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This summer, the Hogle Zoo is exhibiting Zoorassic Park, with a fossil exhibit and animatronic dinosaurs on display around the zoo grounds, including a Tyrannosaurus rex. June 24, 2011. Photo by Jessica Eyre/Utah Adventurer.

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This summer, the Hogle Zoo is exhibiting Zoorassic Park, with a fossil exhibit and animatronic dinosaurs on display around the zoo grounds. The Dilophosaurus likes to spit watter on visitors, offering a welcome cool off to the hot summer days. June 24, 2011. Photo by Jessica Eyre/Utah Adventurer.

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This summer, the Hogle Zoo is exhibiting Zoorassic Park, with a fossil exhibit and animatronic dinosaurs on display around the zoo grounds, including a Tyrannosaurus rex. June 24, 2011. Photo by Jessica Eyre/Utah Adventurer.

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The fun part about the zoo is that every trip is different. The animals are doing different things, and this summer, the zoo is exhibiting Zoorassic Park, with a fossil exhibit and animatronic dinosaurs on display around the zoo grounds.

My 3-year-old son was in heaven — real animals and dinosaurs all in one place! Between views of monkeys and elephants, giraffes and tigers, there are large and small dinosaurs on display ready to interact with visitors.

The highlight of this zoo’s trip was the water-spitting Dilophosaurus. The dinosaur and its baby looked around, hissed, and spit water out of their mouths.

Kids would huddle in one central spot, then squeal and laugh (girls) or whoop and cheer (boys). On this hot afternoon, even a few parents made sure to get in the line of fire.

The giant Tyrannosaurus rex was quite a sight. Whether it was stretching upward to show its height, or bearing down toward the sidewalk and growling at kids below, it was remarkable to see just how big this creature was. This might be a little too scary for young children. Approach this dino with caution. Zoorassic Park will be on display throughout the summer.

While the baby elephant, Zuri, is now a year-and-a-half, she is still just as adorable to watch. On our visit, she was with her mother, eating hay and throwing some of it around as well. Mother elephant got her lunch from the bail of hay that was hung over her head. Stretching her trunk up to grab a bite was intriguing.

What’s missing this summer? While Hogle Zoo is building a Rocky Shores exhibit that will feature polar bears, seals, otters and penguins, there are a few exhibits that aren’t available this summer. Bears and cougars, zebras and penguins among others are MIA this summer, but the Rocky Shores exhibit is set to be finished next year.

This year, we bought a year membership — a great deal for families and grandparents. Grandparents can buy the pass for themselves and their grandchildren, or parents and their dependent children.

I’m looking forward to lots of trips without the pressure to stay all day just so that I feel like I got my admission’s worth. With a playground, it’s a great place to spend a free afternoon, eat lunch or just hit your kids’ favorite sites.

If You Go

Utah’s Hogle Zoo

Where: 2600 E. Sunnyside Ave., Salt Lake City. From the south, take I-15 north to I-215 East. Exit at Foothill Drive. Turn right on Sunnyside Avenue; the zoo will be on your right.

Hours: Summer hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. with grounds closing at 6:30 p.m. Train and carousel are extra.

Admission: Adults are $9; seniors $7; children 3-12 are $7; children 2 and younger are free.

Memberships: There are eight levels of memberships, ranging from $59 to $1,000. Visit www.hoglezoo.org for details.

Info: www.hoglezoo.org