60 Zoos In 20 Days - Road Trip 2014
- Thread starter snowleopard
- Start date
Looking forward to sharing your journey, safe travels.
Wondering if you have heard about www.airbnb.com for accommodation it can be very reasonably priced.
TeamTapir223
Well-Known Member
By the way your wife must be a saint ! Bonnie would never allow me to do this 
Team Tapir223
Team Tapir223
I posted my road trip itinerary exactly one month ago today, meaning that there is now the small matter of waiting 2 more months before I begin my latest zoo-themed journey. It is always tremendously exciting to plan a mega trip and I never tire of doing just that. Not much has changed in the past month other than the fact that I discovered that Wildlife Prairie State Park in Illinois has now become Wildlife Prairie Park as a period of new ownership and funding has begun for that facility. Also of significant note is that in the past all of my summer trips featured zoos and aquariums that were 95% AZA-accredited and this time around there will be 29 AZA-accredited facilities and 25 non-AZA-accredited zoos. Does that mean that I might be touring some crappy zoos? Possibly, but the era of privately-owned American roadside menageries that are nothing but dumping grounds for animals is for the most part over. Some of the non-accredited zoos are ones that still have a high degree of financial backing (Sea Life Minnesota), or used to be recently accredited (Niabi Zoo), or just opened this year (Living Planet Aquarium) or have a world-class reptile collection (Reptile Gardens). All is not lost.
I have also begun all 54 reviews, which took quite a bit of time considering that each one is only a paragraph long at this point. I like to include information in regards to the acreage of the facility being reviewed, the annual attendance, the number of species and specimens, the date of inception, etc, and such data takes time to research online. I'm now set to go with an introductory paragraph for each facility and that is all I can do before I set foot within the gates of each zoo.
Lastly, I've received a few messages via ZooChat or Facebook (and I've sent out a couple of my own) in regards to perhaps meeting up with a few zoo nerds/acquaintances. I will say that for the most part my schedule is set in stone and there is little time for dilly-dallying around with 54 zoos to visit in only 20 days. If anyone would like to meet up at a zoo then that would be great but such individuals would have to find their own way there in terms of transportation. It is going to be quite the summer for me, with the world's premier sporting event beginning on June 12th and then my latest epic road trip kick-starting on July 27th.
I have also begun all 54 reviews, which took quite a bit of time considering that each one is only a paragraph long at this point. I like to include information in regards to the acreage of the facility being reviewed, the annual attendance, the number of species and specimens, the date of inception, etc, and such data takes time to research online. I'm now set to go with an introductory paragraph for each facility and that is all I can do before I set foot within the gates of each zoo.
Lastly, I've received a few messages via ZooChat or Facebook (and I've sent out a couple of my own) in regards to perhaps meeting up with a few zoo nerds/acquaintances. I will say that for the most part my schedule is set in stone and there is little time for dilly-dallying around with 54 zoos to visit in only 20 days. If anyone would like to meet up at a zoo then that would be great but such individuals would have to find their own way there in terms of transportation. It is going to be quite the summer for me, with the world's premier sporting event beginning on June 12th and then my latest epic road trip kick-starting on July 27th.
sooty mangabey
Well-Known Member
...and we're all looking forward to seeing how Canada get on in Brazil. Oh, hang on a second....
There is exactly one more month to go before I embark on a 20 day journey to see 54 zoos, an astonishing total that will put me up to almost 240 in my lifetime. If I lived in Europe that number would be tripled, but long drives and packed days are the norm as I begin a 5th road trip of the past 7 summers. This time I will be travelling alone as my wife and trio of small kids will be waiting back for me in Canada as I surge through the northern states and then after I reach Illinois I’ll head back through the center of America.
One alteration that I’ve made to this trip that I’ve tinkered with for the past year is that Day 6 and Day 7 will be reversed. It is a simple enough procedure and one that enables me to meet up with the director of the Minnesota Zoo (Lee Emhke) on Friday, August 1st, for a couple of hours. Lee and I have exchanged the occasional email over the years and he is a legendary individual within the zoo community for many reasons. As director of planning and design at the Bronx Zoo he helped spearhead what many consider one of the greatest zoo exhibits of all time (Congo Gorilla Forest); as director of Minnesota Zoo he has helped attendance surge from a consistent base of 450,000 to 1.3 million due in no small part to complexes like Minnesota Trail, Northern Trail and Russia’s Grizzly Coast; and Lee Emhke is now President of WAZA and so I’m intrigued to meet the candid individual in the flesh. Is he a legendary superhero or a mere mortal? Perhaps he is wondering who the hell this “Snowleopard” character is and why he has been so obsessed with zoos for the 38 years that he’s been alive. Many of you know me as Scott Richardson but there are occasions when I feel that I well and truly have an alter ego when it comes to the world of zoos.
One major difference on this road trip is that I will NOT be posting full-length reviews on ZooChat as I have done on all my past journeys. That is sure to disappoint a lot of people and it kind of saddens me as I look forward to typing up detailed, intricate write-ups of all the 54 zoos and aquariums that I visit….but the good news is that there is a method to my madness. I have partnered up with Tim Brown to co-author a book on American zoos that will hopefully be published in 2015. Two full years ago (July of 2012) I received a lengthy hand-written letter from Tim and in my response I asked him if he would like to co-author a zoo book with me. To my delight he replied in the affirmative and since late 2012 we have sent each other the occasional email and Tim has done an incredible amount of travelling. I have spent an inordinate number of hours re-writing and editing all of my 150 “Snowleopard” reviews and having sent the brand-new reviews to Tim he has been steadily editing them once again so that my written words and his own innumerable reviews are combined into a cohesive whole. The book is tentatively going to include at least 200 reviews and be in the ballpark of 400 pages, and we are using the German book of 600 reviews called "Abenteuer Zoo" (2012) as our template.
