Snowleopard's 2011 Road Trip

snowleopard said:
DAY NINE: Wednesday, July 20th

OVERALL:

Charles Paddock Zoo is a waste of time. For the first day on this trip I toured an establishment that I would definitely not recommend to anyone. The zoo does not have a single above average exhibit, there is no true highlight, there is no gift shop, there is no café or restaurant, and there are barely any animals. We took our time, my daughter dawdled along at the pace of a snail, and from start to finish we saw the entire zoo at a leisurely pace in exactly one hour. If a ZooChatter was alone with no family members then they could probably be in and out in 30 minutes flat. One of the great mysteries of the zoological world is how this place is one of the approximately 220 AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums in North America. The only real thing that it has going for it is the fact that the city of Atascadero is basically halfway between Monterey and Santa Barbara, so between high-profile establishments (Monterey Bay Aquarium and Santa Barbara Zoo) there is a crappy one with no competition within at least two hours in either direction.
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I enjoy and appreciate these reviews very much, but I really take issue with the assessment that the Charles Paddock Zoo is a crappy zoo and does not deserve AZA accreditation.

One of the major points that zoo reviewers on this site miss I think is that there are "destination zoos" like San Diego, the Bronx, Woodland Park, etc. that set world-class standards and there are "local" zoos that primarily serve a local community. Local zoos clearly lack the naturalistic exhibits that everyone here loves and often have limited collections. Their importance is that this is probably the only place that people, especially kids, that live in the local community will get exposure to wildlife conservation. The Charles Paddock Zoo is not a great zoo in terms of facilities and collection, but they clearly value serving their local community as a recreation and education destination. They have an ambitious master plan and no doubt when/if they raise the money there would be an entire transformation of the zoo. In the meantime they have as high a quality of animal care, education, and commitment to wildlife conservation as any other zoo that meets AZA standards.
 
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@ANyhuis: The US Departement of Homeland Security started charging the ESTA fee on October 8th, 2010.
All information about ESTA is on Department of Homeland Security | Preserving our Freedoms, Protecting America and https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/
Some other facts are already given by @Blackduiker (Thank you).

Thank you in advance that you to campain yourself to solve this unfair regulation. And yes, the high visa fee for Russia is uncorrect either.

BTW: The intention, why I mention this is NOT to bash USA or Americans. On the contrary: USA is my beloved country for making holidays. I have met more friendly and helpful people then in many other nation. But such rules like this ESTA fee disapoint me and cloud the view of a wonderful country (and I am not alone with this).
We should be honest: This fee makes USA not a safer place. It can not stop terrorists.

Thanks for the info about the aquarium sizes and sorry to all for misusing this thread for another theme.
 
I’m thrilled to see so many responses, as on past road trip threads there have been pages of discussions while so far this time around it has been mainly me posting detailed reviews. I’ll address all of the comments as now more people are reading this thread. I should point out that at least 3 individuals have mentioned to me privately that they enjoy reading all about the shenanigans that my wife and I go through with our two young kids, so please indulge me to expand on past comments:

First of all, children change absolutely everything and so some of the suggestions here will not work for my family. My wife and I used to do all sorts of things differently, but once little Kylie and Jeffrey came along then our road trips have altered considerably. The Planetarium at the California Academy of Sciences would not allow us entry into the show, but even if they had Kylie would not have sat still. She is not even 2 years old yet and the one movie that she has seen in the theatre she was finished and ready to leave after 30 minutes. Kids that young can be set up with popcorn, candy, soda and be lavished with all sorts of goodies, placed in a cinema seat and they will only last half an hour before they want to get up and run around the theatre. If she had freaked out in the Planetarium (if we had been allowed entry) then there would have been an embarrassing scene.

The same goes for the restaurant suggestions that I’ve received on this thread and via private messages. We have been buying groceries and making our meals in our motel rooms or hitting a few drive-thrus for dinner simply because taking two kids under two to a restaurant is a recipe for disaster. Breakfast can be okay but by lunch or dinner kids need a nap or they are worn out from an exhausting day. Almost every little kid in the world is like that, and so the odd occasion when we go out for dinner Kylie is great for 30 minutes and then she wants to get down and walk around the restaurant; or she will poop her pants and need to be changed immediately; or she’ll kick and scream unless she is allowed to feed herself with the utensils and then she gets covered in all sorts of goo; or her brother Jeffrey will be hungry and need to be bottle fed; or he’ll poop his pants and stink up the table. We’ll go to a restaurant for dinner maybe once in the entire 30-day road trip, as toddlers and babies need constant attention and while an adult is feeding them then the adult’s food turns cold and disgusting.

@ANyhuis: Allen, thanks for all of your comments, as always!

- I liked Oakland’s elephant and lion enclosures and praised them in my review, but there are many flaws with looking down upon many of the animals from high vantage points. As I wrote in my review, the sun bears looked like tiny dogs and the lions were nowhere to be seen. The Sky Ride is still there, and I saw the bison and elk from viewing areas by both the camel and lion enclosures.
- I’ll have to consider my aquarium ranking scheme after this trip, but at the moment Shedd, Georgia, Monterey Bay are clearly #1-3 and Baltimore and Tennessee are my #4-5. After that I’ll know by the end of the trip, but Steinhart is indeed excellent, Vancouver in Canada has a shot at the #6 slot, Oregon Coast is terrific and I will visit the highly rated Aquarium of the Pacific on Friday.
- On the 2006 and 2008 road trips Debbie and I would often stay in very cheap motels, and once we spent $35 per night at a trio of different inns. However, once again things change with kids. Even on this trip the first few motels were $60 each (don’t forget that these places charge $10-15 for each extra adult and sometimes there has been $15 in state and county taxes) and yet the motels were dirty and had no microwave or fridge. With two kids needing warm milk heated up at all hours of the night it is imperative that we have a microwave for a quick bottle warmer and the fridge is mandatory to store breast milk. By paying a bit extra we have much cleaner rooms, counter space in the bathroom for all of the supplies, a fridge, microwave, etc., and the last few nights we’ve been averaging $100 per night as that is the going rate for 2 adults with all of the amenities in major California cities. We sometimes do get coupons at the Welcome Centers but we find that if we pay more then we don’t have to worry about sketchy neighbors, all-night parties next door, laundry facilities are available and a hot breakfast is also included. Our motel prices were dirt cheap in 2008, increased to about $75 average in 2010 with Kylie, and now that Jeffrey is here the prices are averaging $90 per night. The amenities are things that we simply cannot live without, and California is not cheap. We’ve been spending barely any money on food, as almost all of our meals are much less expensive than we’ve had in the past.

