Dallas Zoo

There are eight beautiful African elephants at the Dallas Zoo in Texas who are fondly referred to as the “Golden Girls.” Their behind-the-scenes barn is climate-controlled with heated floors in winter and walls that open up to let in cool air in summer. The barn also has a room filled with 7-foot-deep sand so the elephants can hide food and toys. 

The Dallas Zoo is just three miles south of downtown Dallas. Its 106 acres are home not only to African elephants, but also 2,000 other animals including impala, African wild dogs, zebras, giraffes, Galápagos tortoises, African penguins, gorillas, Nile crocodiles, and both Malayan and Sumatran tigers. There is also a Children’s Zoo where kids can interact with hands-on experiences, enjoy pony rides and a petting zoo, and splash around in an artificial creek.

Best times to visit the Dallas Zoo: 

If you want to see the animals when they are most active, then the best time to visit is first thing in the morning when the zoo opens. There are fewer crowds and you’ll have better chances of seeing the animals before they retreat into shadier areas. It’s also cooler in the morning, particularly during Dallas’ hot and humid summers. 
Winters in Dallas are typically mild, so it is still a great time to visit the Zoo. There are often fewer crowds, and the animals tend to be more active as well.