That's a fair assessment. Oakland certainly has problem areas but it also has a lot going for it. The zoo had improved so much over the past 20 years, I hate to be critical. But it misses the kind of details that could put it in the top tier of US zoos. Curious to read your review.
Snowleopard's 2011 Road Trip
- Thread starter snowleopard
- Start date
[My guess is that there is a criminal underbelly in Oakland but the majority of the city is safe and secure. You are definitely correct about the weather, as both days in San Francisco were foggy and chilly while already it is warm here in Oakland at 7:00 a.m.[/QUOTE]
I think that your assessment of Oakland as a city is right on, and this statement probably applies to most (all?) large cities. The neighborhood around the freeway exit to the zoo certainly doesn't give a shining first impression of Oakland if this is your first experience with the city. Hopefully that impression improved once you drove up into Knowland Park.
Re: San Francisco weather, Mark Twain said it best:"The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco."
I think that your assessment of Oakland as a city is right on, and this statement probably applies to most (all?) large cities. The neighborhood around the freeway exit to the zoo certainly doesn't give a shining first impression of Oakland if this is your first experience with the city. Hopefully that impression improved once you drove up into Knowland Park.
Re: San Francisco weather, Mark Twain said it best:"The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco."
Blackduiker
Well-Known Member
Blackduiker
Snowleopard, I'd hardly think you'd be too concerned about crime in Oakland, after risking a drive through Juarez, Mexico with your entire family last year. But for your information, the FBI did rank Oakland #5 on its annual top 400 major US cities crime list for 2010. But with your road trip last year, you did, as well as my wife and I, visit Saint Louis; considered America's most dangerous city by the FBI on that same list.
Other cities on your agenda ranked by the FBI include, in no particular order: San Francisco #130, Fresno #133, San Jose #237, Santa Barbara #250, Los Angeles(Cabrillo Marine Aquarium) #158, Long Beach #138, Santa Ana #196, Escondido(San Diego Safari Park)#216, San Diego #221, Tucson #127, Phoenix #135, and Sacramento #72.
Statistically, according to the FBI, this should be one of your safest road trips ever, considering your previous trips included many of the nations top 50 most dangerous cities.
Snowleopard, I'd hardly think you'd be too concerned about crime in Oakland, after risking a drive through Juarez, Mexico with your entire family last year. But for your information, the FBI did rank Oakland #5 on its annual top 400 major US cities crime list for 2010. But with your road trip last year, you did, as well as my wife and I, visit Saint Louis; considered America's most dangerous city by the FBI on that same list.
Other cities on your agenda ranked by the FBI include, in no particular order: San Francisco #130, Fresno #133, San Jose #237, Santa Barbara #250, Los Angeles(Cabrillo Marine Aquarium) #158, Long Beach #138, Santa Ana #196, Escondido(San Diego Safari Park)#216, San Diego #221, Tucson #127, Phoenix #135, and Sacramento #72.
Statistically, according to the FBI, this should be one of your safest road trips ever, considering your previous trips included many of the nations top 50 most dangerous cities.
DAY SIX: Sunday, July 17th
Zoo/Aquarium Review # 4: Oakland Zoo
Oakland Zoo’s website:
Oakland Zoo
Zoo Map:
http://www.oaklandzoo.org/site/images/files/forms/map.jpg
For the past year I have been stuck on having seen 56 out of the 60 best zoos in the United States, according to the great travel guide “America’s Best Zoos” (Nyhuis & Wassner). Oakland Zoo makes it 57 out of 60, and all in the past 5 years, but I’m still missing Honolulu, Lowry Park and Busch Gardens. To be honest I found Oakland to be slightly disappointing, as I have my rankings link on the very first posting on this thread and I’d place Oakland somewhere around the #45 position. There are some very good enclosures at the zoo and a terrific children’s section but overall the zoo lacks anything outstanding and there is simply not enough of it to last much beyond a 3 hour visit.
THE BEST:
Children’s Zoo – There are many ZooChatters that skip the kiddie sections of zoos, and I know because not long ago I was one of those people. Now my wife and I have two little kids and so children’s zoos have taken on a different aspect for us. We love to see our daughter enjoying top-notch toddler zones, and it is also an opportunity for my wife to sit and rest with the kids while I explore nondescript hoofstock paddocks, insect houses or reptile buildings at various zoos.
There is a small yet excellent Reptile & Amphibian House; a well-designed House of Bugs; a Wildlife Theater; a rabbit enclosure with slides for kids; one of the best river otter exhibits in America, with multiple viewing angles, underwater viewing, more kid-friendly play areas and 4 active otters; an Aldabra tortoise exhibit with nearby huge tortoise shells as play toys; a Goat & Sheep Barn for hands-on petting; pot-bellied pigs grunting in a pair of enclosures; at least 4 American alligators in an exhibit that has underwater viewing and allows for close-up views from above; ring-tailed lemurs; and easily the largest fruit bat exhibit of any zoo I’ve ever visited. The vertical height of the enclosure is extraordinary, and the separation of the massive bats only by mesh makes for a loud visit as the air is constantly pierced by the squeaking mammals. The entire children’s zoo is excellent, it lacks only a great playground, and it is easily one of the ten best of its kind in any American zoo.
THE AVERAGE:
African Savanna – This area is hit-and-miss, but overall of average quality. Much has been made of the fact that the African elephant exhibit is about 6 acres in size, but the main section is the part that is often utilized by the lumbering beasts and it almost appears to be small in size. The side paddocks and upper reaches of the enclosure are lush with grass and I question how often the elephants make the steep climb to the top of their habitat. An elderly pachyderm might struggle to gain traction on the ascent, but the 4 elephants that I did see were all very active and the viewing opportunities are excellent as long as the animals are in the main paddock. Compared to North Carolina, Nashville and Dallas (in that order) Oakland lags behind but it is still one of the 10 best elephant exhibits in the nation.
The African Veldt exhibit supposedly contains vultures, Egyptian geese, African crowned cranes and Addra gazelle, but the only inhabitants on my visit were 8 reticulated giraffes and 4 common elands. The enclosure is nice in that there is only a short wall and a shallow water barrier between the hoofstock and visitors, but it is nothing that I haven’t seen done 100 times before.
The lion exhibit is spectacular for the lions, but I didn’t see any because the multi-acre habitat is partially covered in dense woodland. Even with multiple lookout points and straining eyes no one around me could locate a single lion! The zebra exhibit is only so-so as the metal fencing, large barn and random assortment of gardening equipment piled up in the background is an eyesore; the dromedary enclosure is a simple paddock that seems out of place; the hyena exhibit is excellent but much like the lion exhibit it is set in a deep gully and so well planted that locating a hyena is next to impossible no matter how many minutes one lingers by the overlook; the warthog enclosure is average at best; the lesser flamingo/spoonbill lagoon by the entrance is scenic; the meerkats and vervet monkeys have decent exhibits; the Hamadryas baboons are in an enclosure that was actually built to house giant pandas, but it is a good thing that didn’t work out in terms of the visitor pathway as one entrance/exit would never work for pandamonium; some smaller reptile enclosures (African spurred tortoise/royal python) are of average quality, and a pair of nice aviaries are okay but nothing new.
Species lists: African Aviary #1 = blue bellied roller, lilford crane, Fischer’s lovebird, orange bishop, taveta golden weaver, tambourine dove, hamerkop, speckled pigeon, hottentot teal, white vented bulbul and white-faced whistling duck. African Aviary #2 = sacred ibis, pied crow, cattle egret, red-bellied parrot, red-billed hornbill, hadada ibis, superb starling and buff-crested bustard.
Tropical Rain Forests – This area is also hit-and-miss, with the oldest part of the zoo competing with some very nice enclosures. The tiger exhibit is quite good except for the viewing opportunities; the 3 sun bears were all very active in what must be the largest bear enclosure I’ve ever seen for an Asian species; the Sika deer/Reeve’s muntjac/Indian muntjac enclosure is large but again visitors are gazing down on the animals from far away; and the gibbon islands (siamang and white-handed) are well planted and modern. The traditional metal/wire cages for Griffon vultures, squirrel monkeys, chimpanzees, cotton-top tamarins, blue and gold macaws, chestnut mandibled toucans and Malayan wreathed hornbills are all outdated. A Taiwan beauty snake in a glass terrarium was a nice surprise.
