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Post by librarylady on Oct 12, 2021 15:42:38 GMT
I have been fortunate to live within 30 miles of visiting a zoo in every place I have lived.
I have relatives who want to visit the zoo each time they come to a city with a zoo because there is no zoo within an easy distance for them. So, I wondered how the peas fared when it came to a zoo visit.
Multiple response allowed in the poll.
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peppermintpatty
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1345
Posts: 3,947
Jun 26, 2014 17:47:08 GMT
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Post by peppermintpatty on Oct 12, 2021 15:49:08 GMT
I'm 30 minutes from the National Zoo in DC so we used to go often. Now that the kids are grown, not so much.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 7, 2024 17:32:43 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2021 15:50:07 GMT
San Diego Zoo is about 100 miles from us and we frequent that zoo a lot.
San Diego Safari Park is 82 miles from us. Frequent that a lot too.
Los Angeles Zoo is about 66 miles from us. I have not been since I was a kid. Not a fan of that zoo.
Living Desert is 60 miles from us. Go there a lot too but only in winter and early spring due to heat.
Santa Barbara is too far for us.
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Post by janamke on Oct 12, 2021 15:51:36 GMT
We have 2 zoos within 20 minute drive of our home. One is free to visit the other requires a second mortgage. When the kids were younger we visited the free zoo more often because they tend to house animals in need of re-homing and have wonderful community enrichment programs. In general I find zoos depressing and sad, I try not to go.
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Post by ntsf on Oct 12, 2021 15:54:18 GMT
the zoo is 2 miles from me.. almost next to the grocery store. I took the kids some when they were young. but haven't gone much lately.
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SabrinaP
Pearl Clutcher
Busy Teacher Pea
Posts: 4,408
Location: Dallas Texas
Jun 26, 2014 12:16:22 GMT
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Post by SabrinaP on Oct 12, 2021 15:56:43 GMT
The zoo is about 15 miles from my house. When the kids were young we had season passes and went a lot. We haven’t been is probably 4-5 years now.
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Post by huskermom98 on Oct 12, 2021 15:56:43 GMT
We live less than 10 miles/30 minutes from a decent zoo, but there were days (as a SAHM with a zoo pass) I didn't want to go when my boys wanted to go because the drive across town is tedious...there were days I would have rather driven 130 miles of interstate to go to the Omaha Zoo instead!
When my boys were younger we always tried to go to a zoo when traveling because it was something they enjoyed & we would always see a new/different animals. As an adult, it wouldn't be my first choice of places to go, but I wouldn't be opposed to going.
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Post by monklady123 on Oct 12, 2021 15:59:50 GMT
You need another option for the poll... "I could go often but I don't". I live just across the river from DC and when my kids were little we went to the National Zoo sometimes. But we haven't been in years and years, and mostly I don't like zoos. They make me sad. I do understand the role of zoos in animal conservation, but still...
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Oct 12, 2021 15:59:55 GMT
the Phx zoo is about 45 miles from where we live... I think we've gone ONCE, and that was connected to a holiday event for the company I worked for at the time. I have mixed feelings about zoos as I've gotten older- I understand that they do important work, I just don't like seeing the animals' smallish living areas, if they aren't very up-to-date, large, open, etc. (smallish compared to them living out in the wild, that is.)
Plus, going to the zoo is freakin' expensive!! We wouldn't go often enough to justify the expense to become members.
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Post by busy on Oct 12, 2021 16:03:09 GMT
The Oregon Zoo is ten miles from us. We go regularly. We have a membership - if we go twice a year, it pays for itself. We go every other month or so.
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scrappert
Prolific Pea
RefuPea #2956
Posts: 7,960
Location: Milwaukee, WI area
Jul 11, 2014 21:20:09 GMT
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Post by scrappert on Oct 12, 2021 16:03:39 GMT
We buy a zoo pass and visit often. It is right in our city and gives us something to do on some weekends. We usually just walk around and people watch more than animal watch!
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Post by 950nancy on Oct 12, 2021 16:04:56 GMT
We've had season passes since my kids were little. Now they are adults and they have passes. It is about a 7 minute drive there and some mornings you can hear the lions roaring.
My zoo is built on the side of a mountain and they are constantly updating the animal structures. The most recent addition is a Water's Edge: Africa. They have penguins that can come out and walk amongst the people, warthogs you can pet, a great lemur area where you can watch the baby lemurs, and the hippos have a huge space to wander and swim. We've got a new baby hippo, Omo, that was born a few months ago and is really adorable. I just can't say enough about this zoo. I grew up in Omaha and they also have a fantastic zoo, but this one has a setting that is like no other zoo.
