St. Louis Zoo is an important zoo in the said city. For 100 years now, they have been serving as a habitation. People of all ages come to the St. Louis zoo to view the animals and interact with some of them. About 18,000 animals can be found here and thus, it is a perfect place to drop by in especially for the kids. The zoo is also providing educational programs for individuals and families.

Programs include Junior Sea Lion Tamer, Fall Programs for Youths/Adults/Young Children/Home-schooled Youth, A Day with the Rays and Summer Program for Young Children. The main goal of these programs is to provide education by means of discovery, experience and involvement. Thus, participants will really have to deal with the subject of the program.

Of course, the programs are focused on the animals. There are programs that will really help you and your child learn more about the animals including information about specific animals, nutrition and health details and also info on how to enhance the surroundings for the animals.

The St. Louis Zoo understands that there is a strong connection between the animals and the humans. The zoo is open all year round but they close early during particular seasons. Admission here is free but there are attractions that you might need to give an entrance fee to.

St. Louis Zoo is set in the rolling hills, tranquil lakes and glades of Forest Park. It's a wonderful place for a family vacation in St. Louis. As the third largest zoo in the country, the zoo covers an area of 90 acres and has as many as 700 species of animals on display. It's widely known as one of the top zoos in animal conservation, management, research and education. Best of all, the zoo is open year-round to the public with free admission.

There're plenty to explore at the zoo, like the Children's Zoo, the Conservation Carousel, Sea Lion Show, 3-D Movie and Motion Stimulator. Zoo visitors can also tour around other areas, including the big cat country, the river's edge, the jungle of the apes and inviting feeding areas for bears and sea lions.

The St. Louis Zoo lies in Forest Park near Exit 34 on I-64. The detailed address is One Government Drive, St. Louis, MO 63110. As it's perfectly located in the Forest Park, you can take a stroll through the St. Louis Art Museum or the World's Fair Pavilion. Any of the various hiking trails can be a good option to spare some time after hitting the zoo. If you have any concerns or questions about the zoo, please contact the zoo at 314-781-0900.

Street Map of St. Louis Zoo

http://stlouis.citysearch.com/profile/map/5740204/saint_louis_mo/st_louis_zoo.html

Layout Map of St. Louis Zoo

http://www.360stlouis.com/zoo/coursetour.htm

The Forest Park is accessible via up to 9 entrances. You can enter the St. Louis Zoo through the closest entrance on your way. Entrances include Hampton & Wells, Skinker & Wells, Skinker & Forsyth, Tamm Avenue Bridge, Lindell at DeBaliviere, Lindell at Forest Park Parkway, Lindell at West Pine, Kingshighway at Oakland to Tamm and Kingshighway at West Pine.

What about the driving directions? If you want to drive to the zoo, a good understanding of the accurate driving directions is absolutely necessary. The directions given can be a useful guide for you.

1) From US-40/I-64 Eastbound and Westbound

Guests coming from these directions can head east on I-64 E and take exit 34C toward Hampton Avenue. Proceed on and turn left onto Hampton Concourse. When you come to the roundabout, you need to take the 3rd exit onto Wells Drive and you'll arrive at the South Entrance. If you want to go to the North Entrance, you need to continue straight through the first roundabout. Take a left turn at the second roundabout on Washington Blvd. and continue to veer left on Government Drive.

2) From I-44 Eastbound and Westbound

Proceed on I-44 and take the Hampton Avenue exit. Continue to drive northbound about one mile and then you can drive cross the Hampton Avenue bridge. After coming to the first roundabout, you should make a left turn on Wells Drive and then you'll get to the Zoo's South Entrance.

3) From I-270 N

If you're coming from the north or the northwest, you need to drive along I-70, or I-270 to I-170 S. Proceed on I-170 and merge onto I-64 E. Head straight and take the Hampton exit and follow the road signs to Forest Park. Continue to drive until you come to the first roundabout. Then you should turn left on Wells Drive. The Zoo's South Entrance will be in front of you.

Alternate Route: You can also choose to exit I-170 at Forest Park Parkway. Continue to drive east about 2 miles. Veer to the right on Skinker Boulevard. Then you can turn right on Lagoon Drive to enter the Forest Park. Switch to your right on Fine Arts Drive and pass the Art Museum to Government Drive. Turn right to the North Entrance to the zoo.