@DavidBrown: your response is one that I’ve wrestled with many times in the past, and after see-sawing back and forth I think that places like Charles Paddock actually contribute to negative stereotypes about zoos. Melbourne Zoo in Australia conducted a famous survey in the late 1980’s, documented in David Hancock’s book “A Different Nature”, where zoo visitors were asked what they thought of the gorillas at the zoo. The responses were all negative, such as “ugly, primitive, dirty” etc., and once the zoo opened a fantastic new, natural-looking habitat the responses were overwhelmingly positive. The very same gorillas in a different environment and the reaction was extraordinary.

How many kids will see the metal cages at Charles Paddock Zoo and think that it is okay to keep bat-eared foxes in an enclosure the size of someone’s bathroom? Maybe the quality of the exhibit won’t even cross the mind of a youngster, but cages in zoos perpetuate the image of zoos as prisons or horrible places where animals are placed for the entertainment of others. By weeding out the poor zoos and having the mega-zoos spend millions on naturalistic exhibits the negative connotations surrounding zoos has diminished. This is an issue that I can see both sides on, and I’d love to discuss it later at length as it is one that I feel is worthy of debate, but in my mind I would rather a community not have a zoo whatsoever rather than have one that is all bars and wire cages. We live in an era with kids that are attuned to technological marvels and we as a population do not need the outdated menageries still kicking around. No matter how well cared for the animals are at Charles Paddock, no matter how full their water bowls and food dishes are, the exhibits themselves are extremely disappointing and there is also an almost complete lack of visitor amenities. It boggles my mind that the zoo is AZA-accredited, and after this trip I’ll have seen at least 135 different zoos and aquariums in my lifetime so I’ve been around the zoological block a few times.

I can be extremely supportive of small, community-based establishments such as CuriOdyssey, which I agree are vital to the introduction of wildlife into young children’s lives. But CuriOdyssey is a whole level above the junky exhibits that are on display at Charles Paddock Zoo, and the master-plan in Atascadero calls for new enclosures for flamingos and red pandas. Both are currently under construction and I saw them today. You would be hard pressed to locate smaller flamingo or red panda exhibits at any other zoo. If that is the future at Charles Paddock then the zoo will have barely progressed in 50 years! With annual attendance hovering around 70,000 there is barely anyone even visiting the place, so I’m not even sure how big of a role it plays within its local community.
 
snowleopard said:
By weeding out the poor zoos and having the mega-zoos spend millions on naturalistic exhibits the negative connotations surrounding zoos has diminished. This is an issue that I can see both sides on ...but in my mind I would rather a community not have a zoo whatsoever rather than have one that is all bars and wire cages.
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I agree 100%. However, you do not have to spend millions on artificially constructed exhibits to have a nice facility. As I have said on other threads, there are some truly top rate zoos built by simply putting up fences around existing natural areas. A good example is Wildlife West in New Mexico, which I visited two weeks ago. Very low visititation, located in a small rural community, hardly any budget, yet by using the available landscape and volunteer work crews they have created something quite nice. I am sure Charles Paddock could do the same if they put their mind to it. And if they do not have nice exisitng landscape (I have never been to Atascadero), how hard would it be to fence in a large plot of dirt and throw in some logs and plant a tree?
 
I'm surprised some are making such a big deal out of a $14 fee. That's a drop in the bucket for anyone traveling from Europe or some other far away place.
 
@mweb08:

The point isn't only the 14 US-Dollars. It's the fee itself. If you had to pay a fee just for visiting a neighbour/friend and in revers, he don't has to, would you think that is fair/correct?

And for the money: Think of a family of four. That is 56 US-Dollars for nothing. I don't know what you earn in a month, but even Europeans who are privileged as they can traveling to USA must work for their money and don't want to throw it thru the window.
Imagine you would like to visit Europe, say France, UK, Germany, Austria and Italy. Each of those countries would charge a 14-Dollar-fee for everyone in your party. That is - by a party of four - 280 US-Dollars. Would you still say that it is a "drop in the bucket"? (Remember: There is no consideration for that money for yourself).

Don't forget the sign, such a fee makes in the rest of the world ("If you want to visit us, then pay first"). Maybe you don't care about the image USA has in the world (which was also had better days in the past by the way). But for those Americans who want to mend/enhance that image, such a fee isn't very helpful.
 
DAY TEN: Thursday, July 21st

Zoo/Aquarium Review # 8: Santa Barbara Zoo

Santa Barbara Zoo’s website:

Santa Barbara Zoo - Santa Barbara Zoo

Zoo Map:

http://www.sbzoo.org/pdf/zoomap0110_web.pdf

Santa Barbara Zoo has been in existence for almost 50 years, contains over 500 animals (160 species) and is located between the gorgeous Pacific Ocean and Santa Ynez Mountains almost directly on the Californian coastline. Its 30 lush acres and beatific location makes it one of the prettiest zoos that I’ve ever visited, and in some regards it is similar to Taronga Zoo which I visited in Sydney in 2007. However, that Australian zoo’s viewpoint is far superior to the one in Santa Barbara.

THE BEST:

White-Handed Gibbon Exhibit – this is one of the best gibbon islands that I’ve ever seen, and it is comparable to the pair of superb gibbon islands at Nashville Zoo. There are large trees with zero hotwire, many climbing ropes for brachiating, and stunning water fountains in the expansive moat.

Bird of Prey Habitats – A fairly new aviary for California condors, which have recently been close to extinction in the wild, is massive and offers great views of the surrounding mountains as well as the traffic congestion on the nearest highway! There are at least 5 condors at the zoo, and next door to them is a very nice aviary for rehabilitated bald eagles.

Location – This hilly zoo has mountains and the nearby ocean, manicured lawns and swaying trees, lush bushes and even a cacti garden by the children’s playground. The warm southern California climate adds to the overall ambience of the zoo.

