Brentwood, TN

1. Go early or late, but never in-between. If you arrive promptly at the 9 am opening, you'll find easy parking and a quiet mist over the trails. By 10 am, the school buses unload and baby strollers crowd the walkways. Or, get there after 1 pm when the mothers take young children home to nap.

2. Bring plenty of bottled waters or drinks along. Tennessee summers are hot and humid, and the Nashville Zoo involves a lot of walking.

3. Think comfortable--sun hats, track shoes for adults, strollers or Little Tikes pull-along wagons for kids. The Nashville Zoo rents cool canopied strollers if you forget yours ($6 single stroller, $8 double.)

4. Have a few $1 bills handy. Nectar for feeding the birds in Lorikeet Landing costs $1/cup (and boy, do those greedy birds gobble it up!). Tokens for the Nashville Zoo's Wild Animal Carousel are $2/ride. We take our own drinks and snacks, but soda machines and ice cream kiosks are sprinkled throughout the zoo. Anyone care for a $3.25 Icee?

5. Don't miss the Grassmere Historic Farm's draft horses and sheep, the beautiful Croft Home, kitchen garden and cemetery. We didn't even know it was there our first few visits!

6. Take a break or two! I noticed many new benches scattered along the trails. Other good spots for shady breaks include the Cracker Barrel rocking chairs around the carousel, the safari tents on the African Elephant Savannah, the covered amphitheatre used for animal shows, and anywhere along the peaceful, Asian Bamboo Trail.

7. If you're dying for a cool breeze, the indoor Creatures of the Americas area is dark and air-conditioned. I also noticed that Alligator Cove and the Bamboo Trail's hut both have powerful new fans. In summertime, Publix sponsors a cooling mist tent between the playground and the carousel.

8. Don't weasel out of the Nashville Zoo's awesome playground. (I've tried.) Kids love it.

9. Split one long zoo day into two shorter adventures, especially if you have small children.

Suggested visit #1: From the meerkats down the rest of the animal walk, followed by the Critter Encounters petting zoo and a walk through the indoor Creatures of the Americas. If possible, end with one of the shows held in the amphitheatre.

Suggested visit #2: Gibbon Islands, the African Elephant Savannah, Lorikeet Landing, the Carousel, Grassmere Historic Farm, with a finale at the Jungle Gym playground.

10. Buy a membership! Did you know you can "try before you buy?" If--at the end of your visit--you've decided you'd like to return, the Nashville Zoo will apply that day's entrance fees toward a new membership.

I hope these tips make your visit to the Nashville Zoo even MORE fun. Share your own zoo tips in the comments below!

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--->Take our virtual walking tour of the Nashville Zoo's historic Croft House and farm.--->Here's more about the Nashville Zoo's Jungle Gym--or, as kids call it--the coolest playground in Nashville.