Spending time with their grandparents is a treat for children and seniors alike and has many benefits for both parties. The question is, "Where do you go for a day out that suits such diverse age groups?"
Columbian Park Zoo in Lafayette, Indiana, is an excellent destination for senior outings with grandchildren. It offers a variety of attractions, amenities, and intergenerational experiences, ensuring a fun and accessible experience for everyone.
Read on to learn more about what to expect when you visit the zoo.
Columbian Park Zoo provides wheelchairs for loan at the gift shop, so it's easy for those with mobility issues to get around the park. It also features accessible attractions linked with ADA-compliant pathways made of gravel, sand, mulch, and concrete.
The zoo opens at 10 am daily and closes at 4:30 pm during the cooler seasons and at 7:30 pm from the end of May until mid-August. The zoo is closed for the winter from the beginning of October to mid-April.
Admission to Columbian Park Zoo is just $3 per person over three years old. So you won't blow your budget on an outing to this attraction.
An annual membership package costs $50 for two adults and two children and offers many park-related perks. Seniors get a $20 discount on these memberships.
Columbian Park Zoo is home to almost 200 animals representing 90 species. It features creatures from the Americas and Australia, butterflies, and farmyard animals.
There are plans afoot to incorporate a section for African animals, cat exhibits, and a discovery center inside the Historic Animal House.
Don't miss:
This area is alive with exhibits featuring the North American river otter, Galapagos tortoise, and black-tailed prairie dog. Aviaries are filled with owls, bald eagles, and vultures.
The main attraction in this section is the Wallaby Walkabout, where visitors can interact with these interesting creatures. You will also get to view large aviaries with kookaburras, emus, and galahs in this part of the zoo.
Enjoy interactions with friendly farm animals. The resident beasts include miniature horses, llamas, chickens, goats, pot-bellied pigs, and rabbits.
Some other noteworthy animal encounters include:
The Prairie Dog Tunnels provide opportunities for play as children mimic the antics of these burrowing ground squirrels and the Underwater Otter Tube allows for immersive views of otters at play.
Although the Historic Animal House is not open to the public, visitors can see primates like gibbons and spider monkeys outside this building.
You can also embark on an all-ages train ride around Memorial Island or head to the nearby water park where younger children can frolic in the zero-entry pool.
At the entry to the zoo, you'll come across a large sphere supported by a water base. It rotates on the same axis as Earth, and the slightest touch sends it spinning in another direction.
Nearby there is a meandering river with bronze sculptures depicting a creature from each of the seven continents, i.e., a bear cub, a platypus, an orangutan, a caiman, a penguin, a gecko, and baby elephants.
As you explore the zoo, you'll also encounter sculptures of a Galapagos tortoise, a river otter, a totem pole, and penguins.
Families are encouraged to book their children's birthday parties at the zoo with a fun and active party package. Columbian Park Zoo also offers regular children's programs.
These include:
Every year, several major special events take place on the zoo grounds. The best-known ones are:
This annual event occurs around Halloween and is ideal for preschool and elementary school-aged children. Some of the features and activities during this event are:
Spring Break Camp is a week-long camp. It involves children in hands-on activities with the resident animals.
This one-day event happens in early December when the zoo is usually closed to the public. Lucky attendees will get to:
Hot chocolate, cookies, and other festive treats are for sale during this event, and it presents a wonderful opportunity to spend time with your grandkids and socialize with other grandparents.
Maximizing your time at Columbian Park Zoo takes some planning. These tips will help you get the most out of your day at the zoo with your grandkids:
Use a map to plan your route around the zoo so you don't miss out on any attractions or run out of time to enjoy the best ones.
Plan frequent play breaks on the zoo's grassed areas and pack a picnic lunch, snacks, and refreshments. There are restaurants nearby if you prefer to dine out.
Arrive early to avoid long queues at the gate.
The Columbian Park Zoo is a major attraction for families in Lafayette and can get very busy during peak times. If you prefer a less crowded experience, visit the zoo:
If you think getting around all the attractions may become too taxing, you can bring a walker for extra stability and support.
At Digby Place Assisted Living, we encourage residents to interact with their family members as much as possible. We welcome visitors and are committed to promoting enriching outings for senior citizens.
We are just four miles from Columbian Park Zoo and many other family activities in Lafayette, IN, and we encourage our residents to make the most of our prime location.
Get in touch to schedule a tour and discover our warm, inviting environment.