Tim wrote "The IZES Guide to British Zoos & Aquariums" (2009) and co-authored "An Illustrated History of Bristol Zoo Gardens" (2011) and so our work together will be his 3rd zoo book. I have already written 150 reviews of American zoos and plan to add 50 more this August and with Tim’s global knowledge of zoos (he has visited around 650 at last count) we plan on publishing "The IZES Guide to American Zoos & Aquariums" in 2015. We will use my approach with the write-ups so that there is a newly described format of “Outstanding, Good, Average, Poor” set of categories for each zoo and every single review that I’ve previously placed on ZooChat has been substantially edited and updated to include all of the latest developments. In many cases I’ve reviewed zoos and Tim has then toured them at a later date so between us we hope to encapsulate the strengths and weaknesses of all the major American zoological establishments. One item that we’ve focused on is the inclusion of aquariums as they are clearly zoos with water and there will be approximately 50 aquarium reviews in our book.
My 3 longest road trip threads are all ranked in the top 10 of the most viewed threads ever on ZooChat and so I know that there will be many folks silently following my journey this summer. What I will do is post daily updates and comments on zoos but not follow the “Outstanding, Good, Average, Poor” doctrine as then what zoo nerd would buy the book? Even as it stands right now I’m sure that many individuals will ponder the worth of purchasing a zoo book that is mainly available online, but once again I will stress that all of my past reviews have been edited and re-edited on several occasions while other zoos have been reviewed exclusively by Tim. We are excited to produce approximately 200 brand-new reviews compiled into a single book, along with hundreds of photos and potentially some essays on the state of American zoos and aquariums. I can’t wait to read it!
One alteration that I’ve made to this trip that I’ve tinkered with for the past year is that Day 6 and Day 7 will be reversed. It is a simple enough procedure and one that enables me to meet up with the director of the Minnesota Zoo (Lee Emhke) on Friday, August 1st, for a couple of hours. Lee and I have exchanged the occasional email over the years and he is a legendary individual within the zoo community for many reasons. As director of planning and design at the Bronx Zoo he helped spearhead what many consider one of the greatest zoo exhibits of all time (Congo Gorilla Forest); as director of Minnesota Zoo he has helped attendance surge from a consistent base of 450,000 to 1.3 million due in no small part to complexes like Minnesota Trail, Northern Trail and Russia’s Grizzly Coast; and Lee Emhke is now President of WAZA and so I’m intrigued to meet the candid individual in the flesh. Is he a legendary superhero or a mere mortal? Perhaps he is wondering who the hell this “Snowleopard” character is and why he has been so obsessed with zoos for the 38 years that he’s been alive. Many of you know me as Scott Richardson but there are occasions when I feel that I well and truly have an alter ego when it comes to the world of zoos.
One major difference on this road trip is that I will NOT be posting full-length reviews on ZooChat as I have done on all my past journeys. That is sure to disappoint a lot of people and it kind of saddens me as I look forward to typing up detailed, intricate write-ups of all the 54 zoos and aquariums that I visit….but the good news is that there is a method to my madness. I have partnered up with Tim Brown to co-author a book on American zoos that will hopefully be published in 2015. Two full years ago (July of 2012) I received a lengthy hand-written letter from Tim and in my response I asked him if he would like to co-author a zoo book with me. To my delight he replied in the affirmative and since late 2012 we have sent each other the occasional email and Tim has done an incredible amount of travelling. I have spent an inordinate number of hours re-writing and editing all of my 150 “Snowleopard” reviews and having sent the brand-new reviews to Tim he has been steadily editing them once again so that my written words and his own innumerable reviews are combined into a cohesive whole. The book is tentatively going to include at least 200 reviews and be in the ballpark of 400 pages, and we are using the German book of 600 reviews called "Abenteuer Zoo" (2012) as our template.
Tim wrote "The IZES Guide to British Zoos & Aquariums" (2009) and co-authored "An Illustrated History of Bristol Zoo Gardens" (2011) and so our work together will be his 3rd zoo book. I have already written 150 reviews of American zoos and plan to add 50 more this August and with Tim’s global knowledge of zoos (he has visited around 650 at last count) we plan on publishing "The IZES Guide to American Zoos & Aquariums" in 2015. We will use my approach with the write-ups so that there is a newly described format of “Outstanding, Good, Average, Poor” set of categories for each zoo and every single review that I’ve previously placed on ZooChat has been substantially edited and updated to include all of the latest developments. In many cases I’ve reviewed zoos and Tim has then toured them at a later date so between us we hope to encapsulate the strengths and weaknesses of all the major American zoological establishments. One item that we’ve focused on is the inclusion of aquariums as they are clearly zoos with water and there will be approximately 50 aquarium reviews in our book.
My 3 longest road trip threads are all ranked in the top 10 of the most viewed threads ever on ZooChat and so I know that there will be many folks silently following my journey this summer. What I will do is post daily updates and comments on zoos but not follow the “Outstanding, Good, Average, Poor” doctrine as then what zoo nerd would buy the book? Even as it stands right now I’m sure that many individuals will ponder the worth of purchasing a zoo book that is mainly available online, but once again I will stress that all of my past reviews have been edited and re-edited on several occasions while other zoos have been reviewed exclusively by Tim. We are excited to produce approximately 200 brand-new reviews compiled into a single book, along with hundreds of photos and potentially some essays on the state of American zoos and aquariums. I can’t wait to read it!
Safe travels and i look forward to the book.
With just over 2 weeks to go I've now bumped up the total to a staggering 60 zoos in 20 days. It is certainly a jam-packed schedule with no room for error but I have been contacting a handful of fellow zoo nerds and many of the smaller zoos on the trip can easily be seen in an hour or less. In fact, of the 60 zoos on the itinerary there are only 3 (Minnesota, Saint Louis and Shedd) that take longer than 2 hours to tour. I won't have my wife and 3 little kids tagging along and so ticking off 60 zoos in 20 days (as absurd as that sounds on paper) should be exciting and not an issue whatsoever as this is now my 5th summer zoo road trip. There are a few days when I'm a little worried about making it to the last attraction of the day (traffic, weather issues, etc) and I'm determined not to rush around like a madman. I want to enjoy this trip and if I end up taking longer than expected at some stops then I'll have to miss a couple of zoos at the end of the day and life will still go on like normal.