Cats of Africa – this part of the zoo scrapes into my “best” category as seeing the lions through their wire fence while viewing the giraffe exhibit is innovative. Also, there are great viewing opportunities for the big cats in an exhibit that is a little on the small side but nonetheless still more than adequate. The black-footed cats have a terrific habitat that is markedly different from many of the all-indoor feline enclosures that I’ve seen over the years. Their exhibit is outdoors, full of undulating terrain and hiding places, and the tall grass makes it appear rather naturalistic.

THE AVERAGE:

Eeeww! – A series of almost 30 terrariums with all sorts of creepy crawlies, ranging from snakes, lizards, frogs, toads, turtles and many invertebrates. The walk-through aviary is small but lush, and it is nothing that I haven’t seen done better elsewhere. Species list: blue crowned pigeon, Palawan peacock pheasant, Livingston’s turaco, scarlet macaw, military macaw, sacred ibis, scarlet ibis and white-faced whistling duck.

Bird Exhibits – the Humboldt penguin enclosure is quite poor, the brown pelican/Inca tern exhibit is so-so, but the large number of macaws and cockatoos on perches spread throughout the zoo are engaging for visitors. A Chilean flamingo/black-necked swan lagoon is scenic, and large wire cages for southern ground hornbills, Ruppell’s griffon vultures, toco toucans, red-tailed hawks, common ravens and rhinoceros hornbills are not aesthetically appealing but nevertheless of at least average quality. A small “Wings of Asia” walk-through aviary has these species: lady amherst’s pheasant, blue crowned pigeon, bleeding heart pigeon, mandarin duck and Indian roller.

Outdoor Reptile Exhibits – there are average enclosure for these species spread throughout the zoo: American alligator, Chinese alligator, black Burmese mountain tortoise, radiated tortoise, leopard tortoise and desert tortoise.

Gorilla Exhibit – I only saw one male gorilla even though I spent quite a bit of time glancing through the various viewing windows. The enclosure is okay but there are innumerable better ones at other American zoos.

Baringo Giraffe/East African Crowned Crane/African Spurred Tortoise Exhibit – The view of the Pacific Ocean in the background is pretty cool, but the enclosure itself is a typical dusty paddock.

Mammal Exhibits – an Amur leopard exhibit is lushly planted, and it features an enormous fake tree trunk running through one side of it; the snow leopard exhibit is okay but a little on the small side; Patas moneys are incongruously placed between the two leopards (I believe that the exhibit used to house red pandas); a Channel Island fox exhibit is average; meerkats are of course at the zoo and in a standard exhibit; a Bolivian grey titi monkey/golden lion tamarin exhibit is quite nicely furnished; and a capybara enclosure is large and beautiful to look at. Asian small-clawed otters, which were off-exhibit due to having recently had more babies, have a concrete bowl that is disappointing and yet a featured exhibit at the zoo.

THE WORST:

Zoo Map – I study zoo maps constantly and when touring a zoo for the first time I look over the map at least once every 5 minutes, and so in our 3 hour visit I must have studied the map a minimum of 60 times! I collect maps and I have around 500 different maps from zoos and aquariums all over the world, and Santa Barbara’s is easily one of the worst I’ve seen in my life.

At first glance the map appears to be quite impressive, but that is misleading as only 11 “must-see exhibits” are listed. There are no other animals listed anywhere. Unbelievable! For example in section “E” a snow leopard enclosure is labeled and in actual fact there are at least a dozen exhibits in that zone of the zoo and none are mentioned on the map. Section “H”, according to the map, is California Condors but in actuality there are two huge aviaries, a small rattlesnake building, a fox exhibit and several open-air reptile enclosures that are only tiny pictures but are unlabeled on the map. For such a map aficionado such as myself it drove me completely bonkers and I never quite knew when a certain area was complete as tiny exhibits are tucked away in all sorts of nooks and crannies. A zoo map does not have to label every single enclosure, but to only list 11 animals is ridiculous and amateurish.

Asian Elephant Exhibit – This gives Audubon Zoo in New Orleans a run for its money in terms of America’s smallest elephant enclosure. People who are hesitant to be overly critical of zoos may well point out that there are deep sandy areas and a pool for the pachyderms, but in my honest opinion the exhibit is absolutely abysmal. The zoo has already announced that they will be phasing out elephants in the future, as when one dies the remaining one will be sent to another AZA-accredited zoo. The sooner the better as the current space is even far too small for rhinos, which are often an obvious replacement for the many zoos that have phased out elephants in the past decade.

OVERALL:

Santa Barbara Zoo is a decent zoo that we saw in exactly 3 hours, but that includes taking time for a leisurely lunch and spending a few minutes in the gift shop. It actually reminds me quite a bit of Oakland Zoo, as both are in mid-to-southern California; feature steep pathways in places; are built on hillsides; have some great views; a few decent exhibits but not many that are truly outstanding; and are of about average quality. Oakland has more going for it as the 2015 expansion, costing a whopping $70 million, will significantly improve the zoo, while I’m not sure what the future holds for Santa Barbara.
 
I think the Santa Barbara Zoo's "map problem" is a temporary 1-year problem. I don't remember the map I got there a few years ago being bad at all. So I'm guessing it's only this year's map that is bad. Hopefully, the "bad press" you are giving it here will inspire them to create a better map next year.
 
zoomaniac said:
@mweb08:

The point isn't only the 14 US-Dollars. It's the fee itself. If you had to pay a fee just for visiting a neighbour/friend and in revers, he don't has to, would you think that is fair/correct?

And for the money: Think of a family of four. That is 56 US-Dollars for nothing. I don't know what you earn in a month, but even Europeans who are privileged as they can traveling to USA must work for their money and don't want to throw it thru the window.
Imagine you would like to visit Europe, say France, UK, Germany, Austria and Italy. Each of those countries would charge a 14-Dollar-fee for everyone in your party. That is - by a party of four - 280 US-Dollars. Would you still say that it is a "drop in the bucket"? (Remember: There is no consideration for that money for yourself).

Don't forget the sign, such a fee makes in the rest of the world ("If you want to visit us, then pay first"). Maybe you don't care about the image USA has in the world (which was also had better days in the past by the way). But for those Americans who want to mend/enhance that image, such a fee isn't very helpful.
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Yes, even for a family of 4, $56 is a very small amount compared to the amount the vacation would cost.

The Europe comparison is not fair because those are much smaller countries that are really close to each other. No, $280 would not be a drop in the bucket, but again, it's not a fair comp. It would still be a relatively low amount compared to the cost of the trip though.

