A Day Full of Smiles at the Sacramento Zoo

This weekend, we packed up the kids (and a whole lot of snacks) and spent the day at the Sacramento Zoo — and honestly, it was one of the best family days we’ve had in a long time.

The zoo isn't huge, which made it perfect for our family — easy to explore without feeling overwhelmed. We were able to see the entire zoo comfortably in just the first half of the day, which was amazing with little ones. It left us plenty of time to relax and enjoy lunch without feeling rushed or exhausted.

Right after we walked in, the kids were buzzing with energy, racing ahead to see who could spot the rhino first. (The flamingos are right across from the rhino, and the girls got totally sidetracked by them — all that bright pink is hard to resist!)
Eventually, we made it over to watch the rhino casually munching away, completely unbothered by the crowd. It was such a cool way to kick off the day.

And then there were the meerkats, which completely stole the show. They were so active, popping up and down out of the ground like little furry jack-in-the-boxes. The girls kept giggling every time a meerkat stood up on its hind legs and stared at us like we were the ones on display.

Of course, the real star of the day was the baby giraffe. She was sticking close to her mama, still a little wobbly but already incredibly adorable. Watching her stretch those long, skinny legs to reach some leaves was priceless. It wasn’t some big announcement or event — just this sweet, natural moment we happened to catch. She's only been around since March, and it was so special to see her!

We also made a stop at the zoo’s veterinary hospital viewing window, which ended up being one of the most surprising highlights of the day. You can look right into the treatment room through a big glass wall — and when we walked up, there was a lion under anesthesia getting a routine check-up! It felt like we stumbled into an episode of a real-life animal show. The girls were wide-eyed, and honestly, so were we. Watching the zoo’s veterinary team in action — checking vital signs and moving with such care — was both fascinating and inspiring. It’s such a cool feature of the zoo that blends animal care with education, and we were lucky to catch it at just the right moment.

One of our favorite parts was checking out the okapi. If you’ve never seen one before, they’re kind of like a mash-up between a zebra and a giraffe — striped legs, soft brown body, and honestly, just beautiful. We stood there for a while just watching it move so gracefully. The kids were amazed (and a little confused) — “Is that a zebra?!” — and we ended up learning a ton just reading the signs together.

Admission was really reasonable too — about $22 for adults and $17 for kids (ages 2–11). Children under 2 are free, which is a huge plus if you have little ones.
If you live nearby, it’s definitely worth looking into a Zoo Membership — around $100 for a family pass — and it more than pays for itself after just a couple of visits. Plus, you’re helping to support the zoo and their conservation programs.

Another thing we loved? The zoo lets you bring your own lunch! Since we finished exploring before lunchtime, we packed sandwiches, chips, and juice boxes and grabbed a shady table to relax and eat. It was such an easy way to keep the day budget-friendly (and avoid long café lines with hungry kids!). That said, if you prefer traveling light, there’s a cute café inside the zoo with plenty of kid-friendly options — we couldn’t resist treating ourselves to ice cream (and a beer for mom) there before we left.

The Sacramento Zoo felt so easy, relaxed, and genuine. It wasn’t about rushing from ride to ride or fighting through crowds. It was about slowing down, watching the giraffes nibble leaves, laughing at meerkats, and letting the kids’ natural curiosity run wild.

We’ll definitely be back — next time, the girls are already plotting to feed a giraffe or maybe even tackle the rock wall!