THE WORST:
Visitor viewpoints – To see the hyenas, lions, sun bears, sika deer, muntjacs and Bengal tigers visitors are in all cases looking down upon the animals. No matter how nicely planted and how large the exhibits are to gaze down upon the animals is something that many modern zoos shy away from. The sun bears are in an outstanding enclosure but they look like tiny dogs from the viewing platform; the Reeve’s muntjac that I saw resembled a Pekinese puppy; and even the majestic tiger appeared smaller than normal as visitors are gazing down into a grotto-like exhibit rather than experiencing the viewing from a closer, more level environment. This hilly zoo needs to get visitors up close and personal with the exotic animals on display.
Visitor Amenities – The main restaurant by the entrance was jam-packed with people, folks were circling like vultures in a quest for an overflowing table, and the food itself was expensive and bland. When we first entered the zoo my wife and I changed the kids and both the washrooms had overflowing garbage cans that had not been changed from the day before. The flow of traffic is also poor at this zoo, as the African Savanna area ends at the elephants and then all visitors have to turn around and double back towards the entrance as the next horde of people emerge into the zoo. The African Village area is a tiny loop with one entrance/exit, and the advertised “new” exhibit (Wild Australia) can apparently only be seen by purchasing tickets for the miniature train ride.
Lastly, there were 4 exhibits that were closed down, which is shocking to see in the middle of the peak season. The zoo map labels one enclosure as “anaconda”, the sign on the exhibit says “chameleon”, and yet there is a notice saying that no animals are currently on exhibit. The white-throated monitor enclosure is also empty in the African Village, and there were 2 empty terrariums in the Bug House in the Children’s Zoo. Maybe I’m nitpicking here but on a busy Sunday in the middle of summer to have 4 empty exhibits is unacceptable for a major zoo.
OVERALL:
Oakland Zoo is definitely worth visiting, and including lunch we spent a full 3 hours at the zoo. We did not ride the train or visit the tiny amusement park connected to the zoo, but if a single young male (like many ZooChatters) were to visit they might not spend much time in the Children’s Zoo and they would be advised to not eat lunch at the zoo either. That means after 2 hours they might well be looking towards the exit.
The good news is that the zoo is embarking on a $70 million expansion, with approximately 20 acres of animal exhibits set in a new, 30-acre addition to the zoo. Grizzly bears, black bears, wolves, pumas, jaguars and many more animals that used to exist in California will be featured in the massive project, the money is in place and for the next 4 years the zoo will have one section on the hilltop that will basically be a large construction block. The California habitats are due to open in 2015, and I’m sure that the zoo will take the next step towards becoming a truly excellent institution. Hopefully the influx of visitors will find a more streamlined pathway and entrance area when they arrive.
Zoo/Aquarium Review # 4: Oakland Zoo
Oakland Zoo’s website:
Oakland Zoo
Zoo Map:
http://www.oaklandzoo.org/site/images/files/forms/map.jpg
For the past year I have been stuck on having seen 56 out of the 60 best zoos in the United States, according to the great travel guide “America’s Best Zoos” (Nyhuis & Wassner). Oakland Zoo makes it 57 out of 60, and all in the past 5 years, but I’m still missing Honolulu, Lowry Park and Busch Gardens. To be honest I found Oakland to be slightly disappointing, as I have my rankings link on the very first posting on this thread and I’d place Oakland somewhere around the #45 position. There are some very good enclosures at the zoo and a terrific children’s section but overall the zoo lacks anything outstanding and there is simply not enough of it to last much beyond a 3 hour visit.
THE BEST:
Children’s Zoo – There are many ZooChatters that skip the kiddie sections of zoos, and I know because not long ago I was one of those people. Now my wife and I have two little kids and so children’s zoos have taken on a different aspect for us. We love to see our daughter enjoying top-notch toddler zones, and it is also an opportunity for my wife to sit and rest with the kids while I explore nondescript hoofstock paddocks, insect houses or reptile buildings at various zoos.
There is a small yet excellent Reptile & Amphibian House; a well-designed House of Bugs; a Wildlife Theater; a rabbit enclosure with slides for kids; one of the best river otter exhibits in America, with multiple viewing angles, underwater viewing, more kid-friendly play areas and 4 active otters; an Aldabra tortoise exhibit with nearby huge tortoise shells as play toys; a Goat & Sheep Barn for hands-on petting; pot-bellied pigs grunting in a pair of enclosures; at least 4 American alligators in an exhibit that has underwater viewing and allows for close-up views from above; ring-tailed lemurs; and easily the largest fruit bat exhibit of any zoo I’ve ever visited. The vertical height of the enclosure is extraordinary, and the separation of the massive bats only by mesh makes for a loud visit as the air is constantly pierced by the squeaking mammals. The entire children’s zoo is excellent, it lacks only a great playground, and it is easily one of the ten best of its kind in any American zoo.
THE AVERAGE:
African Savanna – This area is hit-and-miss, but overall of average quality. Much has been made of the fact that the African elephant exhibit is about 6 acres in size, but the main section is the part that is often utilized by the lumbering beasts and it almost appears to be small in size. The side paddocks and upper reaches of the enclosure are lush with grass and I question how often the elephants make the steep climb to the top of their habitat. An elderly pachyderm might struggle to gain traction on the ascent, but the 4 elephants that I did see were all very active and the viewing opportunities are excellent as long as the animals are in the main paddock. Compared to North Carolina, Nashville and Dallas (in that order) Oakland lags behind but it is still one of the 10 best elephant exhibits in the nation.
The African Veldt exhibit supposedly contains vultures, Egyptian geese, African crowned cranes and Addra gazelle, but the only inhabitants on my visit were 8 reticulated giraffes and 4 common elands. The enclosure is nice in that there is only a short wall and a shallow water barrier between the hoofstock and visitors, but it is nothing that I haven’t seen done 100 times before.
The lion exhibit is spectacular for the lions, but I didn’t see any because the multi-acre habitat is partially covered in dense woodland. Even with multiple lookout points and straining eyes no one around me could locate a single lion! The zebra exhibit is only so-so as the metal fencing, large barn and random assortment of gardening equipment piled up in the background is an eyesore; the dromedary enclosure is a simple paddock that seems out of place; the hyena exhibit is excellent but much like the lion exhibit it is set in a deep gully and so well planted that locating a hyena is next to impossible no matter how many minutes one lingers by the overlook; the warthog enclosure is average at best; the lesser flamingo/spoonbill lagoon by the entrance is scenic; the meerkats and vervet monkeys have decent exhibits; the Hamadryas baboons are in an enclosure that was actually built to house giant pandas, but it is a good thing that didn’t work out in terms of the visitor pathway as one entrance/exit would never work for pandamonium; some smaller reptile enclosures (African spurred tortoise/royal python) are of average quality, and a pair of nice aviaries are okay but nothing new.
Species lists: African Aviary #1 = blue bellied roller, lilford crane, Fischer’s lovebird, orange bishop, taveta golden weaver, tambourine dove, hamerkop, speckled pigeon, hottentot teal, white vented bulbul and white-faced whistling duck. African Aviary #2 = sacred ibis, pied crow, cattle egret, red-bellied parrot, red-billed hornbill, hadada ibis, superb starling and buff-crested bustard.
Tropical Rain Forests – This area is also hit-and-miss, with the oldest part of the zoo competing with some very nice enclosures. The tiger exhibit is quite good except for the viewing opportunities; the 3 sun bears were all very active in what must be the largest bear enclosure I’ve ever seen for an Asian species; the Sika deer/Reeve’s muntjac/Indian muntjac enclosure is large but again visitors are gazing down on the animals from far away; and the gibbon islands (siamang and white-handed) are well planted and modern. The traditional metal/wire cages for Griffon vultures, squirrel monkeys, chimpanzees, cotton-top tamarins, blue and gold macaws, chestnut mandibled toucans and Malayan wreathed hornbills are all outdated. A Taiwan beauty snake in a glass terrarium was a nice surprise.
THE WORST:
Visitor viewpoints – To see the hyenas, lions, sun bears, sika deer, muntjacs and Bengal tigers visitors are in all cases looking down upon the animals. No matter how nicely planted and how large the exhibits are to gaze down upon the animals is something that many modern zoos shy away from. The sun bears are in an outstanding enclosure but they look like tiny dogs from the viewing platform; the Reeve’s muntjac that I saw resembled a Pekinese puppy; and even the majestic tiger appeared smaller than normal as visitors are gazing down into a grotto-like exhibit rather than experiencing the viewing from a closer, more level environment. This hilly zoo needs to get visitors up close and personal with the exotic animals on display.
