Local Guides World
Top Tourist attractions in Royal Oak, United States
Top Rated Tourist attractions in Royal Oak
Top Reviewed Tourist attractions in Royal Oak
Detroit Zoo
Polk Penguin Conservation Center
Cummingston Park
Detroit Zoo
Royal Oak Historical Society
Reviews
Love the Detroit Zoo! We live fairly close, but haven't been there for a while. We used to get annual memberships when our kids were younger. It has something for everyone, lots of animals and exhibits, knowledgeable staff and volunteers to talk about the animals or answer questions. A train that runs from the front to the back, a store, food options, and you can bring food in. There are lots of areas to have a picnic. If you are going for a day and plan ahead you can buy tickets at a discount online. They also offer after hour events for adults and families.
I recently traveled from London, Ontario, to visit the Detroit Zoo, and it was an experience to remember! The zoo itself was well-maintained, with a wide variety of animals and exhibits that were both educational and enjoyable. However, what truly stood out was the kindness and professionalism of the staff.
Unfortunately, just before I was about to leave, I realized I had lost my wallet. Panic set in as it contained my driver’s license, vehicle registration, IDs, and all my credit and debit cards. I immediately reached out for help, and the staff at the safari market, lost & found, photo booth, and security were incredibly cooperative and efficient. Thanks to their swift actions and support, I found my wallet in less than 40 minutes!
A huge thank you to the kind people of Detroit and the amazing staff at the zoo. Your efforts turned what could have been a stressful situation into a moment of relief and gratitude. I highly recommend the Detroit Zoo—not just for the wonderful exhibits but for the outstanding service and care provided by the staff.
Unfortunately, just before I was about to leave, I realized I had lost my wallet. Panic set in as it contained my driver’s license, vehicle registration, IDs, and all my credit and debit cards. I immediately reached out for help, and the staff at the safari market, lost & found, photo booth, and security were incredibly cooperative and efficient. Thanks to their swift actions and support, I found my wallet in less than 40 minutes!
A huge thank you to the kind people of Detroit and the amazing staff at the zoo. Your efforts turned what could have been a stressful situation into a moment of relief and gratitude. I highly recommend the Detroit Zoo—not just for the wonderful exhibits but for the outstanding service and care provided by the staff.
We had a nice time while we were here and loved the animal enclosures. They were pretty unique compared to some of the zoo we've been to in Ohio. The penguins were our favorite!!
We went on a weekend and it wasn't too busy. We got there right as they opened. They seemed to be struggling the day we went. The train wasn't running yet when we got there so we bought tickets and waited. We were told it would be about 30 min so we went to check out the penguins. The time we were told it would run kept changing and getting pushed back so after an hour we moved on and figured we'd get on at the other station later in the day. Then half the zoo closed and was evacuated as soon as we left the train terminal so we waited around on some benches. We figured we could eat lunch while we waited for the closed portion of the zoo to open back up, however after waiting about 30 min for the restaurants to open a worker came out and told everyone waiting they weren't opening. We did eventually get to see everything at the zoo and ride the train but we had to rush through everything as we had other places to be in the afternoon.
I think this zoo has the potential to be really amazing. We didn't have an amazing experience but it could have been if everything was open and working as it should have been. Unfortunately we live about 3 hours away so it's unlikely we will visit again.
We went on a weekend and it wasn't too busy. We got there right as they opened. They seemed to be struggling the day we went. The train wasn't running yet when we got there so we bought tickets and waited. We were told it would be about 30 min so we went to check out the penguins. The time we were told it would run kept changing and getting pushed back so after an hour we moved on and figured we'd get on at the other station later in the day. Then half the zoo closed and was evacuated as soon as we left the train terminal so we waited around on some benches. We figured we could eat lunch while we waited for the closed portion of the zoo to open back up, however after waiting about 30 min for the restaurants to open a worker came out and told everyone waiting they weren't opening. We did eventually get to see everything at the zoo and ride the train but we had to rush through everything as we had other places to be in the afternoon.
I think this zoo has the potential to be really amazing. We didn't have an amazing experience but it could have been if everything was open and working as it should have been. Unfortunately we live about 3 hours away so it's unlikely we will visit again.
