Paddle boats, Dino Bus coming to N.C. Zoo

Starting in April, visitors can hop aboard a Dragonfly paddle boat or the Dino Bus.

You'll find the boats at the marsh boardwalk in the North American exhibit. Zoo visitors can enjoy a 30-minute excursion on one of 24 boats, which come with canopies for those hot, sunny days. Buoys will guide guests as they move around the lake.

The boats will be open 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., daily, from April to October. The cost is $5. It's also included in the zoo's Fun Pass.

And the Dino Buses are located at the North America entrance, Africa parking lot and near Junction Plaza inside the zoo. It's a new way to see animatronic dinosaurs via a direct ride from the center of the park. "Two different rides allow guests to relax in open-air buses and get exclusive narrated tours while seeing dynamic, colorful dinosaurs and hearing about the exciting efforts the zoo is engaged in to protect today’s animals from going the way of the dinosaurs," according to a press release.

It will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily, from April to October. Tickets are $4 or included in the Fun Pass.

Nearly 47,200 visitors walked through the zoo's doors in February, making it the largest attended February in its 43-year history - thanks, in part, to the great weather.

“We are excited to have such a dynamic start to 2017," said Diane Villa, the zoo's interim marketing officer, in the press release. "Everyone has enjoyed seeing polar bears Nikita and Anana playing together, which guests would typically see during the winter. But the African animals, such as elephants and rhinos, have all been out in their habitats and enjoying the mild winter weather as well.”

The zoo will offer an additional ride on Zoofari at 10 a.m. Thursday through Sunday. (It's best to get to the zoo when it opens and buy Zoofari rides as soon as you get there as they do sell out).

“Dino Island 4D” will be the featured film at Junction Plaza for 2017.

The zoo is in Asheboro about 90 minutes from the Triangle.