Looking for help in planning US zoo related trips

Z

zoolover123

Active Member
Not sure if there was a better place to put this, but this seemed like a good place to start. I have recently gotten back into zoos and have been going to ones around my location. I live in Louisville, and have also gone to the St. Louis, Cincinnati, and Columbus zoos this summer. I am in the process of starting to plan 2 zoo related trips next year, both in the US. I am hoping to spend maybe 5-6 days doing one trip to the East of me with the Eastern part of the country and another with the West, probably just California. I assume there are zoos in the Midwest worth seeing, I am just not sure which ones.

I am hoping the awesome zoo goers here can help me decide where to go. I'm really only wanting to go to zoos that you would consider in your top 20 or so. I will say also that I am looking for zoos with good Australian and South/Central American exhibits, but I am not sure how many zoos have exhibits for these two continents.

If anyone could help me with this it would be very much appreciated. Thanks!
 
The ones you recently did are all excellent (St Louis, Colombus, Cincinnati). Unfortunately most zoos are heavy on Africa, so your desire for South America and Australia makes things harder.

If you do California, San Diego Zoo just opened a new Australia section that I am sure is about the best around. They are also getting Tasmanian devils soon, so that would be reason enough to go. A lot of powerhouses in the southern California area - San Diego Zoo, San Diego Safari Park, Los Angeles Zoo, Aquarium of the Pacific, just in southern California. (Plus lots of smaller places - two zoos in Orange County, a small aquarium in San Pedro, Santa Barbara Zoo, wolf center near the Safari Park, small aquarium in La Jolla, cat breeding center in Rosamond, etc). Farther up the coast is Monterey Bay Aquarium, San Francisco Zoo, Oakland Zoo, Wildlife West, etc.

East coast has six facilities just in New York City alone. Five operated by Wildlife Conservation Society plus the independent Staton Island Zoo. I think one of the smaller WCS zoos (maybe in Queens) is focused solely on South America. Philadelphia Zoo is about 100 miles away, accessible from New York by train. So if you are flying into the NYC area, these could easily fill over a week. Allow two full days for Bronx Zoo. (Same for San Diego Zoo if you do west coast).
 
Thanks so much for that very detailed response! It was extremely helpful.

This is kind of where things are now:
I can't afford to really fly anywhere for an extended amount of time with the remainder of the year so I am wanting to make day trips to the Memphis and Brookfield zoos. That's what I've had to do for the others.

I am also planning an overnight to Zanesville, Ohio to do the Wilds after seeing so many signs for it at the Columbus Zoo.

I have a friend who lives in DC and we are making plans to go to the National Zoo and then take a train to NYC for the Bronx. You really think the Bronx requires two days? I went 13 years ago and don't have a great memory of it. I'm thinking about sneaking a train ride in to also go to Phili, but I don't know if that is possible.

With San Diego, my family and were planning on doing that zoo for two days and then spending a day at each Sea World and the Wild Animal Park there. I might also go to up to LA to go to their zoo but I doubt we will be able to do so.

Also, I have heard excellent comments about the Omaha and Kansas City zoo, so those might have to be added also for a special trip.

It's really too bad that no one really has a great South American exhibit. I guess African animals are just more east get or something.

Once I see these I will probably start going to zoos simply because they have something no other zoo has instead of because of their name sake. Anyone have any advice on those?
 
I recommend Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, KS. It is on the way out to (or back from) California and it has two wonderful, large free-flight aviaries for both South America and Australia with viewing to larger mammal species around the perimeter. The rest of the zoo is very good as well and is consistently rated quite highly here on zoochat.
 
zoolover123 said:
It's really too bad that no one really has a great South American exhibit. I guess African animals are just more east get or something.

Once I see these I will probably start going to zoos simply because they have something no other zoo has instead of because of their name sake. Anyone have any advice on those?
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The LA Zoo is opening a new South American rainforest exhibit sometime in the next few months hopefully. It will feature giant otters, red uakaris, Baird's tapirs, harpy eagles, orapendulas, and several other species. This will be the only comprehensive South American exhibit in a California zoo. The Santa Ana Zoo in Orange County (between San Diego and LA) has a large collection of South American species also.
 
Well, when I went to Bronx Zoo (well over a decade ago) I spent two days and still missed part of it (prewalski horse area). But if you do not have time to do that AND visit some of their other zoos, then I guess I would make Bronx one day and then spend a second day at two other NYC zoos (perhaps half day at Central Park and half day at Queens). Everything in NYC can be reached by train/subway (as far as I know), so I think train from DC is an excellent choice.

If you want singular rarities, you may want Gladys Porter Zoo for hoofstock (but Brownsville, Texas is not easy to get to). Albuquerque also has some good Australia stuff, fantastic koala exhibit, Tasmanian wombats, soon to get Tasmanian devils, plus have saltwater crocs but in a poor exhibit. (Overall, however, it is a mediocre zoo and one of my least favorite). Wildlife World (on the outskirts of Phoenix) has a very large and rare collection, but again some of the exhibits are mediocre at best.
 
I went to the Central Park zoo a couple years ago when I went to NYC. I feel like Cincinnati Zoo a long time ago had a couple devils for a period of time and I got to see those. I've seen the various kangaroo, wallaroo, and wallaby species that are mostly in the US, as well as echindas. Wombats and saltwater crocs would be nice to see. I know Memphis and Brookfield both say they have wombats and for some reason I think one of the zoos in northern Ohio have a saltwater croc.

What is wildlife worlds? I have never heard of that. Also, how is the Phoenix Zoo?
 
