3 day weekend, which zoo?

betsy

betsy

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
Premium Member
My husband will be able to take a few days off next month and we want to visit a zoo we haven't been to yet. We live in San Diego so we have been to that zoo and the Park. We have also been to the Woodland Park Zoo, the Portland Zoo and the San Fransisco Zoo. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
 
I would have thought the Los Angeles zoo, perhaps followed by the Monterey aquarium
 
kiang said:
I would have thought the Los Angeles zoo, perhaps followed by the Monterey aquarium
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O.K. I forgot we have also been to the L.A. Zoo but not since the new elephant exhibit opened. That is a possibility.
 
It sounds like you are driving? If so, now would be a good time to go to Phoenix Zoo! Combine it with another day at the Desert Botanical Garden, also in Papago Park near the zoo.
 
geomorph said:
It sounds like you are driving? If so, now would be a good time to go to Phoenix Zoo! Combine it with another day at the Desert Botanical Garden, also in Papago Park near the zoo.
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My husband travels a lot so we have free tickets on Southwest but I know he wouldn't want to spend too much time on an airplane.
 
Phoenix is opening their new orangutan exhibit on April11th. May be worth a visit.
 
You still have not clarified if you are driving or flying - or it sounds like maybe you have not decided?

If you have free tickets, I would not waste them on a short flight. Since you can fly on Southwest to California or Arizona for 89 bucks each way, I would drive this trip and save your plane tickets for a flight back east that would cost a lot more.

So, assuming you are driving...

Of course I am going to push my own city of Tucson. But it really is a good trip from San Diego - take I-8 from where it starts on your end to where it ends in Arizona, then about one hour southeast on I-10 and you are in Tucson. Or, when I-8 ends, about one hour northwest and you are in Phoenix.

Phoenix Zoo is bigger than either of Tucson's zoos, but if you are used to San Diego Zoo there are no new animals for you to see. So I would say Tucson because the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum will be a very unique (and utterly enjoyable) experience. The drive out there is also beautiful - located right next to Saguaro National Park. Reid Park Zoo (where I volunteer) is small, but has mostly first rate exhibits. It may be the best small zoo in the country. If you do decide to come, I could certainly give you some kind of personal encounter. Also, the city of Tucson is a much more pleasant place to visit than the metropolis of Phoenix - even Phoenix area residents will readily admit that.
 
What is "too much time in an airplane"? If about 4 hours are okay, then go to Orlando or Tampa, Florida. IMO, early spring is the best time to go to the sunshine state. It is not to hot and humid, not overrun by tourists and it is outside hurrican season. Visit Animal Kingdom (even it is expensive), go to the Lowry Park Zoo Tampa (a must) and connect it with Seaworld Orlando (to compare it with the one in San Diego) or the Florida Aquarium in Tampa (if you are interested in the marine life of coastal Florida and the Gulf of Mexico) and maybe Busch Gardens. There are as far as I know free shuttle services from Orlando to Busch Gardens.
 
zoomaniac said:
...go to the Lowry Park Zoo Tampa (a must) and connect it with Seaworld Orlando (to compare it with the one in San Diego) or the Florida Aquarium in Tampa....
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Finally, another ZooChatter who really likes Lowry Park Zoo. It is one of my favorites, but for some reason other ZooChatters seem to not like it that much. And if you do go to Tampa, I would definitely recommend Florida Aquarium over Seaworld any day. Busch Gardens (also in Tampa) is another favorite and I would take it over Animal Kingdom any day as well (because the staff is friendlier and you don't have to be on a ride to actually see the animals).
 
Do not waste your free flight on a three-day weekend! Especially not to Central Florida! There is FAR too much to see in Central Florida for a ZooChatter, so wait until you can devote a week to it!
 
Arizona Docent said:
Finally, another ZooChatter who really likes Lowry Park Zoo. It is one of my favorites, but for some reason other ZooChatters seem to not like it that much. And if you do go to Tampa, I would definitely recommend Florida Aquarium over Seaworld any day. Busch Gardens (also in Tampa) is another favorite and I would take it over Animal Kingdom any day as well (because the staff is friendlier and you don't have to be on a ride to actually see the animals).
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We also really like the Lowry Park Zoo.While there is nothing outstanding most exhibits are very nice.Overall its a very enjoyable zoo with a solid collection of animals.However in no way would we recommend the Florida Aquarium over Seaworld.Could possibly make the argument of Busch Gardens over Seaworld but not the Florida Aquarium.It is by far the weakest Aquarium that we have visited which would include Shedd ,B-More,Newport,Seattle and DWA.We felt it was geared more towards kids than adults.Would also agree with Geomorph that you need more than a couple days in this area.

Team Tapir
 
@Arizona Dozent: Yes, Lowry Park Zoo has done a big step forward during the last 10, 15 years although I must say not all of the new exhibits are the best of its kind.
I think recommend Florida Aquarium over Sea World is a question of taste. If you prefere shows and rides, the later is better, if you prefer education and biological themed exhibits, then it is the Florida Aquarium.
In ALL of my visits in US-Zoos, I met ONLY FRIENDLY staff. So I wonder what was wrong for you in the Animal Kingdom. Beside, I am not sure if you can see more animals off of the rides in Busch Gardens then in the Animal Kingdom.

@geomorph: Agree if it is a three-day weekend, then the time could be a little short. So it depends what Betsy mean with "a few days". (Btw: I have done Lowry, Florida Aquarium, Sea World, Animal Kingdom (3 times) and Miami Metrozoo in a 10-day-vacation in 2001. Well, maybe a little stressy, but possible, if you can organise yourself).
 
I would like to thank everyone for their recommendations. There is never a shortage of opinions on zoochat. I have not even had a chance to discuss options with my husband yet. I would love to see as many zoos as possible but my husband needs some down time also.
 
Arizona Docent said:
If you do decide to come, I could certainly give you some kind of personal encounter. Also, the city of Tucson is a much more pleasant place to visit than the metropolis of Phoenix - even Phoenix area residents will readily admit that.
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How very kind of you. I do love Tucson but I haven't been there in over 25 years and have never been to the your zoo. I will definitely let you know if we go to Tucson.
 
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