TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Wichita!

I have good news and bad news.

Good news - yesterday was National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day. Bad news - we missed it because that is the one week day we don’t send emails. sigh i have failed this city.

Let's get to it!

- Landon Huslig

Next Tuesday August 11th is National Night Out!

This is designed to help you get out, meet your nieghbors and also an opportunity to meet City Council Members, WPD and WFD member from your district.

Interested in advertising with us?

Most of us think of the Sedgwick County Zoo as...well...a zoo.

It is one of the top zoos in the US of A (maybe even the world), but it is still a zoo.

But what if I told you it's really a passport around the world..

The Zoo's new Passport to Adventure encourages kids to collect stamps while learning about wildlife, conservation, and cultures from across the globe.

It's a fun scavenger hunt, but it also highlights something many visitors don't realize: the Zoo itself is organized as a journey across continents.

Pick up your free Passport at the Zoo Membership Office and collect stamps each time you visit. Passports are limited, so get yours today!

Without ever leaving Wichita, you can walk through African grasslands, Asian forests, North American prairies, South American jungles, tropical islands, Antarctica, Australia, and more.

Buckle up and please keep your arms and legs on the ride at all times. Here's your itinerary.

Africa

Africa is probably the main exhibit / most iconic area you think of when you think of the Sedgwick County Zoo, or any zoo really for that matter. It has so many of people’s favorite animals (and essentially the whole cast of the Lion King).

You'll find:

The habitats are designed to resemble African savannas and forests, making this one of the most immersive sections of the Zoo. It also spreads out a bit since the Gorillas are in the back, but you get the idea.

Experiences:

There are a ton of great experiences to take your trip to the zoo up to the next level. Take a look at a few of these!

Travel east and you'll discover the Slawson Family Asian Big Cat Trek. This was such a great improvement when it was built a few years back and we love seeing where the kitty cats are hiding.

Highlights include:

The landscaping changes dramatically, making it feel distinct from Africa.

The South America/Australia exhibit includes one of the largest walk-through aviaries in the United States, allowing birds to fly freely overhead as guests stroll through the habitat. It is very heavy on the birds, but there are several other fun fellas and lads including the Wallaby and Wallaroo.

We have our typical route through the zoo and sometimes we skip this section, but whenever we do visit it, I remember why I love it. You can find some favorites from monkeys and capybaras to tortoises and giant anteaters.

The North American exhibit just feels like home. Check out the bison, bald eagles, bears, and more.

This is another one we may skip if we’re in a hurry, but I love to walk through when we have the time.

You don't have to fly ~8,000 miles to see penguins.

Cessna Penguin Cove recreates a coastal environment where visitors can watch penguins swim underwater just inches away.

It's one of the Zoo's most popular exhibits, especially during Kansas summers. This isn’t necessarily one of the specifically called out continents on the map, but had to feature our favorite waddling friends.

Ok, I stretched this one a bit. Technically the penguin cove is set up to represent South America with coastal habitats of the Humboldt penguin, native to Chile and Peru. But there are penguins in Antarctica!

Moving along next to the penguin exhibit is one that you either love or hat. The reptiles & amphibians. Hundreds of species.

This area showcases creatures from around the globe, from tropical frogs to giant snakes and fascinating reptiles that many visitors never see in the wild.

Another that you love or hate. Personally, I used to LOVE going to see the Komodo dragons, but now I love em all. Although you can definitely feel the humidity.

You'll discover reptiles, amphibians, tropical birds, and primates in habitats inspired by equatorial rainforests.

Not every adventure requires a passport (although you might get a stamp for it).

The Children's Farm introduces visitors to domestic animals through hands-on experiences, making it one of the Zoo's best stops for younger kids.

Daily farm activities and animal interactions make this area feel more like visiting a Kansas farm than a traditional zoo

Many zoos organize animals by species. Sedgwick County Zoo largely organizes them by where they live, helping visitors understand ecosystems instead of seeing isolated exhibits.

I do want to point out that there are some exhibits that don’t neatly fit into this organizational style, for instance:

If you've only visited during the day, consider experiencing the Zoo after hours.

Zoobilee returns on September 12!

This is one of my favorite events / fundraisers in Wichita. There are a ton of people, so much food, so many drinks, live music, and much more. If you’ve never been, I highly recommend it.

Most passports require airports, customs lines, and long flights (well, maybe not from the Wichita airport cause it’s awesome, but coming home is a different story).

This one just requires comfortable shoes.

Whether you're collecting Passport to Adventure stamps with the kids, feeding a giraffe, watching penguins dive, or simply appreciating wildlife from six continents, the Sedgwick County Zoo offers one of the closest things Wichita has to an around-the-world trip… all in a single afternoon.

Get the App

Even better than a plain ole map is the App which you can download today!

This deep dive was made in partnership with the Sedgwick County Zoo, but who doesn’t love our zoo?

What do you want to see us go deep on in a future deep dive?

Let us know!