As one person said here, it costs almost $200 to get a Russian Visa. It's not like it's unique to have to pay money to visit another country. I also find it rather odd to let a $14 fee affect how one views the United States. Yes, the country perception hasn't been great for many years and I get why as there are legit reasons for that. A $14 fee is not one of them in my opinion.
 
snowleopard, I don't recall ever seeing a black Burmese mountain tortoise, that sounds like a unique feature of Santa Barbara Zoo. Thank you for refreshing my memory of the place, the only time I visited it was in the mid-90's at some point, and at that time I certainly didn't pay attention to any unusual reptile species! I remember thinking at the time "this place is a let-down." The only zoos I had seen up to that point were Lion Country Safari (CA), San Diego, San Diego WAP, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Arizona-Sonora...and possibly Woodland Park by that time.
 
DAY 11: Friday, July 22nd – Part I

This will be the first part of two reviews today, as we arrived at the Aquarium of the Pacific before it opened (as we do at every attraction that we visit) and we were the first ones in the door. After a full 3 hours at the aquarium, including lunch, we drove 20 minutes to the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium where due to time constraints and cranky kids we spent 1 hour at that small, free, yet surprisingly informative aquarium almost directly on the beach.

Zoo/Aquarium Review # 9: Aquarium of the Pacific

Aquarium’s website:

Aquarium of the Pacific

Aquarium Map & Visitors Guide (32 pages):

http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/downloads/2011VisitorGuideENG.pdf

Aquarium of the Pacific opened in 1998 and therefore is packed with modern, informative exhibits. Over 1.5 million people visit annually and it is an AZA-accredited facility. There are three main galleries (Tropical Pacific, Northern Pacific and Southern California/Baja) as well as a special exhibits gallery and several other notable zones and visitor amenities. The focus is on wildlife that is contained within the Pacific Ocean, and there is a nice mix of fish, marine mammals and birds, with a few reptiles and amphibians as well.

THE BEST:

Aquarium Guide – one day after my scathing indictment of Santa Barbara Zoo’s atrocious map I was relieved to receive the 32-page guide book (for free!) at the aquarium. The incredible detail that is within the small treasure is phenomenal, and I have been glancing through it literally hundreds of times today. Practically every single tiny exhibit is labeled, there are 5 pages of intricate maps, and almost all of the species are listed as well. Sheer brilliance on every level, and one of the best guides/maps I’ve ever seen.

Tropical Pacific Gallery – this is the best part of the aquarium, with huge floor-to-ceiling tanks around every corner. A spectacular set of exhibits and a long loop surrounds the aquarium’s largest exhibit: Tropical Reef. In the 350,000 gallon tank there are over 1,000 animals, and the water is brimming with a dizzying array of color. Large inhabitants include olive ridley sea turtles, Queensland groupers, bonnethead sharks, Napoleon wrasses and cownose rays, but there are so many smaller fish that it boggles the imagination.

The rest of the Tropical Pacific gallery has weedy sea dragons, leafy sea dragons, sea kraits, olive ridley sea turtles, a “sex change” exhibit, a variety of seahorses, poison dart frogs and a few other amphibians, a coral bleaching pair of exhibits, an innovative stonefish tank, a beautiful walk-through tunnel that is stunning to behold, a lionfish exhibit, a multi-species clownfish exhibit with at least 100 fish, a coral lagoon exhibit that is amazing, huge windows into enormous tanks that are crystal-clear and a wonder to stare into. There are even more exhibits that I haven’t mentioned and the entire gallery is fantastic and it ranks amongst the top exhibits of any aquarium in North America.

Northern Pacific Gallery – this loop is shorter than and not quite as impressive as the Tropical Pacific section, but still excellent in its own right. Whales: Voices in the Sea is an interactive kiosk that uses a spectrogram to playback whale sounds; a sea otter exhibit with 4 otters is terrific but not as good as many outdoor ones that I have seen; a Diving Birds exhibit (tufted puffin/horned puffin/crested auklet/pigeon guillemot) is popular with the crowds; a jellies set of exhibits is informative; Japanese giant spider crabs are in a tank that is a bit on the small side; a giant Pacific octopus spreads its 8 tentacles in its tank; a pair of “surge channel” exhibits have wave machines designed to mimic a tempestuous ocean current; and a number of smaller tanks set into the walls are all very good.

Blue Cavern – Stunning! This gargantuan kelp forest exhibit is not as staggering in size and scope as a similar tank at Monterey Bay Aquarium, but it comes pretty darn close. Species list includes: California sheephead, ocean whitefish, white seabass, kelp bass, giant sea bass and moray eel.

Southern California/Baja Gallery – There are spiny lobsters, garden eels, an abalone exhibit, jellies, a spectacular “Amber Forest” tank with rosy rockfish, garibaldi, sargo, opaleye, salema, blacksmith and blue rockfish, and the gallery ends with excellent underwater viewing of the California sea lion/harbor seal habitat.

The outdoor section of the Southern California/Baja gallery features viewing of the California sea lion/harbor seal pool; a Shorebird Sanctuary exhibit (black-necked stilt, black-bellied plover, western snowy plover, American avocet and ruddy duck) and a large touch pool (bat ray, shovelnose guitarfish and California halibut).

Great Hall of the Pacific – This serves as the entrance to the aquarium, where there is a huge gift shop, information booth, a life-size female blue whale and her calf hanging suspended from the ceiling, a theater and an Ocean Science Center that has climate change programs/presentations throughout the day. This mammoth hall features a Tropical Pacific Preview tank and a Northern Pacific Preview tank that are both exceptional in viewing opportunities and design. A real highlight was when, without any warning, the lights dimmed throughout the entire Great Hall. Visitors were looking around them in wonderment when on both sides of the hall enormous images of mainly Arctic/Antarctic animals and environments were broadcast and a short, approximately 5-minute movie played. It featured loud music, fantastic photography and was a real treat as it was completely unexpected.

Arctic/Antarctic: Our Polar Regions in Peril – it seems as if just about every aquarium has a “special exhibits” gallery that features a rotating set of habitats every year or so. The amount of information about climate change and global warming here echoes similar galleries that I’ve seen on this trip at Monterey Bay Aquarium, Aquarium of the Bay and California Academy of Sciences. In the guide book it declares that many experts believe that sea levels could rise 3 feet by the end of this century, which would mean the flooding of Long Beach where the Aquarium of the Pacific is located.

