iluvpink
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,370 
Location: Michigan
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Post by iluvpink on Oct 12, 2021 18:27:48 GMT
I have two zoos just over 50 miles from our house. Been to both many times. Also been to the Toledo Zoo in Ohio a couple of times, the Toronto Zoo and I think one somewhere down south when I was a child. Maybe others I'm not recalling at the moment.
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Post by jlynnbarth on Oct 12, 2021 18:28:26 GMT
When we lived in San Diego, we went to the Zoo and Wild Animal Park on a regular basis. Now that we live in Eastern Wa we don't have any large zoos to visit. We have a wildlife refuge called Cat Tails, that has some large cats (Tigers, Lynx, Puma, etc..), some black bears, coyote, wolf and foxes. I've never been. The kids went with school once when they were little, but they never asked to go again, so we just never went.
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iluvpink
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,370
Location: Michigan
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Post by iluvpink on Oct 12, 2021 18:31:52 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. 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.) We've seen dolphins while swimming at Hilton Head a number of times. Once we were in the intercoastal area and there were a couple of dolphins VERY close to us. It was so cool! |
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smartypants71
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Location: Houston, TX
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Post by smartypants71 on Oct 12, 2021 18:34:25 GMT
We're about 5 or so miles from the zoo and go about 4-5 times a year.
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Post by epeanymous on Oct 12, 2021 18:49:06 GMT
Seattle has a pretty zoo that is about a ten-minute drive from my house. I don't go now, really, but when my kids were very young, it was great (shady in the summer, indoor play area in the winter). I had a membership for about a decade.
Tacoma isn't that far from Seattle either, and also has a really nice zoo -- we probably went about twice a year when the kids were younger.
We haven't been to a zoo since COVID started -- I would actually take my kids now (just not eat indoors), but they haven't shown any interest.
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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on Oct 12, 2021 19:14:19 GMT
No zoo within driving distance.
As a child, back on the east coast, there was a zoo about 1.5-2 hours away so there was a once or twice a year visit either a Family outing or School field trip.
As an adult (in my early 20's) I've been a couple times, while on a group vacation. Catering to the family friendly, younger kids type activities.
This is when I also figured out that I do NOT enjoy group vacations. Too many personalities and ways of doing things, ways of "how I like to vacation", etc...
These days, Zoo would be at the bottom of my list in regards to vacation activities and priorities.
These days, I usually decline any group vacation invites. If I am going to spend the funds necessary for a vacation....then I want to do the things I want to do and go places that I want to go to.
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Post by calgaryscrapper on Oct 12, 2021 19:29:30 GMT
Sometimes, if you have a Zoo membership other Zoos accept it as a reciprocal membership for free.
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Post by bc2ca on Oct 12, 2021 19:33:40 GMT
We had a Woodland Park Zoo membership for the 7+ years we lived in Seattle. It was one of our favorite places to go even just for a couple hours. We had San Diego Zoo Safari Park memberships for the first few years living here. IIRC, getting memberships for the kids was a great deal that included parking and guest passes that DH & I used. Now we only go if someone is visiting from out of town and wants to see it. The only other place I've been to a zoo was in Honolulu when the kids were young. It wasn't nearly as nice or interesting as Woodland Park. In all the years I lived in Vancouver, I've never been to the zoo there. I don't know if it is still the same, but I vividly remember driving past it on the way to the US border and seeing an elephant chained up at the entrance.  |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 7, 2024 15:16:57 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2021 20:03:26 GMT
We are rural, so no real zoos, but we are fortunate to have quite a few forest preserves nearby. <3
I loved that when my kids were growing up we always lived within 10 minutes of a zoo - it was so nice to go whenever we wanted.
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Chiara27
Junior Member
Posts: 89
Oct 5, 2019 18:58:25 GMT
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Post by Chiara27 on Oct 12, 2021 20:26:08 GMT
My children are older now, so taking time out of the day to go to the zoo is low priority… but we have two zoos within an hour drive, plus a smaller children’s zoo and another zoo/amusement park. Zoos are great places for field trips and if they’re close enough to visit often then a membership is a great value.
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Post by birukitty on Oct 12, 2021 20:40:27 GMT
I'm about a 45 minute drive from the National Zoo in Washington DC but I haven't been in almost 20 or more years. I used to love going and seeing all of the animals but at some point something changed within me and now I can't stand seeing all those animals in captivity. Especially animals like elephants who shouldn't be in zoos as they need the room to roam. This feeling has become even stronger lately as I've learned how much more perceptive and intelligent animals are than I thought they were. I believe they are truly sentient beings. They feel joy, pain, form close bonds, and we shouldn't be locking them up in cages for people to stare at.
