Be sweet to animals as you celebrate Valentine's Day

Posted by Kirsten Pisto, Communications

Need an idea for that Valentine's date? Here are eight! 

Lucy will definitely be your Valentine... as long as you have grapes! Photo by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo

1. Get a zoo membership for your loves (or yourself!) and support conservation around the world. zoo.org/membership

2. A cuddly gift with conservation benefits! Give the gift of a ZooParent adoption to help fund the care of all the amazing animals at Woodland Park Zoo and make a difference for wildlife! zoo.org/zooparent/special

3. Cupid’s favorite. Did you know that more than 2 billion plastic cards end up in landfills each year? Opt for sustainable and prevent plastic waste by buying a Woodland Park Zoo e-gift card to treat your loved ones! zoo.org/giftcard

4. Love birds! Adopt a hornbill nest in their name. Endangered Asian hornbills need our help. Woodland Park Zoo works with the Thailand HornbillProject to help prevent trafficking of hornbill chicks and supports local communities that protect their nests. You can adopt one of those nests as a special gift for the animal lover in your life! zoo.org/nestadoptions

5. An unforgettable up-close date! Our Wild Meet and Greet experience lets you mingle with your favorite ambassador animals! You and a small group (up to 15 people) will have an up-close encounter with one of our wildlife superstars! zoo.org/meetandgreet

6. Fish for love. For just $5, you can make your next zoo visit extra special with a fishy treat for our Humboldt penguins! Stop by to feed the penguins between 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (or until the fish run out!), daily for $5. Surprise your sweetheart with this extra awesome experience and the penguins will thank you too.

7. A whole year of NW date ideas! Gift your love with a whole year of NW-inspired prompts, adventures and tips for making the most out of their love for nature and the outdoors. Cost, $0. Wander over to zoo.org/nw and choose your own adventure as you find ways to Discover, Recover and Coexist in the Northwest. zoo.org/nw

P.S. Get crafty! Use our guide to create a nature-inspired Valentine’s jar. Use slips of paper to write down prompts for conservation activities, hikes, ways to connect with nature and more... then, pull out one each month for a gift that lasts all year and will keep you connected to wildlife and wild places.

8. Chocolate that’s sweet to wildlife. When choosing sweets for your sweet pea, consider using our wildlife-friendly candy guide to support sustainable palm oil. Saving forest habitat never tasted better. zoo.org/palmoil

P.S. Phinney Ridge is full of especially delicious treats this time of year! Check out A la Mode Pies for the best slice on the block, Fresh Flours for a knockout latte and heavenly pastries, Modern for amazing sushi and so many more sweet date spots along Phinney Ave. N for the perfect pre or post zoo experience!

Just when you thought you couldn’t love penguins any more than you already do, they go and do this. Photo by Rebecca Swee/Woodland Park Zoo, 2014