amusement park May-September.

Pick up discount offers at the Visitor Center service desk.

Passes are limited to general exhibit admission only. Passes may not be applied towards educational and group tours. Special exhibitions and other attractions may not be covered, and other restrictions may apply.

Please visit http://www.comozooconservatory.org/ for specific exhibition information.

Learn more about it at your metro public library

All Ages

Primates: The Amazing World of Lemurs, Monkeys and Apes
Barbara Sleeper, Chronicle Books, 1997
The Life of Pi: A Novel
Yann Martel, Harcourt, 2001
Rules of the Wild
Bridgit Levine, Chronicle Books, 2004
The Shaman's Apprentice: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest
video recording, Lancit Media Entertainment, 2000
American Public Gardens Association
website: www.aabga.org
American Zoo and Aquarium Association
website: www.aza.org
The Art of Japanese Gardens: Designing and Making Your Own Peaceful Space
Herb Gustafson, Sterling, 1999
A Pelican Swallowed My Head and Other Zoo Stories
Edward R. Ricciuti , Simon & Schuster, 2002
Plant
David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley, 2004
Seals and Sea Lions
David Miller, Voyageur Press, 1998
The Zookeeper's Wife: A War Story
Diane Ackerman, Norton, 2007

Kids

A Bear Named Trouble
Marion Dane Bauer, Clarion, 2005
Carousel
Donald Crews, Morrow, 1982
Good Night, Gorilla
Peggy Rathmann, Putnam, 1994
Handtalk Zoo
George Ancona and Mary Beth, Four Winds Press, 1989
Lunch at the Zoo: What Zoo Animals Eat and Why
Joyce Altman, Henry Holt, 2001
Mother to Tigers
George Ella Lyon, Atheneum, 2003
One Leaf Rides the Wind: Counting in a Japanese Garden
Celeste A. Mannis, Viking, 2002
Our Class Took a Trip to the Zoo
Shirley Neitzel, Greenwillow, 2002
Sam Who Never Forgets
Eve Rice, Mulberry, 1977
Sammy, the Seal
Sid Hoff, HarperCollins, 2000
What Would You Do if You Lived at the Zoo?
Nancy Carlstrom, Little, Brown, 1994
Polar Bears
Gail Gibbon, Holiday House, 2001
Chocolate: Riches from the Rainforest
Robert Burleigh, Harry N Adams, 2002
How Monkeys Make Chocolate: Foods and Medicines from the Rainforest
Adrian Forsyth, Owl Press, 1995
Emperor's Egg
Martin Jenkins, Candlewick Press, 1999
The Magic School Bus in the Rainforest
Scholastic, 2000 (series available in book and videocassette)
Owen and Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship
Isabella Hatkoff, Scholastic Press, 2006
Hippo! No, Rhino
Jeff Newman, Little Brown & Co., 2006
Pssst!
Adam Rex, Harcourt, 2007

Tell Us About Your Adventure

If you visited Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, we'd love to hear about your experience.

Tell Us About Your Adventure!