The zoo is really big so be prepared to walk. Misters are a good touch for hot days. The food is good at table 28, a little bit on pricey but understandable being a Picnic spot. We skipped the Dinosaur walk not sure why that was extra $. Do not miss the butterfly section that’s the best part. We did that at End so not a lot of people but amazing experience. The staff was fantastic as we.
Zoo Was nice, it was clean, staff we encountered were friendly. Reason for 4 stars and not 5, is the dinosaur exhibit, have to pay an extra 6$ for a 10min walk through, should be included in the price of admission, it's not worth the 6$, but the kid wanted to see it. Food at Table 28 was pretty decent and didn't seem to over priced, other than drinks. Great day spent otherwise.
Went today, July 18, it was 62 degrees at 9am. All the animals were out. It was the best visit I've had so far. Everything is super clean. Landscapes kept neat. Loved it. Took 3 1/2 hours to tour the entire area.
Relatively nice zoo, but it seems to have a lot of construction going on and we didn't see many animals in the 3 hours that we were there. Tickets were pricey for what time we had there, for a full day it would have been fine. Food/ beverage prices were REALLY high (over $5 for a CAN of water).
Not sure we'd make the trip to visit again.
Not sure we'd make the trip to visit again.
I love animals so much, and am really happy we have the zoo for us to both see animals and rehabilitate them! Food and souvenirs were pricey, but that is to be expected I suppose. Lots of awesome animals like rhinos, chimpanzees, and so many birds! They also have several misters that you can go under to cool down on hot days, so that was a nice touch. Overall great place, just be prepared to walk!
Excellent park. Natural woods.
Ideally it would be 10-15 times bigger but this works too:)
Ideally it would be 10-15 times bigger but this works too:)
If you are curious about the history of Royal Oak, this is the place to go. Their speakers are wonderful & informative. So happy I became a member of the R.O. Historical Society.
Recently moved our family to Royal Oak and we wanted to learn the history of Royal Oak so we set out to visit the Royal Oak Historical Society Museum! They are open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 1pm to 4pm. This museum is FREE, however it runs on donations. We were greeted by Libby upon our arrival and she was absolutely pleasant. We were then introduced to Mike, who was a wealth of information on many aspects of the museum. He had wonderful insights and stories to share. He gave us a tour and told us about his time at the fire station prior to it becoming the museum. I enjoyed the experience and all that the museum has to offer. I definitely recommend a visit! They do have guest speakers and they also change up some of their exhibit. Please visit, share, enjoy and donate to the museum as it will keep the history of Royal Oak alive!
Cool Zoo, just make sure you go in season. Early spring, many renovations are going on and animals don’t seem to be as active. Make sure you eat first, because as expected, food is $$$$. If you get a chance to go for the Christmas lights, those are amazing.
Not the largest zoo we've been to but it is beautiful and very well kept. It has secured itself as a new favourite. It's very walkable and easy to do with small children.
We arrived a little later than we anticipated so we were there around 4 hours and weren't able to see everything. We like to take our time at the exhibits though- so other families may see the entire zoo in this time frame. Just gives us an excuse to go back another time and see everything we missed!
Our highlights were the penguin exhibit (which is absolutely breathtaking and comparable to Sea World's) and the red panda/kangaroo walk throughs.
One thing we didn't forsee but should have- is the crazy wait times for the restaurant. It was a beautiful day (20 degrees Celsius) and the zoo was bustling but is still considered the off season and there was only one restaurant open. We tried to eat around 1pm but were told it would be well over an hour wait. We ended up coming back at 230 and waited 20 minutes but the zoo has tons of space for picnics and if I had researched a bit more we would have just brought our own lunches to avoid hangry kids. That being said, the food was great. I had the club sandwich which was massive and the kids hot dog meals didn't disappoint either.
It's cheaper to buy tickets online in advance.
We arrived a little later than we anticipated so we were there around 4 hours and weren't able to see everything. We like to take our time at the exhibits though- so other families may see the entire zoo in this time frame. Just gives us an excuse to go back another time and see everything we missed!
