At A Glance

The Garlyn Zoo Wildlife Park, positioned in Michigan’s Mackinac County, and the Wilderness Trails Zoo, located in Saginaw, Michigan, present two distinctly varied yet family-friendly experiences.

Garlyn is characterized as a small, friendly spot to spend an afternoon, and is home to a wide array of fascinating creatures such as sloths, bears, and big cats like tigers and lions.

Covering an area of 30 acres, it is easily accessible for those with disabilities thanks to its mulch paths.

A more compact outing, the visit to Garlyn would typically take around 1.5 hours.

Meanwhile, the Wilderness Trails Zoo expands across a sprawling 56 acres, where visitors can have encounters with exotic creatures like capybaras, along with crowd-pleasers like bears and lions.

The pathways here are well suited for those using wheelchairs, and a full visit here would require around 2-3 hours.

In terms of pricing, Garlyn Zoo is the more economical, with a family of four visiting for under $50, whereas, the same experience at Wilderness Trails Zoo would cost around $60.

Size

When comparing the sizes of Garlyn Zoo Wildlife Park and Wilderness Trails Zoo, both located in the state of Michigan, the Wilderness Trails Zoo is evidently larger.

Covering an extensive 56 acres, it provides a more expansive habitat variety for its animals, and it takes approximately 2-3 hours on average to explore all of its attractions.

On the other hand, the Garlyn Zoo Wildlife Park is smaller with its land spanning 30 acres.

Visitors typically need around 1.5 hours to make their way around and see all of the exhibits.

Despite the difference in size, both zoos offer a wide range of animals and experiences, making them worthwhile destinations for visitors.

More About Garlyn Zoo Wildlife Park

About Garlyn Zoo Wildlife Park

Size (acres) 30
Time To Walk Around 1.5 Hours
Adult Price $15
Child Price $7.5
Infant Price Free Under 2 Years Old
Price For Family Of 4 $45
Parking Free
Can Bring Your Own Food? Yes

Information from http://www.garlynzoo.com/

Price

The cost of visiting Garlyn Zoo Wildlife Park and Wilderness Trails Zoo depends on the composition of your family due to the different pricing structures.

At Garlyn Zoo Wildlife Park, an adult ticket is $15, while a child’s ticket is significantly cheaper at $7.5.

Little ones under the age of 2 are even luckier – they get free entry.

For a typical family of four, therefore, expect to pay $45 regardless of the age of your kids.

Over at Wilderness Trails Zoo, the pricing structure is different and more expensive.

It’s $16 for an adult ticket and $14 for a child’s ticket, but they also offer ‘Concessions’ tickets at $13 each.

They similarly offer free entry for children under the age of 2, yet for an average-sized family, the total cost comes to $60, making it somewhat steeper than its counterpoint.

The cost of an average family of 4 at Garlyn Zoo Wildlife Park is $45 compared to 60 at Wilderness Trails Zoo.

When comparing the range of animals, one will notice some similarities and differences in the collection at Garlyn Zoo Wildlife Park and Wilderness Trails Zoo.

Both zoos have a core selection of lions and bears in their exhibits, which are popular attractions for families.

However, the Garlyn Zoo Wildlife Park differentiates itself with the inclusion of tigers and sloths, providing a chance to observe some unique behaviors and fascinating creatures that are not commonly seen.

On the other hand, Wilderness Trails Zoo boasts an exhibit of capybaras, attracting visitors interested in encountering more exotic animals.

The exact number of animals at Wilderness Trails Zoo is over 200, while Garlyn Zoo Wildlife Park does not provide a specific count, although it covers a smaller area, suggesting a possibly smaller collection.

In conclusion, both zoos have a diverse range of animals, with Garlyn Zoo Wildlife Park offering some unusual choices and Wilderness Trails Zoo leaning towards a more exotic range.

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More About Wilderness Trails Zoo

About Wilderness Trails Zoo

Size (acres) 56
Time To Walk Around 2-3 Hours
Adult Price $16
Child Price $14
Infant Price Free Under 2 Years Old
Price For Family Of 4 $60
Parking Free
Number Of Animals Over 200 animals
Can Bring Your Own Food? Yes

Information from https://wildernesstrailszoo.org/

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Accesibility

For visitors with wheelchair accessibility needs or those who have difficulty walking, both Garlyn Zoo Wildlife Park and Wilderness Trails Zoo are notably considerate and welcoming.

Garlyn Zoo Wildlife Park, with its family-friendly environment, facilitates accessibility by having wheelchair-friendly mulch paths throughout the park.

These trails provide a more comfortable surface for those in wheelchairs or for visitors who find walking a challenge, enabling them to fully experience the zoo’s diverse attractions.

Similarly, Wilderness Trails Zoo, has trails that are suitable for wheelchairs.

Despite its expansive natural setting, the Wildlife Park ensures that its paths are navigable for those with mobility limitations, further enhancing visitor experience.

Both zoos’ emphasis on accessibility demonstrates their commitment providing an inclusive experience for all of their guests.

Pefect For

Both Garlyn Zoo Wildlife Park and Wilderness Trails Zoo offer a fantastic day out, but they cater for slightly different audiences.

Garlyn Zoo, with its relaxed atmosphere and focus on friendliness, makes it ideal for families with young children, including toddlers.

The smaller size and accessibility aspects such as mulch paths mean that it’s a wonderful choice for those with mobility issues as well as for children who might tire quickly.

At only 1.5 hours to see everything, it’s perfect for a shorter family trip or an easy afternoon out.

On the other hand, Wilderness Trails Zoo is an excellent option for families with slightly older children.

The zoo’s natural setting and intriguing array of exotic animals are sure to captivate the minds of budding zoologists.

However, the trails, whilst wheelchair accessible, combined with the more extensive area and longer visit time of 2-3 hours, could make it less suitable for families with very young children.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both Garlyn Zoo Wildlife Park and Wilderness Trails Zoo offer unique and enjoyable experiences.

The smaller, family-friendly Garlyn Zoo Wildlife Park provides a cozy visit lasting approximately 1.5 hours, and offers a range of animals such as tigers, sloths, and bears.

The zoo is friendly towards visitors with disabilities, providing mulch paths and free parking is available.

In contrast, Wilderness Trails Zoo gives visitors an exotic encounter within its natural setting.

With over 200 animals including capybaras, this zoo requires a longer visit of around 2-3 hours.

Furthermore, the Wilderness Trails Zoo provides wheelchair-friendly trails for those with mobility issues.

In terms of cost, an outing to Garlyn Zoo Wildlife Park is cheaper with adult tickets costing $15 and child tickets at $7.5 whereas Wilderness Trails Zoo charges $16 for an adult and $14 for a child.

Nonetheless, both zoos have admirable features catering to certain audiences and their specific needs.

Make your decision based on what fits your family and your adventurous spirit best.

Whichever choice you make, both zoos offer an unforgettable wildlife adventure.

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