Visitor Amenities – The main restaurant by the entrance was jam-packed with people, folks were circling like vultures in a quest for an overflowing table, and the food itself was expensive and bland. When we first entered the zoo my wife and I changed the kids and both the washrooms had overflowing garbage cans that had not been changed from the day before. The flow of traffic is also poor at this zoo, as the African Savanna area ends at the elephants and then all visitors have to turn around and double back towards the entrance as the next horde of people emerge into the zoo. The African Village area is a tiny loop with one entrance/exit, and the advertised “new” exhibit (Wild Australia) can apparently only be seen by purchasing tickets for the miniature train ride.
Lastly, there were 4 exhibits that were closed down, which is shocking to see in the middle of the peak season. The zoo map labels one enclosure as “anaconda”, the sign on the exhibit says “chameleon”, and yet there is a notice saying that no animals are currently on exhibit. The white-throated monitor enclosure is also empty in the African Village, and there were 2 empty terrariums in the Bug House in the Children’s Zoo. Maybe I’m nitpicking here but on a busy Sunday in the middle of summer to have 4 empty exhibits is unacceptable for a major zoo.
OVERALL:
Oakland Zoo is definitely worth visiting, and including lunch we spent a full 3 hours at the zoo. We did not ride the train or visit the tiny amusement park connected to the zoo, but if a single young male (like many ZooChatters) were to visit they might not spend much time in the Children’s Zoo and they would be advised to not eat lunch at the zoo either. That means after 2 hours they might well be looking towards the exit.
The good news is that the zoo is embarking on a $70 million expansion, with approximately 20 acres of animal exhibits set in a new, 30-acre addition to the zoo. Grizzly bears, black bears, wolves, pumas, jaguars and many more animals that used to exist in California will be featured in the massive project, the money is in place and for the next 4 years the zoo will have one section on the hilltop that will basically be a large construction block. The California habitats are due to open in 2015, and I’m sure that the zoo will take the next step towards becoming a truly excellent institution. Hopefully the influx of visitors will find a more streamlined pathway and entrance area when they arrive.
DAY SEVEN: Monday, July 18th
Zoo/Aquarium Review # 5: Happy Hollow Park & Zoo
Happy Hollow Park & Zoo’s website:
Happy Hollow Park and Zoo :: Outdoor Adventure for Families and Children
List of Main Exhibits:
Happy Hollow Park and Zoo :: Information about Exhibits, Education Center & More at The Happy Hollow Park & Zoo
Happy Hollow Park & Zoo is an AZA-accredited zoo in the city of San Jose, and it first opened its doors 50 years ago (in 1961). It is a very small park and interestingly enough closed down in 2008 for almost two full years. There was then a $70 million renovation that included almost all of the existing 12 acres and a further 4 acre expansion to become the current 16 acres that it is today.
The green renovation included an Education Center built out of hay bales (it looks like a regular building); an Animal Hospital; Giggle Grove, a mini amusement park for toddlers; a carousel; a tiny rollercoaster; Danny the Dragon ride (the park’s mascot); and a long list of at least a dozen other improvements. I’d hazard a guess that at least 75% of the zoo was first opened in 2010.
There are very few exotic animals at the zoo, even though it does participate in at least one SSP (Species Survival Plan) for red ruffed lemurs. The main focus is on young children at around the age of 9 or younger, and in that the facility succeeds splendidly. Anyone expecting a mainstream zoo would probably leave bitterly disappointed after about 40 minutes, but we spent a full 4 hours at the zoo today which honestly defied all of my expectations.
THE BEST:
Redwood Lookout Play Area – This is a massive playground structure that can literally hold hundreds of children, with a separate toddler structure for kids ages 2-5. The entire area is built on a sponge-like surface and it is the second best zoo playground I have ever seen. Only Nashville Zoo’s enormous Jungle Gym is more ambitious in size and scope, and these sorts of places are worth the price of admission as kids are entertained for hours. I saw parents dragging their kids off of the equipment!
Appearance – Happy Hollow is easily one of the best looking zoos I’ve ever visited. It is apparently the first LEED certificated zoo in the United States, most of the facilities are practically brand new, there are 7 roofs that are living mini-forests with native plant species, and the colors are vibrant and eye-catching. Bright green, yellow, red and purple colors are used on all of the buildings, many benches are shiny blue, and the idea is to appeal to young and old alike with fresh, glossy images. Also, there are impeccably clean, family-sized restrooms seemingly around every corner, something that Oakland Zoo would do well to note.
Fees – The entrance fee for an adult is $12, reasonable enough, but the real bonus is that the carousel, rollercoaster, petting farm, and all of the other rides and activities are all free for kids. I’ve never seen a free carousel in a zoo before as they are usually at least $2 per ride, but the one at Happy Hollow has never charged a fee. It’s kind of like Disneyland or SeaWorld for little tykes.
THE AVERAGE:
Exotic Animal Exhibits – Species list of exotic mammals: jaguar, capuchin monkey, squirrel monkey, capybara, collared peccary, ring-tailed lemur, black and white ruffed lemur, red ruffed lemur, fossa, Reeves’ muntjac, fennec fox, parma wallaby, meerkat and Prevost’s squirrel. That adds up to 14 mammal species and that is all that the zoo has on exhibit! There was a single African spurred tortoise, some macaws and a small walk-through aviary that was so jam-packed that I skipped it…but as far as exotics are concerned the zoo has an extremely small collection.
There are a handful of wire cages that are all a little too small, some nice glass viewing windows into a few exhibits, but other than the decent fossa enclosure, excellent capybara exhibit and okay pair of red ruffed lemur habitats the rest of the exhibits are barely of average quality.
Domestic Animal Exhibits – The obligatory barnyard area is nicely done, and with turkeys, guinea pigs, a dwarf zebu, a Sicilian donkey, miniature horses and plenty of goats it was a major hit with children.
THE WORST:
Poor Directions – The zoo does not produce a map for visitors, and while there are numerous large-scale signs around the park they do not show all of the exhibits. Many times I would stroll around a corner and either end up in a cul-de-sac or instead locate another primate enclosure, and for someone who collects maps and is obsessed with studying them the lack of orientation was frustrating.
OVERALL:
Happy Hollow Park & Zoo is an establishment that will only interest visitors with very young children, preferably between the ages of 3-9. My daughter is not quite 2 and she couldn’t participate in all of the rides and events, but today was surely the highlight of the road trip for her as she had a smile a mile wide all day long. To have an entire zoo geared for little kids might feasibly disinterest many avid zoo goers, but today the place was packed to the rafters (on a Monday!) and there was a brisk turn of business at the turnstiles when we left after our 4 hours of excitement. My advice for hardcore zoo enthusiasts would be to skip the zoo altogether, but for those that understand what it is like to be surrounded by gleefully yelling kids then this zoo is a modern, environmentally friendly, colorful, clean, exciting little gem.
Zoo/Aquarium Review # 5: Happy Hollow Park & Zoo
Happy Hollow Park & Zoo’s website:
Happy Hollow Park and Zoo :: Outdoor Adventure for Families and Children
List of Main Exhibits:
Happy Hollow Park and Zoo :: Information about Exhibits, Education Center & More at The Happy Hollow Park & Zoo
Happy Hollow Park & Zoo is an AZA-accredited zoo in the city of San Jose, and it first opened its doors 50 years ago (in 1961). It is a very small park and interestingly enough closed down in 2008 for almost two full years. There was then a $70 million renovation that included almost all of the existing 12 acres and a further 4 acre expansion to become the current 16 acres that it is today.
The green renovation included an Education Center built out of hay bales (it looks like a regular building); an Animal Hospital; Giggle Grove, a mini amusement park for toddlers; a carousel; a tiny rollercoaster; Danny the Dragon ride (the park’s mascot); and a long list of at least a dozen other improvements. I’d hazard a guess that at least 75% of the zoo was first opened in 2010.
There are very few exotic animals at the zoo, even though it does participate in at least one SSP (Species Survival Plan) for red ruffed lemurs. The main focus is on young children at around the age of 9 or younger, and in that the facility succeeds splendidly. Anyone expecting a mainstream zoo would probably leave bitterly disappointed after about 40 minutes, but we spent a full 4 hours at the zoo today which honestly defied all of my expectations.
THE BEST:
Redwood Lookout Play Area – This is a massive playground structure that can literally hold hundreds of children, with a separate toddler structure for kids ages 2-5. The entire area is built on a sponge-like surface and it is the second best zoo playground I have ever seen. Only Nashville Zoo’s enormous Jungle Gym is more ambitious in size and scope, and these sorts of places are worth the price of admission as kids are entertained for hours. I saw parents dragging their kids off of the equipment!
