Your Favorite Zoo or Aquarium?

[Davyjones]

Hi gang,

Being a zookeeper, I was just wondering what everyone's favorite zoo or aquarium is? What is it that makes it your top choice? I do expect a lot of people will say Animal Kingdom, which is definitely a great choice.

Although I work in a zoo, my favorite would be Monterey Bay Aquarium! I like everything about it! I especially love the Outer Bay Exhibit! Stunning is the best word for it, especially the times when they have a great white on display! It is just so well designed and maintained!

How about you all?

[PittFan]

The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. The Polar bears are so cool. No pun intended.

[iluvdizney2]

My hubby did contract work at Lily in Indianapolis for 4 years (2003-2007) and we spent every spring and summer out there....I completely miss the Indianapolis zoo and Conner Prairie (plus speedway and the indians!). We spent every single day at the zoo for 7 weeks. We would go every day for 2 hours and just focus on one area at a time. then we would go home eat lunch and head to conner prairie... I loved it a lot, and the kids did too....besides at the time it was fun walking along the canal to the zoo and just being together....boy I miss Indy and want to go back!

[Meerkat]

Other than AK, I really like the San Diego Zoo. This is perhaps the finest zoo in the country.

[kakn7294]

I have to agree with PittFan - the Pittsburgh Zoo! I loved watching Angelina and Zuri play - they are our 2 baby elephants. Our elephant breeding program is awesome - Jackson, the male, fathered a couple of the calves born at AK several years ago. I think we have a good variety of animals for the size of the zoo and I like that they are trying to make it more environmentally correct for the animals.

[3AMommy]

Don't forget the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, NE. We are three hours from there and would rather drive up to Omaha than go to the Kansas City Zoo.

It is such a great place, and there are a lot of indoor exhibits that are indoors so there is still lots to see in colder weather!

We love it!

3AMommy

[cubbie]

The Henry Doorly Zoo here in Omaha is perhaps the most underrated zoo on the planet. It has a Desert Dome, the world's largest indoor jungle, a world-class aquarium, and the usual plethora of animals. On top of that, now that Rosenblatt Stadium is probably going to be torn down, it will open up a large plot of land next to the zoo, which, according to rumors, could be a panda or dolphin exhibit. Of course, those are just rumors, but having pandas would really put the zoo over the top.
Other than this one, I really liked the Bronx Zoo, but I was disappointed in the San Diego Zoo. I guess when I saw the "World Famous" on their sign, my expectations were set too high.

[DisneyLandMomma]

San Diego Wild Animal Park is my favorite zoo(is it even considered a zoo??). We just love it there.

I have only been to two aquariums, Seattle and Long Beach, of the two Seattle was my favorite.

[Katzateer]

We haven't been to any zoos outside the midwest.

I love chicago and St. Louis because they are FREE and are great zoos.

We have gone to the Columbus Zoo the most and enjoy. We try to go once a year since we are in Columbus a lot for dance competitions.

We lived in Indy when the new zoo opened about 17 years ago and loved going there when it was new. It is a great size for little kids and we loved the indoor water exhibits.

[Diznee4Me]

We live nerar Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens in Columbia, South Carolina which is really nice and has had some major renovations/advances in recent years. They now have Gorillas, a new bird sancturay, koalas, and a larger elephant enclosure with more elephants.

We have a volunteer in our office who also volunteers for the zoo. It is neat to get the behind the scenes scoop from her each week. Several years ago she led the DD and me on a behind the scenes tour of the koala enclosure and the tiger/lion - sleeping/feeding areas. I never realized how large those animals are and I have a great photo of the DD allowing a tiger to lick her fingers through the cage.

Finally we recently visited the Georgia Aquarium and all I can say is WOW! Truly amazing. The whale sharks - four of them - are huge!

[Ian]

My favorite zoo is definitely Animal Kingdom.

Oh wait, Disney keeps telling me it's "Nahtazu"... guess that doesn't count.

No, I gotta go close to home here and say it would be America's first zoo, the Philadelphia Zoo. Been going there since I was a little kid and I love it. It's needed some TLC for awhile and it's finally getting some. Now if they could just stop burning up all the monkeys, we'd be okay ...

Aquarium, definitely Baltimore. It's so nice down there, although Camden's is pretty nice, too. But the whole Inner Harbor area just wins out.

[Jeff G]

Does Sea World count? If so that get's my vote.

I've only been to a few zoo's. My favorite would probably be the St. Louis Zoo. I also enjoyed the Toledo Zoo, it was small but was set up very nicely. We've been to the Milwaukee Zoo many times, it's a great day trip for the kids but it has to much concrete and feels cold.

As for aquariums, I really enjoy the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago (I'm a junkie for aquariums and fish which is why I like Sea World so much). The Shedd has a great variety of fish with a good dolphin show.

[BeccaO]

We live in PA but we spend most weekends at the Jersey Shore, both of our families have homes there. We visit the Cape May County Zoo which is FREE!!!!! They depend on donations to operate the zoo. This zoo is open all year around and it is fabulous!!!!!!! Our kids love it and they have some great animals!!

My choice for aquarium would be the Baltimore Aquarium at Inner Harbor. We love going down and staying there for the weekend in the winter and visiting the aquarium, it's awesome!!!!

[Boojum]

...loved the zoo in Washington D.C.

Also, Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg is very cool with the shark tunnel!

[DisneyDog]

My heart belongs to our nation's first zoo in Philly. I think it's beautiful and I love that they preserve the Centennial buildings. My family has a membership.

We live near the Elmwood Park zoo in Norristown , PA and go there occasionally. The Cape May County Zoo is lovely, and so great that it is free.

I was sadly disappointed by the National Zoo I think it's design is ridiculous that it does not make a complete loop. You get to the end and you have to walk all the way back through the same way you already came.

[Melanie]

One of the high points of this island I live on is the incredible aquarium. Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium used to be the largest in the world until the Georgia Aquarium was built. It still has the world's largest acrylic panel and I could sit there all day looking at the whale sharks and other sea life. It's really incredible!

[Davyjones]

One of the high points of this island I live on is the incredible aquarium. Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium used to be the largest in the world until the Georgia Aquarium was built. It still has the world's largest acrylic panel and I could sit there all day looking at the whale sharks and other sea life. It's really incredible!

Mel, have you ever been to the Ring of Fire Aquarium in Osaka? That was the first aquarium in the world to display whale sharks successfully. And I hear the design of the aquarium is amazing! I need to go to an aquarium to see whale sharks somewhere in this world!

[Diznee4Me]

Mel, have you ever been to the Ring of Fire Aquarium in Osaka? That was the first aquarium in the world to display whale sharks successfully. And I hear the design of the aquarium is amazing! I need to go to an aquarium to see whale sharks somewhere in this world!

Atlanta has four at their aquarium. Awesome creatures and HUGE!

[Melanie]

Atlanta has four at their aquarium. Awesome creatures and HUGE!

They are huge! I'm most amazed at how all the other fish piggy back on them. It's too cute.

I have not been to the one in Osaka. That sounds like a definite must if we get up there to go to Universal Studios.

[Ed]

Another vote for the National Aquarium in Baltimore, my old home town.

I was one of the local people who derided the entire idea of building "a big fish tank" on the Inner Harbor. Until the first time I actually visited it. After that, totally different story. It's a great facility in a wonderfully developed harbor area, and well worth repeat visits.