The 6 new stops that I have added are below, and I had to do a little bit of rearranging to accommodate them all. There are 3 small aquariums added that can be seen in no time at all; a reptile zoo that has only been in operation for a few years; a real dive of a place (Clay Center Zoo - the only real "ugh" of the trip); and the wolf center comes highly regarded from those in the industry but only has 5 species: Mexican gray wolf, red wolf, maned wolf, African wild dog and swift fox. I already booked and paid for a $14 tour that consists of a half-hour lecture and an hour-long walking tour with a guided group.
Additions:
DAY 4: Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery & Aquarium (Riverdale, North Dakota)
DAY 6: RAD (Reptile & Amphibian Discovery) Zoo (Owatonna, Minnesota)
DAY 12: National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium (Dubuque, Iowa)
DAY 15: Endangered Wolf Center (Eureka, Missouri)
DAY 16: Clay Center Zoo (Clay Center, Kansas)
DAY 16: Kansas Fishes Aquarium (Salina, Kansas)
The slightly new schedule is posted below, with all of the updates and minor alterations. I've also noted which zoos are AZA-accredited (31 in total) and which are non AZA-accredited (29).
Summer 2014 Zoo Trip:
DAY 1 (Sun. July 27th) : Drive 7 hours + Cat Tales Zoological Park (Spokane, WA) + drive 5 hours
DAY 2 (Mon. July 28th) : Drive 3 hours + Yellowstone Bear World (Rexburg, Idaho) + drive 1.5 hours + Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center (West Yellowstone, MT) + drive 1.5 hours + Montana Grizzly Encounter (Bozeman, MT) + drive 7 hours
DAY 3 (Tues. July 29th): Bear Country U.S.A. 8-10 (Rapid City, SD) + Reptile Gardens 10:30-12:30 (Rapid City, SD) + drive 6 hours + Bramble Park Zoo (Watertown, SD) + drive 5 hours
DAY 4 (Wed. July 30st) : Dakota Zoo 10-12 (Bismarck, ND) + drive 1 hour + Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery & Aquarium 1-2 (Riverdale, ND) + drive 1 hour + Roosevelt Park Zoo 3-5 (Minot, ND) + drive 4.5 hours
DAY 5 (Thurs. July 31st) : Red River Zoo 10-12 (Fargo, ND) + drive 1 hour + Chahinkapa Zoo 1-2:30 (Wahpeton, ND) + drive 2 hours + Hemker Park & Zoo 4:30-6 (Freeport, MN) + drive 1.5 hours
DAY 6 (Fri. Aug. 1st) : Minnesota Zoo 9-3 (Minneapolis, MN) + drive 1 hour + RAD (Reptile & Amphibian Discovery) Zoo 4-5 (Owatonna, MN) + drive 30 min. + Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium 5:30-6:30 (Bloomington, MN) + drive 2 hours
DAY 7 (Sat. Aug. 2nd) : Pine Grove Zoo 10-11:30 (Little Falls, MN) + drive 3 hours + Lake Superior Zoo 2:30-4:30 (Duluth, MN) + Great Lakes Aquarium 4:30-6:30 (Duluth, MN) + drive 2.5 hours
DAY 8 (Sun. Aug. 3rd) : Como Park Zoo 10-1 (St. Paul, MN) + drive 1.5 hours + Irvine Park & Zoo 2:30-3:30 (Chippewa Falls, WI) + drive 2.5 hours
DAY 9 (Mon. Aug. 4th) : Wildwood Wildlife Park 9-11 (Minocqua, WI) + drive 3 hours + Northeastern Wisconsin (NEW) Zoo 2-4 (Green Bay, WI) + drive 1 hour + Lincoln Park Zoo 5-7 (Manitowoc, WI) drive 3 hours
DAY 10 (Tues. Aug. 5th) : Ochsner Park Zoo 7:30-8:30 (Baraboo, WI) + International Crane Foundation 9-11 (Baraboo, WI) + drive 1 hour + Henry Vilas Zoo 12-2 (Madison, WI) + drive 2 hours + Racine Zoo 4-6 (Racine, WI) + drive 1.5 hours
DAY 11 (Wed. Aug. 6th) : Shedd Aquarium 9-1 (Chicago, IL) + drive 45 min. + Cosley Zoo 2-3 (Wheaton, IL) + drive 30 min. + Phillips Park Zoo 4-5 (Aurora, IL) + drive 2 hours
DAY 12 (Thurs. August 7th) : National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium 9-10:30 (Dubuque, Iowa) + drive 1.5 hours + Niabi Zoo 12-1:30 (Coal Valley, IL) + drive 1.5 hours + Peoria Zoo 3-4:30 (Peoria, IL) + drive 30 min. + Wildlife Prairie Park 5-6:30 (Hanna City, IL) + drive 1 hour
DAY 13 (Fri. Aug. 8th) : Miller Park Zoo 9:30-11 (Bloomington, IL) + drive 1 hour + Scovill Zoo 12-1:30 (Decatur, IL) + drive 45 min. + Henson Robinson Zoo 2:30-4 (Springfield, IL) + drive 2 hours
DAY 14 (Sat. Aug. 9th) : Saint Louis Zoo 8-3 (St. Louis, MO) + drive 30 min. + Butterfly House 3:30-4:30 (Chesterfield, MO) + drive 30 min. + World Aquarium/City Museum 5-7 (St. Louis, MO) + drive 30 min.
