List and Rank The North American Zoos You Have Visited!

Slightly edited as I moved DAK down a bit. I'm conflicted on that establishment as it is difficult to evaluate it solely as a zoological establishment and their crowning achievement along with the gorilla exhibit is the savanna, which can only be seen on a ride that goes through it rather quickly. Certainly a big factor in its favor is it lacks depressing or even below average exhibits and I believe is a bar-less zoo.

 

1. San Diego (2015, but visiting next month)
2. Henry Doorly (2009)
3. Bronx (2014)
4. SD Safari Park (2015, visiting next month)

5. North Carolina (2017)
6. Woodland Park (2016)
7. National (2016)
8. Miami (2016)
9. Columbus (2009)
10. Toronto (2017)
11. Disney's Animal Kingdom (2017)

12. Kansas City (2009)
13. Philadelphia (2015)
14. LA (2015, visiting next month)
15. Denver (2015)
16. The Living Desert (2015)
17. Phoenix (2007)
18. Hogle (2016)

19. Audubon (2014)
20. Maryland (2017)
21. Virginia (2015)
22. Oakland (2012)
23. Lincoln Park (2009)

24. Central Park (2012)
25. World Wildlife (2006)
26. Pittsburgh (2014)
27. Space Farms (2017)
28. Hershey (2014)
29. Prospect Park (2014)

30. Out of Africa (2007)

31. Santa Ana (2013)
32. Salisbury (2015)
33. Orange County (2013)
34. Brandywine (2015)

Added Space Farms to the list.

 

Update to my list:

San Diego Zoo
Woodland Park Zoo
Oregon Zoo
San Diego Wild Animal Park
Point Defiance Zoo
Disney's Animal Kingdom
Northwest Trek
Wildlife Safari
Cougar Mountain Zoo
Crococun Zoo
Wildlife Images

Aquariums

1. Odysea Aquarium
2. Oregon Coast Aquarium
3. Seattle Aquarium
4. Interactive Aquarium
5. Portland Aquarium (Closed)

 

My list along with brief explanations.


Zoos

1. San Diego Zoo

Nothing on my list even comes close to this place (except maybe the Safari Park). Excellent exhibit density along with many stellar areas (Ituri Forest, Tiger Trail, Gorilla Tropics, Bonobos, Monkey Trail, Aviaries, Asian Cats, Reptiles, African Penguins). Elephant Odyssey isn't that terrible and many other areas of the zoo are quite nice, and the Skyride is a great mode of transportation. Cons include Urban Jungle, Children's Zoo and Bear Canyon as well as the large crowd sizes.​

2. San Diego Zoo Safari Park

It's isolation, theming, and open air design provide an amazing sense of immersion in this world-class institution. Other than Hidden Jungle and some of the Nairobi Village small enclosures no part of this zoo is bad, something I can't say about the zoo. The included attractions at this zoo (Bird Show, Africa Tram, and Cheetah Run) provide both a respite from the walking (of which there's a lot) and a unique way to view animals which cannot be provided in a normal zoo. Other highlights include Mombasa Lagoon, Lion Camp, Tiger River, and African Woods + Outpost (especially the waterfall hoofstock, stork, and duck enclosure near the start of Outpost). Elephant Valley has a plentiful herd size which I believe makes up for its relative barrenness.​

3. Toronto Zoo

Although it is a great zoo with some nice areas (Indo-Malaya and the Rain forest pavilion), its size lends itself to a disproportionate amount of walking to actual animal viewing.
However its collection and lack of any terrible areas puts it in the upper half of my list.​

4. Lincoln Park Zoo

Kovler Lion House is abysmal but a collection of great exhibits (African Journey, Apes, Reptile and Small Mammals, and Macaque Forest) and some other good areas (Birds, Hoofstock, and Children's Zoo) make up for it. They put this small but free zoo in 4th place​

5. Maryland Zoo in Baltimore

One of the biggest drawbacks to this place is the collection, with only 2,000 total animals (I couldn't find the species number) spread out over just three locales. However, a stellar children's zoo and relatively nice exhibits throughout make for an enjoyable experience.​

6. Naples Zoo

Even smaller than the Baltimore Zoo but the Primate Cruise and Alligator bay provide decent immersion and the inclusion of Honey Badgers provide a relatively rare and intriguing species to view.​

