We spent the day at the Phoenix Zoo yesterday, drawn in by the buzz around the grand opening of the new Big Cat exhibit. Naturally, expectations were high—new exhibit, big excitement, right?

Well… not quite.

The exhibit itself was beautiful—well designed, spacious, and thoughtfully laid out. But the stars of the show? The same two cats we’ve seen for years: one jaguar and one lion.

The jaguar did its usual routine, pacing back and forth along the elevated catwalk, clearly unimpressed with all the human excitement. The lion, on the other hand, was tucked away behind some large stones, blending in so well that we could barely make out its feet. A classic game of Spot the Lion—and this time, the lion won.

A bit of a letdown, honestly. We had hoped for something new, or at least more animals to match the exhibit’s hype.

That said, the day wasn’t a total bust. We did catch a glimpse of the beautiful tiger, who looked relaxed and regal. The zebras were out and about too, always fun to watch with their bold stripes and calm demeanor.

But the real highlight? The flamingos. A whole flock of them, bright pink and bustling with springtime activity. Some had laid eggs, and others were sitting on their nests, carefully keeping their eggs warm. It was sweet, peaceful, and somehow more captivating than the big cats we came to see.

After checking out the Big Cat exhibit (and being slightly underwhelmed), we continued exploring the rest of the Phoenix Zoo—and luckily, things started to perk up a bit.

We came across what I think were squirrel monkeys, and they completely stole the show. These little guys were bursting with energy—darting around their enclosure, swinging from ropes, climbing everything in sight, and even playfully wrestling with each other. It was like watching a group of hyper toddlers at recess, and we couldn’t stop smiling.

The zebras were quiet, just grazing and occasionally flicking their tails, and the giraffes seemed content to stand still and tower over the rest of the savanna exhibit. Elegant as always, but not very animated.

The orangutan… well, let’s just say he wasn’t in the mood for visitors. He had his back to us the entire time, as if to say, “Not today, folks.” Same with the elephant, who seemed to be hiding behind a structure—big as he was, we barely got a glimpse.

Having been to the Bronx Zoo in New York and the San Diego Zoo in California, I couldn’t help but notice how small the Phoenix Zoo feels in comparison. There’s a sense of modesty about it—not nearly as grand or diverse. Honestly, it felt a little sad in parts, like the animals and exhibits were trying their best but didn’t quite have the same wow-factor.

That said, we still had a good time. The weather was perfect, the walk was nice, and even with the letdowns, there were still moments of joy—the flamingos with their eggs, the squirrel monkeys putting on a show, and a few good laughs along the way.

We’ll definitely go back again. Sometimes, even the quietest zoos have something worth seeing—you just have to slow down and enjoy the little things.

So while the Big Cat opening didn’t quite roar like we’d hoped, there were still plenty of moments that made the trip worthwhile.

When was the last time you’ve been to the zoo? How was it?

Eydie