List of Favorite Zoo Exhibits

blospz

blospz

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
Taking the idea from the authors of America's Best Zoos, what are your all time favorite U.S. zoo exhibits that you have actually seen in person? I think this thread will be really interesting to hear from those who have gone to many zoos.

U.S. Zoos I've Visited:
Brookfield Zoo, Buffalo Zoo, Catoctin Zoo, Cleveland Zoo, Columbus Zoo, Erie Zoo, Lincoln Park Zoo, Lowry Park Zoo, Maryland Zoo, Philadelphia Zoo, Pittsburgh Zoo, Rosamond Gifford Zoo, Seneca Park Zoo, Smithsonian National Zoo, Virginia Zoo, Zoo America.

1.) Polar Frontier - Columbus Zoo
2.) Asia Trail/Elephant Trails - Smithsonian National Zoo
3.) Trail of the Tiger - Virginia Zoo
4.) Australian Adventure - Cleveland Zoo
5.) Safari Africa/Ituri Forest - Lowry Park Zoo
6.) Great Bear Wilderness - Brookfield Zoo
7.) America Trail - Smithsonian National Zoo
8.) Elephant Crossing - Cleveland Zoo
9.) Regenstein Center for Apes - Lincoln Park Zoo
10.) McNeil Avian Center - Philadelphia Zoo
 
Wow this is extremely hard!

1.Congo Gorilla Forest-Bronx Zoo
2.Lied Jungle-Henry Doorly Zoo
3.Arctic Ring of Life-Detroit Zoo
4.Polar Frontier-Columbus Zoo
5.Giants of the Savannah Dallas Zoo
6.Watani Grasslands-North Carolina Zoo
7.Elephant Savannah-Nashville Zoo
8.Glacier Run-Louisville Zoo
9.Ocean Voyager-Georigia Aquarium
10.Myombe Reserve-Busch Gardens Tampa

Marty of Team Tapir223

1.Penguin and Puffin Coast-St Louis Zoo
2.Penguin Exhibit Lowry Park Zoo Tampa
3.Lied Jungle-Henry Doorly Zoo
4.Desert Dome-Henry Doorly Zoo
5.Trail of the Tiger-Virginia Zoo
6.Zebra Exhibit-Phoenix Zoo
7.Jungala-Busch Gardens Tampa
8.MOLA- Fort Worth Zoo
9.Teton Trek=Memphis Zoo
10.Elephant Savannah-Nashville Zoo

Bonnie of Team Tapir223
Bonnie's are in no particular order and mine (Marty)are sorta ranked
We both are thinking of a ton of more exhibits after making ours out here :)

Team Tapir223
 
It really is hard, I could probably flip flop some because they are so close. I am hoping Snowleopard joins this thread as his list must be very thorough.
 
Heres mine only been to northeastern zoos and a few others.

1. Congo Gorilla Forest- Bronx Zoo
2. Asia trail/ elephant trails- National Zoo
3. Madagascar- Bronx Zoo
4. Jungleworld- Bronx Zoo
5. Wild Asia Monorail- Bronx Zoo
6. Big Cat Falls- Philly Zoo
7. Regenstein Center for African Apes- Lincoln park zoo
8. Tropical Forest- Franklin park zoo
9. Marco Polo trail- Roger williams park zoo
10. Childrens Zoo- Maryland zoo
 
@ uszoo: When was the last time you visited the Maryland Zoo? This is just my opinion, I feel like their children's section used to be great, but it has gone down hill. I like how they divide it into different sections like Bog, Marsh, Field, etc. I also think they have a very good river otter exhibit. However, their aviary has had a lack of birds for the past year, I feel they could use more unused space, the box turtle exhibit could be a lot better with a more active animal since it has pop up bubbles, and the farm section isn't anything special (besides some rarer species of animals). If I had to choose a favorite section of this zoo, I would go with African Journey.

What is it about this section that makes it one of your favorite exhibits?
 
Range of the Jaguar - Jacksonville Zoo
Plains of East Africa - Jacksonville Zoo
Trails of Africa - Birmingham Zoo
 
Zoos I've been to:
Beardsley Zoo, Mystic Aquarium, Maritime Aquarium, Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Smithsonian National Zoo, Roger Williams Park Zoo, ZooAmerica, and Prospect Park Zoo.

