Tips for surviving a day with your small children at the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro

North Carolina is home to the world's largest natural habitat zoo. The North Carolina Zoo, located in Asheboro, has 1,700 animals representing mor than 250 species.

With more than five miles of trails and multiple continents to explore, a day at the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro can be overwhelming for some families. These tips will help you and your family navigate the day with less stress!

Tips for bringing babies and small children to the North Carolina Zoo

The idea of bringing little ones to the zoo can be fun for parents, but with so much to see and do, a trip to the zoo is going to take a little planning. You will want to arrive early and plan your snack breaks.

What to bring:

• A stroller or wagon - the zoo isn't level so be prepared to be pushing a stroller uphill at times. Smaller strollers are recommended because they are easier to load onto the zoo's transportation.
• Tricycle - style strollers only if the steering and pedaling features are disengaged or locked and the child is unable to steer or pedal the vehicle on their own
• Diaper bag - these are permitted but are subject to be searched.
• Hand sanitizer and wipes - Your children will be touching stuff outside so it's best to bring some!
• Sunscreen
• Hats
• Refillable water bottles
• Small snacks for your children
• Baby food and formula
• Sealed bottled non-alcoholic beverages
• Small cooler or insulated bag to hold the above items

Tips to get through the day

No matter what season you visit in, you will want to arrive early and take a photo of where you park!

Since it is such a large zoo, we suggest making plans to visit one continent instead of all of them! That way your family can take time to enjoy the animals and not feel rushed to get to everything in one day.

Wear comfortable shoes because you will be walking a lot!

Plan breaks throughout the day and expect to wait in long lines for the bathroom.

Zoo animals tend to be more active in cooler temperatures so if you go during hotter months, make sure to visit earlier in the day before peak temperatures hit. The best time to visit is usually early when the zoo opens because the animals are more active early as well.

The best days to visit are weekdays, but if you have to go on a weekend - Sunday morning is the best option.

Utilize zoo transportation. There are free trams and buses to get you to North America, Africa and Junction Plaza (which is in the middle). You can't see the animals from the buses or trams, but they will be a welcome break from walking. The lines and wait times can increase after 2 p.m., so the zoo suggests using those modes of transportation early in the day.

Have a designated meeting place set up and an alternative meeting location as well, just in case your group gets separated. Cell phone service can be spotty in the zoo.

Expect to wait in a long line for the parking shuttle, so consider taking the trail back to the parking lot. It's a long walk could be much quicker than waiting for the shuttle.

If you want to avoid long lines at the gate, you can always buy a zoo membership. Members have a special entrance. This is also a good idea if you want to space out your visits and not try to do everything in one day.

If you like to see the animals eat, you can plan your visit around animal feeding times. They have a list of those times on the zoo website.

Visit the butterfly garden, which is open from May until October. It is an extra ticket but worth it to see the butterflies all around you.

Another fun attraction is the Canine Champions for Conservation. The show starts May 25 and includes a fun and high-energy dog agility show. It is free with your zoo admission.

If your family likes to sit and see animals, consider paying extra for the Zoofari. It is $25 per person and tours run April through October. You get to ride on a vehicle and see the animals. It is perfect for those who aren't big on walking and want an up-close experience.

Where to find water bottle filling stations at the North Carolina Zoo:

• Wild Burger Cafe (North America)
• Near the black bear habitat (North America)
• Prairie Outpost (North America)
• Near Watani Grasslands (Africa)

Misting stations at the North Carolina Zoo:

• Kidzone (North America)
• Near polar bear (North America)
• Treehouse Trek (Africa)
• Near elephant (Africa)