Every time my family and I head to a new place, I always ask, “Is there a zoo?” I LOVE zoos, and my trip to Chattanooga was made even better when I learned they did indeed have one!
At the time we visited the Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park, they were getting a lot of attention for the new outdoor viewing area for their Red Panda exhibit, so we were excited to check this out.
Along the way, there were plenty of other things to see, too. My mom and I saw apes, giraffes, and lots of monkeys.
The entire experience was awesome, except for a few hiccups. While the park is largely accessible, with only the entrance having a little bit of a bumpy road, some of the glass cases housing animals were higher up than ideal for someone in a seated position like a wheelchair user. Other areas, like the aviary path, the view was obstructed by a short wooden wall. While this isn’t a problem for most people without a disability, it is tricky for those of us using a wheelchair or kiddos in strollers. Unfortunately, the red panda exhibit wasn’t easy to see at all. The indoor viewing is on the second floor of the Himalayan Passage, which is only accessible by going up a flight of stairs. While the new outdoor area is impressive, most of the exhibit is surrounded by a half-height wooden fence, and when we visited the Red Pandas were nowhere to be seen.
Despite this, the zoo was still very fun! There was plenty to see and do. Like many zoos, they offer special holiday celebrations throughout the year. This includes a lantern festival during the winter holidays and the opportunity to snuggle a bunny before Easter. I might need to make some return trips. Overall, I believe this is a great place to head to! The Chattanooga Zoo is a very relaxing and pleasant experience, and I’m so glad I got to go.