Fort Worth and Dallas area trip

[USZOOfan42]

Hello! Currently, I am in the process of planning a trip to the Dallas area for 4-5 days at the end of March. I am unsure of what facilities I’d visit due to this being a trip to visit relatives. Of the facilities I’ve observed, I think it’s likely I’ll do the Dallas World Aquarium and possibly something like Dallas Zoo or Fort Worth Zoo. Is there any other facilities in the area you would recommend? I’d be staying 30 minutes from downtown Dallas and Fort Worth. What zoo would be better? I think Fort Worth seems better for what I’d like to see but I don’t know, Dallas has an interesting collection. Some of the herps at Dallas are kind of interesting, but both of the major two I’d like to see (Perentie and Tuatara) will soon be visible at my local zoo. I also have heard that Toledo’s own Baru (Saltie) will move to Fort Worth temporarily can anyone confirm this? So what would you guys recommend?

 

[King of Komodo Dragons]

currently the reptile house is closed for renovations at Dallas. not expected to open again till spring. So as of right now the Tuatara and Perentie are not viewable. I haven't heard of Toledo's Saltwater crocodile moving to Fort Worth, I assume if they did they would alternate between him and our current big male, Salty. I would personally recommend Fort Worth above Dallas, especially since all of fort worth's new attractions have been top tier. But Dallas is also a great zoo. It all depends on what animals you really want to see, and if your are really into reptiles I definitely say to wait on Dallas until their exhibit reopens and go to fort worth, which imo has one of the countries best reptile houses in the form of MOLA and a newly renovated reptile and other small animal building in the Mountains and desert building in the Texas Wild! section.

 

[biggest_dreamer]

Out of the 10 zoos I visited across Texas and Oklahoma last summer, Fort Worth was absolutely my favorite. Between its species roster and general exhibitry, I really can’t recommend it enough. Dallas was great too, but if the reptile house is closed that would have seriously negatively impacted it for me since the tuataras were such a highlight.

I assume you don’t intend to devote any full days to traveling but if you have a means of transport and the time, Oklahoma City Zoo is about four hours away and is practically tied with Fort Worth for me. It was a comfortable day trip from Dallas, but obviously quite the commitment.