Just for a list, I’ve been to
The Detroit Zoo
Binder Park Zoo
Brookfield Zoo
Lincoln Park Zoo
The National Zoo
And now for a complete list, I’ve been to
The Detroit Zoo
Binder Park Zoo (They let you feed the giraffes)
Brookfield Zoo
Lincoln Park Zoo
The National Zoo
Honolulu Zoo
New Orleans Zoo
Portland Zoo
San Francisco Zoo
Oklahoma City Zoo
Wow - I’m amazed anyone else on this board has even been to the Pueblo Zoo. I lived in Pueblo for over 5 years and always liked that zoo too. Does Denver still open up for free on Christmas? I used to always go then because the animals were a lot more frisky in the cool season.
It’s just the “Toronto Zoo” now.
It’s still one of the best in the world. I’m a satisfied member.
As pathetic as it might sound, I’ve only ever been to two zoos: the Oakland Zoo, and the San Francisco Zoo. I definitely prefer the SF Zoo of the two. The Oakland Zoo seems like they mean well, but just don’t have the funding to make it all work. It’s quite small, and last time I was there (around March or so), it looked like they were remodelling half of what space they did have into a children’s zoo. They do have a big bat exhibit, though.
I went to the SF Zoo just this past Tuesday. Peafowl roam the grounds freely, which is pretty cool (as do gulls, but they’re not so cool). I got to see feeding time at the penguin colony, which was quite amusing. The grounds are a bit twisty, so you do have to backtrack a bit to see everything.
The Dallas World Aquarium consists, in part, of a rainforest inside a four- or five-story building close to downtown. Don’t be put off by the buildings location in the middle of a sea of all-day parking lots.
A visit starts with a trip up a very long escalator to just below the glass ceiling, then you walk down ramps from above the canopy to below river level. Along the way there are glassed in ‘cages’ for everything from tiny insects to jungle cats. Most of the animals are seperated from the people by nothing but air–there are birds all around and the monkey troupe lives on an island in the river. You can touch a sloth if that’s your thing.
At the bottom end of the tour is a more traditional aquarium with a shark tunnel and stuff as well as an outdoor penguin habitat.
I prefer to visit in the winter when the heat and humidity is a welcome change from the weather outside. In the summer it’s kind of disappointing to go indoors and find no relief. (Makes you wonder how them penguins can handle it.)
They have six or seven free days a year now. Being a member, I don’t pay any attention to what dates they are. I agree with going in cold weather - it’s a completely different ambience.