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Post by hennybutton on Oct 12, 2021 21:09:49 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. Are you in Orange County? We have the Santa Ana Zoo. It's good for preschoolers and that's about it. |
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Deleted
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Oct 7, 2024 15:16:57 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2021 21:44:42 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. Are you in Orange County? We have the Santa Ana Zoo. It's good for preschoolers and that's about it. No, and I dont think I have heard of that zoo. There is also that place in San Clemente area that has the Zee-Donk and guinea pigs. |
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Post by snugglebutter on Oct 12, 2021 21:55:25 GMT
We are about 20 miles from the zoo. We've had passes a few times but I find the drive kind of a beating. I expect that we will get the pass again in the next year or two now that my youngest can really enjoy it.
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scrappinwithoutpeas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,998
Location: Northern Virginia
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Post by scrappinwithoutpeas on Oct 12, 2021 22:03:40 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...We also live close to the National Zoo, and used to take the kids when they were younger (including as teens). Haven't been in a few years though. I agree - it really is nice that it's free! They loved the elusive red panda, and we always made a point to go when there was a new giant panda cub or other new babies. Ah, good memories! There is a notice on the website events page ( link) that neither Boo at the Zoo or Zoo Lights are happening this year (2nd year in a row for cancellation  ). |
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purplebee
Drama Llama
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Post by purplebee on Oct 12, 2021 22:12:39 GMT
I’m about 50 miles from a fairly decent zoo, but just have no desire to go. It’s been at least 15 years since we were there. Just not a fan of zoos anymore.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Oct 13, 2021 2:04:30 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? Even though we lived over an hour away, we had an annual family membership there when my boys were young and went a lot. It’s a nice zoo. |
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gina
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,305
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Post by gina on Oct 13, 2021 2:07:26 GMT
The Bronx Zoo is about 45 min from me. I have taken my kids maybe 3 times. I just generally don't enjoy zoos.
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Post by ~summer~ on Oct 13, 2021 2:08:31 GMT
We have 2 great zoos close - the Oakland and San Francisco zoos and when kids were little we always had memberships and went regularly.
On the one hand I really enjoyed them - but it also made me sad to see the primates and large mammals in captivity.
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Post by freecharlie on Oct 13, 2021 2:13:54 GMT
So I checked over 50 miles, but the Denver Zoo is approximately 60 miles away.
We were members when the kids were little and went quite often.
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Post by lisacharlotte on Oct 13, 2021 3:18:35 GMT
I live about 4-5 miles from a popular zoo. Haven’t been in a while but really need to see the new exhibits.
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rickmer
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,137
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Post by rickmer on Oct 13, 2021 11:54:53 GMT
i had to pull out my phone for this one. nearest zoo is 34 km away so just over 20 miles. it's pretty big and have only been a handful of times (maybe 3 or 4?).
very spreadout (good for the animals i suppose) but a lot of walking (other places i would rather go).
i did have a science centre and museum annual pass off and on when kids were little - both within 10kms of us. we went there dozens and dozens of times. good memories.
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Post by lisae on Oct 13, 2021 12:03:27 GMT
Our state zoo - the only one in the state I'm aware of - is 2 hours away and isn't close to anything else I've ever needed or wanted to go to. I've been twice in my life. I did visit a fun bird sanctuary a few years ago when traveling in another part of the state. It was even further from 'civilization.'
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Oct 13, 2021 15:49:08 GMT
The Bronx Zoo is about 45 min from me. I have taken my kids maybe 3 times. I just generally don't enjoy zoos. The Animal Planet channel has a tv show that's 'behind the scenes' at the Bronx Zoo; that is actually a VERY good show-- it shows the conservation and educattion work they do, the care they take of the animals, the work that goes into their displays, and the connections the keepers have with their animals, etc. |
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Post by workingclassdog on Oct 13, 2021 16:12:28 GMT
Denver Zoo is probably 20 miles from me... it's very nice, probably a couple of years since we have been.
Colo Springs Zoo is an hour or hour and half.. it's so cool... haven't been in years.
The Wildlife Sanctuary which isn't a zoo per say but they take in unwanted bears, tigers and lions mostly.. I live about 15 miles from there... maybe a little further out. Been there once. It's amazing. You walk on piers over the animals while they are free to roam around. Years ago they were supposed to take in 15 tigers/lions from overseas, I can't remember the story, but it was a big deal. They even opened a huge area for them. All the plans fell through at the last minute though.
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huskergal
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Post by huskergal on Oct 13, 2021 18:34:02 GMT
The Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha is about 30 minutes away. It is a great zoo. When the kids were younger, I always got a pass. I bought a pass this year so I can take my granddaughter. I hadn't been in about 4 years. I was amazed by all the improvements. Dh and I went to one of the adult after hours nights. That was fun.
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Post by lisacharlotte on Oct 13, 2021 20:14:07 GMT
The Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha is about 30 minutes away. It is a great zoo. When the kids were younger, I always got a pass. I bought a pass this year so I can take my granddaughter. I hadn't been in about 4 years. I was amazed by all the improvements. Dh and I went to one of the adult after hours nights. That was fun. It’s been a few years since I’ve been. They have been busy with updates!! |
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