# Central Florida Zoo: Wharton-Smith Children's Zoo & Botanical Garden Trails

> Place to go for families in the Orlando–Kissimmee–Sanford area (FL). Times are Eastern Time.

- When: Open daily 9:00 AM–4:00 PM (last entry 3:00 PM); Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day
- Dates: Tue, Dec 1 – Sun, Feb 28
- Where: Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens, 3755 W Seminole Blvd, Sanford, FL 32771
- Ages: All ages; stroller-friendly paved walkways and boardwalks; Barnyard petting zoo ideal for toddlers and young kids; Seminole Aerial Adventures Kids Course for ages 5+
- Price: Adults $21.95–$23.95, Children (ages 3–12) $16.95–$18.95, Seniors (60+) $19.95, Toddlers (2 and under) Free; Giraffe feeding $5.00
- Schedule: Open daily 9:00 AM–4:00 PM (last entry 3:00 PM); Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day
- Organizer: Central Florida Zoological Society
- Official page: https://www.centralfloridazoo.org
- Last checked: Thu, Nov 5

Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 11, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about
Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-10), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/orlando/activities/central-florida-zoo-wharton-smith-children-s-zoo-and-botanical-garden--listing-9a27d081b3d7e98b06231d6d

## About

Nestled along the shores of Lake Monroe in Sanford, the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens offers a relaxed, intimate wildlife experience with over 350 animals representing 100 species. The Wharton-Smith Children's Zoo is a major highlight for toddlers and elementary-aged kids, featuring the Barnyard petting area where children can gently brush friendly Nigerian dwarf goats and observe heritage farm animals up close.

Families can stroll shaded wooden boardwalks beneath native cabbage palms and live oaks to view Florida black bears, clouded leopards, one-horned rhinos, and African cheetahs, or participate in daily giraffe feeding sessions. Young adventurers can test their balance on Seminole Aerial Adventures' Kids Course (a specialized tree-to-tree ropes course for children under 5 feet tall). The park offers single and double stroller rentals, modern family restrooms with diaper changing stations, picnic pavilions, and the Graze Cafe.

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