The Best ZOO in the Country (bigger, downtown, states, living)

[HeyHolliday!]

San Diego is the best zoo in the country without a doubt.

[openheads]

Originally Posted by NewYorkNewYorkNewYork

How do I vote for both New York zoos as the best? Cuz' those are the top two zoos in the county, nah mean...

^^^^ Has never been to San Diego.

[Psykomonkee]

I haven't been to some of the zoos on this list, but of the zoos I've been to, I think San Diego's is the best time.
Atlanta's isn't very impressive to me. Neither is Maryland Zoo. I DO like the Bronx Zoo, but I like San Diego's better. I do like the zoo in Phoenix. I hear the zoo in Reno is nice...

BUT, although San Diego, & Bronx seem to be better zoo experiences to me, neither beats the National Zoo for only ONE reason...

You just can not beat FREE!!!! Yes, Washington DC's National Zoo is FREE!!!

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by Psykomonkee

I haven't been to some of the zoos on this list, but of the zoos I've been to, I think San Diego's is the best time.
Atlanta's isn't very impressive to me. Neither is Maryland Zoo. I DO like the Bronx Zoo, but I like San Diego's better. I do like the zoo in Phoenix. I hear the zoo in Reno is nice...

BUT, although San Diego, & Bronx seem to be better zoo experiences to me, neither beats the National Zoo for only ONE reason...

You just can not beat FREE!!!! Yes, Washington DC's National Zoo is FREE!!!

St Louis Zoo is better than National Zoo and it's free too.

[slengel]

the st. louis zoo is far superior to the national zoo (also free).

[Psykomonkee]

Originally Posted by kcmo

St Louis Zoo is better than National Zoo and it's free too.

Okay, okay... Like I said, I haven't been to some of the zoos on that list, so I could only speak on the Zoos I've been to...
Only zoos I've been to are:

Washington National Zoo
Baltimore Maryland Zoo
Zoo Atlanta
Phoenix Zoo @ Papago
San Diego Zoo
Bronx Zoo
Brooklyn Prospect Park Zoo
Central Park Zoo
Orlando's Disney Animal Kingdom
San Diego Wild Animal Park
New Orleans Audubon Zoo
Los Angeles Zoo


I never said I thought National Zoo was all that great. It's okay... But definitely not as nice as the Zoos out west. (Seems like the further west I go, the nicer most things get). Only thing about the National Zoo that catches me is that "FREE" admission. Now, never been to St. Louis' Zoo, so I don't know...

I've actually never even heard anything of St. Louis' Zoo. I've heard that Omaha, Columbus and Reno all have nice Zoos.

[Psykomonkee]

Where does your town's zoo rank???

1. Saint Louis Zoological Park - 22,805 Animals. 810 Species. 90 Acres
2. Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo - 17,000 Animals. 962 Species. 130 Acres
3. Detroit Zoo - 6,800 Animals. 270 Species. 125 Acres
4. Houston Zoo - 6,000 Animals. 900 Species. 55 Acres
5. Columbus Zoo & Aquarium - 5,804 Animals. 746 Species. 250 Acres
6. San Diego Zoo - 4,000 Animals. 800 Species. 100 Acres
7. New York/The Bronx Zoo - 4,000 Animals. 650 Species. 265 Acres
8. Pittsburgh Zoo - 4,000 Animals. 475 Species. 77 Acres
9. San Antonio Zoo - 3,500 Animals. 750 Species. 35 Acres
10. Denver Zoo - 3,500 Animals. 650 Species. 80 Acres
11. Memphis Zoo - 3,500 Animals. 500 Species. 76 Acres
12. San Diego Zoo Safari Park - 3,500 Animals. 400 Species. 1,800 Acres
13. Phoenix Wildlife World Zoo - 3,500 Animals. 600 Species. 95 Acres
14. Wichita Sedgwick County Zoo - 2,500 Animals. 500 Species. 247 Acres
15. Chicago/Brookfield Zoo - 2,300 Animals. 450 Species. 216 Acres
16. Portland Oregon Zoo - 2,200 Animals. 260 Species. 64 Acres
17. Zoo Miami - 2,000 Animals. 500 Species. 740 Acres
18. Washington, DC National Zoo - 2,000 Animals. 400 Species. 163 Acres
19. New Orleans Audubon Zoo - 2,000 Animals. 350 Species. 58 Acres
20. Baltimore, The Maryland Zoo - 2,000 Animals. * Species. 161 Acres
21. Cincinnati Zoo - 1,896 Animals. 500 Species. 65.4 Acres
22. Dallas Zoo - 1,800 Animals. 406 Species. 106 Acres
23. Milwaukee County Zoo - 1,800 Animals. 350 Species. 200 Acres
24. Orlando/Disney Animal Kingdom Park - 1,700 Animals. 250 Species. 500 Acres
25. Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Gardens - 1,700 Animals. 100+ Species. 110 Acres
26. Tampa Lowry Park Zoo - 1,700 Animals. 200+ Species. 56 Acres
27. Indianapolis Zoo - 1,500 Animals. 320 Species. 64 Acres
28. Philadelphia Zoo - 1,500 Animals. 300 Species. 42 Acres
29. Metro Richmond Zoo - 1,400 Animals. 150 Species. 70 Acres
30. Zoo Atlanta - 1,300 Animals. 220 Species. 40 Acres
31. Minneapolis/St. Paul Como Park Zoo - 1,300 Animals. 125 Species. * Acres
32. Kansas City Zoological Park - 1,300 Animals. * Species. 202 Acres
33. Louisville Zoo - 1,300 Animals. 100+ Species. 135 Acres
34. Phoenix Zoo - 1,300 Animals. 237+ Species. 125 Acres
35. Chicago Lincoln Park Zoo - 1,250 Animals. 225 Species. 35 Acres
36. Buffalo Zoo - 1,200 Animals. 320 Species. 23 Acres
37. Asheboro North Carolina Zoo - 1,100 Animals. 250 Species. 1,371 Acres
38. Los Angeles Griffith Park Zoo - 1,100 Animals. 250 Species. 113 Acres
39. Seattle Woodland Park Zoo - 1,098 Animals. 300 Species. 92 Acres
40. Boston Franklin Park Zoo - 1,000 Animals. 220 Species. 72 Acres


Other Zoos to note:
*New York City Central Park Zoo - * Animals. 150 Species. 6.5 Acres (Smallest on list)
*Brooklyn Prospect Park Zoo - 627 Animals. 141 Species. 12 Acres
*San Francisco Zoo - 930 Animals. 230 Species. 100 Acres
*Oakland Zoo - 440 Animals. 125 Species. 100 Acres
*Nashville Zoo - * Animals. 260 Species. 200 Acres

[kcmo]

Yea, I would say St Louis and Omaha are the best. Been to both MANY times. The San Diego Zoo is great but highly overrated and overpriced, not to mention overcrowded (with tourists, not animals).

[Craziaskowboi]

Originally Posted by Psykomonkee

8. Pittsburgh Zoo - 4,000 Animals. 475 Species. 77 Acres

Does this include the PPG Aquarium as well? And if you're a monkee, then don't you belong in the zoo?

I always enjoyed going to the Pittsburgh Zoo when I was younger.

[Natural510]

San Diego and Columbus.