What's New

AFRICA!

The $32.1 million expansion to the Peoria Zoo is Open! You won't believe the exhibit is right here in our own backyard! Zoo Director Yvonne Strode said, "we want to transport people to Africa itself when you first come in, you're going to see the plains of Africa with the big animals, the Rhinoceros, the Giraffe. You're gonna go up about 15 feet on a board walk, feed the giraffe if you want to. And then you can walk down into the forest of Africa. You're going to see Colabus Monkeys mixed with Red River Hogs, Mandrels...you'll get a different view of the Lions"...and much more!

Africa! will educate all age groups about the importance of preserving wildlife. On safari you'll visit:

* A Zambezi River Village to explore artifacts of the hunting and farming tribes of eastern and central Africa.

* Savanna Grassland/Treetop Village to view giraffes from treetop observation areas and watch rhinos roam the

flatlands.

* Forest Lands to observe species like mandrill baboons, colobus monkeys and red river hogs.

Click here for a detailed map!

Emiquon Preserve

Restoring the Illinois River -- Emiquon, an hour south of Peoria on the Illinois River, is one of the largest floodplain restoration projects in the country outside the Florida Everglades. It is the premiere demonstration site for The Nature Conservancy's work on the Illinois River and within the Upper Mississippi River system and may ultimately help guide large floodplain river restoration efforts around the world.

Can't quite decide what you want to do while in the Peoria Area, check our our sample itineraries to get an idea of the wonderful things you can experience while Playing in Peoria!

For more information or if you have any questions, please call the PACVB today at 800-747-0302 or email us here.