DAY 15 (Sun. Aug. 10th) : World Bird Sanctuary 8-9 (Valley Park, MO) + drive 30 minutes + Grant’s Farm 9:30-12 (St. Louis, MO) + drive 30 min. + Endangered Wolf Center 12:30-2:30 (Eureka, MO) + drive 3.5 hours + Sea Life Kansas City Aquarium 6-7 (Kansas City, MO) + drive 2 hours
DAY 16 (Mon. Aug. 11th) : Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park & Wildlife Safari 9-11 (Ashland, NE) + drive 30 min. + Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium 11:30-12 (Gretna, NE) + drive 45 min. + Lincoln Children’s Zoo 1-3 (Lincoln, NE) + drive 2 hours + Clay Center Zoo 5-6 (Clay Center, KS) + drive 1 hour + Kansas Fishes Aquarium 7-7:30 (Salina, KS) + drive 2 hours
DAY 17 (Tues. Aug. 12th) : David Traylor Zoo 10-11 (Emporia, KS) + drive 2 hours + Hutchinson Zoo 1-2 (Hutchinson, KS) + drive 1.5 hours + Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo 3:30-4:30 (Great Bend, KS) + drive 2 hours
DAY 18 (Wed. Aug. 13th) : Lee Richardson Zoo 8-10 (Garden City, KS) + drive 4 hours + Pueblo Zoo 2-4 (Pueblo, CO) + drive 9.5 hours
DAY 19 (Thurs. Aug. 14th) : The Living Planet Aquarium 10-12 (Draper, UT) + drive 30 min. + Tracy Aviary 12:30-3 (Salt Lake City, UT) + drive 1.5 hours + Willow Park Zoo 4:30-5:30 (Logan, UT) + drive 4 hours
DAY 20 (Fri. Aug. 15th) : Aquarium of Boise (Boise, ID) + World Center for Birds of Prey (Boise, ID) + drive 10 hours home. Whew!
60 Zoos/Aquariums in 20 Days:
Cat Tales Zoological Park (Spokane, WA)
Yellowstone Bear World (Rexburg, ID)
Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center (West Yellowstone, MT) #
Montana Grizzly Encounter (Bozeman, MT)
Bear Country U.S.A. (Rapid City, SD)
Reptile Gardens (Rapid City, SD)
Bramble Park Zoo (Watertown, SD) #
Dakota Zoo (Bismarck, ND) #
Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery & Aquarium (Riverdale, ND)
Roosevelt Park Zoo (Minot, ND) #
Red River Zoo (Fargo, ND) #
Chahinkapa Zoo (Wahpeton, ND) #
Hemker Park & Zoo (Freeport, MN)
Minnesota Zoo (Minneapolis, MN) # ****
RAD (Reptile & Amphibian Discovery) Zoo (Owatonna, MN)
Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium (Bloomington, MN)
Pine Grove Zoo (Little Falls, MN)
Lake Superior Zoo (Duluth, MN) #
Great Lakes Aquarium (Duluth, MN)
Como Park Zoo (St. Paul, MN) #
Irvine Park & Zoo (Chippewa Falls, WI)
Wildwood Wildlife Park (Minocqua, WI)
Northeastern Wisconsin (NEW) Zoo (Green Bay, WI) #
Lincoln Park Zoo (Manitowoc, WI)
Ochsner Park Zoo (Baraboo, WI)
International Crane Foundation (Baraboo, WI) #
Henry Vilas Zoo (Madison, WI) #
Racine Zoo (Racine, WI) #
Shedd Aquarium (Chicago, IL) # ****
Cosley Zoo (Wheaton, IL) #
Phillips Park Zoo (Aurora, IL)
National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium (Dubuque, Iowa) #
Niabi Zoo (Coal Valley, IL)
Peoria Zoo (Peoria, IL) #
Wildlife Prairie Park (Hanna City, IL)
Miller Park Zoo (Bloomington, IL) #
Scovill Zoo (Decatur, IL) #
Henson Robinson Zoo (Springfield, IL) #
Saint Louis Zoo (St. Louis, MO) # ****
Butterfly House (Chesterfield, MO) #
World Aquarium (St. Louis, MO)
World Bird Sanctuary (Valley Park, MO)
Grant’s Farm (St. Louis, MO)
Endangered Wolf Center (Eureka, MO) #
Sea Life Kansas City Aquarium (Kansas City, MO) #
Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park & Wildlife Safari (Ashland, NE) #
Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium (Gretna, NE)
Lincoln Children’s Zoo (Lincoln, NE) #
Clay Center Zoo (Clay Center, KS)
Kansas Fishes Aquarium (Salina, KS)
David Traylor Zoo (Emporia, KS) #
Hutchinson Zoo (Hutchinson, KS) #
Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo (Great Bend, KS)
Lee Richardson Zoo (Garden City, KS) #
Pueblo Zoo (Pueblo, CO) #
The Living Planet Aquarium (Draper, UT)
Tracy Aviary (Salt Lake City, UT) #
Willow Park Zoo (Logan, UT)
Aquarium of Boise (Boise, ID)
World Center for Birds of Prey (Boise, ID)
**** = I have previously visited 3 attractions: Minnesota Zoo, Shedd Aquarium and Saint Louis Zoo
# = 31 AZA accredited (29 are not AZA-accredited)
Zoos = 49
Aquariums = 11
TOTAL = 60 zoos/aquariums in 20 days!! (57 I’ve never toured before)
Lifetime total will then be 242 zoos/aquariums…..1 in Trinidad, 2 in Switzerland, 15 in Canada, 18 in Australia and 206 in the United States.