In the Arctic/Antarctic section there is a wealth of statistics and facts about the polar regions of the world, along with tanks with huge red king crabs, feather stars, arctic char and northern anchovies. One unique feature is that we were able to touch moon jellies, something that we’d never done before.

THE AVERAGE:

Shark Lagoon – This outdoor area has at least 3 shark touch tanks, an obligatory gift shop, a small waterpark zone for kids, a larger shark tank with underwater viewing, and a walk-through lorikeet aviary. It is kind of a mish-mash of structures, with even a wire cage for an adult Arctic fox, and the entire area lacks the focus of the stellar indoor galleries of the aquarium. The animals in the touch tanks are reticule whiptail rays, white-spotted bamboo sharks, brown-banded bamboo sharks and epaulette sharks. In the larger shark tank there are sand tiger sharks, freshwater sawfish, whitetip reef sharks, blacktip reef sharks, zebra sharks and nurse sharks.

Lorikeet Forest – The typical walk-through aviary with Los Angeles prices ($3 for nectar instead of the usual $1) with these species: Edward’s lorikeet, Forsten’s lorikeet, Swainson’s lorikeet, green nape lorikeet, violet-necked lory and black-capped lory. There is also a small wire cage nearby with black-capped lorys.

Our Watersheds: Pathway to the Pacific – This cool, water-filled interactive exhibit does not feature any animals but instead there is rain recreated via overhead spouts that pour down upon a 3-D map of the Los Angeles county region. A native garden is adjacent to this green-friendly zone.

Molina Animal Care Center – This is a veterinary hospital that allows the public a close-up view of surgeries and physical exams. There is also the opportunity to view some holding pools and a look at a behind-the-scenes area, and at the moment there are two absolutely adorable, 7-week-old Arctic fox pups on display.

THE WORST:

Los Angeles Traffic – I know that this is not a reflection on the aquarium itself, but fighting through the murderous L.A. traffic congestion is enough to convince anyone to never live in the massively popular city. In 2008 I can vividly recall battling through traffic jams in order to visit the zoo and this time around we timed it perfectly to avoid the brunt of rush hour only to discover that the 6-lane highways in all directions are seemingly always busy with bustling automobiles.

OVERALL:

Aquarium of the Pacific is an excellent facility that is new (1998), shiny and still full of spotlessly clean amenities. There are many huge tanks throughout the building, and there seems to be an emphasis on packing the exhibits with as many fish as possible to increase the beauty of the habitats. It is difficult to find fault with anything, and it is without a doubt one of the best aquariums that I’ve ever visited. I haven’t seen quite as many aquariums as I have zoos, but I’ve still visited many of the major ones in North America.

My North American Aquarium Rankings:

#1 – Shedd Aquarium
#2 – Georgia Aquarium
#3 – Monterey Bay Aquarium

A bit of a gap in quality until the next batch:

#4 – National Aquarium (Baltimore)
#5 – Tennessee Aquarium
#6 – Aquarium of the Pacific
#7 – Vancouver Aquarium
#8 – Steinhart Aquarium
#9 – Oregon Coast Aquarium
#10 – Seattle Aquarium
 
DAY 11: Friday, July 22nd – Part II

This will be the second part of two reviews today, as we arrived at the Aquarium of the Pacific before it opened (as we do at every attraction that we visit) and we were the first ones in the door. After a full 3 hours at the aquarium, including lunch, we drove 20 minutes to the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium where due to time constraints and cranky kids we spent 1 hour at that small, free, yet surprisingly informative aquarium almost directly on the beach.

Zoo/Aquarium Review # 10: Cabrillo Marine Aquarium

Aquarium’s website:

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium | San Pedro, California

Aquarium Map:

Map | Cabrillo Marine Aquarium

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is an AZA-accredited establishment that has been based in its current building (designed by Frank Gehry) since 1981. The aquarium actually originated in 1935, making it one of the oldest aquariums in the nation, but it used to be known as the Cabrillo Marine Museum until the 1990’s. A 2004 expansion included a library, exploration center, an aquatic nursery and a large courtyard, and so the aquarium almost doubled in size at that point.

THE BEST:

Community Connections – I applaud this facility for reaching out to the community, as on the day of my visit there were 3 large summer camp groups roaming around the grounds. There are numerous free community events such as aquatic experiments and biology workshops, and a group of adolescent volunteers work all summer long in the research department.
Aquatic Nursery – There is an original element called Aquaculture Kitchen, a Growing for Food exhibit, a Species Survival set of tanks, and young volunteers bustling around eager to show off baby Pacific seahorses or teenage wolf eels. It is informative, fresh-faced and part of the 2004 expansion.

THE AVERAGE:

Exhibits Hall – This is the main, older building of the aquarium and it is a sometimes confusing maze to navigate as there are many nooks and crannies with taxidermy specimens directly next to aquatic displays. For the most part the aquariums are standard tanks that are basic and not especially noteworthy, but the highlights are a shark exhibit with some small swell sharks, rays and leopard sharks, and a kelp forest tank that is perhaps 6 feet high and at least 15 feet long.

Exhibit Areas: Hunters of the Rocky Shore, Plantlike Animals, Kelp Forest, Harbor & Offshore Oil, Sandy Beaches, Tidepool Touch Tank, Jellyfish Lab, Open Ocean & Deep Sea, Sharks & Rays, Fishes, Seabirds & Pinnipeds, Whales & Dolphins and Mudflats.

In some cases the museum-like sections are the most intriguing aspect of the aquarium, as there are taxidermy specimens ranging from sea otters to a glass case called “Feasting Flocks” with 34 stuffed birds. There are some intriguing, small replicas of whales, and a wealth of information plastered on every wall.

Exploration Center – A hands-on area for kids that is okay but nothing special, with a Coastal Habitats zone, many touch tanks in the Naturalist’s Corner, a Breakwater Tank that is neat, a Discovery Center with many small exhibits, an Ecological Play Area for younger kids and a Crawl-Under-Tank for active children.

THE WORST:

Graphics & Signs – After seeing startlingly innovative interpretative graphics at mega-aquarium complexes it as a bit of a shock to be brought back to earth by the “old-school” signs at this small aquarium. Many of the museum displays feature placards and graphics that appear to be dated and better placed in the 1970’s.

