For those considering a staycation, as opposed to a much more costly vacation a visit to a local or regional zoo might be something that the entire family will enjoy. Just load everyone into the family car, pack a delicious picnic lunch and off you go.
A zoo will take you away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Alternately, if you are from a small town or rural area, it will open a window to places that are both interesting, as well as entertaining.
From Wikipedia we learn that the term "zoological garden" refers to zoology, the study of animals. The abbreviation zoo was first used by the London Zoological Gardens which was opened for scientific study in 1828 and to the public in 1857. The number of major animal collections open to the public around the world now exceeds 1,000, around 80 percent of them are in cities. In the United States alone, zoos are visited by over 180 million people annually.
Watching majestic animals living in a special environment, similar to their native habitat, can be an amazing way to spend a day, or even two. My favorite way to spend time at the zoo is watching the monkeys. I am never quite sure whether I am watching and studying them, or if they in turn are focusing on me. It is a bit unnerving to watch them looking at me and then chattering and laughing among themselves.
Have a listen and watch and hear the monkey talking to you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I2lRD4KCrI
Whether it is performing dolphins, slithering snakes or stalking lions, people of all ages enjoy watching, from babies in arms to senior citizens. People love the majestic elephants, the gorillas that sit and stare back at us, the beautiful multi-colored birds and countless other species of fascinating species.
While there are countless zoos across our great nation, some of the best in the east are the Bronx Zoo in New York and the Philadelphia Zoo. Travel down to Miami and visit Zoo Miami.
Going west a tad, we find three zoos to visit in Cincinnati, St. Louis and Memphis. In the Midwest, zoo goers are treated at two zoos in Chicago (Brookfield and Lincoln Park) and one 90 miles north from there in Milwaukee. Â
For those down in Texas, the Houston Zoo is the place to go and out west, the zoos in Denver and San Diego are great destinations.
These are just a partial list heralded by many to be at the top of the A List. Now that you are anxious to take a walk on the wild site, here is a very comprehensive listing of zoos by state with links to all their websites.
http://www.zookingdoms.com/statelistofzoos/statesZOOlist.html