U.S. State breakdown of zoos/aquariums on this trip: (16 U.S. States)
Washington = 1
Montana = 2
South Dakota = 3
North Dakota = 5
Minnesota = 8
Wisconsin = 8
Iowa = 1
Illinois = 9
Missouri = 7
Nebraska = 3
Kansas = 6
Colorado = 1
Utah = 3
Idaho = 3 (one earlier on the trip and two at the end)
(I am also passing through Wyoming and Oregon – but no zoo stops)
The 6 new stops that I have added are below, and I had to do a little bit of rearranging to accommodate them all. There are 3 small aquariums added that can be seen in no time at all; a reptile zoo that has only been in operation for a few years; a real dive of a place (Clay Center Zoo - the only real "ugh" of the trip); and the wolf center comes highly regarded from those in the industry but only has 5 species: Mexican gray wolf, red wolf, maned wolf, African wild dog and swift fox. I already booked and paid for a $14 tour that consists of a half-hour lecture and an hour-long walking tour with a guided group.
Additions:
DAY 4: Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery & Aquarium (Riverdale, North Dakota)
DAY 6: RAD (Reptile & Amphibian Discovery) Zoo (Owatonna, Minnesota)
DAY 12: National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium (Dubuque, Iowa)
DAY 15: Endangered Wolf Center (Eureka, Missouri)
DAY 16: Clay Center Zoo (Clay Center, Kansas)
DAY 16: Kansas Fishes Aquarium (Salina, Kansas)
The slightly new schedule is posted below, with all of the updates and minor alterations. I've also noted which zoos are AZA-accredited (31 in total) and which are non AZA-accredited (29).
Summer 2014 Zoo Trip:
DAY 1 (Sun. July 27th) : Drive 7 hours + Cat Tales Zoological Park (Spokane, WA) + drive 5 hours
DAY 2 (Mon. July 28th) : Drive 3 hours + Yellowstone Bear World (Rexburg, Idaho) + drive 1.5 hours + Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center (West Yellowstone, MT) + drive 1.5 hours + Montana Grizzly Encounter (Bozeman, MT) + drive 7 hours
DAY 3 (Tues. July 29th): Bear Country U.S.A. 8-10 (Rapid City, SD) + Reptile Gardens 10:30-12:30 (Rapid City, SD) + drive 6 hours + Bramble Park Zoo (Watertown, SD) + drive 5 hours
DAY 4 (Wed. July 30st) : Dakota Zoo 10-12 (Bismarck, ND) + drive 1 hour + Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery & Aquarium 1-2 (Riverdale, ND) + drive 1 hour + Roosevelt Park Zoo 3-5 (Minot, ND) + drive 4.5 hours
DAY 5 (Thurs. July 31st) : Red River Zoo 10-12 (Fargo, ND) + drive 1 hour + Chahinkapa Zoo 1-2:30 (Wahpeton, ND) + drive 2 hours + Hemker Park & Zoo 4:30-6 (Freeport, MN) + drive 1.5 hours
DAY 6 (Fri. Aug. 1st) : Minnesota Zoo 9-3 (Minneapolis, MN) + drive 1 hour + RAD (Reptile & Amphibian Discovery) Zoo 4-5 (Owatonna, MN) + drive 30 min. + Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium 5:30-6:30 (Bloomington, MN) + drive 2 hours
DAY 7 (Sat. Aug. 2nd) : Pine Grove Zoo 10-11:30 (Little Falls, MN) + drive 3 hours + Lake Superior Zoo 2:30-4:30 (Duluth, MN) + Great Lakes Aquarium 4:30-6:30 (Duluth, MN) + drive 2.5 hours
DAY 8 (Sun. Aug. 3rd) : Como Park Zoo 10-1 (St. Paul, MN) + drive 1.5 hours + Irvine Park & Zoo 2:30-3:30 (Chippewa Falls, WI) + drive 2.5 hours
DAY 9 (Mon. Aug. 4th) : Wildwood Wildlife Park 9-11 (Minocqua, WI) + drive 3 hours + Northeastern Wisconsin (NEW) Zoo 2-4 (Green Bay, WI) + drive 1 hour + Lincoln Park Zoo 5-7 (Manitowoc, WI) drive 3 hours
DAY 10 (Tues. Aug. 5th) : Ochsner Park Zoo 7:30-8:30 (Baraboo, WI) + International Crane Foundation 9-11 (Baraboo, WI) + drive 1 hour + Henry Vilas Zoo 12-2 (Madison, WI) + drive 2 hours + Racine Zoo 4-6 (Racine, WI) + drive 1.5 hours
DAY 11 (Wed. Aug. 6th) : Shedd Aquarium 9-1 (Chicago, IL) + drive 45 min. + Cosley Zoo 2-3 (Wheaton, IL) + drive 30 min. + Phillips Park Zoo 4-5 (Aurora, IL) + drive 2 hours
DAY 12 (Thurs. August 7th) : National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium 9-10:30 (Dubuque, Iowa) + drive 1.5 hours + Niabi Zoo 12-1:30 (Coal Valley, IL) + drive 1.5 hours + Peoria Zoo 3-4:30 (Peoria, IL) + drive 30 min. + Wildlife Prairie Park 5-6:30 (Hanna City, IL) + drive 1 hour
DAY 13 (Fri. Aug. 8th) : Miller Park Zoo 9:30-11 (Bloomington, IL) + drive 1 hour + Scovill Zoo 12-1:30 (Decatur, IL) + drive 45 min. + Henson Robinson Zoo 2:30-4 (Springfield, IL) + drive 2 hours
DAY 14 (Sat. Aug. 9th) : Saint Louis Zoo 8-3 (St. Louis, MO) + drive 30 min. + Butterfly House 3:30-4:30 (Chesterfield, MO) + drive 30 min. + World Aquarium/City Museum 5-7 (St. Louis, MO) + drive 30 min.