Interactive Driving Directions to St. Louis Zoo

http://www.yellowpages.com/saint-louis-mo/mip/st-louis-zoo-457986175/map

As a leading zoo in animal research and conservation, St. Louis Zoo is dedicated to bringing the Zoo to new heights with joint effort of all zoo's staff and volunteers. Thus, St. Louis Zoo sincerely welcomes the participation of many talented people. If you're passionate about a zoo career and have great respect for St. Louis Zoo's leadership, why not join such a dynamic family?

St. Louis Zoo generates a good number of full-time, part-time as well as seasonal job opportunities for the city and gives particular preference to residents of the Saint Louis Zoo-Museum district. Let's check out some current job openings.

Construction Project Manager

It's a full-time temporary position. Major responsibilities of Construction Project Manager include maintaining zoo projects documents, creating and updating project estimates and schedules, coordinating work tracks and other project related works. Candidates with degree in Architecture, Engineering or Construction Management will be preferred. Four years' experience in construction management is required.

Children's Zoo Keeper

This is a part-time position. Children's Zoo Keeper should perform specific duties such as interacting positively with zoo visitors, participating in Children's Zoo rotations, caring and feeding animals and giving presentations if necessary. High school diploma or equivalent is required. College grads majoring animal-related field will be preferred. Qualified candidates should have strong communication skills as well as observation and record-keeping skills.

Seasonal Manager, Food Service

This is a seasonal position. The primary duty of Seasonal Manager is to help the full-time manager in directing and coordinating a variety of activities. Specifically speaking, Seasonal Manager should be responsible for supervising assigned staff, performing frequent inspections, ordering daily supplies, monitoring all maintenance needs and etc. High school diploma or equivalent is required. College grads or experienced candidates will be preferred. This position may require working on weekends and holidays.

Apart from the above three positions, there're some other open jobs available now including Group Sales Representative (Part-Time), Carnivore Keeper (Part-Time), Swing Keeper (Part-Time) and Food Service (Seasonal). For specific responsibilities and qualifications of each position, click here:

Current Job Openings

http://www.stlzoo.org/contact/employment/currentjobopenings/

Questions? Send your queries to jobs@stlzoo.org or contact the zoo at (314) 781-0900. Mailing address of Saint Louis Zoo is One Government Drive, St. Louis, MO 63110. Or you can apply online at:

Apply for Jobs

http://careers.hiretrue.com/stlzoo

Want to learn about zoological operations and gain hands-on work experience in animal care and conservation? Saint Louis Zoo offers a wealth of internship & externship opportunities in the area of zoology, biology, animal science, education and other related fields to college students, recent grads and adults with prior college coursework.

Interns are required to serve at least 20 hours a week and externs are required to serve at least 15 hours a week. A minimum of 6 weeks is required. Credits can be received by college students after successfully accomplishing their internships. Interested? To apply for the internship or externship opportunities, you should download and fill out an internship/externship application first:

Internship/Externship Application

http://fbuster.com/browse.php?u=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5zdGx6b28ub3JnL2Rvd25sb2Fkcy9JbnRlcm5zaGlwQXBwRmViMDkucGRm&b=29

Along with the internship/externship application, you should submit your resume, college transcript, 2 letters of reference (educational or business) and letter of intent describing interest, goals, background, and availability. And send them to:

Saint Louis Zoo

Elaine Gill, Manager, Volunteer Services

One Government Drive

St. Louis, MO 63110

For additional info on internships & externships, please visit:

Internships & Externships

http://www.stlzoo.org/contact/internshipsexternships/

Looking for something to do to enrich your space time? How about volunteering at Saint Louis Zoo? Join this lovely family if you're caring animals and generous enough to lend your time and expertise. All you need is to:

- Be at least 15 years old.

- Serve a minimum of 30 hours annually.

- Receive free training offered by the zoo.

- Contact Volunteer Services at (314) 781-0900, ext. 4670 to make an appointment.

St. Louis Zoo provides a variety of volunteer positions such as ambassadors, docents, tour guides as well as positions working for gift shops, information booth, horticulture, insectarium and zoo events. For specific info on all volunteer opportunities and additional requirements, please visit:

Volunteer

http://www.stlzoo.org/supportthezoo/volunteer/

The St. Louis Zoo is set among the rolling hills and lakes of the Forest Park. It is one of the best zoos and an ideal location for family vacation where you can get close and personal with the exotic and furry or feathered animals.

