Zoo sights in North America
-
A
Tisch Children's Zoo
Attached to the Central Park Zoo, Tisch Children’s Zoo is a petting zoo which has alpacas and mini-Nubian goats and is perfect for small children.
reviewed
-
B
San Diego Zoo
If it slithers, crawls, stomps, swims, leaps or flies, chances are you'll find it in this world-famous zoo in northern Balboa Park. It's home to 3000-plus animals representing 800-plus species in a beautifully landscaped setting, including the giant Panda Canyon and the 7.5-acre Elephant Odyssey. Arrive early, when the animals are most active. For a wildlife viewing experience that's closer to the real thing, get a combination ticket to the affiliated San Diego Safari Park.
reviewed
-
C
Lowry Park Zoo
When it comes to animal encounters, Florida sets the bar high, and Tampa's AZA-accredited zoo clears it with room to spare. The well-designed exhibits emphasize getting as close to the animals as possible, with several free-flight aviaries, a camel ride, giraffe feeding, a wallaby enclosure and a rhino 'encounter.' Not only does Lowry contain all the big-ticket African animals you'll find at Busch Gardens, but it highlights Florida's homegrown menagerie: scores of American alligators, roseate spoonbills, panthers, pink flamingos, manatees and more.
Naturally, Lowry offers a few rides, too, such as a flume ride, a roller coaster and a train – all aimed primarily at the 10…
reviewed
-
Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens
Caribbean Gardens is an Old Florida attraction that's been updated into a modest zoo. Though it lacks some big-ticket species (like elephants and manatees), it has some interesting wrinkles, such as narrated boat rides in a lake to visit free-roaming, island-bound monkeys and bigger-than-usual outdoor-theater animal shows (11am and 3pm daily). All presentations are included.
reviewed
-
D
Metrozoo
Miami's tropical weather makes strolling around the Metrozoo almost feel like a day in the wild. Look for Asian and African elephants, rare and regal Bengal tigers prowling an evocative Hindu temple, pygmy hippos, Andean condors, a pack of hyenas, cute koalas, colobus monkeys, black rhinoceroses and a pair of Komodo dragons from Indonesia. Keep your eyes peeled for informative zookeeper talks in front of some exhibits. For a quick overview (and because the zoo is so big), hop on the Safari Monorail; it departs every 20 minutes. There's a glut of grounds tours available, and kids will love feeding the Samburu giraffes ($2). Last admission at 4pm.
reviewed
-
E
Palm Beach Zoo
The highlight of this compact zoo is the Tropics of the Americas exhibit, a 3-acre recreation of a rainforest, stocked with jaguars, monkeys, snakes, macaws and other tropical creatures. Gator feedings occur regularly and are advertised. The zoo's also home to a few of the last remaining Florida panthers, North America's rarest mammal. Other unusual residents include Komodo dragons (the largest lizard in the world), capybaras (the largest rodent in the world) and red kangaroos, which can hop at speeds of up to 40mph. The zoo is a brief drive south of downtown.
reviewed
-
F
Victoria Bug Zoo
The most fun your wide-eyed kids will have in Victoria without even realizing it's educational, step inside the bright-painted main room for a cornucopia of show-and-tell insect encounters. The excellent guides handle and talk about critters like frog beetles, dragon-headed crickets and the disturbingly large three-horned scarab beetles, before releasing their audience (not the insects) into the gift shop.
reviewed
-
British Columbia Wildlife Park
Parents may look longingly at the cages used to corral unruly critters at the British Columbia Wildlife Park, 17km east of Kamloops on Hwy 1. Captives include bears and cougars.
reviewed
-
G
Miami Metrozoo
A huge zoo in far south Miami with all the exotic Asian and African species.
reviewed
-
H
Central Park Zoo
Officially known as the Central Park Wildlife Center (no one calls it that), this small zoo is home to penguins, polar bears, snow leopards and red pandas. Feeding times in the sea lion and penguin tanks make for a rowdy spectacle. (Check the website for times.)
The attached Tisch Children's Zoo, a petting zoo, has alpacas and mini-Nubian goats and is perfect for small children.