DAY 15 (Sun. Aug. 10th) : World Bird Sanctuary 8-9 (Valley Park, MO) + drive 30 minutes + Grant’s Farm 9:30-12 (St. Louis, MO) + drive 30 min. + Endangered Wolf Center 12:30-2:30 (Eureka, MO) + drive 3.5 hours + Sea Life Kansas City Aquarium 6-7 (Kansas City, MO) + drive 2 hours
DAY 16 (Mon. Aug. 11th) : Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park & Wildlife Safari 9-11 (Ashland, NE) + drive 30 min. + Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium 11:30-12 (Gretna, NE) + drive 45 min. + Lincoln Children’s Zoo 1-3 (Lincoln, NE) + drive 2 hours + Clay Center Zoo 5-6 (Clay Center, KS) + drive 1 hour + Kansas Fishes Aquarium 7-7:30 (Salina, KS) + drive 2 hours
DAY 17 (Tues. Aug. 12th) : David Traylor Zoo 10-11 (Emporia, KS) + drive 2 hours + Hutchinson Zoo 1-2 (Hutchinson, KS) + drive 1.5 hours + Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo 3:30-4:30 (Great Bend, KS) + drive 2 hours
DAY 18 (Wed. Aug. 13th) : Lee Richardson Zoo 8-10 (Garden City, KS) + drive 4 hours + Pueblo Zoo 2-4 (Pueblo, CO) + drive 9.5 hours
DAY 19 (Thurs. Aug. 14th) : The Living Planet Aquarium 10-12 (Draper, UT) + drive 30 min. + Tracy Aviary 12:30-3 (Salt Lake City, UT) + drive 1.5 hours + Willow Park Zoo 4:30-5:30 (Logan, UT) + drive 4 hours
DAY 20 (Fri. Aug. 15th) : Aquarium of Boise (Boise, ID) + World Center for Birds of Prey (Boise, ID) + drive 10 hours home. Whew!
60 Zoos/Aquariums in 20 Days:
Cat Tales Zoological Park (Spokane, WA)
Yellowstone Bear World (Rexburg, ID)
Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center (West Yellowstone, MT) #
Montana Grizzly Encounter (Bozeman, MT)
Bear Country U.S.A. (Rapid City, SD)
Reptile Gardens (Rapid City, SD)
Bramble Park Zoo (Watertown, SD) #
Dakota Zoo (Bismarck, ND) #
Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery & Aquarium (Riverdale, ND)
Roosevelt Park Zoo (Minot, ND) #
Red River Zoo (Fargo, ND) #
Chahinkapa Zoo (Wahpeton, ND) #
Hemker Park & Zoo (Freeport, MN)
Minnesota Zoo (Minneapolis, MN) # ****
RAD (Reptile & Amphibian Discovery) Zoo (Owatonna, MN)
Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium (Bloomington, MN)
Pine Grove Zoo (Little Falls, MN)
Lake Superior Zoo (Duluth, MN) #
Great Lakes Aquarium (Duluth, MN)
Como Park Zoo (St. Paul, MN) #
Irvine Park & Zoo (Chippewa Falls, WI)
Wildwood Wildlife Park (Minocqua, WI)
Northeastern Wisconsin (NEW) Zoo (Green Bay, WI) #
Lincoln Park Zoo (Manitowoc, WI)
Ochsner Park Zoo (Baraboo, WI)
International Crane Foundation (Baraboo, WI) #
Henry Vilas Zoo (Madison, WI) #
Racine Zoo (Racine, WI) #
Shedd Aquarium (Chicago, IL) # ****
Cosley Zoo (Wheaton, IL) #
Phillips Park Zoo (Aurora, IL)
National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium (Dubuque, Iowa) #
Niabi Zoo (Coal Valley, IL)
Peoria Zoo (Peoria, IL) #
Wildlife Prairie Park (Hanna City, IL)
Miller Park Zoo (Bloomington, IL) #
Scovill Zoo (Decatur, IL) #
Henson Robinson Zoo (Springfield, IL) #
Saint Louis Zoo (St. Louis, MO) # ****
Butterfly House (Chesterfield, MO) #
World Aquarium (St. Louis, MO)
World Bird Sanctuary (Valley Park, MO)
Grant’s Farm (St. Louis, MO)
Endangered Wolf Center (Eureka, MO) #
Sea Life Kansas City Aquarium (Kansas City, MO) #
Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park & Wildlife Safari (Ashland, NE) #
Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium (Gretna, NE)
Lincoln Children’s Zoo (Lincoln, NE) #
Clay Center Zoo (Clay Center, KS)
Kansas Fishes Aquarium (Salina, KS)
David Traylor Zoo (Emporia, KS) #
Hutchinson Zoo (Hutchinson, KS) #
Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo (Great Bend, KS)
Lee Richardson Zoo (Garden City, KS) #
Pueblo Zoo (Pueblo, CO) #
The Living Planet Aquarium (Draper, UT)
Tracy Aviary (Salt Lake City, UT) #
Willow Park Zoo (Logan, UT)
Aquarium of Boise (Boise, ID)
World Center for Birds of Prey (Boise, ID)
**** = I have previously visited 3 attractions: Minnesota Zoo, Shedd Aquarium and Saint Louis Zoo
# = 31 AZA accredited (29 are not AZA-accredited)
Zoos = 49
Aquariums = 11
TOTAL = 60 zoos/aquariums in 20 days!! (57 I’ve never toured before)
Lifetime total will then be 242 zoos/aquariums…..1 in Trinidad, 2 in Switzerland, 15 in Canada, 18 in Australia and 206 in the United States.
U.S. State breakdown of zoos/aquariums on this trip: (16 U.S. States)
Washington = 1
Montana = 2
South Dakota = 3
North Dakota = 5
Minnesota = 8
Wisconsin = 8
Iowa = 1
Illinois = 9
Missouri = 7
Nebraska = 3
Kansas = 6
Colorado = 1
Utah = 3
Idaho = 3 (one earlier on the trip and two at the end)
(I am also passing through Wyoming and Oregon – but no zoo stops)
Cannot Wait.
sooty mangabey
Well-Known Member
I'd not heard off this one before, despite having spent a fair bit of time in Kansas (many years ago).
Having googled it, well, blimey - it looks truly awful! I particularly enjoyed this photo of small children feeding dangerous carnivores..... Zenfolio | Zoopictures.net | Clay Center, KS Utility Park Zoo | Photo 48.