Our highlights were the penguin exhibit (which is absolutely breathtaking and comparable to Sea World's) and the red panda/kangaroo walk throughs.
One thing we didn't forsee but should have- is the crazy wait times for the restaurant. It was a beautiful day (20 degrees Celsius) and the zoo was bustling but is still considered the off season and there was only one restaurant open. We tried to eat around 1pm but were told it would be well over an hour wait. We ended up coming back at 230 and waited 20 minutes but the zoo has tons of space for picnics and if I had researched a bit more we would have just brought our own lunches to avoid hangry kids. That being said, the food was great. I had the club sandwich which was massive and the kids hot dog meals didn't disappoint either.
It's cheaper to buy tickets online in advance.
I have visited a lot of zoos, I was so impressed. Detroit Zoo is definitely a must see! Look for the kangaroos, red pandas, or the reptile exhibit. All will wow you! We walked 4 miles, so wear your good walking shoes and bring a lunch!
We went on a very nice Spring day. What a nice place to walk around. There are lots of animals to see, some indoors due to the cooler weather. The free-range peacocks were a hit with our family. But the highlight was our time in the penguin complex! Just amazing to see them up close in an environment made to be like their natural habitat. Washrooms are conveniently located all around. Staff were so nice and able to answer questions. A great experience!
This is a great zoo. Me and my family went and had a great time. The line moved quickly to get in. The staff are very nice, professional, and inviting.
There are many animals to see. They also have a playground where the kids can play.
If you need an attraction to visit, I recommend you stop by the Detroit Zoo.
There are many animals to see. They also have a playground where the kids can play.
If you need an attraction to visit, I recommend you stop by the Detroit Zoo.
What an absolutely amazing place for long walks and sightseeing. All the variety and nature wonders and exotic animals to see. Except for the beaver 🦫. I have never seen the beaver. It’s supposed to be there, but never been seen. One time i saw a couple of visitors passing by and one way saying to another: “I don’t think there is a beaver in there. They just have a sign 🪧 but no beaver in there” 😂 Hopefully one day I’ll get to see that shy one in there. Zoo is well taken care of , very clean , spacious, animals are well treated and look healthy and nicely taken care of. It’s not an easy work. But staff is doing a really great job. This is a historic place and I’m happy to be a member and enjoy it as often as possible. Highly recommend to get a membership as it’s totally worth it! And hopefully I’ll get to see that beaver one day 😊
Christmas wild lights was spectacular! Was here 5 years ago, so glad we came back, there is now a theme to the lights and I really enjoyed the ocean/sea creatures theme! Was so much fun to visit with family over the Christmas holidays. Parking was easy ($8), staff were present to guide you to a spot. It was very festive, the kids loved all the lights. There was a small interactive corner with the wishing tree, see saw, lit up train and bear for the children to hang out. Lots of little rest stops selling hot drinks and snacks to warm up in if you got too cold. There was a nice carousel in the middle so the children loved that! Overall we had a lot of fun and spent about 1.5-2hrs here!
It was only a 35 min drive from my place in Canada, so there was convenience. Parking was great and organized. Pay when you get tickets. I don’t know if we missed some, but it only took about an hour to walk through and we stopped and Waited for hot chocolate at one of the stores. The areas were clean and the ground was even and easy to walk through. The difference between our local lights and this, their displays were huge and had so many fun animals. So many children were there just loving the atmosphere.
It’s rather expensive in my opinion. Parking and 2 tickets cost $81 Canadian, our local lights are free, and has local vendors selling their products and food trucks and it seems to cover a similar amount of ground, the displays are just a bit smaller at home
It’s rather expensive in my opinion. Parking and 2 tickets cost $81 Canadian, our local lights are free, and has local vendors selling their products and food trucks and it seems to cover a similar amount of ground, the displays are just a bit smaller at home
I absolutely luv penguins!!! This was the first time I have seen the new penguin exhibit since it opened. Beautiful, and many different information facts throughout. ♥️🐧♥️🐧
Sorry for my English:
It's nice but It has next to the main entrance, too many excrement of dogs.
