Zoos worth visiting in each state

I am not sure you would count it as a zoo. I recently found out there was kindness animal sanctuary in Wyoming. I have never been to that state though .
The Kindness Ranch Animal Sanctuary is not a zoo. It only keeps domestic species.

Teton Raptor Center is a zoo in my opinion. If you choose not to count it that's up to you, but if you don't, there are no zoos in that state.
 
Thanks. I have seen franklin park zoo mentioned In other threads . Is that one worth going to in Massachusetts? Also I know it’s not really a NE state but anything other than the Bronx zoo for NY ?
Franklin is the largest new England Zoo yet I would call it the worst experiences of the 4. Although birds world and the lion exhibit are nice, I find the rainforest a mixed bag and the rest of the zoo less than superior. Buttonwood and Capron both are fine small zoos and would be worth the visit if in the area.
 
Franklin is the largest new England Zoo yet I would call it the worst experiences of the 4. Although birds world and the lion exhibit are nice, I find the rainforest a mixed bag and the rest of the zoo less than superior. Buttonwood and Capron both are fine small zoos and would be worth the visit if in the area.

There are more than four zoos in Massachusetts. There's also Southwick's, Lupa, Forest Park, and Magic Wings at least. Out of those four the only one I've not visited is Forest Park but from what I can tell Franklin Park is far superior than all of those. I personally think Stone is a better set-up zoo than FPZ but it's still a good zoo and well worth a visit.

~Thylo
 
I have been to Southwicks but often forget about it because it has been a long time and is worse than any of the others in quality. Lupa I went to once when I was 6 or 7 and my mother talks about how bad it was- about dirty pathways, low quality exhibits, etc. As a young child, I enjoyed it but like most young children I enjoyed getting to feed animals. Have not heard of either other one.
 
As a regular of Philly the last few years, I agree it’s been declining, especially in terms of collection (Small Mammal House with one side all boarded up, the douc dying, 3/4 bear species dying, Bird Alley being practically empty). There are nice adaptations of old exhibits (like Wings of Asia) but the loss of okapi to make room for kangaroos, as well as the mixed bag that is Water is Life has me questioning the zoo’s future. That said, it is certainly still worth a visit.

Pittsburgh, on the other hand... nothing about it appeals to me. They have a few species highlights but a lot of the species housing is less than fantastic. The National Aviary is a much more enjoyable visit if you’re in the area.
Pittsburgh is not a large zoo but definitely worth the visit. The National Aviary is also nice, but is really small, and is 99% birds. Pittsburgh Zoo has some old areas but also some unique exhibits. When I am in the area I try to get an early start and visit both establishments on the same day.
 
The Kindness Ranch Animal Sanctuary is not a zoo. It only keeps domestic species.

Teton Raptor Center is a zoo in my opinion. If you choose not to count it that's up to you, but if you don't, there are no zoos in that state.
Sorry I meant I wasn’t sure the sanctuary counted as a zoo . Whenever I am able to get up to Wyoming I will add the raptor center to my places to visit ,
 