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Post by janamke on Oct 12, 2021 16:06:55 GMT
the Phx zoo is about 45 miles from where we live... I think we've gone ONCE, and that was connected to a holiday event for the company I worked for at the time. I have mixed feelings about zoos as I've gotten older- I understand that they do important work, I just don't like seeing the animals' smallish living areas, if they aren't very up-to-date, large, open, etc. (smallish compared to them living out in the wild, that is.) Plus, going to the zoo is freakin' expensive!! We wouldn't go often enough to justify the expense to become members. This exactly! The free zoo near us often takes animals that no one else wants. They focus on local, native species vs exotics. It's small. They invite schools into their facilities for a week long in service program. It's really cool. And the story of Fiona the preemie hippo was so amazing. But then I see polar bears in zoos in southern states and it makes my heart hurt. And elephants, they should NEVER be in a zoo.
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sueg
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,420
Location: Munich
Apr 12, 2016 12:51:01 GMT
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Post by sueg on Oct 12, 2021 16:07:58 GMT
Munich zoo is about 20 minutes by public transport from where I live. I have been a few times. My best friend’s daughter, who is like another granddaughter to me, loves the zoo, so I have taken her a couple of times in the past year or so. We also visit whenever my son and his family come here. When my boys were young, we had a family pass to the zoo in Sydney, which was the closest to where we lived then. It also gave us entry to a number of other zoos in Australia, so when we visited family in Melbourne we could go to their zoo too. We got good value from those passes for a few years. I think my DS and DDiL have a family pass to Zoos Victoria now - my DGD loves going to see the animals.
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Post by katlady on Oct 12, 2021 16:09:11 GMT
Everywhere I’ve lived has been within 50 miles of a zoo. We would go often when the boys were young, but I haven’t been to a zoo in years.
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janeliz
Drama Llama
I'm the Wiz and nobody beats me.
Posts: 5,641
Jun 26, 2014 14:35:07 GMT
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Post by janeliz on Oct 12, 2021 16:09:58 GMT
We have a terrific zoo here in Columbia, SC. It’s about a 25 minute drive from my house.
Now that my kids are older, though, I don’t go as often. Maybe once a year?
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Oct 12, 2021 16:12:09 GMT
But then I see polar bears in zoos in southern states and it makes my heart hurt. And elephants, they should NEVER be in a zoo. we went to a 'zoo' once a few years ago in Wisconsin Dells, WI (the 'waterpark capital of the world' basically a tourist trap)... it was more like one of those 'roadside attraction' places. There was a capybara I wanted to STEAL and take HOME with me... they're tropical animals that live in areas with aquatic plants, right? And they're social, living in groups... THIS capybara was by ITSELF, in a small pen with a chain link fence, with ONLY DIRT, and a BUCKET of water to drink from. Like you said, it made my heart HURT to see him look so sad and forlorn. Once we move to St Louis, I do want to take a long weekend trip and go to the Omaha Zoo, though- I have heard wonderful things about it. And the Denver Zoo sounds fabulous. I know zoos are important, if they're doing the work for the right reasons. There's an aquatic place that opened here in Scottsdale a few years ago- OdySea in the Desert. They actually had dolphins when they first opened- and my main thought was WHY!?!? We live in the freakin' desert!! It was basically like those dolphins were living in a bathtub! (4 dolphins died within 2 years... after that they got rid of the dolphins.) ETA: it wasn't OdySea, it was 'Dolphinaris' an exhibit built right next to OdySea, where you could swim with dolphins. (which in my opinion was even worse... if you want to swim with dolphins, you should go somewhere where dolphins are *naturally* like the OCEAN. Not a huge bathtub in the desert.)
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Post by padresfan619 on Oct 12, 2021 16:18:55 GMT
I can walk to the San Diego zoo from my home. We go often just for an hour or so to check out a couple of exhibits and walk back home.
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Post by Prenticekid on Oct 12, 2021 16:21:31 GMT
Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium is about 20 minutes from me. I visit seasonally now. Took the kids more often when they were younger. They now take their kids often.
