Zoo Along I-75 ideas

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USZOOfan42

USZOOfan42

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Hello, I am planning a trip to Orlando from the detroit area. I already have plans to visit DAK and possibly SWF, Zoo Tampa and Busch Gardens Tampa. I was looking at possible facilities along the route and I have thought of, Jacksonville, Tennessee Aquarium and the Metro Richmond Zoo. I have visited many zoos upon that route before and I am looking to visit a new facility. Louisville, Knoxville, and Mesker Park are also potential options. I only plan to visit ONE zoo besides the first 4 listed (most likely DAK, Facility A (SWF Busch or Zoo Tampa) and Facility B(zoo along route))Any other recommendations?
 
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USZOOfan42 said:
Hello, I am planning a trip to Orlando from the detroit area. I already have plans to visit DAK and possibly SWF, Zoo Tampa and Busch Gardens Tampa. I was looking at possible facilities along the route and I have thought of, Jacksonville, Tennessee Aquarium and the Metro Richmond Zoo. I have visited many zoos upon that route before and I am looking to visit a new facility. Louisville, Knoxville, and Mesker Park are also potential options. I only plan to visit ONE zoo besides the first 4 listed (most likely DAK, Facility A (SWF Busch or Zoo Tampa) and Facility B(zoo along route))Any other recommendations?
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Personally, Knoxville and the Tennessee Aquarium are both on the most direct route from Detroit to Orlando and are great options. There is also a small zoo in Chattanooga that could be combined with a visit to the Aquarium.

Overall though, this really depends on how far out of your way you are willing to detour. Metro Richmond, for example, is 4 extra hours of driving according to Google Maps. While, it is a pretty decent privately owned zoo, I don't think it justifies that much extra driving. (EDIT: Metro Richmond is in Richmond, Virginia, which is along I-85, not I-75 btw, so not sure if it is the one you meant to put here as I see there is a Richmond, Kentucky and I don't think there is a zoo there.) Jacksonville would add an extra half hour or so, while Louisville adds about an hour and Mesker Park adds two and half. I visited both Mesker and Louisville on the same day years ago, but that might depend on seasonal hours in order to make it work (also note they are in different time zones as that almost got me).

I have a feeling you left these places off your list because you have already been to them, but another option along the most direct route would be the Cincinnati Zoo, which could potentially be combined with a visit to the Newport Aquarium right across the border in Kentucky. Could also could do Zoo Atlanta and Georgia Aquarium, as I've combined them into a single day before as well.

If you are willing to detour as far as Metro Richmond, it looks like the National Zoo is along that same route and I would recommend a visit there over Richmond. If you are willing to go as much as 4 hours out of your way, a lot of options open up to you. North Carolina Zoo is a good option and would add about an hour and 45 minutes to your trip. Nashville adds about 1.5 hours. Birmingham and Montgomery both add about 2.5 hours. There are some smaller places along your route as well, such as the Santa Fe Teaching Zoo in Gainesville, FL.

Of all these options, I'd probably tell you to stick to the most direct route as Tennessee is a top level aquarium (probably third on my list right now behind Shedd and Georgia, but I flip back and forth on it and Georgia) and the zoo in Chattanooga is a nice visit as well.
 
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NSU42 said:
Personally, Knoxville and the Tennessee Aquarium are both on the most direct route from Detroit to Orlando and are great options. There is also a small zoo in Chattanooga that could be combined with a visit to the Aquarium.

Overall though, this really depends on how far out of your way you are willing to detour. Metro Richmond, for example, is 4 extra hours of driving according to Google Maps. While, it is a pretty decent privately owned zoo, I don't think it justifies that much extra driving. (EDIT: Metro Richmond is in Richmond, Virginia, which is along I-85, not I-75 btw, so not sure if it is the one you meant to put here as I see there is a Richmond, Kentucky and I don't think there is a zoo there.) Jacksonville would add an extra half hour or so, while Louisville adds about an hour and Mesker Park adds two and half. I visited both Mesker and Louisville on the same day years ago, but that might depend on seasonal hours in order to make it work (also note they are in different time zones as that almost got me).

I have a feeling you left these places off your list because you have already been to them, but another option along the most direct route would be the Cincinnati Zoo, which could potentially be combined with a visit to the Newport Aquarium right across the border in Kentucky. Could also could do Zoo Atlanta and Georgia Aquarium, as I've combined them into a single day before as well.

If you are willing to detour as far as Metro Richmond, it looks like the National Zoo is along that same route and I would recommend a visit there over Richmond. If you are willing to go as much as 4 hours out of your way, a lot of options open up to you. North Carolina Zoo is a good option and would add about an hour and 45 minutes to your trip. Nashville adds about 1.5 hours. Birmingham and Montgomery both add about 2.5 hours. There are some smaller places along your route as well, such as the Santa Fe Teaching Zoo in Gainesville, FL.

Of all these options, I'd probably tell you to stick to the most direct route as Tennessee is a top level aquarium (probably third on my list right now behind Shedd and Georgia, but I flip back and forth on it and Georgia) and the zoo in Chattanooga is a nice visit as well.
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Thanks, I was aware metro richmond was ways off butI have been wanting to check it out. Cincinnati I plan on visiting in the summer and I have recently visited both Atlanta facilities. Now that you mention National, I think I could possibly squeeze it in. I’d much rather visit a zoo but I’m thinking I’ll go with the aquarium due to it’s location (halfway point) and the paddlefish.