Appearance – Happy Hollow is easily one of the best looking zoos I’ve ever visited. It is apparently the first LEED certificated zoo in the United States, most of the facilities are practically brand new, there are 7 roofs that are living mini-forests with native plant species, and the colors are vibrant and eye-catching. Bright green, yellow, red and purple colors are used on all of the buildings, many benches are shiny blue, and the idea is to appeal to young and old alike with fresh, glossy images. Also, there are impeccably clean, family-sized restrooms seemingly around every corner, something that Oakland Zoo would do well to note.
Fees – The entrance fee for an adult is $12, reasonable enough, but the real bonus is that the carousel, rollercoaster, petting farm, and all of the other rides and activities are all free for kids. I’ve never seen a free carousel in a zoo before as they are usually at least $2 per ride, but the one at Happy Hollow has never charged a fee. It’s kind of like Disneyland or SeaWorld for little tykes.
THE AVERAGE:
Exotic Animal Exhibits – Species list of exotic mammals: jaguar, capuchin monkey, squirrel monkey, capybara, collared peccary, ring-tailed lemur, black and white ruffed lemur, red ruffed lemur, fossa, Reeves’ muntjac, fennec fox, parma wallaby, meerkat and Prevost’s squirrel. That adds up to 14 mammal species and that is all that the zoo has on exhibit! There was a single African spurred tortoise, some macaws and a small walk-through aviary that was so jam-packed that I skipped it…but as far as exotics are concerned the zoo has an extremely small collection.
There are a handful of wire cages that are all a little too small, some nice glass viewing windows into a few exhibits, but other than the decent fossa enclosure, excellent capybara exhibit and okay pair of red ruffed lemur habitats the rest of the exhibits are barely of average quality.
Domestic Animal Exhibits – The obligatory barnyard area is nicely done, and with turkeys, guinea pigs, a dwarf zebu, a Sicilian donkey, miniature horses and plenty of goats it was a major hit with children.
THE WORST:
Poor Directions – The zoo does not produce a map for visitors, and while there are numerous large-scale signs around the park they do not show all of the exhibits. Many times I would stroll around a corner and either end up in a cul-de-sac or instead locate another primate enclosure, and for someone who collects maps and is obsessed with studying them the lack of orientation was frustrating.
OVERALL:
Happy Hollow Park & Zoo is an establishment that will only interest visitors with very young children, preferably between the ages of 3-9. My daughter is not quite 2 and she couldn’t participate in all of the rides and events, but today was surely the highlight of the road trip for her as she had a smile a mile wide all day long. To have an entire zoo geared for little kids might feasibly disinterest many avid zoo goers, but today the place was packed to the rafters (on a Monday!) and there was a brisk turn of business at the turnstiles when we left after our 4 hours of excitement. My advice for hardcore zoo enthusiasts would be to skip the zoo altogether, but for those that understand what it is like to be surrounded by gleefully yelling kids then this zoo is a modern, environmentally friendly, colorful, clean, exciting little gem.
It's amazing how parenthood changes us, isn't it snowleopard?Great reviews, keep up the good work friend.
Your kids would LOVE Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, but without kids that small establishment wouldn't be worth pulling off the highway to see. It's funny how some places are all or nothing, depending on whether one has children or not. Happy Hollow is for the most part a brand-new zoo, as spending $70 million on a green renovation has worked wonders for that place.
Since some eagle-eyed readers might have noticed that I ticked CuriOdyssey off of the list on day two instead of a few days later on the trip that means that we have an extra day to fill. What could my family do with that extra day?
The road trip will be back on its tight schedule beginning tomorrow, but that means today we will visit one of North America's truly great captive wildlife facilities. I type this appoximately 10 minutes from Monterey Bay Aquarium, and after visits in 2006 and 2008 this will be our 3rd trip within the past 5 years. The good news is that the one-million gallon tank Open Sea (it used to be called Outer Bay) just re-opened about two weeks ago after being closed for almost a year. There was a $20 million renovation of one of the world's largest tanks, and I'll be happy to report all of the changes later in my review. After today I don't think that there will be many, if any, deviations from the original road trip itinerary.
sooty mangabey
Well-Known Member
I can understand better the American (and Canadian!) desire to rank and score zoos when I read a paragraph like this about crime statistics!
Enjoying the reports on your trip, Scott, and glad to hear that you and the family are having a good time.
DAY EIGHT: Tuesday, July 19th
Zoo/Aquarium Review # 6: Monterey Bay Aquarium
Aquarium’s website:
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Aquarium Map:
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/PDF_files/vis_map2.pdf
I had visited Monterey Bay Aquarium on two previous occasions (2006 and 2008) and so going back and seeing some new additions was a pleasant and rewarding experience. I believe that Monterey is one of the big three aquariums in North America and they are all very close in quality, although I'd place Chicago's Shedd Aquarium in the #1 position and Atlanta's Georgia Aquarium in the #2 position. Monterey lacks whale sharks, beluga whales, seals and sea lions (at least in captivity) but still pulls off utter brilliance with many outstanding exhibits.
Incredibly the town of Monterey only has around 30,000 people and yet it plays host to one of North America’s truly great aquariums, and close to 2 million visitors enter the aquatic wonderland each and every year. A fantastic feature is that there are always numerous changes as the years roll by, from the mid-1980’s inception to the huge 1996 expansion. When I first visited in 2006 there was a “Sharks” gallery with around 20-25 species of sharks in a variety of exhibits (the aquarium still has over a dozen species of sharks); in 2008 the sharks temporary habitats were gone and replaced by “Wild About Otters” featuring Asian small-clawed otters, African spot-necked otters and a variety of other terrariums and terrific signage about otters; and now in 2011 the featured temporary exhibits are called “Hot Pink Flamingos: Stories of Hope in a Changing Sea”. The new area includes several bird exhibits and a brilliant set of graphics and interactive activities all about climate change, carbon footprints and the environment. Every couple of years there is an entirely new gallery of exhibits, and the aquarium keeps up its reputation for top-notch conservation messages with all of the graphics and various signs adorning the walls.
The Best:
Location & Local Wildlife - the aquarium is literally built right on Monterey Bay, and to see the Pacific Ocean wash up next to the building is fantastic. There is a tidal pool of ocean water that contained a large group of scuba-diving visitors on the day that I was there, as it appears that many people pay extra to go into the ocean in an attempt to learn how to scuba dive via the aquarium. I saw at least 8 harbor seals either swimming near kayaking vacationers or perched on half-submerged rocks, as well as the distinctive shape of 3 wild sea otters floating on their backs and eating. There are also numerous sea gulls and cormorants that fly around the harbor seals, and so the marvelous wildlife adds to the overall experience. There is even a large plastic board outside on the deck that lists all of the killer whales, humpback whales, dolphins, sea otters, etc., that have been seen cruising past the aquarium in the past month.
Kelp Forest – this is an awesome, 3-story, 2-level, enormous kelp forest that sways back and forth with the motion of the waves in the massive, 28-foot high tank. Leopard sharks, wolf eels, cabezons, horn sharks, bat stars, rockfish, sardines and a number of other fish species swim around in this gorgeous, first-class tank that dwarfs the visitors who gaze up at the underwater forest. It is much bigger and better than any kelp tanks at other aquariums, and there is even a kid-sized kelp forest in another area of the building.
Monterey Bay Habitats - another massive tank, complete with a bewildering variety of fish. There are loads of other exhibits and interactive exhibits all around a huge central habitat, with sea bass, white sturgeon, spiny dogfish, Sevengill sharks, halibut, eels, etc., in the main tank and crayfish, lobsters, crabs, fish, giant pacific octopus, squid, cuttlefish, various touch tanks and everything else that anyone would want to see in an aquarium. One of the best features are the concave viewing holes that curve into the aquarium...so little kids can climb into these holes and see the fish swimming around them.
Coastal Birds/Sandy Shore Aviary – this is a beautiful bird/stingray/small fish exhibit with a small wading pool, a sandy beach, and a deeper pool that has wave motions in it. Across from this walk-through, open-air habitat is a huge tank with leopard sharks and bat rays that can be touched by visitors. Both areas have zero barriers other than low walls, and the sea air wafts in via the top portion of the aviary. Species include: black-necked stilt, long-billed curlew, snowy plover, ruddy turnstone and red-necked phalarope.
Jellies & Tiny Drifters – there are probably more species of jellyfish here than at any other North American aquarium, as a large area is devoted to all types of these bizarre and yet pretty creatures. It seems as if there has been a lot of interactive images added since my last visit, as the aquarium has embraced technology in its quest to inform visitors about the conservation of sea creatures. There is also a spectacular overhead exhibit of Pacific sardines that swim at a furious pace above the heads of amazed visitors near the entrance of Jellies.
