Blank Park Zoo.

Blank Park Zoo offers a remarkably accessible wildlife experience on Des Moines’ south side. Spanning 49 acres, Iowa’s only AZA-accredited zoo is compact enough to explore in a couple of hours but diverse enough to house nearly 1,500 animals. What sets it apart is its smart indoor-outdoor layout; the Discovery Center’s indoor rainforest provides a tropical escape during chilly Midwestern months. Outside, themed lands like Jamaa Kwa Africa and Australia Adventure showcase everything from giraffes and rhinos to red pandas and Magellanic penguins. Families appreciate the hands-on appeal of the Kids Kingdom, carousel rides, and giraffe-feeding stations, while the ongoing "Expand the Impact" initiative continues to elevate the habitats for its resident lions, tigers, and native Iowa otters.