Best Experience, Behind the Scenes, etc.

TinoPup

TinoPup

Well-Known Member
5+ year member
I'm planning on going to at least one zoo for my 30th in January, and I'd ideally like to go to one that has a great tour, animal experience, behind the scenes, etc. for me to do. My preferred species are cheetahs and pinnipeds, but I'm open to just about any mammal species if it's a particularly great experience!

What have you done and enjoyed?
Are there any that you wouldn't recommend?

(I'm located in the mid-atlantic but plan on flying somewhere, most likely. Wildlife Safari in OR is the only one off the table, I was there last month already and flights to PDX are really expensive)
 
TinoPup said:
(I'm located in the mid-atlantic but plan on flying somewhere, most likely. Wildlife Safari in OR is the only one off the table, I was there last month already and flights to PDX are really expensive)
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Are you a pilot on an aircraft carrier?:confused:
 
Philadelphia Zoo has nice behind the scenes experiences that are pretty affordable. Although they have a big cats behind the scenes, I do not think cheetahs are included. I did their experience with meeting the hippos and I was able to feed them heads of lettuce. I think the animals you can meet are hippo, giraffe, penguin, big cats, rhino, and giant otter.

Brookfield Zoo has one with their dolphins: Chicago Zoological Society - Backstage Adventures
 
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Thanks, blospz! I tend to forget about Philly's since theirs don't include the cheetahs, you're correct; it's the newer big cat area that the tour focuses on. I'll have to look into doing one of those next time I visit, they're pretty cheap. Thanks for the dolphin suggestion, as well!


Shorts said:
Are you a pilot on an aircraft carrier?:confused:
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I'm not seeing what's wrong with my grammar there?
 
Hyak_II said:
Mid Atlantic. As in, the middle of the Atlantic ocean. I think the east coast might be a more fitting description ;)
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Mid Atlantic is what the region is called, though. It's the same as saying new england or pacific northwest. I'm closer to parts of Texas and South Dakota than I am to parts of the east coast.
 
Back in 2015, I did San Diego zoos Backstage pass. I was able to feed flamingos, watch active bearcats and a rare ground cus-cus. There’s also very close interaction with Indian rhinos and zebras. And yes, cheetahs are included but pinnipeds are not
 
pachyderm pro said:
Back in 2015, I did San Diego zoos Backstage pass. I was able to feed flamingos, watch active bearcats and a rare ground cus-cus. There’s also very close interaction with Indian rhinos and zebras. And yes, cheetahs are included but pinnipeds are not
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Thanks, that's one of the ones I was curious about! San Diego is at the top of my list but between the zoo, safari, and sea world, it might be out of my price range.
 
TinoPup said:
Mid Atlantic is what the region is called, though. It's the same as saying new england or pacific northwest. I'm closer to parts of Texas and South Dakota than I am to parts of the east coast.
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Huh, whaddya know, the mid-atlantic is a thing!

You have to remember, a fair number of us Zoochatters are not from the US, I'm from Canada and Shorts from the UK, and I for one had no clue it was a thing until I read your post :P There is a fairly good chance he was poking some fun as well.

Also to stay on topic, Seaworld San Diego offers some excellent hands on programs! Their Penguin and Wild Arctic tours are both excellent, with hands on with penguins and walruses & belugas, respectively.

Seaworld Orlando is also an excellent choice, along with the pengin and wild arctic tours their Discovery Cove is absolutely BRILLIANT! You can interact with dolphins, rays, many tropical birds, otters, and assorted ambassador animals as well.
 
TinoPup said:
I'm planning on going to at least one zoo for my 30th in January, and I'd ideally like to go to one that has a great tour, animal experience, behind the scenes, etc. for me to do. My preferred species are cheetahs and pinnipeds, but I'm open to just about any mammal species if it's a particularly great experience!

What have you done and enjoyed?
Are there any that you wouldn't recommend?

(I'm located in the mid-atlantic but plan on flying somewhere, most likely. Wildlife Safari in OR is the only one off the table, I was there last month already and flights to PDX are really expensive)
Click to expand...
The brookfield zoo has a tour for big cats and bears too! Cincinnati and columbus have cheetah runs in summer. Toldeo has a behind the scenes tour cheetah encounter for about $50. Looks like you get to tour their holding/inside living area and watch a training session , says it lasts about 45 mins. They also have behind the scenes tours for penguins, red pandas, elephants and a few others. Tge indianapolis zoo you can feed flamingos for $3. They have a dolphin presentation. They have animals including a good cheetah one (you sit about 10 foot away from the fence theyre behind) all day long. Its kind of a pricey zoo but not a bad one to visit just once or buy a pass. Cincy has a great cheetah and a lot of great animal chats. I want to buy my sister the behind the scenes cheetah tour for toledo but we just havent been able to do that yet. I want to find a zoo that has a really cool experience for snow leopards, cheetahs, and clouded leopards.
 
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