Most major cities in the United States of America have a zoo. The city of Cincinnati in the southwest region of the U.S. state of Ohio is no exception. Cincinnati, the city famous for the television show ‘WKRP in Cincinnati’, and is the home of the Cincinnati Reds, a professional baseball team that is part of Major League Baseball, and it is the home of the Cincinnati Bengals, a professional American football team in the National Football League. (In case you are wondering what a Bengal is, it is a specific type of tiger that is mainly from India and other countries in that region.) The city does have a few treasures to see. One of those treasures happen to be the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens. The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens has, of course, animals that are in recreated habitats. As you walk around, you will see various gardens and waterfalls. When you visit the Cincinnati Zoo and Gardens, you will enjoy a very special place.
Some of you are saying, “This is interesting. Here is a zoo in a city that happens to be the home of the Bengals. There is one very big problem. This is a zoo. A zoo has animals. It is also a garden which has plants. This place is not a railroad place. Therefore, I will not ‘Red-ee’ myself to visit this place.”
You are right. This is not a railroad site. It is a zoo with a garden. Why would you want to visit the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden?
As mentioned, there are zoos all across the United States of America. You have the famous San Diego Zoo in the city of San Diego in the U.S. state of California. Then you have the Central Park Zoo located in the world famous Central Park in New York City in the U.S. state of New York. You very rarely hear about the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens. Why visit here?
You enter the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens. You see the different animals. You see the various plants. You see the waterfalls. You see a railroad crossing. What? A railroad crossing? What is this? Ladies and gentlemen, this is a railroad crossing for the Safari Train.
Some of you are saying, “I see. The Safari Train is a train that goes around this very small circle that you make a few loops around, and that is the Safari Train.”
Ladies and gentlemen, if you only enjoy trains that go around in small circles, then the Safari Train at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens will disappoint you. It is not a just a train ride. The Safari Train, a miniature train, gets you a great view of the Mexican wolves and the flamingoes. It takes you across a high train trestle and takes you around a lake. The ride is only ten minutes, but, for those who love trains, it will be the best part of visiting the zoo.
The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens is located at 3400 Vine Street in Cincinnati, Ohio. Although the zoo is open year-round, the Safari Train only runs during the warm months. There is a $5.00 fee to ride the train along with the admission to the zoo. You can get all of the information at Cincinnati Zoo | Accredited Member of the AZA.
So, you now have a reason to go to the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens. Although they are the home of the Bengals, they gladly welcome fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, and the Cleveland Browns. You will enjoy the Safari Train, and you will enjoy the zoo and gardens as well.
John Cowgill: Stories of the Railroad 