OVERALL:

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is worth visiting as long as the visitor in question does not expect a grand, stupendous aquarium along the lines of Aquarium of the Pacific 20 minutes further away. Cabrillo was extremely busy on my visit, its location on the beachfront is superb, the time and effort put into the displays should be applauded, and the 2004 expansion has added some important elements to the institution. Often the most intriguing zones of the aquarium are the natural history museum portions, as most of the aquatic tanks are extremely basic while the non-living displays are at times a little dated but still informative.
 
Santa Barbara Zoo - Having not seen the new condor area (which may have improved the zoo overall), I cannot believe how many people say they love this decidedly average establishment. In my opinion, it is the most overated zoo around. If not for the decent black-footed cat exhibit, I personally would have no reason to ever go back.

Los Angeles Traffic - Those of us who are smart enough have moved out of Los Angeles for this and myriad other reasons.

Aquarium Of The Pacific - Two great features not already mentioned. A great cafe and the outdoor sea lion pool has a view of Long Beach Harbor and the Queen Mary in the background. Also (new feature number three) the area next to the aquarium is a very nice upscale waterfront district which is great for walking/browsing and has some very nice restaurants if your budget can afford it.
 
Aquarium of the Pacific
Another great review from SnowLeopard. A few comments/questions:
1. Not to quivel, but you said the octopus "spreads its eight tentacles". I think you meant that it "spreads its eight arms" (which are covered with dozens of tentacles). I'm no zoologist, but aren't the tentacles the suction cup things that cover the octopus?
2. I wasn't aware there is such a thing as a "freshwater sawfish". Wow! Where are these things found? Do they really live all their life in freshwater? Or do they just swim upstream from the Ocean? (I'm guessing that we're talking about Australia, where most sawfish are found.)
3. On your Top Ten Aquariums list, I'm surprised the Dallas World Aquarium doesn't crack your list. I would put DWA at #6 or #7, and no lower than #8.

As for the traffic (and other negatives) of Los Angeles, I have to admit I have a hometown affection for LA, as I was born there -- in the Valley area known as Van Nuys.
 
@ANyhuis: Dallas World Aquarium (which is arguably more a rainforest zoo than an aquarium) does not make my top 10 list because in my opinion (and I'm definitely not alone in this) there are a lot of exhibits that are far too small for their inhabitants. Many of the rarities there are difficult to see, and the size of the enclosures is worrying. I'm glad that I visited and there are some great species on display, but overall there is no way it is a top 10 facility worthy of my list.

An excerpt from my lengthy 2010 review:

One of the major flaws of the establishment is that it is 7-storeys high, meaning that many of the larger birds escape to the upper regions of the building and are impossible to locate. Another disappointment is the size of many of the exhibits, as the major species such as the giant river otter, jaguar, pygmy marmoset, Orinoco crocodile, giant anteater, little penguin, Morelet’s crocodile, etc; all are in enclosures that are too small in relation to the dimensions of the inhabitants. Those 6 species that I named all have the smallest ever exhibits that I’ve seen for them, as the aquarium attempts to pack thousands of animals into a rainforest environment that should be limited to fewer creatures in larger exhibits.

Post script: As I type this we are getting ready to drive 20 minutes to Santa Ana Zoo...home of the 50 monkeys!
 
Blackduiker

Great reviews snowleopard, and as I imagined you'd be quite impressed with Aquarium of the Pacific. If you grew-up in the Greater Los Angeles area as I, and every member of my family did, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium and now Aquarium of the Pacific are almost a given for school field trips.

And as for L.A. traffic, having moved some 40 miles from the heart of downtown but still working there, my wife and I soon learned the art of public transportation. I ride my local transit system (Santa Clarita) or the metrolink in and out daily; some 80 miles round-trip, so I hardly notice traffic anymore; especially with my Ipod of just under 4,000 song tracks and someone else doing the driving.

As for the L.A. area in general, as I have continued to point out, its crime rate is the lowest since the 1950s. I can't imagine living anywhere else quite frankly. I am literally within an hour or less of National Forests, deserts, ski resorts, the Pacific Ocean and its beaches, lakes, small farming communities, and America's second largest city. And I just cannot tolerate the constant summer humidity found back east, or the sub-zero winters. I can drive, for less than a half-hour, to my local mountains when I want snow. Then literally go to the beach the same day. I've actually done it before.

Arizona Docent, you are from here and settled in Tuscon. But again I quote the FBI crime rankings of 2010. Tuscon was #127, quite decent, while Los Angeles came in at #158. And we're talking about a city of almost 4,000,000 people, as compared to Tuscon with maybe a half million. I'm here to defend my city from the bad rap that it has been getting over the years. Look at any "major" world city, and you'll find they are not always given the most favorable press as well. And with the largest populated county in the nation, and the home of numerous celebrities (Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Brentwood, Malibu, etc.) what do you expect. You're going to see major trials, gang trouble, crime, and gossip reported from "Tinseltown, La La Land" often. But as a whole, we do quite alright; all things considered, at only #158.
 
ANyhuis said:
Aquarium of the Pacific

2. I wasn't aware there is such a thing as a "freshwater sawfish". Wow! Where are these things found? Do they really live all their life in freshwater? Or do they just swim upstream from the Ocean? (I'm guessing that we're talking about Australia, where most sawfish are found.)
Click to expand...

Yes there are sawfish in the rivers that flow into the Arafua Sea in Northern Australia. I just saw them for the first time myself when I went to Darwin and the Territory Wildlife Park. The rivers are monsoonal so the flow varies a lot durning the year, but they are freshwater fish. How they survive with all those crocodiles I don't know!
 
DAY 12: Saturday, July 23rd

Zoo/Aquarium Review # 11: Santa Ana Zoo

Santa Ana Zoo’s website:

Welcome to SAZOO, The Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park

Zoo Map:

http://www.santaanazoo.org/zoobrochure.pdf

Santa Ana Zoo is an AZA-accredited facility that opened in 1952, and so next year will be its 60th anniversary. A man named J.E. Prentice donated 12 acres to the city of Santa Ana for a zoo in 1949 and he stipulated that the zoo must keep at least 50 monkeys at all times. That has allowed this small zoo to gain favor with the local community and pull in almost 300,000 visitors a year, as primates are arguably the most popular of all zoo animals.