Sep 9 '09 My mom was in town visiting and we went to our zoo outing. Our favorite part was the monkey who tried puting on a t-shirt for the entire time we were there. That, and the tiny little baby monkey being carried around by his parents.
We love the zoos. Thank you for making them special.
Jill
Aug 21 '09 The big attraction for me is the Flower Conservatory. I arranged for our Red Hat group to meet and go through the flower conservatory and then out to lunch together. In 2009 I was to the Zoo 3 different times. Once we walked all around and looked as the animals and went through the Butterfly Garden. Another time my grandkids were with me and we included a ride on the carosel which brought back memeories, I rode it as a child. The St Paul Zoo is one of the best family value stops in the Twin Cities. There are so many possibilities and oportunities. Picnicing, walking, the lake with paddel boats, biking, animal watching and programs at the zoo for kids. Where else can you enjoy so much for $2/person!
Aug 14 '09 My girls are 3 and 5 and they loved the blooming butterflies the best. I had a hard time getting them to look at the other animals. I can't believe all they ask for is a small donation. We had a great time.
Jul 24 '09 It was truly fantastic, it had been a while since we had been there...had a picnic with the granch children on acamp grandma field trip and was truly amazed. The baby giraffe was the highlight
Jul 21 '09 My kids enjoyed the rides!
Jul 12 '09 We visit Como Zoo frequently,and enjoy the personalities of the animals. Today we packed a board book copy of "Goodnight Moon" to read to the primates. The tiny "moustache monkeys", as we call them, were very interested. One came right down,to sit with us and observe. He watched as we read, paying attention to the details, as his eyes scanned the pictures. He read the entire book with us,patiently waiting as we turned the pages. What a special experience, one that we will hold dear and will never forget.
Jun 4 '09 Going to the zoo is a lot of fun and is always enjoyable to see all the wild animals. The giraffe is one of my favorite animals as they are so graceful even though they are sooooo tall.
May 30 '09 My 2 kids really enjoyed going to Como Zoo to see all the animals. We were there the whole day and enjoyed lunch and animal seeing. It is a place that we will go back to over and over again.
Apr 18 '09 My whole family of four went together and it was great experience.
Feb 15 '09 I went to the the Como Conservatory to get the cabin fever out of my system. I enjoyed seeing the beautiful flowers and spent a good amount of my time taking pictures. It was hard to leave that warm pleasant place and go back into the cold winter weather. I'm so thankful there are places indoors to enjoy during our cold Minnesota winters.
Nov 26 '08 We have gone to the Como Park Zoo for over 60 years. Although we missed the polar bears and the seal performance, we LOVED the baby orangutan and the baby giraffe. We were fascinated with mother oranguntan playing with her baby...and so were the other visitors. The benches in the Tropical Room...great for watching families visiting on the day before Thanksgiving. With our Museum Pass we received a coupon for buy one cup of coffee get one free! The volunteers were very helpful answering questions. It is a great place to visit for all generations. Wear comfortable shoes!
Sep 20 '08 We went as a Family. Dad, Mom, son age 8 and daughter age 10 months. It was our daughter's first time to the zoo and she was very amazed by all of the animals. She was learning how to make the sounds of all the different animals we saw. Her favorite was watching the seals. Our son has been to the zoo many times, his favorite animal was the wolves. Dad's favorite thing was going through the primates building. Mom's favorite thing was visiting the safari gift store. We had a fun time as a family watching them act a story about "the real version of the three little pigs." We would definitely go again.
Sep 9 '08 it was fun we ate so much food it was good my sister took me and my cousin to go my mom had to go to school and my sister did not have to go that day so she just said since mom is gone lets just go somewhere and have some fun cause today i dont have to go to work
Sep 6 '08 I loved taking my kids. We saw animals we hadn't in real life before.
Jul 23 '08 Como Park Zoo is still one of my favorite places to visit. I had many childhood memories visting the zoo and learning about the animals. One of my fondest was riding on the turtles. As always Sparky is enjoyable. It is wonderful that como has grown and changed over the years. So now I can bring my children and grandchildren.
Jul 18 '08 It was amzing and fun. Very fasinating! I love animal and it was so cool!
Jun 22 '08 We went there for my daughters 3rd birthday and had a wonderful time. We visited all the animals, ate lunch and then we all got our faces painted and rode rides.
Jun 7 '08 It was a lot of fun. They have really improved the zoo and rides. The kids had a great time and really enjoyed seeing all the animals.
Jun 5 '08 It was a trip with my son, he loved it so much and we would certainly go again because my 8 year old would like to live there!!
Jun 4 '08 My mom took me to meet with my friends, where we sang songs and shared our food. I enjoyed watching the animals especially Sparky! He made me laugh.
May 31 '08 This was a wonderful to spend a Saturday morning with my mom who was in town for a visit and my husband and 21 month old daughter! We were able to use the pass to allow us a buy 1 get 1 free lunch at the cafe. The Como Zoo and the Conservatory were very enjoyable. Thanks!
May 10 '08 I took my four grandchildren to Como Park. None of them had even been there which isn't unusual for kids living in the southern suburbs. They loved it especially Como Town and the baby giraffe. They enjoyed being able to get "up close and personal" with the animals.
Feb 17 '08 Needed to refresh from all this cold weather and get my mind set right. Amazing how the weather affects our moods. We strolled around the conservatory and enjoyed the greenery and flowers.
Jan 19 '08 Always enjoy the Como Zoo, I loved it as a kid,and I still love it today, it is so fun to observe the kids as the look at the animals and to see their reactions. I especially like the big ape exibit. The best part, it that the Como is still free to the public which has always been a big help to single parents, who may not be able to afford to take their children to other places.
Nov 12 '07 I went to the Conservatory and read a story about Krishna. There were lots of colorful plants, big ones, short ones, all around. It was nice and warm in there, so I was glad to be there.
Aug 4 '07 I had fun. But we could not see the wolf. I think he was hiding. Next time I hope I see him.
Jul 28 '07 We went to the zoo,then we went to where the rides were. We never go in that part,because with a family of 5 it gets very expensive, but with the free ride passes we got we let the kids go.I was so great to see my 1 year old take her first ride.And the older kids had fun too.It was a good aray of rides from the young to the old.But don't get me wrong it is not like the state fair rides so don't expect that.Also the nice thing that was really nice was they had sprinklers running and with it being so hot it felt great.We also used the coupon in the gift shop for some como zoo stickers for our scrapbooks. Thank you so much for this program.We look forward to go to other places we don't get a chance to go or do.
Jun 3 '07 It was fun and great way to spend day with kids.
Mar 16 '07 When spring fever hits, it's time to hit the conservatory at como. Sround yourself with the beauty of the gardens and take time to visit the animal at the zoo. We had out of towner in March and they very impressed by the conservatory.
It's one of our favorite spot and you know that the donation dollars go long way.

Membership

For information on membership, please visit www.comozooconservatory.org/supp/society_/memebership.shtml.
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