Aquariums

1. National Aquarium in Baltimore

Two amazing immersive exhibits (Australia and Upland Trop. Rain Forest) headline this incredible aquarium. Other amazing areas include the Shark and Reef stack as well as Blacktip Reef. The setup is also quite nice with the large open middle area always providing views of BR as well as a well-placed whale skeleton. The main exhibtry surrounding said open space is great, providing a diverse selection, great theming and ample size. The Jellies area also holds a great and well designed collection.​

2. Ripley's Aquarium of Canada

A small aquarium no doubt but simply packed with stellar tanks. The Canadian Waters is a nice entryway which leads into an amazing Kelp Forest. Dangerous Lagoon is a great tunnel experience, and Discovery Centre provides more immersion. The other areas are all excellent and the final walk through the the life support systems works well. However, it's size does hold it back from the number one spot.​

3. Sea World San Diego Disclaimer: I work here

Judging this place solely on its merits as an aquarium many great areas are found, including Shark Encounter, Turtle Reef, Aquaria, and the Freshwater Aquariums. Penguin Encounter exhibits some rare species in great numbers, but its glass's fogginess detracts from the experience. While superbly themed and providing relatively rare species, Wild Arctic's enclosures are too small to make it a great exhibit. Finally and indeed most controversially, I view the Orca collection as a positive. For all the hooplah they attract, many forget that there are only four places in North America that one can view Orcas, with three of them being SeaWorld's and one being a solitary individual in MarineLand.​

4. Shedd Aquarium (Please don't eat me)

I really don't understand why many like this aquarium so much the main central exhibitry is nothing stellar and Amazon Rising environmental focus (its main goal) didn't really add to my aquarium experience. The only top tier exhibit here is Wild Reef. The Oceanarium was a huge letdown, as its component exhibits are fairly meh, especially with the belugas being located in a barren tank.​

These zoos are visited but beyond memory
- National Zoo
- Philadelphia Zoo

 

Its has been a couple of years since my original post in this thread so I figure it is time for an update:

Zoo Rankings

1. Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, Omaha, NE (April 2016)
2. St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis, MO (May 2017)
3. Minnesota Zoo, Apple Valley, MN (April 2017)
4. Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, IL (September 2016)
5. Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL (January 2017)
6. Milwaukee County Zoo, Milwaukee, WI (August 2016)
7. Great Plains Zoo, Souix Falls, SD (September 2017)
8. Como Zoo, St. Paul, MN (May 2017)
9. Henry Vilas Zoo, Madison, WI (September 2015)
10. Red River Zoo, Fargo, ND (August 2015)
11. Northeastern Wisconsin (NEW) Zoo, Green Bay, WI (March 2017)
12. Racine Zoo, Racine, WI (August 2016)
13. Lake Superior Zoo, Duluth, MN (March 2016)
14. Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary, Green Bay, WI (March 2017)
15. Lincoln Children’s Zoo, Lincoln, NE (April 2016)
16. Animal Haven Zoo, Weyauwega, WI (August 2017)
17. Safari North Wildlife Park, Brainerd, MN (August 2017)
18. Chahinkapa Zoo, Whapeton, ND (August 2015)
19. Hemker Park & Zoo, Freeport, MN (August 2017)
20. International Crane Foundation, Baraboo, WI (October 2016)
21. Zollman Zoo, Rochester, MN (January 2016)
22. Menominee Park Zoo, Oshkosh, WI (August 2017)
23. Pine Grove Zoo, Little Falls, MN (August 2017)
24. Irvine Park Zoo, Chippewa Falls, WI (March 2016)
25. Cosley Zoo, Wheaton, IL (September 2016)
26. Timbavati Wildlife Park, Wisconsin Dells, WI (October 2016)
27. Oschner Park Zoo, Baraboo, WI (September 2015)
28. Bear Den Zoo, Waterford, WI (August 2016)
29. Jo-Don Farms, Inc., Franksville, WI (August 2016)
30. MacKenzie Wildlife Center, Poynette, WI (August 2017)

Aquarium Rankings

1. Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, IL (March 2017)
2. SEA LIFE Minnesota, Bloomington, MN (March 2016)
3. Great Lakes Aquarium, Duluth, MN (March 2016)

* Facilities in bold-italics indicate ones that are AZA-accredited

 

Are these just the ones you’ve been to?

 

Yep, just list and rank the zoos in North America that you have visited.

