There is a moment, somewhere between watching a sun bear lumber past a viewing window and catching a giraffe stretch its impossibly long neck toward a cluster of acacia leaves, when Des Moines stops feeling like a flyover city and starts feeling like a destination. That moment happens at Blank Park Zoo, and once you experience it, you will wonder why it took you this long to make the trip.

Tucked into the south side of Des Moines along SW 9th Street, Blank Park Zoo sits on about 49 acres and houses more than 1,500 animals representing roughly 100 species. It is the only accredited zoo in Iowa, and that distinction matters. Accreditation through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums means the animals here receive serious, science-backed care, and the conservation programs the zoo supports stretch far beyond the gates of Des Moines. You are not just buying a ticket to see animals — you are contributing to something larger.

The layout of the zoo rewards slow exploration. Start near the Discovery Center, where younger visitors can get hands-on with interactive exhibits that explain ecosystems and animal adaptations in a way that actually sticks. From there, work your way toward the African Outpost, one of the most compelling sections of the entire property. The giraffe feeding platform alone is worth the price of admission. For a few dollars, you can hold a flat cracker in your palm and let a giraffe’s long, prehensile tongue curl around it. Kids lose their minds. Adults do too, if they are being honest with themselves.

The Australian Walkabout area brings wallabies and lorikeets into surprisingly close proximity, and the Dinosaurs Alive! seasonal exhibition has become a beloved annual draw, placing life-sized animatronic dinosaurs along wooded pathways in a way that feels genuinely immersive rather than cheesy. Plan your visit around one of the keeper talks if you can — the staff here are knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and they have a gift for translating complex animal behavior into stories that stay with you.

Summer evenings bring a different energy entirely. The zoo’s Boo at the Zoo event in October and their holiday ZooLights series in December transform the grounds into something almost magical, drawing families and couples alike who want a seasonal outing that goes beyond the predictable.

Parking is free, the admission prices are genuinely reasonable for what you get, and the on-site café and gift shop are better than the average zoo equivalent. Bring sunscreen, wear comfortable shoes, and give yourself the full afternoon. Blank Park Zoo has a way of making time disappear in the best possible sense, and Des Moines is richer for having it.