Expert: Leslie Johnston - 4/8/2005

Question
Hi Leslie, I live in Ohio and we are planning a trip to Gulf Shores, Alabama in July.  Can you please tell me if there will be any zoos close to us? I think there is a zoo in Birmingham, Alabama but I'm not sure how close that is to us. Thank you, Nicole

Answer
Dear Nicole:

The Birmingham Zoo is about 275 miles north of Mobile (about a 4 hour drive). I have been to it several times, and they have recently installed a petting zoo.

Montgomery is about 150 miles north of Mobile (about a 3 hour drive). They also have a zoo, although I have never been to it.

Here is a web link to zoos around Alabama. Some are in the Gulf Shores region:

http://www.800alabama.com/interests/results.cfm?i=60&r=1%2C2%2C3%2C4&t=1%2C2%2C3...

As you will see in the link, there is a Gulf Coast Zoo in Gulf Shores. I would check to make sure it was not damaged in the hurricane.

The Estuarium at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab would probably be fun. It is on the other side of Mobile Bay. You would need to ride the ferry from Ft. Morgan to Ft. Gaines (make sure the ferry is still in operation).

The Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Fairhope is about a 30-45 minute drive from Gulf Shores.

Let me know if you need more information. Have a safe trip.

Leslie