 

1. Columbus Zoo
2. Disney's Animal Kingdom
3. Busch Gardens Tampa
4. Smithsonian National Zoo
5. Roger Williams Park Zoo
6. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
7. Maryland Zoo
8. Toronto Zoo
9. Rosamond Gifford Zoo
10. Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo
11. Stone Zoo
12. Virginia Living Museum
13. Maine Wildlife Park
14. Franklin Park Zoo
15. St Augustine Alligator Farm
16. ZooAmerica
17. Ross Park Zoo
18. Seneca Park Zoo
19. Buffalo Zoo
20. The Wild Animal Park (NY)
21. NYS Zoo at Thompson Park
22. Oatland Island Wildlife Refuge (GA)
23. Erie Zoo
24. Utica Zoo
25. York's Wild Kingdom
26. Adirondack Animal Land (NY)

Aquariums
1. Newport Aquarium
2. Florida Aquarium
3. National Aquarium (Baltimore)
4. Maritime Aquarium
5. Mystic Aquarium
6. Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
7. North Carolina Aquarium at Roanoke
8. National Aquarium (D.C.) Sea World Orlando
9. Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium Maine State Aquarium
10. South Carolina Aquarium
11. Niagara Falls Aquarium
12. New England Aquarium
13. Epcot's The Living Seas
14. ViaAquarium
15. Maine State Aquarium
16. Marineland (CA)

 

Wonderful list

 

Smithsonian National Zoo

Philadelphia Zoo

Columbus Zoo & Aquarium

National Aquarium

Cape May County Park & Zoo

Disney's Animal Kingdom

ZooAmerica

Elmwood Park Zoo

Adventure Aquarium

Six Flags Off Road Safari

The Seas with Nemo and Friends

Claws n Paws Wild Animal Park

Brandywine Zoo

Seaport Aquarium

Bucks County Zoo

 

What made you rank toronto below baltimore?

 

I see Roger Williams Zoo high on your list. I'll be going there later this week. Is there a reason why you ranked it so high? Thanks!

 

Well, I've visited many North American zoos. I guess I'll give this a go (ratings out of 10 are in brackets).

Typical Zoos and Safari Parks:

1. Bronx Zoo (9.9)
2. Lowry Park Zoo (9.7)
3. Toronto Zoo (Local zoo, 9.6)
4. Zoo Atlanta (9.3)
5. North Carolina Zoo (9.2)
6. Cleveland Zoo (9.1)
7. Cincinnati Zoo (9.0)
8. Detroit Zoo (8.95)
9. Columbus Zoo (8.9,) [would be higher if I visited again]
10. Brookfield Zoo (8.8)
11. Pittsburgh Zoo (8.75) [would be higher if I visited again]
12. Assiniboine Park Zoo [Winnipeg] (8.72)
13. Calgary Zoo (8.7)
14. Parc Safari [Hemmingford, Quebec] (8.69)
15. Lincoln Park Zoo (8.67)
16. Binder Park Zoo (8.65)
17. African Lion Safari (8.63)
18. Fort Wayne Children's Zoo (8.6)
19. National Zoo (8.5)
20. Central Park Zoo (8.48)
21. Zoo de Granby (8.45)
22. Maryland Zoo (8.4)
23. Toledo Zoo (8.3)
24. Safari Niagara [Niagara Falls area] (8.0)
25. Erie Zoo (7.7)
26. Rosamond Gifford Zoo (7.5)
27. Edmonton Valley Zoo (7.0)
28. Utica Zoo (6.7)
29. Seneca Zoo (6.5)
30. Bowmanville Zoo [Closed] (6.3)
31. Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo (6.0)
32. New York State Zoo (5.5)

Aquariums:

1. Georgia Aquarium (9.9)
2. Shedd Aquarium (9.8)
3. National Aquarium [Baltimore] (9.5)
4. Vancouver Aquarium (9.0)
5. Clearwater Marine Aquarium (8.5)
6. Florida Aquarium (8.0)
7. Ripley's Aquarium of Canada [Toronto] (7.8)

Theme Parks (animal portions only):

1. Disney's Animal Kingdom (9.7)
2. Busch Gardens [Tampa] (9.4)
3. Sea World Orlando (8.0)
4. Marineland of Canada [Niagara Falls] (4.0)

Well, that's about it. I will update the list next time I visit any zoo, aquarium, or theme park with animals.
-TheWalrus

 

It was mostly due to the fact that I haven't been to the Toronto Zoo since i was a young kid and I don't remember most of it. What I do remember was great. And were talking a long time ago as in the old Polar Bear exhibit and the Komodo Dragons were brand new. If I go again im sure it would rank higher.