THE BEST:

Primate Collection – The zoo with at least 50 monkeys has these species: ring-tailed lemur, black and white ruffed lemur, black lemur, colobus monkey, black howler monkey, black-handed spider monkey, brown-headed spider monkey, squirrel monkey, owl monkey, red titi monkey, white-faced saki monkey, brown capuchin monkey, crested capuchin monkey, golden lion tamarin, golden-headed lion tamarin, red-handed tamarin, cotton-top tamarin, emperor tamarin, silver langur and white-handed gibbon. That makes exactly 20 species (21 if you count the off-exhibit pygmy marmosets) and my approximate estimate after touring the zoo is that there are 2 gibbons, 7 lemurs and 52 monkeys on exhibit.

Atmosphere – I’ve spent a few holidays in Mexico, and I also taught high school in Trinidad & Tobago for almost 3 months, and so I’ve hiked and spent time in sweaty, humid, tropical settings. Santa Ana Zoo gave me a strong sense of déjà vu in terms of culture and scenery, as 95% of the employees are Hispanic, 95% of the visitors are Hispanic, of the dozen people who ordered food around me at lunch time I was the only one who did not speak Spanish to the Spanish-speaking worker, and the lush grounds of the zoo are dense with thick foliage. The zoo almost exclusively focuses on animals from Central and South America, with perhaps 95% of the exotic animal collection coming from the Neotropical world. Exhibits ranging from the Amazon rainforest to Tierra de las Pampas feature many monkeys that excite zoo visitors.

Amazon’s Edge – This black howler monkey/crested screamer/black-necked swan/mallard exhibit provided me with a classic zoo experience. When I visited the Emperor Valley Zoo in Trinidad I heard howler monkeys creating a horrifically loud cacophony of noise, and this time my wife and two kids were with me to listen to the pair of black howlers rage at the world. We paused on the observation deck for at least 10 minutes as the two monkeys produced the most incredible roaring noises. The exhibit itself is fantastic and by far and away the best that the zoo has to offer in terms of animal habitats.

Colors of the Amazon Aviary (Neotropical Birds) – A pleasant walk-through aviary with winding pathways that are slick with the hourly rainfall that strikes the jungle that is inside. The dense undergrowth makes it difficult to locate animals, but the species list is as follows: white-faced whistling duck, roseate spoonbill, scarlet ibis, green heron, sunbittern, white-bellied caique, grey-necked wood-rail and common slider turtle.

Exploration Outpost – This is a large research hut with many interactive elements for kids and adults alike, as well as a series of terrariums for invertebrates and small reptiles and amphibians. There was a map on the door that showed the placement of a future jaguar exhibit right next door to the building, but I have no idea if those plans are definite.

Family Farm – There are all sorts of domestic animals, and some birds of prey, in this kid-friendly zone that is one of the largest of its kind. A mammoth red barn dominates the landscape, there is a life-sized plastic cow that can be milked, goats line up to be petted, and the zoo’s train and carousel can also be found here. The tiny area is from 2004 or newer, and it was packed with kids!

THE AVERAGE:

Tierra de las Pampas – This section of the zoo just opened in 2010 and the best thing about it is the pathway because there are tall clumps of pampas grass growing along the edge that help to create an immersive experience. The giant anteater exhibit is quite good, but the fence around it and the holding building are eyesores, and the guanaco/rhea paddock is very large but surrounded by the zoo’s train tracks. This area could have been truly great with a little tinkering here and there.

THE WORST:

Primate Exhibits – This section of the zoo is the oldest and features rows of metal cages with a broad variety of monkeys and lemurs. The one ape species (white-handed gibbon) is in a cage that is far too small and borderline dreadful, and the larger monkeys (colobus, langur, spider monkey) really should have much better environments. The white-faced saki monkey/iguana rainforest exhibit is excellent and the howler monkeys have a terrific island, but for the most part all of the primates are in a seemingly endless stream of wire cages.

The one exception that I often make when it comes to primate exhibits is that I have found that tamarins and marmosets are adequately housed in smaller wire cages as long as there is plenty of enrichment in well-furnished enclosures. Such small primates are often quite territorial and given a lush habitat within a metal cage (where they can use the wire to climb) then their needs are met and they can still be conservation ambassadors for their wild cousins. The larger primates at Santa Ana definitely need much more modern, naturalistic exhibits.

Lack of Mammals – Excluding primates and domestic animals in the barnyard area the mammals on exhibit are: guanaco, giant anteater, margay (very rare in American zoos), binturong, rock hyrax, swamp wallaby, dromedary and African crested porcupine. With only 8 species it is obvious that the zoo is basically a primate park.

Australian Yards – Dromedaries are in a dusty paddock, and a swamp wallaby/emu/magpie goose exhibit can mainly be viewed through ugly chain-link fencing. In such a geographically specific zoo to see wallabies and emus in a crappy enclosure was off-putting and unnecessary. There is also a poorly designed bald eagle exhibit that appears out of place and meant for another type of animal.

OVERALL:

Santa Ana Zoo is a 20 acre zoo (it has undergone a couple of minor expansions) that should only be seen if one is a fan of monkeys. Fortunately my family loves all types of primates and thus we were like many other families at the packed zoo on a sunny Saturday. The fast movement, inquisitive nature and human-like abilities make lemurs, monkeys and apes enormously popular in zoos worldwide, but Santa Ana also has a strong focus on Neotropical creatures. The lush grounds and many New World animals made for a specific, interesting experience.

All of the best exhibits (Amazon’s Edge, Colors of the Amazon Aviary, Family Farm, Tierra de las Pampas, and Exploration Outpost) have been built in the past 20 years and all of those structures are near the entrance of the zoo. As visitors arrive at the back of the zoo then that is where 19 out of the 20 on-exhibit primate species are kept, and many of the cages were erected in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Some of those enclosures are densely packed with vines, ropes and branches and great for tamarins and smaller primates, but others are far too tiny and barren for their occupants.

We spent 3.5 hours at the zoo, but that includes a solid 1.5 hours for lunch, the carousel, the excellent little playground and the Family Farm zone. If one were to be alone and without kids then 2 hours would be enough time to see this flawed but worthwhile little zoo.
 