I don't want return there for the irresponsible dog owners.
Besides doesn't allow bikes.
It's nice but It has next to the main entrance, too many excrement of dogs.
I don't want return there for the irresponsible dog owners.
Besides doesn't allow bikes.
Fun! This takes you to the basement, where you can view the tanks for the penguins. It was neat to see them swimming. The basement exhibit was nice and a little cold on a hot day, which felt great!
This is the best part of the Detroit zoo. A peak into the underwater and above world of the penguins. There's little areas for kids to crawl in and get a better look at the penguins. Also, numerous facts adorn the walls. Make sure to leave plenty of time to check this place out, or hit it first, as it is near the front of the zoo.
A nice change from the typical open area park. Most of the trails are in the woods though it has a pretty meadow and a playground. Today's walk helped me de-stress after a busy day at work.
We went to see the Abraham Lincoln display and was treated to meeting our 16th President. A very interesting afternoon.
Most amazing penguin exhibit. You view the several species of penguins from water level and below the surface in a clear tunnel. There is also an exhibit explaining the failed Shackleton expedition.
Absolutely loved it. Super fun exhibit to watch the penguins walk, waddle, swim, play, and eat. Try to plan your visit when they are feeding the penguins. Its educational and comedic at the same time! The Zoo staff come out with their buckets of fish to feed these hungry birds. Like a human family, there are the greedy ones, and those who may not be as hungry.
Life-long Zoo goer, first time visiting the new Polk Penguin Conservation Center and LOVED it! From the ramped descent to beneath the tanks, the walls are lit up with glorious imagery down to an educational photo display before venturing off to witness the penguins and others' enjoyment of them. BRAVO! Quite the very lovely addition to a beloved zoo.
Detroit Zoo.
Our family enjoys going to the zoo. This is our second visit this year. Dinosauria was the best it's been since the last time we saw it.
Our family enjoys going to the zoo. This is our second visit this year. Dinosauria was the best it's been since the last time we saw it.
Best exhibit in the whole zoo. Multiple ways to view the penguins, really cool ship simulation going down to the lower level, lots of information displayed everywhere! Very impressed!
Nice trails that good into a wooded area and branch off a lot. Also a pond within there and outside of the woods there is a playground. Overall pretty nice park for walking through nature especially.
If you love Royal Oak and or cars this is a must visit during the dream cruise they have the best Woodward history laid out along with car designers art work. Also, they have a lot of special events all year long. I put a vintage car in there annual car show every year.
Once upon a time in the 50’s I used to deliver the Morning FreePress before school and the Daily Tribune in the afternoon after school. The firemen were great, they let me stand inside to get warm Ed up in the winter and in the summer I would watch them pitch horseshoes in the backyard in the afternoon.
A small park in a quiet neighborhood on a dead end street. It has a small playground for kids and towards the west end of the park is a fenced in nature preserve. The preserve is cool and shady and impossible to get lost in. An easy walk for any ability and full of Squirrels, birds, some deer and a small pond.
Great place to go if you like walking in nature.
Unfortunately I didn't get to go on the nature trails because I had my dog and they're not allowed. The other areas of the park were nice. It's not a big park or a park with a lot of stuff for kids to do. There is one playscape thing with climbing and swings but that's all I saw. It's more a hiking kind of park. But I loved it!
Fantastic place with very cool expositions
Cute museum that made me ponder about my community's history.
A quiet, wooded park. The trails are well marked and there's at least one bench along the trail to rest at. During heavy rains the park can get pretty flooded but if you dress accordingly it makes for some pretty good pictures (for a much better photographer). Plenty of flora and fauna in this small patch of woods; deer, squirrels, skunks, ducks, bluejays, robins, wildflowers and mostly hardwood trees. There is a large pond at the north end of the park, this was actually created by a scout troop. This pond and the flooded areas do become spawning areas for large amounts of mosquitos, I strongly recommend applying bug spray or whatever you do to repel the things. They will fly into your face with total abandon. Good luck, have fun
Terrific displays and staff that want to be there. Drop what you're doing and go and visit. Get some history in your life so you can brag to your friends how much YOU know about Royal Oak.