Kids find zoos especially entertaining – there’s something about cute animals that children just love.  Luckily, Indiana has four great zoos to visit!  These are: Indianapolis Zoo, Columbia Park Zoo of Lafayette, Potawatomi Zoo of South Bend, and the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo.

Indianapolis Zoo of Indianapolis, Indiana

The Indy Zoo is the largest and most successful zoo in Indiana.  A unique exhibit that you will not find at any other zoo in Indiana is the dolphin show.

They even have an in-water Dolphin Adventure, a special program where visitors can spend a 90-minute session swimming with real dolphins! In addition to the dolpins, the Indianapolis Zoo has a variety of other animals on exhibit and some rides such as a “4-D Sponge Bob adventure” and a zoo train ride.

Columbia Park Zoo of Lafayette, Indiana

If you are visiting Purdue, I highly recommend visiting the nearby Columbia Park Zoo.  This zoo isn’t quite as big as the others I’ll mention, but they do have some wild cats and monkeys.  In addition they have a waterpark, a train, and some nice playground equipment for the kids.

Potawatomi Zoo of South Bend, Indiana

The Potawatomi Zoo is the oldest zoo in Indiana and one of the nicest.  They have a train (seems like every zoo does), and a variety of events throughout the year including Zoo Boo (trick or treating) and Zoo Brew (beer tasting).  The Potawatomi Zoo has a well-developed large cats exhibit which includes lions, white bengal tigers, and snow leopards.

Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo of Fort Wayne, Indiana

The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo caters mainly towards children, hence the name.  The Indiana Farm Exhibit gives kids a first hand look at a bunch of farm animals, and allows them to interact with them.  There’s a twenty foot tall treehouse for children in the Indonesian Rainforest exhibit, and child size caves in the new African exhibit.