Detroit Zoo

The Detroit Zoo opened in 1928 in Royal Oak (despite the name — the Detroit Zoological Society's main campus is actually outside Detroit city limits) and remains one of the largest zoos in the Midwest. The 125-acre property is home to over 2,000 animals across 245 species, with the major exhibits including the Arctic Ring of Life (the largest polar bear exhibit in the country), the Polk Penguin Conservation Center (the largest penguin exhibit in the world), the Holden Reptile Conservation Center, and the Cotton Family Wolf Wilderness habitat.

Beyond daily zoo admission, the Detroit Zoo runs a packed events calendar throughout the year. Wild Lights (mid-November through New Year's, nightly) is the holiday light display with 5+ million LED lights themed to wildlife habitats. Sunset at the Zoo, the Zoo's annual fundraising party, runs in late spring. Run Wild for the Zoo (the spring 5K) and a series of family programming events fill in the rest of the schedule.

Practical notes: parking is the main lot off 10 Mile Road, free with admission. The zoo entrance is on the Woodward Avenue side. Members get free admission year-round and access to member-only days during heavily-attended events like Wild Lights. The Zoo's restaurants and concession stands cluster near the entrance and at the Wolf Wilderness; food trucks rotate during summer weekends.