Reindeer Romp at the L.A. Zoo

This holiday season, the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens is the only spot in town where kiddos can get up close and personal with real-live reindeer. The Zoo’s Reindeer Romp experience offers families a chance to get in the holiday spirit with reindeer viewing, holiday-themed arts and crafts, photos with Santa – plus festive animal enrichment activities for other animals at the zoo.

The Explorers were excited to kick off our family’s holiday festivities by seeing real reindeer for the first time. Belle, Jingle, Noel and Velvet were smaller than the kids had imagined, but their activity and friendliness made up for any shortcoming in size. We would have liked to see some reindeer-specific signage at the enclosure, which only included an antler exhibit that we nearly walked right past.

What: Holiday fun at the L.A. Zoo, with Santa and his (real) reindeer, along with festive animal enrichment activities, holiday decorations, and arts and crafts.

When: See the visiting reindeer from Tues., Nov. 26, 2013 through Thurs., Jan. 2, 2014. Santa Claus visits and photos, holiday crafts, and engaging animal activities will take place on Saturdays and Sundays, Nov. 30 through Dec. 22. (The Zoo is open on Thanksgiving Day and closed on Christmas Day.)

Where: Los Angeles Zoo, 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA, 90027

Cost: The Reindeer Romp and other holiday activities are free with Zoo admission or membership. Professional portraits with Santa are available for an additional fee. (Zoo admission is $18 for adults; $13 for children 2 through 12; $15 for seniors 62 and up.)

Info: For more on activities at the Los Angeles Zoo, see:

• Reindeer Romp
• The LAIR Exhibit (Living Amphibians, Invertebrates and Reptiles)
• Visiting the Elephants of Asia

Note: We received free admission to the Zoo for a media preview of Reindeer Romp. All opinions expressed here are my own. Read my full disclosure policy for more information.