How to Get The Most From Your Zoo Membership

Zoo memberships can offer your family more than a discount outing to your local zoo. Through the Reciprocal Zoo program, over 100 zoos and aquariums offer reciprocity at either 100% or 50% - in other words, your Zoo membership at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo can get you in free at zoos in Ohio and around the country! Some zoos offer 50% off the ticket price for members of other zoos.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• zoo membership
• photo id
• list of reciprocal zoos

1. The first step is to purchase a membership at your local zoo. Memberships not only support the zoo, but they also open up events to you and your family that are often reserved for members only.

2. Check your zoo's website for the reciprocal zoo program information. It is usually listed under Join Us! or some similar "buy a membership" heading. The list should outline which zoos and aquariums are free, and which offer a 50% discount. Often, if the zoo you joined only offers a 50% discount to other zoos, the zoo you wish to visit may only offer you 50% off. Therefore, if you have a few zoos in your area to choose from, select a membership in the one that reciprocates 100% to maximize your benefits.

3. Most zoos require a photo id in addition to your zoo membership card to be presented at the ticket window. Reciprocity is subject to change. Check the date your list was last updated before you head out.

Tips & Warnings

• We used our zoo membership on a road trip from Ohio to Florida and saved $100's on zoo tickets for our family of five. Every zoo we visited was different, too!
• Parking fees are not reciprocated. You will likely still need to pay the full fee to park at a zoo, even if they reciprocate 100% of the admission ticket.