Toledo zoo has the saltwater croc. He is enormous. 17ft and spectacular. For Australian animals a little closer to your home there is my home zoo, Fort Wayne Childrens zoo in North East indiana. You could probably hit both FW and Toledo in one day if you really wanted but definitely in a weekend. FW has (for the time being, as its probably going to be closed all next year for renovation) Grey Kangaroos, prob 20-30 of them. As of 2 years ago the only pure Dingos in the US (this may have changed now that more zoos have dingos, and Cleveland was given 2 of our pure dingo pups born last year), we have 7 Dingos total but only 5 on exhibit as 2 are now education animals. Echidna, Striped possum (very hard to find in exhibit), fruit bats, reef blacktip shark, wobbegong shark, many coral reef species fish, moon jelly. Also a walk-through aviary of several Australian birds. Wallaby are also in zoo, but not located in Australian section. If you want to view these animals I'd recommend coming here before zoo closes for winter in early october as like I stated before this section and its animals are likely to be closed or off exhibit next year. Cleveland has a decent collection for Australia also, with Koala, tree kangaroo, echidna, kangaroos and 2 of our dingos, including my fav of the litter Brumby, a black pure dingo. Brookfield in chicago has atleast 4 wombats and other Australian animals. Australia is a tough set of animals for any zoo to crack as Australian government limits their export. But I'd say your best bets are not on the coasts at all but closer to home. Only outside about a 4-5 hr drive from your home I'd recommend for Australian animals is San Diego. South America is very hit or miss at most zoos, can't think of any that jump out at me as great south American exhibits. I'd prob recommend my favorite zoo, Henry Doorly in Omaha for South America. Thats the best info I have for you, I haven't made my way to the East Coast much yet, spent the majority of my time in Southern California and the entire midwest/southern US.
 
In the summer of 2008 I visited 30 American zoos/aquariums; in the summer of 2010 I visited 39 zoos/aquariums in 46 days; in the summer of 2011 I visited about 30 zoos/aquariums just in California and Arizona; and in the summer of 2012 I visited 50 zoos/aquariums in 50 days. All of that with a wife and kids...yikes!

It seems like I've spent half my life planning lengthy road trips through the United States and Canada, and if you are more specific with your ideas then I can certainly help you. If you would like to send me a private message then I'd be more than willing to toss some ideas in your direction. A lot depends on how far you are willing to drive, as for instance my wife and I ticked off 40 U.S. States just in the summer of 2008. Then in 2011 we for the most part spent a month driving around a single state (California) and so once you decide on your geographical area of choice that will narrow down your options for local zoos.
 
zoolover123 said:
What is wildlife worlds? I have never heard of that. Also, how is the Phoenix Zoo?
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Just look at their threads and galleries on ZooChat for an idea. Both have their strengths, but neither one is a world class zoo (in spite of Phoenix's capital campaign name). If I did not live in Arizona, I doubt I would go out of my way to visit them.
 
Sorry I haven't been able to respond to everyone, I have been at work.

Quicksand, I find it funny I have never visited Fort Wayne's children zoo when it is in the state right above me. I just checked out their site and was very impressed with their collection. I guess the with the Children's zoo in the title I did not think it would be a full zoo but pretty much seems to be. I will have to check it out. I also do plan on making a trip up to Northern Ohio to go to Toledo and Cleveland zoos at some point in the next couple of years.

SnowLeopard-that is wild! I wish I could say the same but I work too much to be able to spend that much time at this point in my life. Sounds like awesome vacations. I might PM you later about trying to get some details with everything.

ArizonaDocent-That interesting about the Phoenix zoo. When I got back into zoos I seemed to keep finding it on top 10 lists.

Thanks for all the insight!
 
zoolover123 said:
ArizonaDocent-That interesting about the Phoenix zoo. When I got back into zoos I seemed to keep finding it on top 10 lists.

Thanks for all the insight!
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The Phoenix Zoo is a very good zoo. They have done world-class conservation work with the Arabian oryx. Their specialties are desert animal exhibits (for obvious reasons). They have a good South American exhibit area called the "Forest of Uco" with Andean bears, boa constrictor, a walk-through squirrel monkey exhibit, and several aviaries. They have a series of newish Asian animal exhibits for elephants, Komodo dragons, and orangutans. They have a great multi-species African savanna exhibit with giraffes and several antelope and bird species. If you are primarily interested in South American and Australian exhibits then this zoo may not be at the top of the list of what you are looking for.

On the other hand Arizona also has the outstanding Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson, one of the best zoos in the world, adjacent to the spectacular Saguaro National Park. Reid Park Zoo is Tucson is a very good medium-sized zoo with a brand new African elephant exhibit and a decent South American complex with jaguars, Andean bears, anteaters, guanacos, and caimans. A trip centered around the zoos of Arizona and maybe the natural wonders like the Grand Canyon and Saguaro National Park might be something you would find worth considering.
 
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Lol, yeah don't fall for the children's zoo title. It's s marketing tool. One that hurts it more than it helps in my opinion. FW has some fairly rare animals, dingo, javan gibbon, honey badger. most people rate it very highly.
 
Yeah. I honestly am not a fan of the Indianapolis Zoo and when I saw the only other major zoo was a "children's zoo" I figured it probably wasn't worth my time. However, I believe I am going to try to go there next Wednesday as it's just a 4 hour drive from me.

I am also wanting to go to the Memphis Zoo and the Wilds before the weather turns colder. Anyone have any tips for tackling these establishments?
 
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