Columbus Zoo

eggshelluk

eggshelluk

New Member
Hi,

I am visiting USA next week staying near Dayton Airport, I will have some time and wanted to know if Columbus Zoo (which I think is the nearest to where I am staying) is worth a visit? I am particularly interested in the photography angle and although I have gleaned a lot of information from ZooChat, someones personal view would be invaluable. Or is there somewhere else nearby I should be visiting instead?

Thanks in anticipation

EggshelluK
 
Hi, there!

Many ZooChat members are going to tell you that the Columbus Zoo is more than worth the visit. To many here, it is one of the top 5--if not top 3--zoos in the US. From Dayton, OH...the trip will be about an hour.

If it were me, I can't say I'd really go out there. I'm not a people person and don't find the zoo much special. But that's just me.

The zoo will have a new polar bear exhibit come the 6th of May and has new mantees for the summer. The zoo always starts to get really busy this time of year. From the photography angle, there are likely to be numerous great shots. The zoo is best for photos on warm weather days full of sunshine but is likely to be most crowded on these days so beware!

I'd recommend checking out the zoos website to see if is something of interest to you.
 
tigertiger

Thanks for your help, interesting to learn about the Polar Bear exhibit, pity I will not see it open on this trip.

Thanks again,

eggshelluk
 
Columbus Zoo is well worth a visit but so is Cincinnati. The main drawback to Cincinnati is it can be difficult to find from some areas. Both have their strengths. Give it a go!
 
Rookeyper said:
Columbus Zoo is well worth a visit but so is Cincinnati. The main drawback to Cincinnati is it can be difficult to find from some areas. Both have their strengths. Give it a go!
Click to expand...

I disagree as I have much more trouble with Columbus. Cincinnati is on one giant loop. The only exhibits hard to find are the indoor garden, red pandas, river otters/seal/wolves, and Children's Barn (when open) if you don't know where you're heading.

I didn't even think to suggest Cincinnati Zoo! *headpalm*

Dayton is about 45 minutes from the Cincinnati Zoo and a lot less stressful. If you're looking for a more calming zoo trip, I'd recommend Cincinnati. Even trying to see everything, it will probably take you only a few hours whereas Columbus can take that long just walking.

Let us know where you decide to go (if anywhere!). in Dayton itself, there's the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery that has several animals, a touchpool and some other cool stuff.
 
I meant finding the zoo itself! Last summer I followed the signs to get there and ended up in a cemetary. The zoo itself is fairly easy to navigate unless you have 3 grandchildren "helping" with the map! Manatees are worth seeing and don't miss the Sumatran rhinos!
 
Rookeyper, I completely understand! When I first visited my fiance before moving here...I wanted to go to the zoo and we ended up walking (taking the bus and not driving) for over two hours just to get to a parking lot that looked zoo-ey and finally get there!

On the bright side, in recent months and since the Vine Street entrance opening, the zoo has made it a lot easier to find itself--so long as you're not following the occasional zoo sign pop-up. A word to all ZooChatters: I pass numerous 'Zoo' signs on my route home from work and none of them point in the right direction to the zoo anymore. Be warned!
 
If it were me, I'd go to Cincy and see the Sumatran rhinos. It's a straight shot south on I-75 and is relatively easy to get to.
 
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