Favorite exhibits:
Pacific Northwest- Mystic Aquarium
Long Island Sound- Maritime Aquarium
World of Birds, Congo Gorilla Forest, Baboon Reserve, Madagascar!, JungleWorld, Sea Bird Aviary, Asian Monorail- Bronx Zoo
Amazonia, Asia Trail/Elephant Trails, Cheetah Conservation Station- Smithsonian National Zoo

I'll update this towards the end of the summer after I've visited Cincinnati and maybe Columbus and Lowry Park. Also after Beardsley's Pampas Plains exhibit opens as it has a lot of potential to be great.

~Thylo:cool:
 
blospz said:
@ uszoo: When was the last time you visited the Maryland Zoo? This is just my opinion, I feel like their children's section used to be great, but it has gone down hill. I like how they divide it into different sections like Bog, Marsh, Field, etc. I also think they have a very good river otter exhibit. However, their aviary has had a lack of birds for the past year, I feel they could use more unused space, the box turtle exhibit could be a lot better with a more active animal since it has pop up bubbles, and the farm section isn't anything special (besides some rarer species of animals). If I had to choose a favorite section of this zoo, I would go with African Journey.

What is it about this section that makes it one of your favorite exhibits?
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- I haven't been there since 2008 but i remember it being very large and having many different sections. I loved its focus on local wildlife instead of wildife from around the world. It is just the best childrens zoo i have been to as it also appeals to adults.
 
I've been to exactly 180 different zoos and aquariums in my life, with about 160 of them located in either the United States or Canada. Here is my list:

Top 25 Zoo Exhibit Complexes

1) Congo Gorilla Forest – Bronx Zoo
2) Africa – Kansas City Zoo
3) Lost Forest – San Diego Zoo
4) Kingdoms of the Night – Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo
5) Wilds of Africa: Giants of the Savanna – Dallas Zoo
6) Lied Jungle – Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo
7) Asia Trail – National Zoo
8) Primate Panorama – Denver Zoo
9) River’s Edge – Saint Louis Zoo
10) Tropical Rain Forest – Woodland Park Zoo
11) Russia’s Grizzly Coast – Minnesota Zoo
12) Oklahoma Trails – Oklahoma City Zoo
13) Pangani Forest Exploration Trail – Disney’s Animal Kingdom
14) Northern Trail – Minnesota Zoo
15) Asian Highlands – Utah’s Hogle Zoo
16) Arctic Ring of Life – Detroit Zoo
17) Wild Africa – Binder Park Zoo
18) Northern Trail – Woodland Park Zoo
19) Brazos River Country – Cameron Park Zoo
20) Oceans – Indianapolis Zoo
21) Trail of the Tiger – Virginia Zoo
22) Great Northwest – Oregon Zoo
23) Toyota Elephant Passage – Denver Zoo
24) Rocky Shores – Utah’s Hogle Zoo
25) East Africa – Caldwell Zoo
 
In no particular order:

1) North American Predators - Northwest Trek
2) Lion Camp - San Diego Safari Park
3) Cat Country - Memphis Zoo
4) Giants Of The Savanna - Dallas Zoo
5) Mountain Woodlands - Arizona Sonora Desert Museum
6) Texas Wild - Fort Worth Zoo
7) Big Cat Falls - Philadelphia Zoo
8) Predator Ridge - Denver Zoo
9) Northern Trail - Minnesota Zoo
10) East Africa Savanna - Caldwell Zoo
 
Serengeti Safari, Myombe Reserve - Busch Gardens
Oceans, Plains - Indianapolis
World of the Insect, Sumatran Rhino, Jungle Trails - Cincinnati
North America, Polar Frontier - Columbus
Jellyfish Gallery, Shark Central (touch a shark) - Newport Aquarium
River's Edge, Bird House, Herpetarium, Penguin and Puffin Coast- St. Louis
 