Edit- National could be another potential option, as I’ve only visited Asia and Africa Trail at that zoo.
 
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My favorite of the ones listed is Jacksonville, but that’s keeping in mind that zoos do more for me than aquariums - Tennessee Aquarium is absolutely top notch regardless. Either of those facilities are just generally fantastic from a holistic perspective. Your experience with Metro Richmond, on the other hand, is going to live or die based on how appealing you find their impressive roster of rarities, particularly monkeys, and how much you’re able to look past subpar exhibitry. If nothing else, you should be able to finally check off seeing a raccoon in captivity lol
 
biggest_dreamer said:
My favorite of the ones listed is Jacksonville, but that’s keeping in mind that zoos do more for me than aquariums - Tennessee Aquarium is absolutely top notch regardless. Either of those facilities are just generally fantastic from a holistic perspective. Your experience with Metro Richmond, on the other hand, is going to live or die based on how appealing you find their impressive roster of rarities, particularly monkeys, and how much you’re able to look past subpar exhibitry. If nothing else, you should be able to finally check off seeing a raccoon in captivity lol
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Thanks for the response,
I’m the same way as the viewing as zoos to aquariums. To me, I don’t have that much of an issue of quality due to one of my local zoos being absolutely dreadful. Raccoon is an very interesting rarity, might pair well with the White Tailed Deer :p
 
My most recommended facility here would be Tennessee Aquarium beyond any doubt. I might be slightly biased towards it (it's currently my #4 zoological collection overall), but it's one of the most unique collections you're going to encounter, which I think provides a strong case for prioritizing that over other facilities. It's got a lot of species I haven't seen elsewhere.

Jacksonville is a strong 2nd choice although it is a bit out of the way. I was very impressed by that facility when I visited back in 2022 on the way down to Orlando. Great collection, excellent landscaping and scenery, a pair of very solid walk-through aviaries and a trio of region-focused reptile houses.
 
Chiming in on the Tampa side: if you are not into rides, then a combination of ZooTampa and Florida Aquarium are a better animal option for Tampa than Busch. ZT and the FL Aquarium have some rarities worth making a trip for, and if timed right you can do them both in one day, they even sell a combo ticket to non-residents.
 
SwampDonkey said:
Chiming in on the Tampa side: if you are not into rides, then a combination of ZooTampa and Florida Aquarium are a better animal option for Tampa than Busch. ZT and the FL Aquarium have some rarities worth making a trip for, and if timed right you can do them both in one day, they even sell a combo ticket to non-residents.
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You can definitely do them both in the same day. I did both of them along with the Clearwater Marine Aquarium all in the same day.
 
SwampDonkey said:
Personally I would find that challenging, but I can see how it could be done.
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Clearwater was admittedly a little tighter than I would've liked, but I still had plenty of time and got to sit around a bit and watch the Rough-toothed Dolphins. Otherwise, I didn't really feel rushed at all. If it wasn't for the traffic getting to Clearwater, it would've been no problem.
 
NSU42 said:
Clearwater was admittedly a little tighter than I would've liked, but I still had plenty of time and got to sit around a bit and watch the Rough-toothed Dolphins. Otherwise, I didn't really feel rushed at all. If it wasn't for the traffic getting to Clearwater, it would've been no problem.
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That's great! The rough toothed dolphins are pretty much the main reason to go there anyway, well those and the new black sea bottle nosed dolphins when they get there.
 
SwampDonkey said:
black sea bottle nosed dolphins
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When will they arrive? If I do visit the TB area I will stay directly across the water from the aquarium so that could also be a possibility. Busch Gardens is more so for the rides, probably a two hour thing.
 
USZOOfan42 said:
When will they arrive? If I do visit the TB area I will stay directly across the water from the aquarium so that could also be a possibility. Busch Gardens is more so for the rides, probably a two hour thing.
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No idea, they have only applied for the import permit and have 5 years once it is approved (assuming that it is). So probably not for some time, unfortunately.

Yikes, 2 hours at Busch? One coaster alone can take an hour in line and ride, plus the walk from parking that's around 10-20 minutes (trams only run on Sat and Sun). That's a lot of money to park and enter for a couple of hours, it is a good day park for all the animals and rides, however. I personally like it better than DAK for animals, but that's not common.
 
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SwampDonkey said:
No idea, they have only applied for the import permit and have 5 years once it is approved (assuming that it is). So probably not for some time, unfortunately.

Yikes, 2 hours at Busch? One coaster alone can take an hour in line and ride, plus the walk from parking that's around 10-20 minutes (trams only run on Sat and Sun). That's a lot of money to park and enter for a couple of hours, it is a good day park for all the animals and rides, however. I personally like it better than DAK for animals, but that's not common.
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Thanks, probably more than 2 hours, I only plan to ride 3 rides and do a few animals. I have free tickets so I am doing stuff that I missed out on last time, it got rained out.
 
USZOOfan42 said:
Thanks, probably more than 2 hours, I only plan to ride 3 rides and do a few animals. I have free tickets so I am doing stuff that I missed out on last time, it got rained out.
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AH! That's a different story then, it makes sense if you have the tickets for free. I have been for an hour or so when I had passes, so I can understand that.
 
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