So I posted a list of states. The zoos I haven’t visited I am putting partheneses around . Let me know which ones I miss . Some of these are just based on google searches. So it’s just a guess as to how worthwhile it is ,
  • Alabama (Birmingham Zoo)
  • Alaska. ( Alaska Zoo)
  • Arizona : (Phoenix Zoo)
  • Arkansas (Little Rock Zoo)
  • California. (San Diego zoo) (San Diego Zoo Safari Park)
  • Colorado : (Denver Zoo)
  • Connecticut: (Beardsley Zoo)
  • Delaware : (Brandywine Zoo)
  • Florida : (Zoo Miami )
  • Georgia : (Atlanta Zoo)
  • Hawaii : (Honolulu Zoo)
  • Idaho : (Zoo Boise )
  • Illinois (Lincoln Park Zoo) Brookfield zoo
  • Indiana Indianapolis Zoo (Fort Wayne children’s Zoo)
  • Iowa : (Blank Park Zoo)
  • Kansas : (Sedgwick County Zoo)
  • Kentucky : Louisville Zoo
  • Louisiana ; (Audubon Zoo)
  • Maine : (Maine wildlife park ? )
  • Maryland ; ( Maryland Zoo )
  • Massachusetts : (Franklin Park zoo) (Southwick Zoo)
  • Michigan Detroit Zoo
  • Minnesota : (Minnesota Zoo)
  • Mississippi : (Jackson Zoo)
  • Missouri : Kansas City Zoo , St. Louis Zoo
  • Montana : (Zoo Montana)
  • Nebraska : Henry Doorly Zoo
  • Nevada : ( Sierra Safari Zoo)
  • New Hampshire :(Charmingdale farm )
  • New Jersey : (Turtle Back Zoo)
  • New Mexico ; (Albuquerque Zoo) (Rio Grande Zoo)
  • New York : (Bronx Zoo)
  • North Carolina (North Carolina Zoo)
  • North Dakota (Red River Zoo)
  • Ohio : Cincinnati zoo , Columbus Zoo , (Cleveland Metroparks Zoo) , Toledo Zoo
  • Oklahoma : (Oklahoma City Zoo)
  • Oregon ; (Oregon Zoo)
  • Pennsylvania : (Pittsburgh Zoo) (Philadelphia Zoo)
  • Rhode Island : (Roger Williams Park Zoo)
  • South Carolina : (Riverbanks Zoo) (Greenville Zoo)
  • South Dakota : Great Plains Zoo
  • Tennessee (Chattanooga Zoo) (Knoxville Zoo) Memphis Zoo Nashville Zoo
  • Texas : (Dallas Zoo ) (Houston Zoo)
  • Utah : (Hoggle Zoo)
  • Vermont (Echo Leahy center ) the closest thing I could find to a zoo
  • Virginia (Virgina Zoological Park) (Metro Richmond Zoo)
  • Washington (point defiance zoo ) (northwest trek wildlife center ) (woodland park zoo)
  • West Virginia: (Hovatters Wildlife Zoo)
  • Wisconsin : (Milwaukee County Zoo) (New Zoo)
  • Wyoming : (Teton Raptor Center)
  • D.C ( National Zoo)
 
Connecticut: Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy
Massachusetts: Stone Zoo
Florida: Lowry Park Zoo, Disney's Animal Kingdom, St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, Jacksonville Zoo, Brevard Zoo, Central Florida Zoo

~Thylo
 
Connecticut: Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy
Massachusetts: Stone Zoo
Florida: Lowry Park Zoo, Disney's Animal Kingdom, St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, Jacksonville Zoo, Brevard Zoo, Central Florida Zoo

~Thylo
I forgot about Disney Animal Kingdom. I was there a few years ago .
 
Really, it is up to whatever your biggest area of interest is. Some zoos have phenomenal bird collections, while some large zoos have really poor bird collections. This also applies to other groups of animals, so the best thing to do is look at the zoo websites to try to get a species list and see what fits your interests.
 
For Italy,I can say:
Bioparco di Roma (it has a nice reptile house and some every good exhibits)

Zoo delle Maitine (for who loves Plains viscachas and rarities)

Oasi di Sant'Alessio (a paradise for the bird-lovers,with a lot of rarities and excellent exhibits)

Parco Natura Viva (simply the best zoo in Italy)

Zoo di Napoli (it has some horrible exhibits,but hosts rarities like Water false cobra or Neophema pulchella)
Um, this is for the US.
 
Bright's Zoo (Limestone) and Tennessee Safari Park (Alamo) are both going to have hoofstHoo you won't find in most AZA zoos.
 
It depends who you talk to (on this forum) as to what is worth visiting. Some members (cough @snowleopard cough) would visit ANY place with exotic animals, just to say they have been there. Others of us (speaking for myself) would avoid second rate facilities and support those that have good animal care and especially have a commitment to conservation.
 
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