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(Note: Disney's Animal Kingdom exhibits are not included as I can't remember them well.)
1. Congo Gorilla Forest- Bronx Zoo
2. Edge of Africa- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
3. Asia Trail/Elephant Trails- Smithsonian's National Zoo
4. Baboon Reserve- Bronx Zoo
5. JungleWorld- Bronx Zoo
6. African Plains- Bronx Zoo
7. Safari Africa- Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo
8. Marco Polo Trek- Roger Williams Park Zoo
9. American Trail- Smithsonian's National Zoo
10. Madagascar!- Bronx Zoo
11. Wild Asia Monorail- Bronx Zoo
12. Fabric of Africa- Roger Williams Park Zoo
13. Himalayan Highlands- Bronx Zoo
14. World of Birds- Bronx Zoo
15. Myombe Reserve- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
16. South American Rainforest- Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo
17. Serengeti Plain- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
18. Cheetah Conservation Station- Smithsonian's National Zoo
19. Mouse House- Bronx Zoo
20. Arctic Coast- Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration
 
Zooplantman said:
No fair: that's two exhibits


Really? "Favorite Exhibit???"


Will The Mouse House get any other votes for Favorite I wonder

;)
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Oh yeah!:p I guess that isn't really fair. But it is my favorite exhibit in the entire zoo because of it's providing needs for a rare species (three yards, shading canopies, humid environment, freshwater pool/waterfall, mud puddles, etc.).
 
Zooplantman said:
Will The Mouse House get any other votes for Favorite I wonder

;)
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The Mouse House is a fairly nice building IMO that has housed a fair share of cool and unique species- many of which I've yet to see anywhere else. Now not that I've visited too many zoos but I doubt cloud rats are that common. It's also historically significant and was one of the first places where nocturnal exhibitry was tested which would later lead to the great World of Darkness and many other nocturnal buildings. Only the Mouse House has lasted longer than any of them.

But you know all of that already:D

~Thylo:cool:
 
ThylacineAlive said:
The Mouse House is a fairly nice building IMO that has housed a fair share of cool and unique species- many of which I've yet to see anywhere else. Now not that I've visited too many zoos but I doubt cloud rats are that common. It's also historically significant and was one of the first places where nocturnal exhibitry was tested which would later lead to the great World of Darkness and many other nocturnal buildings. Only the Mouse House has lasted longer than any of them.

But you know all of that already:D

~Thylo:cool:
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I worked there for about seven years and hardly ever set foot in the Mouse House. When I did, I was enthralled though. It's just hard to get people (including me?) excited about window after window of tiny "habitats" where you see sleeping m,ice (after window after window). So I was surprised that anyone listed it as a Favorite. I'm glad you could slow down enough to appreciate it... I couldn't! :o
 
My favorite exhibits in no particular order:

1. Great Bear Wilderness, Brookfield Zoo
2. Regenstein Center for Apes, Lincoln Park Zoo
3. Asia Trail, National Zoo
4. Polar Bear Watch, Maryland Zoo

Hope to make it to more zoos throughout the next few years so I expect this list to change :)
 
Zooplantman said:
I worked there for about seven years and hardly ever set foot in the Mouse House. When I did, I was enthralled though. It's just hard to get people (including me?) excited about window after window of tiny "habitats" where you see sleeping m,ice (after window after window). So I was surprised that anyone listed it as a Favorite. I'm glad you could slow down enough to appreciate it... I couldn't! :o
Click to expand...

I've been in the Mouse House several times and each time the vast majority of residence were wide awake and quite active. Different experiences for different people I suppose.

~Thylo:cool:
 
My Top 10 List (in no particular order):

1. Aviary (Milwaukee County Zoo)
2. Walkabout Creek (Racine Zoo)
3. Habitat Africa! The Forest (Brookfield Zoo)
4. The Swamp (Brookfield Zoo)
5. Lost Forest (San Diego Zoo)
6. Asia Trail (National Zoo)
7. Asia Quest (Columbus Zoo)
8. Rainforest Falls (Buffalo Zoo)
9. African Forest (Columbus Zoo)
10. Edge of Africa (Busch Gardens Africa)

Also, a couple runner-ups would be:

African Plains (San Diego Zoo Safari Park)
Invertabrate Exhibit (National Zoo)
 
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