Who says that you need to take a ride in safari to have an adventure with the animals? Save the money and get some great exotic experience without having to spend a fortune. Zoos for kids are great fun and learning experience.
America’s zoos make dream come true with making the wild trek a reality. For kids, the trips to the zoo are always fantastic time with a worthy day visit. Living their ‘Zootopia’ moment for a day, kids cannot be more happy and elated. With plenty of unusual animals such as mountain lions and zebras etc. which are found in America’s natural habitats. The best part about zoos for kids is the adventure and the fresh environment when they connect to the wildlife and exploring the nature with family and friends. Whether you plan to visit New York, Miami or San Diego, you must take some time out to check out clouded leopards, Indian rhinos, and many more such amazing animals in the best zoos for kids.
1. Memphis Zoo:
The most amazing and family’s favorite destination for Memphis’ Overton Park, the Memphis Zoo gives the visitors an inside look at the life and shelter to 3,500 plus animals. A comprehensive schedule that keeps the visitors enthralled, highlighting a multitude of animal feeding time, stage shows, etc. to educate the visitors. The zoo’s new jellyfish which is one of such experiences is a must-see along with plenty of ocean’s most mystical creatures that are accompanied by the octopus and pot-bellied sea horses in sparkling dazzling tank displays.
2. San Diego Zoo in San Diego:
One of the most renowned zoos in the county, and even in the world, San Diego’s zoo which was founded in 1916 serving as a home to more than 3,700 animals which are from more than 650 species and subspecies. Of this, there are lovely three giant pandas, bonobo apes and Asian and African elephants. Check out the extensive experience which gives the behind-the-scenes peek at the zoo with is a great experience along with the “Keeper of the Day” program and hop on Skyfari which is an aerial tram to get the birds-eye view of the beautiful zoo and it’s habitats to plan your next move. While animals are the main attraction in zoos, it also gives the veritable wonderful experience, also having been accredited as a botanical garden featuring more than 1 million plants. With a good 35 minutes guided bus tour, offering a 70% of the coverage of zoo.
3. Bronx Zoo:
Right from tourists to locals is alike flock to the Bronx Zoo, one of the nation’s largest metropolitan animal park, spreading around 265 acres. The zoo was opened in 1899 with more than 4000 animals demonstrating 600 species in an environment that shows off a variety of habitats including African plains, Asian forests and Himalayan Mountains. This experience is a must for the visitors especially for those who forget there is mere subway ride from America’s most massive city. Gear up to get a close-up and personal with the beastly Siberian tigers at Tiger Mountain with a sprawling view enclosure that goes through the Wild Asia Complex, recreating Asian rain forest, full of native birds and leopards, gibbons, lizards and many more. Get a glance at the variety of wildlife while riding through the Wild Asia Monorail, a safari in a miniature which winds through the enclosing houses with elephants, antelope, rhinos, horses, and deer. You might want to plan a little early before it gets buzzing and crowded on a weekend or make a visit on a weekday or off seasons during winters.
4. Denver Zoo:
This zoo was established in 1896 with the donation of one American black bear. The facility stretches to 80 acres in the Denver’s City Park and provides a home to more than 4125 animals of 613 different species. One of the primary American zoos to have naturalistic habitats for animals instead of cages and bars for their display. The first bear in the zoo triggered the formation and construction of Bear Mountain which was followed by Primate Panorama, enclosing enormous open tents made up of the mesh where animals could move freely. This zoo caters to more than 600 research and conservation projects in around 60 countries. The zoo has one of the most popular activities in close animal encounters to witness where visitors get to be backstage and see animals like gorillas, birds, elephants, snakes, and others. They also get to learn their stories about lives from keepers.
5. St. Louis Zoo:
Top attractions located at St. Louis, Missouri’s sparking Forest Park. The St. Louis Zoo serves as a home to many animals, with more than 600 species covering 90 acres of 1371 acre park. St. Louis Zoo is outstanding for its commitment towards sustaining preservation of animals and natural humane exhibits. Visitors flock to the zoo during summers to meet a polar bear who weigh about 850 pounds or more.
6. Philadelphia Zoo:
America’s one of the oldest zoos which was opened in 1874 in the city of Brotherly Love and even today it entertains visitors with habitats featuring about more than 1300 animals and spreads across 42 acres near West Fairmount Park. The zoo is relatively smaller in size which makes it easy to enjoy most of the attractions and cover the zoo in a day’s time. Highlights in Philadelphia zoo includes the PECO Primate Reserve pavilion which has gorillas and orangutans as well as First Niagara Big Cat Falls, where kids and elders enjoy seeing tigers, lions, jaguars, and leopards. It is fun, especially during the feeding times. Families enjoy together the McNeil Avian Center, a rain-forest habitat when there are more than 100 species of varied bird from around the world. Choosing for a unique experience riding in the Channel 6 Zooballoon, a 30-passenger helium balloon which raises up in the sky 400 feet giving a great experience to look at the zoo from a bird’s eye view. It offers glimpses of giraffes, zebra and even the Philadelphia skyline which looks mesmerizing. At the end, paying a quick visit to Reptile and Amphibian House which stimulates thunder and lightning “storm” to give a beautiful environment to look also refreshes the creatures.
7. Indianapolis Zoo in Indianapolis:
The Midwest Zoo that is very attractive and has constant visitors from all over the region looking for a lot of special experience. From the opportunity to swim alongside with dolphins and observe more than 14000 animals and 31000 plants that are grouped with the meticulous habitats along with deserts, plains and forests. “Animal Art Adventures” with the zoo’s participants to collaborate with animal artists and make beautiful paintings with the aid of zookeepers, elephants, dolphins, penguins, rhinos and seas which are among the park’s artists.
