Woman and a kid looking at two bears

Take a Walk on the Wild Side: Visit the Cincinnati Zoo

Visit the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Here at Matt Castrucci Nissan, we try to provide you with information on fun things to do in and around the Dayton area. One of the most popular attractions near Dayton is the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens. Thousands of people travel from all over the country to see this famous zoo in person every year. We honestly believe that every Ohio resident should visit this zoo at least once in their lifetime. Yes, this place is that cool.

The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical gardens is home to many different forms of animal and plant life, including more than 500 animal species and over 5,000 different species of plants. Some of our favorite animal exhibits in the zoo are: Africa, Manatee Springs, Night Hunters, Giraffe Ridge, P&G Discover Forest, Wildlife Canyon, Kroger Lords of the Arctic and Gorilla World.

There are also different events that take place throughout the year. One of them is HallZOOween which takes places over four weekends throughout the month of October. During this time children are allowed to dress up in halloween costumes and come to the park. There are trick-or-treat stations set up throughout the zoo for the children to partake in. There are also two rides, the Hogwarts Express Train and the Scare-ousel, which are available for an additional cost.

Another fun event is the PNC Festival of Lights which takes place at the zoo over the holiday season. The Festival of Lights begins on November 22 and lasts until January 3rd. There are many different holiday themed activities that take place throughout this event. There is a new Wild Light Show that happens on Swan Lake. The children can come and meet Santa up until December 23rd when he has to leave to get ready to deliver presents. Children can also ride the North Polar Express and visit Fairyland.

There are many other events, animal shows and exhibits for you to discover throughout the year as well. So be sure to take your family to visit the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens before summer is over. Also, remember to visit Castrucci Nissan in Dayton the next time your car needs to be serviced or when you are in the market for a different new or pre-owned vehicle.