Apartments near Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in Cleveland, OH (246 Rentals)
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Discover, Learn, Explore and Protect are the goals for all visitors, including Cleveland apartment-ites, to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. The mission of the zoo is to improve the future for wildlife by exhibiting animals and plants and providing education and conservation programs which encourage respect and stewardship of the natural world and a better understanding of our place within it. This is a lofty goal that is well met at the Cleveland park. The zookeepers, or rather, the Cleveland Metropolitan Park District, have done an excellent job of landscaping the park, making it a beautiful walking tour for viewing plants and gardens, as well as enriching to see the very cool animals. The Zoo is a botanical garden that demonstrates the relationship between plants, animals and people. The grounds are covered with an array of incredible foliage year-round, from the specialty gardens in summer to the greenhouses and RainForest exhibits in winter. Some of the specialty gardens in place include the Hummingbird/Butterfly Garden, the Alpine Rock Garden, Endangered Plants of the Midwest Garden, the Ornamental Grass and Sensory Gardens, and the very realistic Rainforest. The variety of birds, mammals, insects, fish, reptiles and amphibians is rich at the Cleveland Zoo, but the category of which there is only one animal is that of the Cephalapoda class of animal. This class is an underwater character with eight legs. Yes, it is the giant pacific octopus, the largest known species of octopus. The mantle length can be up to 23.5 inches, and the overall length from 9.8 to 16.4 feet. Weight can range from 60 pounds to 100 pounds. The litter, or clutch, from this giant water beast can range from 20 to 30 thousand babies! Make sure you schedule some time to visit this exhibit. It is a big enough park to take a few hours to see, so plan to make time to visit everything. The flamingo exhibit is absolutely lovely with flowering plants and other bright growth. All of the favorite wildlife that people love to see at a zoo are found here. Black and white zebra stripes, roaring male lions and cubs, the lounging tigers (except when they're eating), the cute polar bears (but don't get too close), the big brown bears, the lumbering elephants and the camels are all a delight to watch. The Zoo is open from 10 am to 5 pm daily, and is only closed on Christmas day and New Year's Day. Admission is $7 for children under 12, and $10 for patrons aged 12 and up as of April 3, 2009. If you want a free deal, on Mondays, the Zoo (not including The RainForest) is FREE for residents of Cuyahoga County and Hinckley Township. Opened as Wade Park in 1882 with a donation of 73 acres of land and 14 American deer, the park is now accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is a great place for Cleveland apartment-ites to Discover, Learn and Explore animals and plants with family and friends.