It's interesting that there are so many small zoos in Kansas. Is this just a coincidence, or is there an historical reason for this?
sooty mangabey
Well-Known Member
@Snowleopard: once you have completed this trip, will there be any zoos left in the mainland USA that you won't have visited? I'm guessing there will be a scattering of Clay Centre type places, but what will be the most substantial establishment you won't (yet) have visited?
I'm really looking forward to your reviews from the Dakotas.
@Sooty: I'm not sure why there are so many small zoos in Kansas but the truth is that most of them really are tiny and can be seen in 2 hours or less. Sedgwick County, arguably one of America's 10 best, stands head and shoulders above the rest. Amazingly, Clay Center Zoo has been around for decades and yet it certainly will be the all-time worst zoo that I will have ever seen. Here is a useful website that focuses on Kansas zoos, with links to photos and mini-reviews that I found to be helpful:
Kansas Zoos, Wildlife Parks and Animal Sanctuaries
It seems as if seeing every American zoo and aquarium will be an endless pursuit! I visited all 50 U.S. states years ago but I'm including the Honolulu airport in Hawaii (several times) but I've never explored any of the Hawaiian islands. Up in Alaska I once spent 3 days in Ketchikan but I'd love to make another trip to that huge state with its 2 main zoos and 1 aquarium.
If you visit the AZA link below and click on the print icon in the top right-hand corner then a 10-page document prints that I've found very useful over the years. It was last updated in March and includes all 224 zoos that are AZA-accredited.
https://www.aza.org/current-accreditation-list/
Mainland U.S.A., with its 48 states below my home nation of Canada, still has a lot of zoos to explore. After my trip is over in mid-August I'll have been to about 160 of the 224 AZA-accredited zoos in America, meaning I'll have toured 71% of the establishments. Of the 29% left there are several overseas that would be difficult to visit (Argentina, Bahamas, Hong Kong, Bemuda...plus Mexico and Canada) and so if one were to analyze only American zoos then I'll have seen approximately 75% of the AZA-accredited facilities by mid-August. I'm not sure if I'll be one of less than a dozen living people in such a situation but that just confirms my status as a true zoo nerd. I've been obsessed with zoos since about the age of 4, extensively reviewing zoos and aquariums for 6 years now, and the sheer volume that I've visited will hopefully come in handy when the book that Tim Brown and I are working on gets published. Late 2015 if fingers and toes are all crossed...
So what zoos will be left? Some highlights:
California - I've been to 20 out of the 24 AZA-accredited zoos so that leaves me 4 more to see at some point in my life plus a number of small aquariums that are off the radar.
Florida - I've been to 10 out of 16 AZA-accredited zoos, but the Sunshine State is full of various zoological attractions that are not accredited. (Dodgy gator farms anyone?)
Texas - I've been to 9 out of 16 AZA-accredited zoos, plus there are many more small Texas stops that I'd like to make. Another swing through Texas is a must.
Massachusetts - I've been to 2 out of 6 AZA-accredited zoos. (Franklin Park and New England Aquarium)
New Jersey - I've been to 2 out of 5 AZA-accredited zoos. (Adventure Aquarium and Jenkinson's Aquarium)
New York - I've been to 5 out of 11 AZA-accredited zoos.
Pennsylvania - I've been to 3 out of 8 AZA-accredited zoos.
In summary, I'll one day perhaps make a swing to the east coast to visit various small zoos throughout New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. California has been well covered but there are always some cracks in that gorgeous state; and both Florida and Texas are so large that return trips are guaranteed if I stay out of the poorhouse. Lastly, while new zoos have remained fairly static in the United States, at least 25 brand-new aquariums have opened in the U.S. since the early 1990's and the aquatic world is an ever-evolving one with a new aquarium opening to the public every 6 to 8 months. It's tough to keep up!
Kansas Zoos, Wildlife Parks and Animal Sanctuaries
It seems as if seeing every American zoo and aquarium will be an endless pursuit! I visited all 50 U.S. states years ago but I'm including the Honolulu airport in Hawaii (several times) but I've never explored any of the Hawaiian islands. Up in Alaska I once spent 3 days in Ketchikan but I'd love to make another trip to that huge state with its 2 main zoos and 1 aquarium.
If you visit the AZA link below and click on the print icon in the top right-hand corner then a 10-page document prints that I've found very useful over the years. It was last updated in March and includes all 224 zoos that are AZA-accredited.
https://www.aza.org/current-accreditation-list/
Mainland U.S.A., with its 48 states below my home nation of Canada, still has a lot of zoos to explore. After my trip is over in mid-August I'll have been to about 160 of the 224 AZA-accredited zoos in America, meaning I'll have toured 71% of the establishments. Of the 29% left there are several overseas that would be difficult to visit (Argentina, Bahamas, Hong Kong, Bemuda...plus Mexico and Canada) and so if one were to analyze only American zoos then I'll have seen approximately 75% of the AZA-accredited facilities by mid-August. I'm not sure if I'll be one of less than a dozen living people in such a situation but that just confirms my status as a true zoo nerd. I've been obsessed with zoos since about the age of 4, extensively reviewing zoos and aquariums for 6 years now, and the sheer volume that I've visited will hopefully come in handy when the book that Tim Brown and I are working on gets published. Late 2015 if fingers and toes are all crossed...
So what zoos will be left? Some highlights:
California - I've been to 20 out of the 24 AZA-accredited zoos so that leaves me 4 more to see at some point in my life plus a number of small aquariums that are off the radar.
Florida - I've been to 10 out of 16 AZA-accredited zoos, but the Sunshine State is full of various zoological attractions that are not accredited. (Dodgy gator farms anyone?)
Texas - I've been to 9 out of 16 AZA-accredited zoos, plus there are many more small Texas stops that I'd like to make. Another swing through Texas is a must.
