American Cities You Didn't Realize Had Incredible Zoos

Standards for top - tier up zoos have restfully gone , as they say in the monkey house , banana tree . No longer are American zoos the pro forma brute gaol of 10 past ; now it ’s reasonable to demand open - air instinctive habitats and straggle eco - parks . Also , we need to see weird - ball animals , and to be able-bodied to interact with those animals like old chums . We desire to see the zoo kicking fucking on conservation and saving work . We want zoo design to rent us watch the animals from above , or below , or from inside a human enclosing that allows free - ranging critter roll around us , not the other way around . And while we ’re at it , we want zip bloodline , please and thanks .

We all know about the not bad zoos in San Diego and New York , Seattle and St. Louis . And many other large cities like Pittsburgh and Washington , DC swash impressive menagerie deserving a visit if you’rethere for the weekend . But across the commonwealth , some unexpected cities have menagerie that are evenly as interactive and intriguing , if not more so ; most of us just do n’t know about them . Here are 10 that stand out .

Alaska Zoo

Anchorage , AlaskaEven though cruise toAlaska can be jolly amazing , Arctic wildlife is still not better take in from the lido deck . But pay back up close and personal with pivotal bears , lynx , and other Arctic metal money does n’t mean you ’ve got ta go all Into the Wild , either . Head to this 25 - acre chemical compound at the foothill of the Chugach Mountains where , in addition to more than 50 species of creature , you may also visit the only saving facility in America for injured , desert , and orphaned polar bear . They probably wo n’t be tossing around beach ball and fuddle Coca - Cola , but you could at least go in the wintertime ( it ’s undefended year - round ) when they ’ll be most participating .

Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium

Omaha , NebraskaIn Arizona , they build giant domes to keep the desert out . In Nebraska , they build up one to keep it in . The zoo ’s landmark desert dome is the large glazed geodesic line noodle IN THE WORLD , and houses the world ’s big indoor desert – with replicas of the Namib , Sonoran , and Red Center desert . The cellar also feature the world ’s largest exhibit of nocturnal brute .

Outside the dome , you’re able to visit the primate exhibit , where gorillas roam and visitors are go along confine ( effectively creating the most interactional exhibit of its kind – and yes , those are thegorillasbehind several viral video recording ) and the Lied Jungle , America ’s largest indoor rain forest . The 28 - Akka African Grasslands exhibit , by far the zoo ’s most challenging project , is also particular for viewing elephants , Giraffa camelopardalis , and cheetahs , among others .

The Living Desert Zoo

Palm Desert , CaliforniaWhile the zoo in Omaha make a desert in the eye of the plains , this Southern California menagerie make exuberant plains in the middle of the desert . Founded to preserve ecosystem in the Colorado Desert , this parking lot now represents desert mood from around the man and is home to 50 gardens with 1,400 different plant species . Desert animate being wander somewhat freely around this huge menagerie . As amble through , you may spot the like of Giraffa camelopardalis , pigmy hedgehogs , and African idle dogs , all in the gullible surroundings you ’ll bump in Palm Desert that does n’t let in a pro shop class .

Brevard Zoo

Melbourne , FloridaSeeing live alligators on your Florida holiday might not even require leaving the hotel swimming pool , but watching them eat is far less terrifying at this Space Coast zoo . Every mean solar day there are alligator and crocodile feedings where you’re able to marvel at the power of a gator ’s jaw latch on to something that ’s not your pegleg . An unusually fighting menagerie ( for guests that is ) , Brevard is the only one in the state to tender kayak tours through some of the showing , where you might fleck a Giraffa camelopardalis or Aepyceros melampus while paddling . you could also zip - line around with the monkeys , or perhaps take your kids to cool off under the “ shit tank ” in the Rhizophora mangle forest .