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Post by JavaJones on Oct 12, 2021 16:31:43 GMT
We live 3 metro stops away from the National Zoo and used to take the kids all the time when they were young. It really helps that the National Zoo is free. They also had wonderful classes for toddler and preschool aged kids that I did with my daughter. Good times Zoo Lights is also a big deal here, but was cancelled last year due to Covid. Not sure if it is happening this year or not...
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Post by Crack-a-lackin on Oct 12, 2021 16:35:24 GMT
We've had season passes since my kids were little. Now they are adults and they have passes. It is about a 7 minute drive there and some mornings you can hear the lions roaring. My zoo is built on the side of a mountain and they are constantly updating the animal structures. The most recent addition is a Water's Edge: Africa. They have penguins that can come out and walk amongst the people, warthogs you can pet, a great lemur area where you can watch the baby lemurs, and the hippos have a huge space to wander and swim. We've got a new baby hippo, Omo, that was born a few months ago and is really adorable. I just can't say enough about this zoo. I grew up in Omaha and they also have a fantastic zoo, but this one has a setting that is like no other zoo. I love your zoo. I planned one of our vacations around being able to feed the giraffes - total highlight for me. We have a beautiful zoo. When I was a SHAM we went to the zoo at least once a week. It was easy, safe, fun, and cheap because we had annual passes and the cafe offered inexpensive pb&j sandwiches for those rare days we ate there. There are so many areas for the kids to just run and play, and then to learn about the animals.
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milocat
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,570
Location: 55 degrees north in Alberta, Canada
Mar 18, 2015 4:10:31 GMT
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Post by milocat on Oct 12, 2021 16:41:32 GMT
I have been to 3 zoos in my life. Edmonton, Calgary and Phoenix. There is one 5 hours from me, Edmonton, it's not a good one.
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Post by littlemama on Oct 12, 2021 16:43:04 GMT
We are relatively close to the Detroit Zoo, but the Toledo Zoo is so much better that we will drive over an hour to go there
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Oct 12, 2021 16:50:08 GMT
We live about 15 min. from a zoo, but haven't been in many years. Once we spent time in Africa and did several safaris it just lost the appeal. I'm not against zoos and think they do amazing work on preserving species, especially the endangered ones. A good zoo can be a wonderful teaching tool for children and adults alike.
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Post by scrapmaven on Oct 12, 2021 16:55:40 GMT
I live near a couple of zoos and never go. I hate seeing animals in captivity unless it's in order to save them or preserve their species.
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kelly8875
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,407
Location: Lost in my supplies...
Oct 26, 2014 17:02:56 GMT
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Post by kelly8875 on Oct 12, 2021 17:24:12 GMT
The nearest zoo is 2 hours away. It's small. The nearest large zoo is 4 hours away.
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RedSquirrelUK
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,899
Location: The UK's beautiful West Country
Aug 2, 2014 13:03:45 GMT
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Post by RedSquirrelUK on Oct 12, 2021 17:37:21 GMT
I have lived a beast of a drive with terrible parking, but only 8 miles away from our city zoo for over 20 years. I've been there twice, with niece and nephew when they were small. That's all.
When we lived abroad for 7 years in 2 different countries, we visited the local zoos many, many times. Our absolute favourite was the night safari in Singapore. We became members. They were further away and more expensive, but the drives and parking were easy. Telling, isn't it? lol
They all focus on climate and species preservation or animal rescue. The only animals that upset us were the big cats.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Oct 12, 2021 17:39:17 GMT
We have two of them within relative easy driving distance. One is no charge but they take donations, the other one you have to pay a small fortune to get in. Both are very modern and nice so there’s no reason for us to go to the paid one very often. We haven’t been to either one in several years, I think the last time was a school field trip and I volunteered to be a class chaperone.
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TXMary
Pearl Clutcher
And so many nights I just dream of the ocean. God, I wish I was sailin' again.
Posts: 2,957
Jun 26, 2014 17:25:06 GMT
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Post by TXMary on Oct 12, 2021 18:13:33 GMT
I live about 30 miles from Cameron Park Zoo in Waco. It's a small zoo but it's very nice. If I lived closer, I would have a membership and use it as somewhere safe to walk, but I don't make it to Waco very often. Maybe once or twice a year we go to that zoo.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 7, 2024 17:32:43 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2021 18:20:47 GMT
The John Ball zoo is about an hour or so from us. Binder Park zoo is about 30 minutes from us. We took the boys to both places when they were younger. We have done a few adult stuff at Binder Park - a beer festival, their Cheetah Chase 5K, a wine tasting, holiday lights.
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