The Open Sea – a million gallon tank with a 90-foot window that has hammerhead sharks, green sea turtles, Bluefin tuna, bonitos, an enormously impressive 5,000 pound ocean sunfish, a variety of smaller fish, and the occasional great white shark (no shark at the moment). This exhibit used to be called the Outer Bay, and it recently underwent a one-year, $20 million renovation and only just reopened. In 2006 I was blown away by the immense size of the tank, even though it is devoid of any plant life or rocks whatsoever. But that's the open ocean! Now after seeing the 6 million gallon tank full of 4 whale sharks, thousands of fish of all sizes, plants and rocks everywhere at the Georgia Aquarium...this million gallon tank at Monterey isn't nearly as impressive. If you don't go to Georgia then Monterey's huge tank is amazing, but Georgia's whale shark tank that is over 6 million gallons is the best single tank exhibit in all of North America. Who can compete with that? The Open Sea million-gallon tank doesn’t really look any different than it did before the renovation, but it is still eerie how the back of the huge tank cannot be seen and thus the sea animals appear to swim out of nowhere. Monterey Bay has recently added two juvenile green sea turtles to a small side tank and a decent bird exhibit with tufted puffins, horned puffins and common murres that is a major hit with visitors.
Hot Pink Flamingos – the information on climate change and the ever-changing environment of Earth is magnificently well done in this temporary exhibit. I took lots of photos of brilliant posters and computer images on the walls that offer up cleverly informative descriptions of climate change on the planet. The three animal exhibits are all average at best, as the graphics and various signs take center stage here. There is a large tank with 4 juvenile green sea turtles; a Magellanic penguin exhibit (the second penguin enclosure in the aquarium) and a bird exhibit with these 6 species: Chilean flamingo, roseate spoonbill, white ibis, scarlet ibis, black-crowned night heron and green heron.
Sea Otters – a few otters in a 2-level exhibit that is always crowded because it is centrally located in the building. The only downfall here is that a visitor can't look down on the otters and only really see them underwater, but viewing them in their extremely deep pool is a treat. It is difficult to believe that these are the only captive marine mammals in such an outstanding aquarium.
The Secret Lives of Seahorses – this area is outstanding, with a storyline about seahorses and their kin. Species list includes: leafy sea dragons, weedy sea dragons, zebrasnout seahorses, lined seahorses, potbelly seahorses, Pacific seahorses, dwarf seahorses, yellow seahorses, shortsnout seahorses, shrimpfish, alligator pipefish and a few others that I don’t remember. There is a small theater with illuminated images of seahorses breeding, at least two plush benches for viewing, and the darkened atmosphere contrasts with the brightly lit and well-furnished exhibits. Very classy.
Ocean Travelers & Vanishing Wildlife – two separate areas that detail the migration of marine mammals, climate change, the plight of endangered animals being caught in fishing nets, and a wealth of information that is almost overwhelming in its magnitude. Perhaps no other aquarium offers so much detail in regards to human involvement with the oceans of the world.
Hovden Cannery – This area features zero animals but is directly next to the entrance and details the history of the old canning factory that in the mid-1980’s was transformed into one of the world’s great aquariums. The many photos and old artifacts are fascinating, and I’m glad that the decision was made to celebrate the history of the building. The sad fact is that when I spent 10 minutes glancing through this area not a single other person was there! No animals equals no tourists.
Splash Zone – a very large children's area with loads of small tanks, interactive activities, toys, costumes, and spongey floors and play areas for kids. African black-footed penguins can be found here, as well as a mini Kelp Forest, eels, seahorses, a red octopus, decorator crabs, sea dragons, swell sharks and lots of touch tanks.
Flippers, Flukes & Fun – this is a single room with many games, activities and numerous buttons to push for toddlers and younger kids. The cacophony from within can be ear-splitting if the aquarium is packed, but on a slow morning it is a joy to see children run around and incessantly press buttons until the point of breaking.
The Worst:
I skipped my usual "average" section because everything in Monterey is extremely well done, but my only beef is that it is too popular! It is actually a complaint that I have with all the aquariums that I've visited, as they aren't spacious like zoos where the crowds can sometimes thin out. In aquariums thousands of people are visiting an area that is only a couple of acres in size, and so inevitably there are line-ups at every single tank.
My theory is that Monterey Bay takes two days to see if one wishes to avoid crowds, but at $30 per adult that is not a real possibility for a traveler on an extensive road trip. The first 2 hours were okay and I saw everything that I wanted to see at a casual pace, but the final 2 hours was tough and I actually skipped many smaller tanks because there would be 5 people in line to witness a hermit crab gradually inch across its exhibit. The hallways and pathways are wide in the aquarium so there isn’t much that one can do, but the sheer presence of so many people is disconcerting and the only downside to the facility.
My only other disappointment is that I’ve visited in 2006, 2008 and 2011 and the aquarium has played host to great white sharks on 5 different occasions and I’ve never been in Monterey for any of them. Like many people I would love to catch a glimpse of the ocean’s most fearsome predator in captivity. I’ll have to time my next visit better!
Overall:
Monterey Bay Aquarium is a fantastic place for visitors of all ages, and is especially kid friendly for young children. Even the gift shop (with an informative $10 history book), cafe, entrance foyer, life-size orca and humpback whale models hanging from the ceiling, is all brilliantly organized. Re-visiting after only three years was never a problem as the new Climate Change gallery and one-million gallon Open Sea exhibit led to a brand new experience.
I think that Shedd Aquarium has only a few smallish exhibits that are disappointing but is otherwise a flawless aquarium that is the best in North America. Georgia Aquarium is the largest on the planet, and has a stunning whale shark tank that is absolutely awesome, even though its larger animal tanks are at times average in quality. Monterey Bay is basically a flawless aquarium, but lacks the visitor favorites like whale sharks, beluga whales, dolphins and seals/sea lions. However, when some of those animals can be found directly outside it's tough to quibble with what is found swimming around in tanks indoors. I believe that those three are all much better than my 4th and 5th best aquariums, excellent in their own right, Baltimore and Tennessee.
Zoo/Aquarium Review # 6: Monterey Bay Aquarium
Aquarium’s website:
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Aquarium Map:
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/PDF_files/vis_map2.pdf
I had visited Monterey Bay Aquarium on two previous occasions (2006 and 2008) and so going back and seeing some new additions was a pleasant and rewarding experience. I believe that Monterey is one of the big three aquariums in North America and they are all very close in quality, although I'd place Chicago's Shedd Aquarium in the #1 position and Atlanta's Georgia Aquarium in the #2 position. Monterey lacks whale sharks, beluga whales, seals and sea lions (at least in captivity) but still pulls off utter brilliance with many outstanding exhibits.
Incredibly the town of Monterey only has around 30,000 people and yet it plays host to one of North America’s truly great aquariums, and close to 2 million visitors enter the aquatic wonderland each and every year. A fantastic feature is that there are always numerous changes as the years roll by, from the mid-1980’s inception to the huge 1996 expansion. When I first visited in 2006 there was a “Sharks” gallery with around 20-25 species of sharks in a variety of exhibits (the aquarium still has over a dozen species of sharks); in 2008 the sharks temporary habitats were gone and replaced by “Wild About Otters” featuring Asian small-clawed otters, African spot-necked otters and a variety of other terrariums and terrific signage about otters; and now in 2011 the featured temporary exhibits are called “Hot Pink Flamingos: Stories of Hope in a Changing Sea”. The new area includes several bird exhibits and a brilliant set of graphics and interactive activities all about climate change, carbon footprints and the environment. Every couple of years there is an entirely new gallery of exhibits, and the aquarium keeps up its reputation for top-notch conservation messages with all of the graphics and various signs adorning the walls.
The Best:
Location & Local Wildlife - the aquarium is literally built right on Monterey Bay, and to see the Pacific Ocean wash up next to the building is fantastic. There is a tidal pool of ocean water that contained a large group of scuba-diving visitors on the day that I was there, as it appears that many people pay extra to go into the ocean in an attempt to learn how to scuba dive via the aquarium. I saw at least 8 harbor seals either swimming near kayaking vacationers or perched on half-submerged rocks, as well as the distinctive shape of 3 wild sea otters floating on their backs and eating. There are also numerous sea gulls and cormorants that fly around the harbor seals, and so the marvelous wildlife adds to the overall experience. There is even a large plastic board outside on the deck that lists all of the killer whales, humpback whales, dolphins, sea otters, etc., that have been seen cruising past the aquarium in the past month.