The attached Tisch Children’s Zoo, a petting zoo, has alpacas and mini-Nubian goats and is perfect for small children.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
I
Los Angeles Zoo
- Los Angeles, USA
- Sights › Zoo
Make friends with 1100 finned, feathered and furry creatures, including in the Campo Gorilla Reserve and the Sea Cliffs, which replicate the California coast complete with harbor seals.
reviewed
-
J
Jungle Island
Jungle Island, packed with tropical birds, alligators, orangutans, chimps, lemurs, a (wait for it, Napoleon Dynamite fans) liger (a cross between a lion and a tiger) and a Noah's Ark of other animals, is a ton of fun. It's one of those places kids (justifiably) beg to go, so just give up and prepare for some bright-feathered, bird-poopie-scented fun in this artificial, self-contained jungle. The waterfront facility, lushly landscaped and using a minimum of pesticides, is pretty impressive, thanks in part to the flamingos, macaws, cockatoos and other parrots, flying about in outdoor aviaries. The Cape Penguin colony is especially cute.
reviewed
-
K
Monkey Jungle
The Monkey Jungle brochures have a tag line: 'Where humans are caged and monkeys run free.' And, indeed, you'll be walking through screened-in trails, with primates swinging freely, screeching and chattering all around you. It's incredibly fun, and just a bit odorous, especially on warm days (well, most days). In 1933, animal behaviorist Joseph du Mond released six monkeys into the wild. Today, their descendants live here with orangutans, chimpanzees and lowland gorilla. The big show of the day takes place at feeding time, when crab-eating monkeys and Southeast Asian macaques dive into the pool for fruit and other treats. There's also a lovely aviary for clouds of…
reviewed
-
L
Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Lily-pad hopping, adventures with Billy the Bog Turtle and grooming live animals are all in a day's play here. Prices are slightly cheaper on weekdays.
reviewed
-
M
Audubon Zoological Gardens
- New Orleans, USA
- Sights › Zoo
Among the country's best zoos. It contains the ultracool Louisiana Swamp exhibit, full of alligators, bobcats, foxes, bears and snapping turtles.
reviewed
-
N
Bird Kingdom
The jungly Bird Kingdom claims to be the world's largest indoor aviary, with 400 species of free-flying tropical birds from around the globe. You can also buddy-up with a boa constrictor in the Reptile Encounter Zone.
reviewed
-
O
Alaska Zoo
The unique wildlife of the Arctic is on display at the only zoo in North America that specializes in northern animals, ranging from all three species of Alaskan bear to wolverines, moose, caribou and Dall sheep.
reviewed
-
P
Prospect Park Zoo
Contained in the Children’s Corner, the Prospect Park Zoo features sea lions, baboons, wallabies and a small petting zoo.
reviewed
-
Q
Central Park Wildlife Center
The penguins are the main attraction at this modern zoo, though you’ll find more than two dozen other species to visit, including polar bears, snow leopards, tamarin monkeys and red pandas. Feeding times are especially rowdy, fun times to stroll through: watch the sea lions chow down at 11:30am, 2pm and 4pm and see the penguins gobble fish at 10:30am and 2:30pm. The attached Tisch Children’s Zoo (btwn 65th & 66th Sts) is perfect for smaller children.
reviewed
-
R
Lincoln Park Zoo
It's a local family favorite, filled with gorillas, lions, tigers and other exotic creatures in the shadow of downtown. Check out the Regenstein African Journey, Primate House and Nature Boardwalk for the cream of the crop.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
S
Denver Zoo
Denver’s world-class zoo has more than 650 animal species represented in naturalistic settings in considerate enclosures. There are native and exotic animals including rhinos, gorillas and giant Komodo dragons. An active breeding program is helping arrest the loss of endangered species. A schedule of monthly free-admission days is published on the zoo’s website.
reviewed
-
Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park
Near Texas Station casino hotel, this small zoo takes care of Canadian river otters, African fossas, ostriches, swamp wallabies, Barbary apes and every type of venomous snake found in southern Nevada. Kids can feed some critters (not the snakes, of course), while adults look over the rare bamboo, cycad and gem displays. Go online for discount admission coupons.
reviewed
-
Butterfly Landing
The 70-acre Franklin Park is surrounded by one of the city’s sketchier neighborhoods, but the zoo itself is safe. Don’t miss the magical Butterfly Landing, where you can stroll among blooming perennials, gushing waterfalls and 1000 fluttering butterflies in free flight. Take the Orange Line to Forest Hills, then ride bus 16 to the Franklin Park Zoo.
reviewed
-
African Lion Safari
About 1000 animals and birds express themselves freely in the vast, cageless African Lion Safari, about 25km northwest of Hamilton off Hwy 8. Drive your car through the park and get within kissing distance of lions, giraffes, zebras, monkeys and other African beasts. If your car-rental agency has an aversion to bird droppings, take the park tour-bus instead ($5 per person). Kids love this place.
reviewed
-
T
San Francisco Zoo
Even those who object to zoos in theory have been known to break down and take kids here after being begged for, oh, the thousandth time - only to discover that, actually, there are some well-kept habitats here, including a Savannah featuring giraffes, zebras, ostriches and other African wildlife.
On Christmas day 2007 the zoo made headlines for all the wrong reasons when a Siberian tiger escaped from its enclosure, killing one person and injuring two others.
reviewed