Riverbanks Zoo

Columbia , South CarolinaEven though there ’s a palmetto on the state flag , South Carolina is seldom think of as " tropic . " The exclusion is the state capitol ’s zoo , where visitor can find shark and eel in the 55,000 - gal Pacific coral Rand tank and then wander over to the Asian Trek or Savanna Camp to look for birds from tropic Asia , Africa , and South America . But that ’s just the warm - up : this zoo has more than 2,000 animals , let in giraffes ( which you may feed from a specially designed overlook ) , four Galapagos tortoises , and penguin .

Fort Worth Zoo

Fort Worth , TexasThis 64 - acre creature extravaganza arrive complete with a water park , shooting gallery , and 25 - foot rock - climbing wall . It ’s almost as much an brute - theme musical theme parking lot as it is a zoo ( there are of course rides and bodily function for smaller kids , too , like a carousel , express gear , and pet menagerie ) . Be sure to check out the Museum of Living Art , an architectural marvel modeled after the Texas landscape painting itself , where you’re able to see nearly 6,000 amphibian and reptiles ( include a Burmese python and a king cobra ) . Open - atmosphere brush areas reserve visitant to take the air among iguanas , toads , and various other species that wo n’t have you concern they ’d like to snack on you .

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

Gulf Shores , AlabamaWhile the self - proclaimed " little zoo that could " swash as many lions and tigers and bear as other spectacular city zoo , the real attractions here are the brute coming upon . For about $ 10 per someone , the adeptness allow visitant to reserve some one - on - one time with sloth , kangaroos , reptiles , lemurs , and/or tamanduas – those are a kind of lil ’ anteater , if you did n’t jazz , and they are very adorable . So if you have children and want to give them an animal experience that does n’t involve tap their college fund , it ’s worth a sojourn on your next head trip to theRedneck Riviera .

Toledo Zoo

Toledo , OhioNorthwestern Ohio might not be the first place you ’d expect of obtain yourself gazing at an African savannah , but that ’s exactly why this zoo is so circumstantially unbelievable . From a series of elevated viewing platforms , you ’ll experience like you ’re on another continent as you scan for the gnu , giraffes , warthogs , and other African fauna . Before , of course , stepping down a long incline and into the globe ’s first Hippoquarium , an underwater observation room where you may take in hippo life below the waterline ( oh , and you may sometimes see what the inhabitants are up to viawebcam ) . If you get tired of walking , there ’s always Aerial Adventure – an aerial obstacle form for you to traverse while look down at the animals from above .

Indianapolis Zoo

Indianapolis , IndianaThis menagerie contains around 1,400 beast and while all of them are cool , the bounteous draw here is that it ’s the only place in the Midwest where you canswim with dolphins . Or , wade with dolphins , really – you do n’t actually need to be able to swim , though you do require to be over the eld of 6 . If that ’s not you or you just in person find dolphin kind of meh , spend your special time at the Simon Skjodt Orangutan Center . Not only does it domiciliate one of the large orangutan chemical group in the country , but it ’s a wide far-famed research and preservation adeptness that patronage reforestation projection in the orangutans ’ nativeBorneo .

And if you have some extra coin to drop ( $ 285 for non - members , though evidently this admit price of admission and all that ) try a one - of - a - B. B. King Art Adventure , where you converge up with the talented beast of your pick – penguin , elephant , rhino , pinniped ( like a seal or walrus ) and , yes , dolphin again – to have them paint you a custom employment of graphics .

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Colorado Springs , ColoradoThere are great opportunity here to hand - provender some of the animals , but one of the best things about Cheyenne Mountain zoological garden is the open - air chairlift you may take to enjoy spectacular views of both the animals below you and the whole besiege view of Colorado Springs around you . This is also perhaps the best zoological garden to visit if you like giraffes – they have the prominent herd in the country ( check out thelive - stream cams ) and you could learn them stampede through the subject space .

The zoo is involved in a phone number of different conservation exertion , including contributing to different field computer programme that re-introduce endangered species into the wild as well as raising awareness about thepalm petroleum crisisthat ’s endangering wild orangutans .

Living Desert Palm Springs