Kelp Forest – this is an awesome, 3-story, 2-level, enormous kelp forest that sways back and forth with the motion of the waves in the massive, 28-foot high tank. Leopard sharks, wolf eels, cabezons, horn sharks, bat stars, rockfish, sardines and a number of other fish species swim around in this gorgeous, first-class tank that dwarfs the visitors who gaze up at the underwater forest. It is much bigger and better than any kelp tanks at other aquariums, and there is even a kid-sized kelp forest in another area of the building.
Monterey Bay Habitats - another massive tank, complete with a bewildering variety of fish. There are loads of other exhibits and interactive exhibits all around a huge central habitat, with sea bass, white sturgeon, spiny dogfish, Sevengill sharks, halibut, eels, etc., in the main tank and crayfish, lobsters, crabs, fish, giant pacific octopus, squid, cuttlefish, various touch tanks and everything else that anyone would want to see in an aquarium. One of the best features are the concave viewing holes that curve into the aquarium...so little kids can climb into these holes and see the fish swimming around them.
Coastal Birds/Sandy Shore Aviary – this is a beautiful bird/stingray/small fish exhibit with a small wading pool, a sandy beach, and a deeper pool that has wave motions in it. Across from this walk-through, open-air habitat is a huge tank with leopard sharks and bat rays that can be touched by visitors. Both areas have zero barriers other than low walls, and the sea air wafts in via the top portion of the aviary. Species include: black-necked stilt, long-billed curlew, snowy plover, ruddy turnstone and red-necked phalarope.
Jellies & Tiny Drifters – there are probably more species of jellyfish here than at any other North American aquarium, as a large area is devoted to all types of these bizarre and yet pretty creatures. It seems as if there has been a lot of interactive images added since my last visit, as the aquarium has embraced technology in its quest to inform visitors about the conservation of sea creatures. There is also a spectacular overhead exhibit of Pacific sardines that swim at a furious pace above the heads of amazed visitors near the entrance of Jellies.
The Open Sea – a million gallon tank with a 90-foot window that has hammerhead sharks, green sea turtles, Bluefin tuna, bonitos, an enormously impressive 5,000 pound ocean sunfish, a variety of smaller fish, and the occasional great white shark (no shark at the moment). This exhibit used to be called the Outer Bay, and it recently underwent a one-year, $20 million renovation and only just reopened. In 2006 I was blown away by the immense size of the tank, even though it is devoid of any plant life or rocks whatsoever. But that's the open ocean! Now after seeing the 6 million gallon tank full of 4 whale sharks, thousands of fish of all sizes, plants and rocks everywhere at the Georgia Aquarium...this million gallon tank at Monterey isn't nearly as impressive. If you don't go to Georgia then Monterey's huge tank is amazing, but Georgia's whale shark tank that is over 6 million gallons is the best single tank exhibit in all of North America. Who can compete with that? The Open Sea million-gallon tank doesn’t really look any different than it did before the renovation, but it is still eerie how the back of the huge tank cannot be seen and thus the sea animals appear to swim out of nowhere. Monterey Bay has recently added two juvenile green sea turtles to a small side tank and a decent bird exhibit with tufted puffins, horned puffins and common murres that is a major hit with visitors.
Hot Pink Flamingos – the information on climate change and the ever-changing environment of Earth is magnificently well done in this temporary exhibit. I took lots of photos of brilliant posters and computer images on the walls that offer up cleverly informative descriptions of climate change on the planet. The three animal exhibits are all average at best, as the graphics and various signs take center stage here. There is a large tank with 4 juvenile green sea turtles; a Magellanic penguin exhibit (the second penguin enclosure in the aquarium) and a bird exhibit with these 6 species: Chilean flamingo, roseate spoonbill, white ibis, scarlet ibis, black-crowned night heron and green heron.
Sea Otters – a few otters in a 2-level exhibit that is always crowded because it is centrally located in the building. The only downfall here is that a visitor can't look down on the otters and only really see them underwater, but viewing them in their extremely deep pool is a treat. It is difficult to believe that these are the only captive marine mammals in such an outstanding aquarium.
The Secret Lives of Seahorses – this area is outstanding, with a storyline about seahorses and their kin. Species list includes: leafy sea dragons, weedy sea dragons, zebrasnout seahorses, lined seahorses, potbelly seahorses, Pacific seahorses, dwarf seahorses, yellow seahorses, shortsnout seahorses, shrimpfish, alligator pipefish and a few others that I don’t remember. There is a small theater with illuminated images of seahorses breeding, at least two plush benches for viewing, and the darkened atmosphere contrasts with the brightly lit and well-furnished exhibits. Very classy.
Ocean Travelers & Vanishing Wildlife – two separate areas that detail the migration of marine mammals, climate change, the plight of endangered animals being caught in fishing nets, and a wealth of information that is almost overwhelming in its magnitude. Perhaps no other aquarium offers so much detail in regards to human involvement with the oceans of the world.
Hovden Cannery – This area features zero animals but is directly next to the entrance and details the history of the old canning factory that in the mid-1980’s was transformed into one of the world’s great aquariums. The many photos and old artifacts are fascinating, and I’m glad that the decision was made to celebrate the history of the building. The sad fact is that when I spent 10 minutes glancing through this area not a single other person was there! No animals equals no tourists.
Splash Zone – a very large children's area with loads of small tanks, interactive activities, toys, costumes, and spongey floors and play areas for kids. African black-footed penguins can be found here, as well as a mini Kelp Forest, eels, seahorses, a red octopus, decorator crabs, sea dragons, swell sharks and lots of touch tanks.
Flippers, Flukes & Fun – this is a single room with many games, activities and numerous buttons to push for toddlers and younger kids. The cacophony from within can be ear-splitting if the aquarium is packed, but on a slow morning it is a joy to see children run around and incessantly press buttons until the point of breaking.
The Worst:
I skipped my usual "average" section because everything in Monterey is extremely well done, but my only beef is that it is too popular! It is actually a complaint that I have with all the aquariums that I've visited, as they aren't spacious like zoos where the crowds can sometimes thin out. In aquariums thousands of people are visiting an area that is only a couple of acres in size, and so inevitably there are line-ups at every single tank.
My theory is that Monterey Bay takes two days to see if one wishes to avoid crowds, but at $30 per adult that is not a real possibility for a traveler on an extensive road trip. The first 2 hours were okay and I saw everything that I wanted to see at a casual pace, but the final 2 hours was tough and I actually skipped many smaller tanks because there would be 5 people in line to witness a hermit crab gradually inch across its exhibit. The hallways and pathways are wide in the aquarium so there isn’t much that one can do, but the sheer presence of so many people is disconcerting and the only downside to the facility.
My only other disappointment is that I’ve visited in 2006, 2008 and 2011 and the aquarium has played host to great white sharks on 5 different occasions and I’ve never been in Monterey for any of them. Like many people I would love to catch a glimpse of the ocean’s most fearsome predator in captivity. I’ll have to time my next visit better!
Overall:
Monterey Bay Aquarium is a fantastic place for visitors of all ages, and is especially kid friendly for young children. Even the gift shop (with an informative $10 history book), cafe, entrance foyer, life-size orca and humpback whale models hanging from the ceiling, is all brilliantly organized. Re-visiting after only three years was never a problem as the new Climate Change gallery and one-million gallon Open Sea exhibit led to a brand new experience.
I think that Shedd Aquarium has only a few smallish exhibits that are disappointing but is otherwise a flawless aquarium that is the best in North America. Georgia Aquarium is the largest on the planet, and has a stunning whale shark tank that is absolutely awesome, even though its larger animal tanks are at times average in quality. Monterey Bay is basically a flawless aquarium, but lacks the visitor favorites like whale sharks, beluga whales, dolphins and seals/sea lions. However, when some of those animals can be found directly outside it's tough to quibble with what is found swimming around in tanks indoors. I believe that those three are all much better than my 4th and 5th best aquariums, excellent in their own right, Baltimore and Tennessee.
Are you sure? F. e.: Isn't the Okinawa Aquarium in Japan bigger?
I suppose that it all depends on what someone classifies as the largest. Georgia Aquarium in all of its advertising both inside and outside the establishment declares that it is the largest and that is true when it comes to the amount of water within the facility. The whale shark tank is 6 million gallons and with the recent dolphin pool expansion there is around 8.5 million gallons in total so Georgia is the largest in the world in terms of water volume. Amazingly that entire aquarium is only 6 years old!