I, too, find Santa Ana very disappointing (although I have not been since the new Tierra Pampas addition). I just find it so ironic that two of the worst AZA accredited zoos in the country are located next two the two hugely popular Disney destination resorts. Santa Ana Zoo is just a couple exits from Disneyland and Central Florida Zoo is one town away from Disney World. So probably the two biggest tourist destination areas in America (Orange County, CA and Orlando, FL) have two of the worst zoos.

There is A LOT of money in Orange County - I think it is one of the highest per capita income levels by county in the U.S. Why is it that low income southwestern cities like Tucson, El Paso and Waco can have better zoos than these resort cities?
 
DAY 13: Sunday, July 24th

Zoo/Aquarium Review # 12: Birch Aquarium

Aquarium’s website:

:: BIRCH AQUARIUM: THE INTERPRETIVE CENTER FOR SCRIPPS INSTITUTION OF OCEANOGRAPHY, UC SAN DIEGO ::

Virtual Tour:

:: Learning Resources ::

Birch Aquarium is an AZA-accredited establishment that is part of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California within the city of San Diego. It opened in a new building in 1992 and regularly attracts over 400,000 annual visitors. Even though it has been around since 1903 it naturally has tough local competition with San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park and San Diego SeaWorld being dominant forces.

There are 4 main exhibit areas to the aquarium, as well as an outdoor café, a book & gift shop, an education center and an education courtyard. Also, “The Legacy” is a fantastic pair of gray whale sculptures that are set in a bubbling fountain at the entrance of this stellar facility.

THE BEST:

Hall of Fishes – A swirling tank of Pacific sardines greets visitors at the entrance to this gallery, and the loop back to the information area (called “Galleria”) contains over 60 exhibits. Almost all of the habitats are traditional in appearance and design as they are tanks set in the wall with informative graphics usually above the exhibit. There aren’t as many interactive features as found at the mega aquariums of America, but nevertheless the entire gallery is well done and definitely worth visiting. The first few exhibits all contain life from the Pacific Northwest, and as one journeys through the gallery there are ecosystems of the Pacific Ocean, down the California coastline and eventually the visitor finds themself in the tropical waters of Mexico and the Caribbean.

The most spectacular exhibit, and the one truly outstanding feature of the aquarium, is a Kelp Forest display that is 12 feet high, 20 feet wide, has 10 inches of thickness between visitors and fish, 10 tons of acrylic and 70,000 gallons of seawater. There is an amphitheater where it is luxurious to sit and gaze at the fascinating display of wildlife. There are 35 species listed, ranging from bright orange garibaldis to beautiful leopard sharks. The rest of the Hall of Fishes has a wide variety of exhibits, from a giant Pacific octopus tank, a series of Southern California exhibits with many eels, a shark nursery for babies, and a myriad of other impressive habitats.

Tide Pool Plaza – The view from this outdoor area is stunning, as the Scripps Institution of Oceanography is below the steep hillside and surrounded by native grassland. There is a long, scenic pier that juts out into the Pacific Ocean, and the bay curves around the water and is covered with many million-dollar homes. There were at least 200 people in the water at 9:30 on a Sunday morning, and a docent told me that there are loads of surfing class early to catch the best waves.

The three excellent tide pools feature sea stars, hermit crabs, many barnacles, sea cucumbers and other fairly tiny inhabitants. My daughter had an absolute blast in this area, and we spent a great deal of time either admiring the views or handling wet sea creatures.

Scripps Explorers Gallery – Just inside the entrance to this gallery is this quote on the wall: “Global warming is a measurable scientific fact”. That sets the tone for yet another lavish display of information regarding global warming and climate change, which is at least the 4th such gallery I’ve toured in the past couple of weeks. There are convincing photographs of locations around the world (Austria, Alaska, Greenland, New Zealand, Argentina, North Pole and South Pole) showing the decreasing amount of ice and snow, as the photos were taken at the exact same time years apart and there are significant differences.

There is a really neat newsroom where my daughter and I actually recorded a 30-second news broadcast and then stepped out of the open booth and watched ourselves on a big screen. There are a number of other technological marvels, and I am amazed at how advanced many aquariums are with their use of computers and touch screens. It seems as if they are ahead of zoos in that regard.

The final section of the Explorers Gallery is a very nice display of seahorses and their kin, with over a dozen different species. There are leafy sea dragons and weedy sea dragons, and I’ve been seeing those species almost daily lately and yet I never tire of their beauty. The many other kinds of seahorses are exhibited with class, although the gallery is not nearly as amazing as the similar one at Monterey Bay Aquarium.

THE AVERAGE:

Smargon Courtyard – This is an outdoor area that features a new set of exhibits called Boundless Energy, where there are innovative machines that are run by either wind or human effort. This area was extremely popular with young kids even if they knew nothing about renewable energy, and if they peddled a bike or rode a teeter-totter with a parent then they could power a unique water fountain contraption. Other inventions were similarly neat for kids, and this area just opened to the public a couple of weeks ago.

Shark Reef is also in this zone, but within an enclosed tent-like structure. It is a 13,000 gallon tank that is too small for its inhabitants, and here is the species list: blacktip reef shark, epaulette shark, white-spotted bamboo shark, brown-banded bamboo shark, coral catshark, zebra bullhead shark and pelagic stingray.

THE WORST:

There is nothing at the aquarium that belongs in this category.

OVERALL:

I was really impressed with Birch Aquarium, and I only wish that it was larger! After having spent exactly 2 hours there we didn’t want to leave as this is yet another great California aquarium. There is only the one knock-out exhibit (Kelp Forest) and yet everything there is crisp, clean, modern and of a very high standard. The location is staggeringly gorgeous, the employees are very friendly and helpful in the Tide Pool Plaza, and this facility is just one more reason to move to the captive wildlife mecca of San Diego.

I posted my top 10 aquarium list two days ago, and while Birch would not make the cut I believe that I and others would consider it one of North America’s top 15 aquariums. Travelling south from Vancouver Aquarium to Seattle Aquarium, onwards to Oregon Coast Aquarium, through the San Francisco area to Steinhart Aquarium, down to Monterey Bay Aquarium, south again to Aquarium of the Pacific and then ever onwards to Birch Aquarium one could argue that those 7 facilities, all along the Pacific Ocean coastline, are half of North America’s 15 greatest aquariums. An aquarist could embark on a Pacific Rim road trip just to see amazing aquariums.
 
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