My Possible East Coast Trip

Blackleopard207

Blackleopard207

Well-Known Member
Hi everyone! So there’s a possibility I may be going to the East Coast this summer. And I wanted to know if I could only visit one of these four zoos which should I go to. The first is Cincinnati Zoo, also Columbus Zoo, Smithsonian National Zoo, or North Carolina Zoo. Any ideas which zoo I should choose? Any feedback about especially good exhibits at any of these zoos would be appreciated also.
 
If it is just a zoo trip then my opinion would be Columbus. That said, Smithsonian offers all the other sights in DC that are free and worthwhile even from an animal only perspective (Natural History Museum, National Botanical Gardens).

But you cannot go wrong with NC Zoo either, it's a great zoo that is only getting better. Due to the recent closing of the aviary and the areas under construction I would personally hold off a couple of years unless you really want to go and also think you can go back in the future.

So, my vote goes to Columbus or National. However, I have not been to Cincinnati yet and Cincinnati has the advantage of having the aquarium in Newport (across the river from Cincinnati) as well.
 
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Columbus, Cincinnati, Toledo, Detroit and The Wilds are all sort of in driving distance of each other. Maybe Pittsburgh if you’re ambitious. Just depends on how much time you have. Columbus and The Wilds are the best of the two overall. Just remember to book your Wilds tickets in advance as they could sell out. Columbus is pretty solid across the board. I really like the Australian Roadhouse, Manatee exhibit, and the Arctic area. Never been to Africa but I’m told it’s good. Toledo has a top tier aviary and some cool WPA architecture. Detroit has magnificent penguin and polar bear exhibits. The Wilds is a Safari Park that does a ton of hoofstock and midsize carnivore conservation.

I haven’t actually been to any MidAtlantic zoos other than the Smithsonian so can’t comment. The Aviary and Asia trail are the highlights, but I also really like Amazonia. Most of the DC museums are easy bucket list contenders as well.

There isn’t really much nearby the North Carolina Zoo. It’s spacious. In my top five favorite zoos out of sixty. Just… that’s really everything there is out there other than the above average Greensboro Science Center. You could maybe loop Riverbanks into a road trip but that’s pretty far and Riverbanks isn’t really a bucket list zoo.
 
The question reads to me as the OP is coming to the East (from California assumedly) and is looking for opinions on which one of the zoos he mentioned that would be good to go to; not that it is a driving trip to see multiple zoos.
And I wanted to know if I could only visit one of these four zoos which should I go to.
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Persephone said:
Ah. Columbus is the best zoo of the four. DC is probably the better destination if any of the museums seem interesting to you.
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I definitely agree with this. Columbus also has the water park attached to the zoo, which is nice to go to in the summer.
 
If I go I’ll be flying and getting a rental car but this isn’t going to be a zoo trip, but I would like to go to at least one or two. I plan on hitting a few states and Washington DC. So it sounds like Columbus is the way to go. Any other good zoos out in the area?
 
Blackleopard207 said:
If I go I’ll be flying and getting a rental car but this isn’t going to be a zoo trip, but I would like to go to at least one or two. I plan on hitting a few states and Washington DC. So it sounds like Columbus is the way to go. Any other good zoos out in the area?
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Columbus is close enough to The Wilds and Dayton Zoo. A little further afield you could head to Akron Zoo, Cleveland Zoo, or the other way down to Cincinnati.

That said, Ohio is a bit removed from DC, so if you are planning on heading to that area you may be better off choosing National and then going north or south to Baltimore Zoo, National Aquarium, Metro Richmond, Virginia Zoo (Newport News).

Honestly, DC is a better option for a vacation than Ohio...no offense to Ohio, it just does not have as much to see. DC can be fairly affordable too since all the museums are free, but hotels can be expensive.

If you are into bourbon you could do Cincinnati and then head into Kentucky for bourbon and Louisville Zoo.
 
SwampDonkey said:
If you are into Bourbon you could do Cincinnati and then head into Kentucky for Bourbon and Louisville Zoo.
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Thanks for the feedback, but I’m actually a minor, lol. We already have a planned route, starting by visiting family and friends in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. Then possibly making our way up to the Ark Encounter. Then from there, going to Washington DC. And then looping back to NC. So that’s why I would probably go with an Ohio zoo because it’s on the way to DC. (Mainly Cincinnati, but Columbus isn’t too far out of the way.)
 