The St. Louis Zoo is a home to more than 22,000 animals, many of them are of rare species and endangered. It is also one of the first zoos in the world which replaced barred cages with open and free enclosures.

The admission in this zoo is free although there are charges for some shows and train rides. Visitors can see penguins, bears, bugs, pythons, giraffes, gorillas and many more on the well-maintained landscape in Forest Park.

For the children, there is a petting zoo with a miniature stream which carries everyone around the grounds. Shows featuring chimps and sea lions are an excellent way to cool off on a hot day.

Official St. Louis Zoo Website

http://www.stlzoo.org

Important Information about St. Louis Zoo

http://stlouis.about.com/od/topattractions/tp/stlouis_zoo.htm

http://www.greatriverroad.com/stlouis/zoo.htm

http://www.slfp.com/ForestParkZOO.htm

The latest addition is the Fragile Forest for orangutans and apes. Don't miss the cool Penguin Coast where these cheerful creatures live in the comfort of air conditioners.

Apart from all these, the St. Louis Zoo offers variety of activities throughout the year for visitors of all ages. The Stingrays at Caribbean Cove offers a unique and fascinating experience of touching, feeding oceanic fish, horseshoe crabs and stingrays.

The Zootennial Exhibit is held to celebrate 100 years of rich history of St. Louis Zoo. Admission is free and the exhibition will portray archived videos, old photos and interactive elements. You will be shown how the Zoo has changed in the past 100 years with the mission remaining the same.

Information about St. Louis Zoo for the Animal Lovers

http://www.explorestlouis.com/visitors/forAnimalLovers.asp

Events Calendar For Saint Louis Zoo

http://www.stlzoo.org/events/calendarofevents/

Known for its free and low cost attractions, St Louis has always been a great family-friendly destination with something for everyone. St. Louis Zoo is likely to top the list if you're looking for a place which gives most value for your money. And you can save even more with value coupons to St. Louis Zoo.

Before getting down to business, we'd like to inform you of the attraction fees of St Louis Zoo. As a matter of fact, St Louis Zoo is free to visit. Yet you need to pay for some attractions at the zoo such as Children's Zoo, Conservation Carousel, Zooline Railroad, Sea Lion Show, Motion Simulator as well as the 3-D Movie. Children under 2 are free. To give a clear view, we've listed all attraction fees:

- Children's Zoo: $4 per person

- Conservation Carouse: $3 per person

- Zooline Railroad: $3 per person

- Sea Lion Show: $3 per person

- Motion Simulator: $3 per person

- 3-D Movie: $3 per person

Attraction fees are subject to change. To get up-to-date prices info, please keep a close eye on:

Attraction Fees

http://www.stlzoo.org/yourvisit/hourspricesdirections.htm

Find the attraction fees quite affordable? Yet every dollar counts and the costs can really add up. To make the most of your day at St Louis Zoo, we strongly recommend you to buy a Safari Pass. It's a one-day pass including admission to Children's Zoo, Conservation Carousel, Zooline Railroad, Sea Lion Show, Motion Simulator as well as the 3-D Movie. And it only costs $10 each person. Awesome, huh? What are you hesitating for? Reserve a Safari Pass online now at:

Reserve Safari Pass

http://www.applyweb.com/public/register?s=stlzoosp

How about Buy 1 Get 1 Free Safari Pass coupons? St Louis Zoo offers the Buy 1 Get 1 Free Safari Pass coupons each year. The coupons can be found on local papers and a publication called "Vacation Savings Kansas City & St. Louis". You can find the publication in most of Casey's gas stations.

Or you can find St Louis Zoo Coupons from online sources such as Druryhotels.com which offers a wealth of coupons and special deals of St. Louis attractions including St. Louis Zoo, Missouri Botanical Garden, the Gateway Arch, Butterfly House, Union Station, Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis Art Museum and more. Here is the link:

Drury Hotels

http://wwwc.druryhotels.com/content/vacationsavings.aspx

For frequent visitors to St Louis Zoo, the most budget-friendly way to explore the zoo is to be the privileged zoo members. An extensive range of benefits are available to St Louis Zoo members including 36 coupons for attractions, free parking, guests lectures & education classes, special animal previews & parties, Zoo Friends Day and generous discounts on food, gift shop, zoo events and etc. To view all membership levels and benefits, please visit:

Zoo Memberships

http://www.stlzoo.org/membership/benefits/membershiplevels.htm

Questions? Contact St Louis Zoo at (314) 646-4771 or consult directly at the Welcome Desk, which is located at the North and South Entrances of St Louis Zoo.