ANyhuis
Well-Known Member
Zoomaniac: This is horrible! When did this start? (I'd like to know, so we can decipher if it's a Bush-thing or an Obama-thing.) I'll try to learn more about it and contact my Congress folks about it. You are right -- as one who does a lot of travelling overseas, such a fee in every country would be prohibitive! But I could honestly see some countries doing this to Americans as a response. I know Brazil made it much tougher for Americans to travel down there, after we made it tougher for Brazilians to travel up here. My only similar experience to yours, Zoomaniac, was having to pay almost $200US for a Russian Visa. That was very hard to justify.
Great reviews! Im really enjoying following your trip
DAY NINE: Wednesday, July 20th
Zoo/Aquarium Review # 7: Charles Paddock Zoo
Charles Paddock Zoo’s website:
Charles Paddock Zoo - Home
Charles Paddock Zoo is an AZA-accredited facility that is located in the California city of Atascadero. The zoo has been in existence for about 50 years, has been accredited since 1991, and at only 5 acres in size it is one of the smallest accredited zoos in the United States. There are only around 100 animals and annual attendance is less than 80,000 visitors.
To be brutally honest if I had known exactly what to expect I would have driven right on by and not stopped in Atascadero. The zoo’s exhibits are for the most part quite poor, there were at least 3 under construction, the entire place can be seen in less than an hour, and visitor amenities are practically non-existent. Also, many of the enclosures had only one or perhaps two of each animal, so walking along there would be one emu, one fisher, one tiger, one red river hog, two wallabies, one fossa, one bat-eared fox, one red-flanked duiker, two Prevosts’s squirrels, etc.
ENTIRE LIST OF ANIMALS ON EXHIBIT:
Mammals – Malayan tiger (the star attraction), fisher, bat-eared fox, red-flanked duiker, African crested porcupine, prehensile-tailed porcupine, Geoffrey’s marmoset, titi monkey, black-handed spider monkey, mara, alpaca, Jacob’s sheep, Bennett’s wallaby, emu, Prevost’s squirrel, meerkat, red river hog, Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth, red ruffed lemur, ring-tailed lemur, fossa and red panda (seen from night quarters but the exhibit is not yet complete).
Birds – Blue and gold macaw, scarlet macaw, yellow-headed parrot, Moluccan cockatoo, burrowing owl, great horned owl, Caribbean flamingo and crested screamer. Plus there is a small walk-through aviary with ZERO SIGNAGE for the birds, but I saw several parrots, ringed teal, roseate spoonbill, scarlet ibis, Mandarin duck and several other species.
Reptiles/Amphibians – Giant Asian pond turtle, Chinese striped-neck turtle, Aldabra giant tortoise, desert tortoise, radiated tortoise, spider tortoise, flat-tailed tortoise, Burmese python, carpet python and gila monster and a few other species in small terrariums.
Invertebrates – At least a dozen terrariums with a variety of invertebrates.
THE BEST:
Nothing!
THE AVERAGE:
The fossa exhibit is alright, the lemurs have some good vertical space, the meerkat enclosure is so-so, and the burrowing owl/desert tortoise exhibit was okay.
THE WORST:
The rest of the zoo!
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.
Zoo/Aquarium Review # 7: Charles Paddock Zoo
Charles Paddock Zoo’s website:
Charles Paddock Zoo - Home
Charles Paddock Zoo is an AZA-accredited facility that is located in the California city of Atascadero. The zoo has been in existence for about 50 years, has been accredited since 1991, and at only 5 acres in size it is one of the smallest accredited zoos in the United States. There are only around 100 animals and annual attendance is less than 80,000 visitors.
To be brutally honest if I had known exactly what to expect I would have driven right on by and not stopped in Atascadero. The zoo’s exhibits are for the most part quite poor, there were at least 3 under construction, the entire place can be seen in less than an hour, and visitor amenities are practically non-existent. Also, many of the enclosures had only one or perhaps two of each animal, so walking along there would be one emu, one fisher, one tiger, one red river hog, two wallabies, one fossa, one bat-eared fox, one red-flanked duiker, two Prevosts’s squirrels, etc.
ENTIRE LIST OF ANIMALS ON EXHIBIT:
Mammals – Malayan tiger (the star attraction), fisher, bat-eared fox, red-flanked duiker, African crested porcupine, prehensile-tailed porcupine, Geoffrey’s marmoset, titi monkey, black-handed spider monkey, mara, alpaca, Jacob’s sheep, Bennett’s wallaby, emu, Prevost’s squirrel, meerkat, red river hog, Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth, red ruffed lemur, ring-tailed lemur, fossa and red panda (seen from night quarters but the exhibit is not yet complete).
Birds – Blue and gold macaw, scarlet macaw, yellow-headed parrot, Moluccan cockatoo, burrowing owl, great horned owl, Caribbean flamingo and crested screamer. Plus there is a small walk-through aviary with ZERO SIGNAGE for the birds, but I saw several parrots, ringed teal, roseate spoonbill, scarlet ibis, Mandarin duck and several other species.
Reptiles/Amphibians – Giant Asian pond turtle, Chinese striped-neck turtle, Aldabra giant tortoise, desert tortoise, radiated tortoise, spider tortoise, flat-tailed tortoise, Burmese python, carpet python and gila monster and a few other species in small terrariums.
Invertebrates – At least a dozen terrariums with a variety of invertebrates.
THE BEST:
Nothing!
THE AVERAGE:
The fossa exhibit is alright, the lemurs have some good vertical space, the meerkat enclosure is so-so, and the burrowing owl/desert tortoise exhibit was okay.
THE WORST:
The rest of the zoo!
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.
Odds n' Sods:
- trekking south through California with two kids under the age of two has been a challenge, as when we pull into a motel in the mid-afternoon there is usually two hours of work before relaxation kicks in. Both kids have to be changed and fed every few hours, my son is only 9 weeks old and therefore still wakes up at least twice in the night (usually midnight and 3:30 a.m.), bottles have to be scrubbed and cleaned, baths have to be run and kids have to be scrubbed and cleaned, dinners have to be made (on some nights we've been buying soup, buns and drinks from grocery stores) and bedtime stories, games and other kid-essential activites take place. By the time my daughter is asleep, as she is 90% of the workload due to her hyperactive nature, then my wife and I can finally ease back and relax. That means showers, food, cleaning up the motel, loading suitcases and bags into the minivan before we can settle down and I can either read, browse the internet or type up extensive reviews.
- the demographics have changed as they always do travelling through the United States. We live an hour away from Vancouver in Canada, and there are many Chinese, Japanese, Indian and Korean families in that part of my home nation. As we have headed south the lack of Asian people is clearly noticeable, and more African-Americans and Hispanics are part of the populace. In many of the California cities that we've stayed in, all with Spanish names, if we go into a McDonald's, Denny's, Best Western Motel or just about any other establishment that we visit then quite frequently every single staff member will be Hispanic and Spanish is spoken everywhere. According to Wikipedia 50% of the state's students identify themselves as Hispanic or Latino.
- parking has been outrageous in many locations. Whatever happened to free parking at zoos and aquariums? We always arrive just before an establishment opens and yet in Golden Gate Park we couldn't find parking anywhere for the California Academy of Sciences and we ended up in the underground garage for $17.50. Monterey Bay Aquarium was the same, as I circled the neighborhood twice before paying a flat rate of $20 for another garage. Happy Hollow Zoo, a tiny 16-acre zoo set in a park, charged $10 just for entrance to the parking zone. Oakland Zoo was at least $7, CuriOdyssey was a fee but thankfully the attendant had stepped out to go to the washroom and we avoided that one. Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco was $20 as we parked right down near Fisherman's Wharf, but with two kids it didn't make sense to park blocks away and then haul everyone down to the waterfront area. We need to park close to where we are going so that carrying the kids doesn't snap our backs as well as our sanity. Our Woodland Park Zoo membership cards have eased the burden as a few of the zoos have been free, but they haven't helped with the parking situation.
- for the first week the weather was slightly chillier than expected, even though we still wore shorts and sandals every day. Light jackets were required in San Mateo, San Francisco, Oakland and the first couple of driving days. However, the last two days in San Jose and Atascadero the temperature has been hovering around 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) and the days have been scorchers.
