Recommendations for a Trip

evalynwrites

evalynwrites

Member
Best state to visit for zoos/ specific zoos to visit? (Suggestions besides California/San Diego Zoo, because that's already high on my bucket list :))

It would be cool to find some good zoos in the Midwest region -- Indianapolis Zoo is my home zoo so obviously I've been there too many times to count. However, I do travel with my family so any U.S. zoo is a possibility!

Does anyone have opinions? I'd be thankful for any help!
 
evalynwrites said:
Best state to visit for zoos/ specific zoos to visit? (Suggestions besides California/San Diego Zoo, because that's already high on my bucket list :))

It would be cool to find some good zoos in the Midwest region -- Indianapolis Zoo is my home zoo so obviously I've been there too many times to count. However, I do travel with my family so any U.S. zoo is a possibility!

Does anyone have opinions? I'd be thankful for any help!
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Ohio right next door seems to have many good zoos…I’ve never been to any, but they would be high on my bucket list.

The Texas triangle (DFW-San Antonio-Houston) and points in between also has many good zoos…with Fossil Rim, Abilene, and the Texas State Aquarium just outside the “triangle”. San Antonio alone has three zoos (of varying quality) and Sea World.

Depending on how you plan to travel and for what amount of time…the Seattle-Tacoma area has three great zoos and an Aquarium.

New York City would be another option.

Here in Alaska we have four “zoos” within an hours drive of Anchorage, plus the Aquarium in Seward about three hours away. And Alaska is quite spectacular as well.
 
Henry Doorly in Omaha, Nebraska is delightful if you haven't been. It routinely ranks among the best zoos in the US (and indeed in the world) and for good reason- immersive theming, a diverse range of animals, a lot of animals that are generally underrepresented, and an aquarium.
 
Have you done the Chicago zoos yet? Brookfield, Lincoln Park and Shedd Aquarium are all great zoos practically right next to each other, not far from you. Could be combined with a trip up to Milwaukee, too.
 
If you or any family members are interested in novel collectables, you can go on an Upper Midwest tour of Mold-a-Rama zoos. Between Como Zoo in Minnesota, Milwaukee County Zoo in Wisconsin, and Brookfield Zoo in Illinois, there are 28 Mold-a-Rama machines. Como zoo only has 4 and if you're in MN you should really mostly be doing the Minnesota Zoo, but including it since it's only one state away from Wisconsin and free to enter. And for all its faults Como is still a wonderful facility with a really really cool conservatory.

Tack on the Field Museum in Chicago (a worthy addition imo) and the total number goes up to 34. If you add the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago onto that, you get up to 41. 5 bucks a pop so not a terribly cheap collection, but a Mold-a-Rama grand tour could be kinda fun.
 
NYC:
Bronx Zoo + Central Park Zoo + New York Aquarium + Queens Zoo + Prospect Park Zoo + Staten Island Zoo (as a bonus, if you have the time, you can travel along the Acela corridor and stop at the Philadelphia Zoo, the National Aquarium in Baltimore, and the Smithsonian Zoo)

Chicago area:
Shedd Aquarium + Lincoln Park Zoo + Brookfield Zoo

DFW:
Fort Worth Zoo + Dallas Zoo + Dallas World Aquarium

Seattle area:
Woodland Park Zoo + Seattle Aquarium + Point Defiance Zoo + Northwest Trek (the latter two are outside of Seattle and require a little more traveling but they're easily doable)

Other possibilities:

Georgia Aquarium + Zoo Atlanta (You can also take a trip to the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga)

Detroit Zoo + Toledo Zoo is very doable, and from Toledo you can take a trip to the Columbus Zoo and from there to the Cincinnati Zoo

Omaha Zoo + Kansas City Zoo is a shorter distance than Kansas City Zoo + Saint Louis Zoo, even though the latter two are in the same state
 
Central Florida area: ZooTampa, Clearwater Aquarium, Florida Aquarium, Croc Encounters, Busch Gardens, Central Florida Zoo, DAK, DAK Lodge, Sea Life Orlando, Sea Life Legoland, Wild Florida, Sarasota Jungle Gardens, Mote Aquarium (soon, not open yet), and more. Central Florida really has a ton of places in a 3 hour radius.

Tampa Metro: ZooTampa, Clearwater Aquarium, Florida Aquarium, Croc Encounters, Busch Gardens, Tarpon Springs Aquarium. I would probably add the new large Mote Marine Aquarium that should open shortly, it's only about 30 minutes south of Tampa.

Phoenix metro: OdySea, Sea Life Tempe, Phoenix Zoo, Wildlife World Zoo Aquarium and Safari Park, Rattlesnake Ranch, Phoenix Herpetological Society

Ohio as a whole: Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Akron, Newport Aquarium, Cleveland Aquarium, Ark Encounter, Creation Museum (both have small zoos), Toledo.

Cincinnati Metro: Cincinnati Zoo, Newport Aquarium, Ark Encounter, Creation Museum (both have small zoos).

Atlanta Metro: Zoo Atlanta, Georgia Aquarium, Fernbank Museum, Atlanta Safari Park, Georgia Safari Conservation Park.
 
Pleistohorse said:
Ohio right next door seems to have many good zoos…I’ve never been to any, but they would be high on my bucket list.

The Texas triangle (DFW-San Antonio-Houston) and points in between also has many good zoos…with Fossil Rim, Abilene, and the Texas State Aquarium just outside the “triangle”. San Antonio alone has three zoos (of varying quality) and Sea World.

Depending on how you plan to travel and for what amount of time…the Seattle-Tacoma area has three great zoos and an Aquarium.

New York City would be another option.

Here in Alaska we have four “zoos” within an hours drive of Anchorage, plus the Aquarium in Seward about three hours away. And Alaska is quite spectacular as well.
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I went to Alaska a few years ago. It was spectacular and definitely one of the best trips I've been on! The zoos, parks, and the surrounding wildlife were amazing. We visited earlier in the year and got to see a ton of bear cubs wandering around with their mamas. So cool.
 
filovirus said:
Henry Doorly in Omaha, Nebraska is delightful if you haven't been. It routinely ranks among the best zoos in the US (and indeed in the world) and for good reason- immersive theming, a diverse range of animals, a lot of animals that are generally underrepresented, and an aquarium.
Click to expand...
I looked up Henry Doorly and it looks fantastic. I'll definitely keep that in mind!
 
birdsandbats said:
Have you done the Chicago zoos yet? Brookfield, Lincoln Park and Shedd Aquarium are all great zoos practically right next to each other, not far from you. Could be combined with a trip up to Milwaukee, too.
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I have been to Shedd many times, but a revisit would be worth it -- especially since Opus the baby beluga was born several months ago. I've also not been to the zoos. Thanks for the suggestion!
 
I'd personally recommend a trip to the Ohio zoos. Both Columbus and Cincinnati are known to have some of the best zoos in America, and aren't too far! Akron isn't anything special and Cleveland is skippable but i would recommend it. Toledo I would also recommend, as it has some of the best exhibits in the US too. As for other zoos nearby, you could do pittsburgh (zoo or aviary), fort wayne (zoo), the wilds (safari park), detroit (zoo), newport aquarium, or louisville (zoo).
 
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