If we say Forest Park is the treasure of Saint Louis, then Saint Louis Zoo will be the Park's most dazzling jewel! Located nearly at the south end of Forest Park, the zoo is a family-oriented destination for visitors of all ages. Having a storied history since the opening in 1904, today this zoological park has become the leader in animal exhibits and wildlife conservation. Though it just covers about 90 acres of this awesomely large Forest Park, it does wow the visitors with its more than 5,000 animals featuring over 700 species. Moreover, the highlighted insectarium, fun-filled children's zoo and the miniature train will enhance your family outing with more entertainment.

Your visit to St. Louis will never be complete without a tour to the landscaped Saint Louis Zoo! Treat your family with ultimate fun and keep a memory lasting forever! Visit the website of Saint Louis Zoo and get an overview about this oasis.

Saint Louis Zoo Homepage

http://www.stlzoo.org/

When does the zoo open every day?

Generally, Saint Louis Zoo opens from 9 am to 5 pm every day for the entire winter season. Summer hours of the zoo will start on May 27, and last to September 5.

During the summer schedule, the zoo is open to visitors from 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Thursday. Friday to Sunday is called North Star Summer Zoo Weekends, and during these three days, the zoo operates from 8 am until 7 pm.

Exceptions:

On Memorial Day (May 30), Saint Louis Zoo opens at 8 am and closes at 7 pm.

On June 17, the zoo will be closed early at noon for the sake of ZOOFARI fundraiser.

Featured Events and Activities in the Zoo

Besides the permanent animal exhibits, Saint Louis Zoo provides a wealth diversity of year-round events and programs for patrons of all ages. Opening the "Calendar of Events" page of the Zoo's website, you can find a full schedule of special activities and events throughout 2011. Browse the scroll and find out what is going to take place during your visit.

Calendar of Events

http://www.stlzoo.org/events/calendarofevents/index.php

Listed below are two special events in May 2011. Have a check to see whether there is any inviting to you.

1) Trivia Gone Wild (Saturday May 7 at 6 pm to 11 pm)

Presented by Commerce Bank, this event includes live entertainment, a silent auction, special-offered activities and a dinner buffet sponsored by Culpepper's Grill & Bar. The general admission rates are $35 per person, and $350 per table of ten. For more info about it, please click:

Trivia Gone Wild

http://www.stlzoo.org/events/calendarofevents/triviagonewild

2) Mother's Day Brunch (Sunday May 8, at 9 am, 11 am and 1 pm)

Are you racking your brains for gift ideas of Mother's Day? Why not take your mother to Saint Louis Zoo and enjoy a special brunch full of salads, cheeses, breakfast fare, desserts and more? This is a one-of-a-kind surprise for your mother and it will double her fun greatly! The rates of admission are $16.95 for person aged 12 and up, $8.5 for children of 2 and 11, and free for kids under 2 years of age. Call 314-646-4857 for more information.

Hours about Trolley Service

For the convenience of all visitors, Forest Park is newly equipped with shuttle service, which is so-called Metro Forest Park Trolley Service and has stops at all park attractions. Guests to the zoo can be easily transited here with $2 per adult ($1for children of 6-12, seniors and the disabled). The trolley stop for Saint Louis Zoo is located about one block from the North Entrance on Government Drive. Trolley service is available from 9 am to 5 pm daily April 1 through October 31. During summer hours (May 28-September 5), the service will be extended to 7 pm.

Admission, Directions and More

Are you glad to hear that the general admission into Saint Louis Zoo is FREE? Like many other attractions in Forest Park, this stunning zoo offers complimentary fun for visitors, though there are charges for featured sites inside the zoo, for instance:

Admission to Children's Zoo is $4 per while children less than 2 years can enjoy free admission. Free opportunities are available during the first hour of the zoo's opening.

When it comes to the address, Saint Louis Zoo is located on 1 Government Drive inside the Forest Park. It can be accessed via MetroBus as well self-driving. If you are planning a trip to the zoo, browse the website below which contains a complete visitors' guide.

Prices, Hours and Directions to Saint Louis Zoo

http://www.stlzoo.org/yourvisit/hourspricesdirections.htm