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How long until I receive my membership cards? If you purchase your membership onsite you will receive your permanent cards, membership coupons and tax acknowledgement letter at the time of purchase letter is emailed to the email address on the member account. If you purchase your membership online and choose the Will Call delivery method, you will receive all your membership materials at the time of pickup.
If you choose the Mail delivery method for online purchases, membership packets generally arrive within weeks. If you would like to visit the Zoo before receiving your cards, simply bring your photo ID to our Membership Office for a one-time-use pass that provides access to all your benefits for the day. If you never received your cards, please contact us immediately! Even without your cards, you can still take full advantage of your membership benefits. In an effort to be more environmentally friendly, our membership cards aren't printed with expiration dates. As long as you stay active as a member at the same level, you can use the same card year after year.
We can also reactivate your old cards should your membership lapse between renewals or provide you a day pass should you forget your card on the day of your visit. In the future, we plan to offer the option of digital membership cards! Named cards are not transferable for any membership level.
Additional adults either need their own card or much purchase an admission ticket, regardless of the number of adults your membership covers. Additional adults either need their own card or much purchase a ticket, regardless of the number of adults your membership covers. The named cardholder must be present for entrance, and a Photo ID is required for verification. However, you may bring any one guest with you with either level. To prevent misuse of membership cards, we require that a named adult cardholder present a photo ID upon entering the Zoo. As a non-profit organization, we rely on membership dues for much of our support.
We also want to protect our members should their cards be lost or stolen. Family level memberships and above come with two membership cards. You can check in at our Membership Services Office before entering the Zoo to receive a one-time-use pass that provides you full access to your benefits for the day. You will need to provide a valid ID. Your membership is good for 12 months, through the last day of the month in which it was purchased or activated.
When purchasing tickets online, you have automatic access to all Member discounts and promotions. You can also purchase certain tickets ones not requiring advance sign up onsite at our Membership Services Office and receive your discounted rate. Please click here for a full list of membership benefits, levels and prices. Click here for a list of reciprocal institutions. Always call an institution before visiting to confirm reciprocity and any requirements, as benefits can change at any time.
To receive discounted admission when visiting reciprocal zoos and aquariums, you will need your current San Francisco Zoo membership card and a photo ID. We suggest calling ahead of your visit to verify their requirements. Simply email membership sfzoo.
We will happily provide you email documentation stating you have a current, active membership with us. When upgrading, you pay only the difference between your current and new membership level, and your expiration date remains the same. Toddlers will especially be fascinated by the various noises of the animals, which of course they'll want to imitate when you get home.
The chickens will cluck, the ducks will quack — and the goats and cows will cluster around to be fed your wilted leftover lettuce and celery from the back of the fridge. They are not picky about food quality.
The ducks have their own luxury pool with a sunning deck, so on the right day, you can catch them sunbathing as well as swimming. The pigs and rabbits are also good watching and observing value, though the pigs can get insistent about their right to snacks. The horses and sheep tend to be a bit more wary, so it's a good opportunity to teach the kids about the right way and the wrong way to approach different types of animals.
Some parents and kids have been able to use their horse and sheep-whispering skills here, so try and see what works through the bars of the gates. There is a small playground complete with water fountains, which might be necessary for the kids to burn up any excess energy in minding their manners around the critters.
There's plenty of room for strollers, but remember to strap on sturdy shoes or sneakers if there has been recent rain, as the puddles and mud can take some navigation.
Also, the WaterWays area can inspire anyone to play and explore the properties of H2O as the colored plastic balls move down tunnels, wobble around the water wheel, and get pumped high in the air. Your online account is linked to your membership, giving you easy access to view your membership expiration date, update your personal contact information, review your membership and ticket history, and take advantage of exclusive Member discounts and promotions. Login with Places For Kids to save places, write reviews, download promotional coupons and more! If you would like to visit the Zoo before receiving your cards, simply bring your photo ID to our Membership Office for a one-time-use pass that provides access to all your benefits for the day. Membership duration is 12 months, unless otherwise stated, and must be renewed to continue receipt of benefits.
Also remember to bring along sack lunches or a picnic basket for the grassy area, just in case hunger calls as well as nature bathrooms are also free. Especially because everything is free here, including an Environmental Educational Center, there are fewer crowds on the weekdays than on weekends. If your kids are clamoring for more than just animal interaction, Tilden Park also has an antique merry-go-round and a steam train railroad. Lake Anza is also good for swimming if you come in the summer, but can be visually enjoyed at any time.