- trekking south through California with two kids under the age of two has been a challenge, as when we pull into a motel in the mid-afternoon there is usually two hours of work before relaxation kicks in. Both kids have to be changed and fed every few hours, my son is only 9 weeks old and therefore still wakes up at least twice in the night (usually midnight and 3:30 a.m.), bottles have to be scrubbed and cleaned, baths have to be run and kids have to be scrubbed and cleaned, dinners have to be made (on some nights we've been buying soup, buns and drinks from grocery stores) and bedtime stories, games and other kid-essential activites take place. By the time my daughter is asleep, as she is 90% of the workload due to her hyperactive nature, then my wife and I can finally ease back and relax. That means showers, food, cleaning up the motel, loading suitcases and bags into the minivan before we can settle down and I can either read, browse the internet or type up extensive reviews.
- the demographics have changed as they always do travelling through the United States. We live an hour away from Vancouver in Canada, and there are many Chinese, Japanese, Indian and Korean families in that part of my home nation. As we have headed south the lack of Asian people is clearly noticeable, and more African-Americans and Hispanics are part of the populace. In many of the California cities that we've stayed in, all with Spanish names, if we go into a McDonald's, Denny's, Best Western Motel or just about any other establishment that we visit then quite frequently every single staff member will be Hispanic and Spanish is spoken everywhere. According to Wikipedia 50% of the state's students identify themselves as Hispanic or Latino.
- parking has been outrageous in many locations. Whatever happened to free parking at zoos and aquariums? We always arrive just before an establishment opens and yet in Golden Gate Park we couldn't find parking anywhere for the California Academy of Sciences and we ended up in the underground garage for $17.50. Monterey Bay Aquarium was the same, as I circled the neighborhood twice before paying a flat rate of $20 for another garage. Happy Hollow Zoo, a tiny 16-acre zoo set in a park, charged $10 just for entrance to the parking zone. Oakland Zoo was at least $7, CuriOdyssey was a fee but thankfully the attendant had stepped out to go to the washroom and we avoided that one. Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco was $20 as we parked right down near Fisherman's Wharf, but with two kids it didn't make sense to park blocks away and then haul everyone down to the waterfront area. We need to park close to where we are going so that carrying the kids doesn't snap our backs as well as our sanity. Our Woodland Park Zoo membership cards have eased the burden as a few of the zoos have been free, but they haven't helped with the parking situation.
- for the first week the weather was slightly chillier than expected, even though we still wore shorts and sandals every day. Light jackets were required in San Mateo, San Francisco, Oakland and the first couple of driving days. However, the last two days in San Jose and Atascadero the temperature has been hovering around 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) and the days have been scorchers.
Dear Snow Leopard
Don't tell me I didn't warn you about the Charles Paddock Zoo!
If you had taken the coast road south, you could have seen the amazing elephant seal colony steps away from the highway, and then checked out nearby Hearst Castle (which could have been justified as part of your expedition as it once included an extraordinary private zoo), instead of a crappy zoo.
Warning--there are a couple of other "duds" on your itinerary to the south.
Have fun in Santa Barbara: a resoundingly average zoo set in an utterly spectacular location.
Keep the great reviews coming!
Don't tell me I didn't warn you about the Charles Paddock Zoo!
If you had taken the coast road south, you could have seen the amazing elephant seal colony steps away from the highway, and then checked out nearby Hearst Castle (which could have been justified as part of your expedition as it once included an extraordinary private zoo), instead of a crappy zoo.
Warning--there are a couple of other "duds" on your itinerary to the south.
Have fun in Santa Barbara: a resoundingly average zoo set in an utterly spectacular location.
Keep the great reviews coming!
ANyhuis
Well-Known Member
Did they outright not let Kylie (your 2-year-old) into the Planetarium, or did you just take their recommendation? Back when our kids were little, we took them into planetariums at a pretty young age, so I think Kylie would have enjoyed it -- though not understood much.
Blackduiker
Well-Known Member
Blackduiker
It was required by the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. Here is the fact sheet from Homeland Security:
DHS: Fact Sheet: Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)
It was required by the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. Here is the fact sheet from Homeland Security:
DHS: Fact Sheet: Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)
ANyhuis
Well-Known Member
Snowleopard:
Great reviews! I have a few comments or questions:
(a) Oakland -- I agree with your assessments, overall, though I'm surprised you didn't like the huge enclosures for elephants, lions, and other animals. Question: Did they still have the Sky Ride that takes you up the steep hill (to where the new California exhibit will be built)? That Sky Ride is (or was) worthwhile, and it includes a view of the Zoo's herd of bison. Also, did you hear/read anything in Oakland that indicates they've given up on getting giant pandas?
(b) California Academy/Steinhardt Aquarium -- So, where do you rank this aquarium on your list for North America. For me, it's definitely a Top 10 aquarium, probably around #8.
(c) Monterey Bay Aquarium -- That Seahorses gallery is, I believe, another temporary exhibit. Aquariums are really big into temporary exhibits.
A few thoughts:
(1) To answer ZooManiac's question, yes, the Georgia Aquarium's 6-million gallon Open Ocean tank is BY FAR the world's largest. Okinawa's Churaumi Aquarium (which my daughter has been to) has their Kuroshio Ocean tank, which also holds whale sharks and manta rays, but it's "only" 1.98 million gallons, less than a third the size of Georgia.
(2) Sorry about the high parking fees, but you are in one of the USA's most expensive places. Parking is also terribly expensive on the East Coast, but much more reasonable between the Coasts.
(3) I'm a bit surprised to read that you are paying up to $70 per night for hotels. Maybe this is also a "California thing", but I have a recommendation. At each state's Welcome Center, as well as at many gas stations, they offer these coupon books of hotel offerings from all over the state (often with many states in them). These booklets are usually green or red. Pick up these booklets and look through them carefully. I usually find a hotel for $45/night or less in them, and usually they are name brand hotels.
(4) I agree with Reduakari -- you have a few more bad zoos/aquariums on your itinerary, much like Charles Paddock.
Great reviews! I have a few comments or questions:
(a) Oakland -- I agree with your assessments, overall, though I'm surprised you didn't like the huge enclosures for elephants, lions, and other animals. Question: Did they still have the Sky Ride that takes you up the steep hill (to where the new California exhibit will be built)? That Sky Ride is (or was) worthwhile, and it includes a view of the Zoo's herd of bison. Also, did you hear/read anything in Oakland that indicates they've given up on getting giant pandas?
(b) California Academy/Steinhardt Aquarium -- So, where do you rank this aquarium on your list for North America. For me, it's definitely a Top 10 aquarium, probably around #8.
(c) Monterey Bay Aquarium -- That Seahorses gallery is, I believe, another temporary exhibit. Aquariums are really big into temporary exhibits.
A few thoughts:
(1) To answer ZooManiac's question, yes, the Georgia Aquarium's 6-million gallon Open Ocean tank is BY FAR the world's largest. Okinawa's Churaumi Aquarium (which my daughter has been to) has their Kuroshio Ocean tank, which also holds whale sharks and manta rays, but it's "only" 1.98 million gallons, less than a third the size of Georgia.
(2) Sorry about the high parking fees, but you are in one of the USA's most expensive places. Parking is also terribly expensive on the East Coast, but much more reasonable between the Coasts.
(3) I'm a bit surprised to read that you are paying up to $70 per night for hotels. Maybe this is also a "California thing", but I have a recommendation. At each state's Welcome Center, as well as at many gas stations, they offer these coupon books of hotel offerings from all over the state (often with many states in them). These booklets are usually green or red. Pick up these booklets and look through them carefully. I usually find a hotel for $45/night or less in them, and usually they are name brand hotels.
(4) I agree with Reduakari -- you have a few more bad zoos/aquariums on your itinerary, much like Charles Paddock.
Demographics - Hearing Spanish will obviously increase as you continue into the southwest. Los Angeles is the second largest Spanish-speaking population in the entire world - second only to Mexico City. Even though I am a Gringo, my Spanish is pretty good and I am regularly called upon to use it at work, being the only Spanish speaker currently on staff. I also use it at Reid Park Zoo. While you are in southern California and Arizona, be sure to take advantage of the immersion experience by enjoying some good Mexican restaurants. (My favorite is El Charro in downtown Tucson, which is where the chimichanga was invented).
Parking - Every animal attraction in Arizona has free parking. As a matter of fact, I believe every attraction of any kind in Arizona has free parking. (We also do not believe in toll roads - there is not a single one in the entire state).
Weather - I guarantee you will not need your jackets in Tucson and Phoenix in August
.
Parking - Every animal attraction in Arizona has free parking. As a matter of fact, I believe every attraction of any kind in Arizona has free parking. (We also do not believe in toll roads - there is not a single one in the entire state).
Weather - I guarantee you will not need your jackets in Tucson and Phoenix in August
.