KCZooFan's 2011 Vaction

KCZooFan

KCZooFan

Well-Known Member
Well, its time for me to pick my annual vacation. This year I'd like to incorporate as many zoos as possible. However, due to some plane issues last year, the vacation must be driving.

Two ideas I had were:

Chicago-Brookfield, Lincoln Park, and Shedd, as well as possibly Milwaukee

Denver-Denver Zoo, as well as a few smaller Kansas zoos like Lee Richardson on the way to or back.

Sadly Texas is out of the question, but I was wondering if anyone on here had any advice on the two ideas I suggested, or maybe another idea. Any response is appreciated.
 
I have been visiting Chicago and its zoos since I was a kid.Chicago is a great town which is why i would suggest a trip their.Aside from its three outstanding zoos,there are tons of things to do in the city and some of the best food in the country.Another plus is for a big city its not hard to get around you could stay in the suburbs get a hotel shuttle to a metra train station to the Burlington line which stops right at the Brookfield Zoo on its way downtown.Some notable things that we would recommend are the Sears Tower,The Field Museum,Navy Pier,Chicago Gangster Tour,The Art Museum and my favorite a Cubs game at Wrigley there is nothing like it,its like going back in a time machine.And one more thing there are several places that claim to be the original Deep Dish Pizza but Giordanos is the best.Like I said be I know these Zoos well so don't hesitate to ask any questions about them.

Team Tapir
 
KCZooFan said:
Well, its time for me to pick my annual vacation. This year I'd like to incorporate as many zoos as possible. However, due to some plane issues last year, the vacation must be driving.

Two ideas I had were:

Chicago-Brookfield, Lincoln Park, and Shedd, as well as possibly Milwaukee

Denver-Denver Zoo, as well as a few smaller Kansas zoos like Lee Richardson on the way to or back.

Sadly Texas is out of the question, but I was wondering if anyone on here had any advice on the two ideas I suggested, or maybe another idea. Any response is appreciated.
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My vote would go for the Chicago-Milwaukee area. It's been 8 years since I was there, while I saw Denver last year, but based on my memories and my more recent Denver impression, I say the same as Team Tapir: go for the Midwest!
 
Chicago is a great city, i have relatives there and always enjoyed it. It would be nice to see the lincoln park zoo and shedd aquaruim galleries updated, they are somewhat neglected now. Milwaukee and detroit are not that far. the field mueseum of natural history can be seen the same day as the shedd aquaruim, just across the park lane. See Bushman the gorilla and the Tsavo lions there. Be advised that the admision price for Shedd Aquaruim is high, so check if there are still discount days. But consider that your money paid for Shedd is going to many conservation projects. Also lots of fine places to eat downtown in chicago.
 
Chicago all the way! I personally think that Shedd is the best aquarium in North America, slightly ahead of others like Georgia, Monterey Bay and Baltimore. Lincoln Park is a so-so zoo that is small and a bit outdated, but it is free and it has an excellent chimpanzee/gorilla complex. Brookfield is a huge zoo that takes all day to see, and it is easily one of the 15 best zoos in America. If you are able to drive then Toledo and Detroit aren't too far out of the way and both are worthwhile to visit, but I would skip Milwaukee altogether. Since 1992 (the great ape house) that zoo has renovated several buildings and added visitor amenities (education center, entrance, etc) but there have been zero major animal habitats created in almost 20 years!
 
Looks like Chicago is the general consensus

@team tapir: Thanks for the other attractions, the gangster tour looks facinating (Im a big history buff) I think I saw Giordanos on the Travel Channel a while ago. I will be sure to ask you if I have anymore questions. Thanks :)

@Baldur: Why would you say Chicago over Denver, are the zoos better?

@carlos77: Thanks for the tips. I've always found the Tsavo lions facinating. How long do you think it would take to tour Shedd? Thanks :)

@snowleopard: Why do you think Shedd is better than say Georgia? I know you opinions about Milwaukee's boring and often subpar exhibitry, but based purly on collection, would it be worth a visit?
 
I too would suggest Chicago, and do not suggest the extra effort to go to Milwaukee just for its zoo.

On the flipside, if you go to Denver, don't forget the Downtown Aquarium Denver, it is mostly excellent despite its corporate restaurant ownership. Also, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs is within reasonable distance South of Denver and I have heard that it has some good and unique features (I have not been to that zoo though).
 
I never thought of the aquarium, but I'm guessing it isn't even on the same level as Shedd? I've been to Cheyenne Mountain twice, and would love to go again now that they have opened their Rocky Mountain Wild.
 
KCZooFan said:
I never thought of the aquarium, but I'm guessing it isn't even on the same level as Shedd? I've been to Cheyenne Mountain twice, and would love to go again now that they have opened their Rocky Mountain Wild.
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Rocky Mountain Wild is in my personal view nothing special but you should go and see for yourself if you decide on Denver over Chicago. I'm sure there are other much better Rocky Mountain themed exhibits out there. Denver does the Rocky Mountains good, even if the exhibits are older (Bighorn Sheep, Dall's Sheep, Grizzly, and a few other nice things)
 
KCZooFan said:
@Baldur: Why would you say Chicago over Denver, are the zoos better?QUOTE]

Well, Chicago for one thing will give you two zoos and a massive aquarium while Denver only one zoo and this aquarium that I couldn't visit.

I can't comment on present-day's Chicago zoos but back when I visited they were excellent and I'm sure they remain that to this day. Denver is OK but I would skip visiting it until the new Asia area is completed next year. Also, the hoofstock collection has been cut down a lot, which I didn't like.
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The Downtown Aquarium Denver is not equal to Shedd, that's for sure. However, their freshwater tanks are located in bright skylit themed atriums instead of the dark mundane galleries of most of Shedd's original building.
 
@KCZooFan - Why is Texas out of the question? According to Google Maps, driving from Olathe to Dallas is slightly less (about 15 minutes) than driving from Olathe to Chicago. Three knockouts right in the area - Dallas Zoo, Dallas World Aquarium, Fort Worth Zoo. Other good ones not too far if you have the time: Tyler, Waco, Fossil Rim.

I have not been to Chicago, so I can't comment, but my impression from web viewing is that those zoos are not as good as the ones in the Dallas area.
 
@Arizona Docent: I would personally much rather go to Texas, but my family does not. They cannot stand the heat, and there arent too many attractions for them. My opinion is a deciding factor, but I do not get the last word sadly.
 
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