If your kids are budding horticulturalists, definitely do not miss the Botanic Gardens, which hosts a sale of native California plants every Thursday morning from May through December. Crawl space for babies — check. Fire engine and ambulance if the San Francisco Fire Department Museum is too far away to visit — check. Interactive displays to keep kids' attention — definitely. Have the kids been asking questions about electricity and wind power, or do you want them to start asking questions? Get them to the Power Girl exhibit so they can generate enough power to convert into playhouse electricity and toy engine movement.
More energy gets created if they use teamwork with their siblings, especially on the treadle. Since it takes some effort to get the electricity going, this display is also good for pointing out how much work is involved when kids leave the lights on and water running in the sink. Perhaps your kids are too old for the crawl space and are more interested in earth history. No problem, there are the excavated bones and a replica of a small mammoth that was discovered near the Guadalupe River in San Jose itself.
If they're more interested in the gardening element of earth history, take them out to the garden, complete with a beehive. If you come in the first hour, the kids can learn while they help with the morning chores, or they can water the garden on the last open hour before they leave. However, if the touchscreens and videos are delivering too much information, the bubble room will let them stretch out bubbles larger, or investigate the colors, more than they can do with a small bubble blower at home. They can read about surface tension and iridescent colors if they want, move on to the music room to inspire their inner artist, or even create cornhusk dolls by hand.
Also, the WaterWays area can inspire anyone to play and explore the properties of H2O as the colored plastic balls move down tunnels, wobble around the water wheel, and get pumped high in the air. The Wonder Cabinet is a good in-between spot for the toddler to five-year-old age range. The puppets go well with the books, the Sand Laboratory is good for kids discovering what their hands can make, and the kaleidescope can add some depth to color exploration from the bubble room.
If they've had to scrub off their own artwork from the walls recently, they'll be delighted with the ongoing work of the Paint Wall, where they can splash on color with available pots and brushes. For Bob the Builder types, go out with them to the foam playground and see what they can create. Admission covers entrance to all the wonderful indoor play areas for children and adults with re-entry privileges if you want to leave to get a bite to eat then come back and play.
Step into their fully-equipped kitchen and let their experienced instructors walk you and your child through the intricacies of mixing up homemade pasta and sauce, pizza, sushi or a little something sweet. If your children like to help in the kitchen but you hate the mess, this might be what you are looking for. Login with Places For Kids to save places, write reviews, download promotional coupons and more! We won't post to your Facebook wall or your friends' Facebook walls without your permission.
Created By Bryan Giray. Toggle navigation Home About Us Contact. Happy Hollow Park and Zoo. San Jose, CA Click here for more information. Many of the rides are quite young, and quite tame when compared to the thrills of Magic Mountain, but they are definitely suitable to the seven-year-olds and younger set. Parents may be underwhelmed by the Danny the Dragon ride featuring fairytale statues and a small dark tunnel, but small children seem fascinated and will probably insist on 'Danny again '.
Since Danny is currently under a construction makeover, they may have to wait a while until he's ready to thrill them all over again. The carousel and Pacific Fruit Express roller coaster are also a quiet sort of fun, but the bumper cars and Frog Hopper may satisfy the boys' needs for a little adrenaline.
As a Member of Happy Hollow Park and Zoo, you are eligible for coupons and perks. Happy Hollow Members receive $10 off select price levels for The Wiggles performance at the San Jose Civic Auditorium. Order your discounted tickets before.
The animals in the petting zoo can actually be petted, from the large cow to the ponies and donkeys, which is a step above some ultra-safety conscious facilities. You can brush them as well as feeding them, which is a definite plus, although the goats may have to be deterred from anything flapping that may look like food.
No need to bring hand sanitizer, because there's a real hand-washing station with soap. If these activities aren't enough, try the puppet shows and the play areas. These are scattered across the grounds, so if at any time one of the kids has a desperate need to climb and slide and spin around, they can do so. If you pack along some yogurt bars and fruit cups, you can spread out at the picnic tables also scattered across the grounds, and then visit one of the many bathrooms.
You may even be visited by face painters, if the season is right.
In keeping with the rides, the zoo doesn't provide the larger impressive animals like elephants or giraffes, but the meerkats and birds are always good to see — especially if you make it during feeding time so the trainer can answer questions. Also, sometimes the jaguar lets himself be seen up close.
Happy Hollow is definitely the sort of place that kids love, and parents love that it's quite affordable. Parents may be underwhelmed by the Danny the Dragon ride featuring fairytale statues and a small dark tunnel, but small children seem fascinated and will probably insist on 'Danny again'.