The first zoos were established to ration time with baby animals, whose sheer adorability distracted humanity from producing the era's most valuable commodities (jute, extravagant ladies' hats, and orphans dancing the Charleston). Keep modern society from grinding to a halt with today's deal: for $24, you get a one-year family membership (a $50 value) to the Reid Park Zoo on Randolph Way.

Membership in the Reid Park Zoological Society grants you and your family (two named adults and any children under the age of 18) full access to the zoo for an entire year (open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas). Being a card-carrying member opens up numerous doors, behind which lie benefit after benefit, and sometimes tigers. From June through August, you'll get early-morning entry to the zoo grounds—a calm, crowd-free time to view feedings and animal care firsthand, as well as a chance to lick and groom one's own fur in peace. The "Zoo & You" newsletter will arrive quarterly in your mailbox, keeping readers up to date on all zoo-related happenings. You'll also receive advance notice, discounts, and VIP entry to all after-hours events. If travel plans are in the cards, use your family membership as a veritable Jedi mind trick to receive discounts of 50% to 100% off at 165 different zoos and aquariums throughout the United States. Concerned number-noshers and pachyderm pals should also note that this membership donation is completely tax deductible, and that a portion of the donation will support the construction of Expedition Tanzania, the new, expanded elephant habitat set to open in the fall of 2011.

The Reid Park Zoo was founded in 1965 with a small animal collective that has since expanded to a 17-acre campus, housing a windmill factory's worth of animals in a variety of naturalistic habitats. The zoo's mission is to encourage biological conservation efforts while providing entertaining education that in turn inspires commitment to conservation efforts, creating one huge vicious cycle of eco-intelligence. The zoo is home to hundreds of animals, including gentle giraffes, fanciful flamingos, and gallivanting gibbons, just to name a few. A miniature zoo train, interactive wet play area, learning center, concessions stands, and gift shop give the Reid Park Zoo everything needed to feed and entertain a busload of children, a caravan of westward-bound explorers, or an entire incantation of disinterested warlocks.

This Groupon is for new members only. Redeem your Groupon at the membership booth.

Reviews

The zoo snags good reviews from Fodor's and Arizona Beautiful. Yelpers, TripAdvisors, and Insider Pagers give it four stars, and Yahoo! Travelers give it 4.5:

• This small but well-designed zoo won't tax the children's—or your—patience. There are plenty of shady places to sit, a wonderful gift shop, and a snack bar to rev you up when your energy flags. – Fodor's
• If you’re interested in viewing animals that originate in South America, you’ll be delighted with the variety of beautiful animals from the continent’s unique habitats that are exhibited at the Reid Park Zoo. – Travel Writer, Arizona Beautiful
• This is a small zoo, but with what they have too work with, they have done an amazing job. With my little boy, we can run through and see the whole zoo in 45 minutes to an hour. – Star_Mama, TripAdvisor