Blackleopard207 said:
Thanks for the feedback, but I’m actually a minor, lol. We already have a planned route, starting by visiting family and friends in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. Then possibly making our way up to the Ark Encounter. Then from there, going to Washington DC. And then looping back to NC. So that’s why I would probably go with an Ohio zoo because it’s on the way to DC. (Mainly Cincinnati, but Columbus isn’t too far out of the way.)
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Ah, cool!

In that case the route as stated should take you near Brights Zoo, Kentucky Reptile Zoo, Western North Carolina Nature Center, Greensboro Science Center, Mill Mountain (Roanoke VA), Virginia Safari, Metro Richmond, Virginia Zoo, and possibly Sylvan Heights Bird Park (in addition to the other zoos you previously mentioned).

Bright's Zoo is a small private zoo, but it rates quite highly. It is located near Elizabethton TN in the North East part of the state.

The Kentucky Reptile Zoo is pretty much on the way to the Ark Encounter from TN. But if you are not into snakes then it is probably not a great pick, and if you end up cutting KY and Ohio out of the trip then it is rather out of the way.

If you can swing Columbus I think it is the best out of all of those - I made a specific trip last year just for the zoo. But if you are limited in time and resources then National is a great choice if you are going to DC anyway, especially now that the bird house is open again.
 
Yeah you definitely gave me some valuable information and a lot to think about! I would go to more than one zoo but my family isn’t as into zoos as I am. But as far as the National Zoo goes, will the giant pandas still be there this summer? Cause if you take those out, then I won’t care as much about visiting the National Zoo. Thanks for the info!
 
Blackleopard207 said:
Thanks for the feedback, but I’m actually a minor, lol. We already have a planned route, starting by visiting family and friends in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. Then possibly making our way up to the Ark Encounter. Then from there, going to Washington DC. And then looping back to NC. So that’s why I would probably go with an Ohio zoo because it’s on the way to DC. (Mainly Cincinnati, but Columbus isn’t too far out of the way.)
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You might want to look at a map again...
 
What do you mean? The Cincinnati Zoo is only 50 minutes from the Ark Encounter. Columbus Zoo is a bit over 2 hours from it. I have looked at a map numerous times, thank you.
 
Blackleopard207 said:
What do you mean? The Cincinnati Zoo is only 50 minutes from the Ark Encounter. Columbus Zoo is a bit over 2 hours from it. I have looked at a map numerous times, thank you.
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To get to DC from there you go through West Virginia, not Ohio. Google sometimes suggests going up north but that's not the best/most efficient way.
 
Yes that’s true, but I’m talking about a route if I go to the Columbus Zoo. It would add on an hour or two to the drive.
 
The Wilds is in Southeast Ohio, which is ordinarily pretty out of the way for any trip but actually pretty doable if you’re going from Columbus to D.C. It’s a half day experience and rather different from a conventional zoo.
 
Blackleopard207 said:
Yes that’s true, but I’m talking about a route if I go to the Columbus Zoo. It would add on an hour or two to the drive.
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That isn't what you had said. "So that’s why I would probably go with an Ohio zoo because it’s on the way to DC." Hence my initial reply.
 
Since it sounds like you're already going to be in DC on your trip, you might as well visit the National Zoo while you're there because it's free admission! So even if you only go for an hour, you'll still get your money's worth. And if you want to see giant pandas in the USA, this summer is possibly your last chance for the foreseeable future. The National Zoo's pandas go back to China in December and Atlanta's are due to return next year. The Asia Trail/ panda exhibit is quite close to the zoo entrance, and the new bird house is just over the bridge from there, so if you have limited time, you could still visit.

If you want to hit up Columbus on the same trip and make the Columbus Zoo your main 'zoo destination,' the National Zoo could still be a worthy side-quest while you're in the city.
 
Blackleopard207 said:
Yeah you definitely gave me some valuable information and a lot to think about! I would go to more than one zoo but my family isn’t as into zoos as I am. But as far as the National Zoo goes, will the giant pandas still be there this summer? Cause if you take those out, then I won’t care as much about visiting the National Zoo. Thanks for the info!
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Yeah, they will still be there this summer. IMO one should see them if you have not before, it could potentially be a long time until we have them again after the end of next year. Not making a trek to see the Sumatran rhino when they were here is the one main animal I regret not making a priority to see.....it seemed like they would be here a long time to come, and then they were gone.
 
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