Troubadourable folk buddies Simon and Garfunkel once sang that "it's all happening at the zoo" before retiring from music to live out their days serenely basking in the reptile habitat. Get happening with today's Groupon for membership to the Blank Park Zoo on SW 9th Street. Choose from three options:

• For $34, you get a one-year One Plus One membership for one adult and one guest (a $69 value).
• For $44, you get a one-year Family or one-year Grandparent membership for two adults and all children or grandchildren ages 18 and under (an $89 value).
• For $49, you get a one-year Family Plus membership for two adults, all children ages 18 and under, and two guests (a $99 value).

One of Iowa's only accredited zoos, Blank Park Zoo houses more than 1,000 animals that represent more than 100 different species. Members can memorize the zoo map and wander the wild wonderland in search of tigers, prairie dogs, giant geckos, black swans, and ring-tailed lemurs. On Member Mondays (Memorial Day through Labor Day weekends), they can also take a free scenic ride on the choo-choo train and chug past lions' lairs and the velociraptor pens. The full list of membership benefits includes a 10% discount on plush playthings or nature-themed board games at the Wildthings Gift Shop, as well as reduced admission to more than 160 zoos and aquariums across the United States.

Reviews

Wired featured the Blank Park Zoo. Reviewers on TripAdvisor give it a four-owl-eye average, and more than 7,500 people like it on Facebook.

• If you happen to end up near Des Moines, Iowa with young kids, take them to the zoo. I happened to be in Des Moines with my young kids and they had a great time at the Blank Park Zoo. – Doug Cornelius, Wired
• Congratulations, Des Moines, on your beautiful zoo. Next time I want to be refreshed, I intend to DO THE ZOO again. – 4beingrefreshed, TripAdvisor