Massachusetts - I've been to 2 out of 6 AZA-accredited zoos. (Franklin Park and New England Aquarium)
New Jersey - I've been to 2 out of 5 AZA-accredited zoos. (Adventure Aquarium and Jenkinson's Aquarium)
New York - I've been to 5 out of 11 AZA-accredited zoos.
Pennsylvania - I've been to 3 out of 8 AZA-accredited zoos.
In summary, I'll one day perhaps make a swing to the east coast to visit various small zoos throughout New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. California has been well covered but there are always some cracks in that gorgeous state; and both Florida and Texas are so large that return trips are guaranteed if I stay out of the poorhouse. Lastly, while new zoos have remained fairly static in the United States, at least 25 brand-new aquariums have opened in the U.S. since the early 1990's and the aquatic world is an ever-evolving one with a new aquarium opening to the public every 6 to 8 months. It's tough to keep up!
Norwegian moose
Well-Known Member
@Snowleopard when I get a little older you have to come to Europe. Then we can travel the continent and see the zoos of Berlin, Leipzig, Vienna, Amsterdam, Chester, you name it. We will see all the major zoos in Europe and travel further to Asia and Australia to see all the great zoos there. We even travel to North-America and you show me all the best zoos. You make me moan of the terrific Omaha desert dome and the Bronx gorilla forest. I will aprectiate all your obervations, comments and opinions, we write tons of rewievs and we even publish a book.
You can always dream......when and if I win the lottery.......
You can always dream......when and if I win the lottery.......
The KCZooman
Well-Known Member
Hello Snowleopard
Congratulations on your upcoming trip and book project.
I know you wanted to visit more obscure zoos and animal parks, but I think you should make a quick pit stop at the Kansas City Zoo and check out the new penguin exhibit. Not only is Helzberg Penguin Plaza one of the best exhibits at the zoo, but it is my opinion the best penguin exhibit i've seen! You'll be able to see four species of penguins(Humboldt, King, Gentoo, and Rockhopper), schooling and coral reef fish, and moon jellies. Also, the cold water tank is so large, you can see penguins swim, diving, and waddle from three different viewing prespectives! And since its an indoor exhibit, you'll be able to enjoy it rain or shine.
Another place that I think would be worth your while is Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Goddard, KS. My family and I recently visited this place and we loved it! We got to see many rare animals including an Indian rhinoceros, a honey badger, a mandrill, javan langurs, howler monkeys, a white alligator, and the only black amur leopard in the U.S.A! We also got up close and personal with several species of animals including feeding giraffes, ring-tailed lemurs, even the indian rhino!
I hope you have a safe memorable trip.
Congratulations on your upcoming trip and book project.
I know you wanted to visit more obscure zoos and animal parks, but I think you should make a quick pit stop at the Kansas City Zoo and check out the new penguin exhibit. Not only is Helzberg Penguin Plaza one of the best exhibits at the zoo, but it is my opinion the best penguin exhibit i've seen! You'll be able to see four species of penguins(Humboldt, King, Gentoo, and Rockhopper), schooling and coral reef fish, and moon jellies. Also, the cold water tank is so large, you can see penguins swim, diving, and waddle from three different viewing prespectives! And since its an indoor exhibit, you'll be able to enjoy it rain or shine.
Another place that I think would be worth your while is Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Goddard, KS. My family and I recently visited this place and we loved it! We got to see many rare animals including an Indian rhinoceros, a honey badger, a mandrill, javan langurs, howler monkeys, a white alligator, and the only black amur leopard in the U.S.A! We also got up close and personal with several species of animals including feeding giraffes, ring-tailed lemurs, even the indian rhino!
I hope you have a safe memorable trip.
Drew
Well-Known Member
If I had to choose between Clay Center Zoo and Tanganyika Wildlife Park, Tanganyika would win hands down. It has more unique species and experiences. But that is my preference, and i know you will ultimately make the best decision based on your goals for the trip.
@KCZooman: I visited Kansas City Zoo in 2010 and this trip I'm steering clear of all zoos that I've seen before except for 3 great ones (Minnesota, Saint Louis and Shedd). I'm a major fan of the KC Zoo and I personally feel that it is one of America's top 20 zoos but I'd choose three little places that I've never seen over one big one that I've seen fairly recently.
However, you and Drew have made me seriously consider Tanganyika Wildlife Park. Switching it for Clay Center Zoo is not an option as the latter is in northern Kansas, it fits in with my Day 16 itinerary and thankfully is open late. The same goes for the Kansas Fishes Aquarium in Salina, as it is essentially one very large tank in a shopping mall that is also open late and thus able to easily be seen by myself.
It basically comes down to either Tanganyika Wildlife Park (non AZA-accredited, $17 plus taxes) or David Traylor Zoo (AZA-accredited and free) for the first stop on Day 17. My preference usually goes towards all AZA-accredited institutions but David Traylor Zoo is incredibly small and seeing it would involve an hour more of driving...so should I skip it and go with Tanganyika Wildlife Park? That zoo is open an hour earlier in the morning, has a slightly broader range of species...and I'm honestly torn. Hmmmm.
However, you and Drew have made me seriously consider Tanganyika Wildlife Park. Switching it for Clay Center Zoo is not an option as the latter is in northern Kansas, it fits in with my Day 16 itinerary and thankfully is open late. The same goes for the Kansas Fishes Aquarium in Salina, as it is essentially one very large tank in a shopping mall that is also open late and thus able to easily be seen by myself.
It basically comes down to either Tanganyika Wildlife Park (non AZA-accredited, $17 plus taxes) or David Traylor Zoo (AZA-accredited and free) for the first stop on Day 17. My preference usually goes towards all AZA-accredited institutions but David Traylor Zoo is incredibly small and seeing it would involve an hour more of driving...so should I skip it and go with Tanganyika Wildlife Park? That zoo is open an hour earlier in the morning, has a slightly broader range of species...and I'm honestly torn. Hmmmm.