Santa Ana Zoo

The Santa Ana Zoo is one of Orange County’s two small zoos, alongside the OC Zoo in Orange. Unlike the OC Zoo, where parking is paid and admission is dirt cheap, the Santa Ana Zoo has free parking and higher admission prices.

Both parks have similarly modest collections of animals. Ideal for children, the Santa Ana Zoo has special aviaries for both birds and butterflies, enabling visitors to go hands-on with butterflies if they come to you, as well as a bunch of different monkeys, a petting zoo with farm animals, a miniature train, ferris wheel, and merry-go-round. Paid tickets are required for the latter rides, some with minimum height requirements for riders.