8. Lincoln Park Zoo:
The marvelous zoo which is open 365 days a year is located near the Michigan Lake in Chicago’s Lincoln Park. The Lincoln Park Zoo is one of the country’s only free for admission zoos which remains busy during the summer season with the recently added African Lions both 20 months old sisters – Zalika and Kamali. The Lincoln Park is spread in 35 acres of prime city land and with 200 different species of animals. You will find rarest of the animals like Japanese macaques which are the old world monkey hardly seen in today’s world, red pandas and Eastern black rhinoceros, along with the most favorites in zoo-like zebra, giraffes and a hall of reptiles. The zoo has its emphasis on the efforts on conservation and science, working in hand with organizations around the globe like Jane Goodall Institute and the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance to study and protecting animals while they live peacefully in the natural habitats.
9. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium:
The zookeeper – “Jungle Jack” Hanna whose frequent appearances in television on shows like Late Night with David Letterman helped in making him an animal- loving legend, is also a director emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium easing them to earn a great reputation as one of the best zoos in America. Hanna let them refurbish the Columbus Zoo’s 588 acres, build its flock of animals to some 7000 and spreads the grounds to include the water park and theme park with wide beautiful golf course. The zoo exhibits Animal Encounters Village, the largest exhibit outside Florida with a 100000 gallon coral reef exhibit and an African forest that features gorillas, bonobos, apes including first gorilla – Colo which was born in captivity in 1956 and now being the oldest living one in captivity elsewhere in the world.
10. Cincinnati Zoo: Best in America:
The zoo which was opened in 1875 in Cincinnati’s Avondale neighborhood, the Botanical Garden and Cincinnati Zoo which is one of the oldest zoos in the States. With 65.4 acres in the heart of the city, has been expanded to 75 acres. It offers a shelter to 1896 animals’ variating to 500 species. The zoo has had programs on breeding which has been a great success and is the first to breed California sea lions. However, it also breeds a number of other animals which are endangered such as Sumatran rhinoceros, South African Cheetah, western lowland gorillas, Masai giraffe, Malayan tigers, and pottos. The last passenger pigeon which is still living named as Martha spent her last days in Cincinnati Zoo. Baby hippo which is now included as the latest attraction is a great fun to see for kids. The baby hippo was born in Jan 2017.
11. Dallas Zoo:
A 106 acre zoo which is located about 3 miles from the Dallas downtime in Marsalis Park is a beautiful on which was established in the year 1888 with two deer and only two mountain lions is still the largest one and oldest zoo in the Texas. It provides home to about 2000 animals from 406 different varied species. The major attractions are the Gorilla Research Center and the Chimpanzee Forest, Koala Walkabout, Penguin Cove, Endangered Tiger Habitat and the Giants of Savanna, a 2 acre habitat which has been designed to look like re-growing logged forest. Many visitors can see the Malayan tigers and Sumatran tigers through a glass viewing area and with plenty of pathways through the sunny and shaded areas with narrow pools, running stream, deep channels and rocks and climbing trees.
12. Disney’s Animal Kingdom:
Walt Disney is a world-famous theme park and attraction for all the visitors from around the world also has the Animal Kingdom spread across 500 acres and offers the guests the facility to communicate with more than 1700 animals and about 250 species or more. The park has habitats which are divided into 7 areas including Asia, Africa, Camp Minne-Mickey and DinoLand USA. While the Disney’s Animal Kingdom has an expected assortment of wildlife such as elephants, hippos and zebras, it has also earned a name for its rides and attractions including the Expedition Everest high altitude roller coaster that is indeed breathtaking. The Kali River Rapids raft ride, Wildlife Express Train and the Kilimanjaro Safaris Expedition. There are also everyday performances also makes Disney’s Animal Kingdom exceptional: shows like Finding Nemo, The Musical and Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade, featuring about 60 characters and cast members including stilt walkers and puppets.
13. Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle:
The zoo which is at New York City, one of the most famous one which has a number of awards won for a North American zoo, Seattle’s Woodland Park strenuously makes its animals natural habitats. Take a look at the African lions, zebras and giraffes roaming the “African Savannah,” gray wolves, brown bears, and snowy owls which populate in the “Northern Trail” and red pandas and Kunekune pigs from the “Temperate forest” Fun, immersive experiences given by the zoo has Brew at the Zoo craft beer tasting place and premium, behind-the-scenes trips to specific habitat with proceeds promoting the zoo’s conservation efforts.
14. Houston Zoo:
The zoo noted to be a home for more than 6000 animals of more than about 900 species, is an expansive collection of attractive wildlife for almost more than 2 million visitors each year. The zoo is more than just animal habitats and education with an emphasis on the fun for kids and family with attraction like Wildlife Carousel and the Kathrine McGovern Water Play Park, a 13500 square-foot filled in water for fun zone. Houston Zoo recently got in gorillas back after a decade with lovely creatures, the unrevealing new facility for western lowland gorillas to explore and play.
15. Alaska Zoo in Anchorage:
When you do not have too much of time to view the arctic animals in their natural climate, which makes the Anchorage zoo an outstanding one among the country’s parks. Populated by animals which have evolved to survive the frigid conditions- think snow leopards, reindeer, Canadian lynx and muskoxen – a snowy wonderland that also acts as a rescue facility for the injured, orphaned or abandoned polar bear cubs. Expect a few unique hands-on visitor experiences, including with the park’s wolves “Animal Encounters” or its big cats where visitors can participate in making diet, cleaning and training, providing enrichment and train the animals alongside zookeepers.
