America's Best Zoos: A Travel Guide for Fans & Families - Softcover

Allen W. Nyhuis; Jon Wassner

Softcover

ISBN 10: 188714076X ISBN 13: 9781887140768

Publisher: UNKNO, 2008

Synopsis

Animals are hot! Animal Planet rules TV ratings. The Lion King reigns on Broadway. March of the Penguins was boffo. Polar bear cub Knut is an international celebrity. Zoos are educational, cheaper than amusement parks, fun for the whole family, and attract more visitors than spectator sports. America's Best Zoos is a comprehensive guide to a true family entertainment bargain. Arranged geographically for touring convenience, it gives detailed descriptions of top zoos across the country.

About this title

From the Author:

It's a common misconception that all zoos are alike. This erroneous belief keeps many people from adding zoos to their travel itineraries. People ask, "We already have a good zoo in our hometown, so why should we want to see some other zoo?" The fact is, though, that each zoo is different, and some are unique. The tropical foliage at the Jacksonville Zoo is quite different from the evergreens of Portland's Oregon Zoo. An African savanna exhibit in the desert at the Phoenix Zoo is not at all similar to the savanna at the urban Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. Some zoo exhibits, such as the Bronx Zoo's Congo Gorilla Forest or the Lied Jungle in Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo, are unparalleled. Koalas, okapis, giant otters, and even moose are displayed at very few zoos, and there are still fewer than half a dozen U.S. zoos where you can go to see a giant panda. Thus, visiting a new zoo is almost guaranteed to be a very different experience than a visit to your local zoo.

Together, we have visited all sixty of the "Best" zoos featured in this book, many of them more than once. We have visited these zoos as tourists, often with family members (including children) accompanying us, and we have been careful to notice what would interest the typical visitor. Our hope is that this book will inspire you to visit more zoos around our nation, and that it will make your experience of these zoos even more rewarding.

From the Back Cover:

A day at the zoo makes every family road trip a cherished memory!

There's a reason America's zoos attract more visitors annually than all major pro sports combined. Zoos are . . .
* Educational for kids . . .
* Entertaining for adults . . .
* Great fun for the whole family!
* Reasonably priced - sometimes even free!

And each of America's 60 best zoos offers a unique experience, with spectacular habitats and, more often than not, a few animals you never knew existed. From the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson, which celebrates the mystical landscape right outside its gates, to the Tulsa Zoo's evocation of a steamy tropical rainforest and Columbus Zoo's grizzly-inhabited North American woodland, this book guides you to the best places in the country to come nose-to-snout (or beak) with creatures large and small.

Lifelong zoo buffs, Allen Nyhuis (who's been writing about zoos for over a decade) and Jon Wassner (a zookeeper) put their heads together to pick the 60 best zoos in the country and the top zoo exhibits in 20 categories, including best children's zoos. They give you an in-depth tour of each zoo, calling out must-see exhibits, live shows and educational programs, and special attractions for youngsters. Plus . . .
* Zoo touring tips
* Driving directions from major highways
* A guide to unusual animals you may see
* A glossary of animal and habitat terminology
* An index that pinpoints where your favorite animals live

Arranged geographically to inspire zoo-themed vacations, America's Best Zoos is an indispensable resource for animal lovers, zoo fans, and families.

About this edition

• Publisher: UNKNO
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 188714076X
• ISBN 13: 9781887140768
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 320