I liked that outside of the Elephants and Giraffes it focused on mostly smaller animals and didn't try to do more than they could handle. Each section was well done, I especially enjoyed the Marco Polo Trail exhibits. I can't wait to return to see the renovated Rainforest building.

 

Traditional Zoos
1. Brookfield Zoo
2. Minnesota Zoo
3. Milwaukee County Zoo
4. Chicago Lincoln Park Zoo
5. NEW Zoo & Adventure Park (A little biased, it's my home zoo)
6. Henry Vilas Zoo
7. Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary
8. Como Park Zoo and Conservatory
9. Special Memories Zoo
10. Animal Haven Zoo
11. Glacier Ridge Animal Farm
12. DeYoung Family Zoo
13. Manitowoc Lincoln Park Zoo
14. Timbavati Wildlife Park
15. MacKenzie Center
16. Wildwood Zoo
17. Menominee Park Zoo
18. Ochsner Park Zoo
19. Wisconsin Rapids Municipal Zoo
Zoos I've been to but don't remember enough to rank are San Diego Zoo, Smithsonian National Zoo, Lakewood Zoo (Closed), and Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Aquariums
1. Shedd Aquarium
2. SeaLife Minnesota
3. Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
4. Discovery World: Reiman Aquarium
I have been to SeaWorld Orlando, The Seas at Epcot, and the Aquarium of the Pacific, but I don't remember them much.

Natural History Museums with live animal collections
1. Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
2. Smithsonian Museum of Natural History
3. Milwaukee Public Mueseum

Special Collections:
1. International Crane Foundation
2. Butterfly Gardens of Wisconsin

 

Zoos

1. Bronx Zoo
2. National Zoo
3. Zoo Miami
4. Toronto Zoo( Local zoo)
5. Brookfield Zoo
6. Disney Animal Kingdom
7. Busch Gardens
8. Rosamond Gifford Zoo
9. Pittsburgh Zoo
10. Lincoln Park Zoo
11. Granby Zoo
12. African Lion Safari
13. Central Park Zoo
14. National Aviary(in Pittsburgh)
15. High Park Zoo


Aquariums

1. Georgia Aquarium( easily)
2. Shedd Aquarium
3. National Aquarium in Baltimore.
4. Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
5. SeaWorld Orlando
6. Clearwater Aquarium
7. National Aquarium in Washington

 

Zoos

1. Columbus
2. Lincoln Park
3. Bronx
4. Brookfield
5. Toledo
6. Cleveland
7. Pittsburgh
8. The Maryland Zoo
9. Toronto
10. Cincinnati
11. Louisville
12. Detroit
13. Philadelphia
14. Turtle Back
15. Zoo Atlanta
16. National Zoo
17. Prospect Park
18. Akron
19. Buffalo (home zoo)
20. Rosamond Gifford
21. John Ball
22. Binder Park
23. Central Park
24. Seneca Park
25. Potter Park
26. Queens
27. New York State Zoo at Thompson Park
28. Utica
29. Oglebay's Good zoo
30. Trevor
31. Binghamton

Aquariums

1. Georgia
2. Newport
3. Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
4. New York
5. Shedd
6. Florida
7. Adventure
8. New England
9. Long Island
10. Maritime
11. the Greater Cleveland
12. Aquarium of Niagara
13. Belle Isle

Other Facilities

1. The Wilds
2. Wolf Conservation Center
3. Clyde Peeling's Reptiland
4 The Wild Center
5. Hidden Valley Animal Adventure
6. Africa Wildlife Safari Park
7. Bird Kingdom
8. The National Aviary
9. Adirondack Animal land
10. Belle Isle Nature Zoo
11. Fort Rickey's Discovery zoo

Total: 55
Top 3: Georgia Aquarium, Columbus Zoo, The Wilds
Bottom 3: Fort Rickey, Binghamton Zoo, Belle Isle Aquarium

 

Oh and I forgot one, Detroit Zoo which was amazing and would probably be in my number 2 slot.

 

Can you elaborate on why you think the shedd ranks higher than the national? I always thought Shedd was overated.

 

I may be tempted to eat you.