This was a great zoo with a lot of attention to detail in its design and enclosures. I would have given it 5 stars, except the three animals we wanted to see (giraffe, sheep and red panda) were all off exhibit so that was a bit disappointing. I saw another review saying this was not a good zoo on a hot day but I actually disagree. It was about 110 degrees the day we went and I hate the heat, and while yes it was steaming hot, there was a lot of great shady areas to get out of the heat. Loved that they had some interactive things, including the 2 cute pigs roaming around the zoo that we got to pet!

I live in Nashville and this was my first time visiting in about 5 years. WOW, how she has grown. I can't wait to come back in 5 more. It doesn't feel like your traditional zoo. It feels like walking in the woods with animals scattered about. I suggest going in the morning on a weekday to avoid the crowds. Be sure to try to catch the flamingo march. They were decorating for Boo at the Zoo which is a must if you have little ones. They have an event in the winter called Zooluminations which is phenomenal. When my children were little we had a family pass. It is so worth the money. The play area is huge and a great place to spend a couple hours to run off some energy. It is small, but they are expanding everywhere. The jungle loop looks to be almost completed. Hurry and visit the baby clouded leopards at the veterinarian center.

LOTS of walking but pleasant experience! Several exhibits were closed due to construction/modifications. Pre-purchase your tickets through website prior to visit. 20 minute drive from downtown Nashville. Would recommend going later in the day as the park seemed to clear out around 2-2:30. Plan on 2-3 hours to take in the whole zoo.

We are local and have a membership so visit the zoo regularly. It is a relatively small zoo and a bit pricey, but if you get a membership, or have a reciprocal membership, then very worthwhile. The more recent exhibits are vary lovely. I especially like the Tiger (he likes to lay next to the glass for up close viewing), the bears, the bamboo forest, the kangaroos, and the flamingos. We have a lovely farm with a house tour that gives the unique history of the zoo. The merry-go-round, bird feeding, eagle ride, reptile house, and animal show are worthwhile extras. The playground is fabulous and you need to allow at least 30 minutes to explore. Each time we go, I find that there is something special for that day...like the kangaroos were on the trail today so we go to pet one, or the bear came down to the window, or the monkeys were very active. I can imagine if you come once with limited time and all the animals don't "perform" that day, it can be a bummer. A couple of the bathrooms have special exhibits inside :) Oh, and the Zoo Run Run and Zooluminations are Super-duper!

My 19-year-old son and I visited in the evening to experience the Zoolumination exhibit. He and I have wasted money on quite a few tourist traps, so our expectations were low. Happily, we were blown away by the beauty, intricacy and extent of work invested into this excellent exhibit. There were dozens of stops along a long path that took well-over an hour to complete. Hot cocoa stands dotted the park. Music added to the experience. Our only regret was that our timing caused us to miss the acrobatics performance. I, absolutely, recommend Zoolumination.

Each year the zoo has a latern festival event. This is the best yet! It runs until Feb 7 and is huge. The North Pole Village was amazing. It runs from 5pm to 9pm and there are shows at 6,7&8 with Chinese entertainers. Check the zoo website for up to date days now that the holidays are over.

Well set out zoo with interesting exhibits and very friendly staff. We also ate in the cafe that served Asian food - was really nice, freshly prepared to order. Well impressed.

Nashville Zoo: Diverse Animals & Unique Encounters Despite the crowds, the zoo was well-organized and clean, with surprising animal exhibits in the restrooms. Highlights included diverse animals like tigers, rhinos, zebras, and the interactive Kangaroo Kickabout path, where visitors can walk alongside and even pet kangaroos. Family-friendly activities, including a great kids playground at the entrance added to the fun. A must-visit for Nashville explorers, especially families seeking unique animal encounters.