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Zoos in Winter: Good Value, Great AttractionsThey're not just for the summer anymore(Branford, Conn.) – School vacations are approaching. The kids are looking for entertainment and you are looking for trips that won’t break the bank. Zoos have come along way in recent years, so don’t think this is entertainment just for the kids. Each zoo is different – different animals, different environments, different programs. No longer do the animals live behind bars on concrete pads. Zoos today have constantly changing exhibits and activities in addition to well-thought-out permanent displays that duplicate natural habitats. In America’s Best Zoos: A Travel Guide for Fans and Families, zoo aficionados Allen W. Nyhuis and Jon Wassner have explored all the major zoos in the country. There’s sure to be one for your family to visit within driving distance. With admissions in the neighborhood of $10 to $15 for adults and less for kids, zoos are a fun and educational way to introduce children to the wonderful world of wildlife at a price that is kind to the budget. In fact, the authors of America’s Best Zoos highlight the “Edutainment” aspect of each zoo they’ve explored and include a section “For the Kids.” They emphasize, however, the overall attraction for everyone, so don’t think that a visit to the zoo is geared just for kids. Zoos are indeed seeing an upswing in visitors, thanks to the economic downturn, which has resulted in families seeking close-to-home travel destinations. That’s no surprise since zoos are such fun places. The following zoos, described in detail in America's Best Zoos, are an especially good value this season. The Nashville Zoo saw a 16 percent increase in 2009, attracting more than 615,000 visitors, resulting in a new attendance record. Zoo officials say that along with the economy, new animal attractions have also drawn visitors, including white tiger cubs, eight zebras and a pair of anteaters; three clouded leopards, born during the summer, have also been on view since the fall. Nyhuis and Wassner encourage people to visit zoos during inclement weather and even during the winter since they’re less crowded and many offer indoor exhibits. The Nashville Zoo is no exception and offers guidelines for winter visits. Zoo keepers evaluate weather conditions to determine how long animals such as African wild dogs, primates and tropical birds will be outside. If it’s real chilly (below 40 degrees) some animals may be inside or have access to their inside areas during the day. At the Nashville Zoon, Nyhuis and Wassner highlight the Bamboo Trail, featuring an aviary for rhinoceros hornbill birds; an African Savanna with a spectacular three-acre elephant habitat; and the Unseen World, which showcases the small creatures of the Western Hemisphere. For those of us who are enchanted by Meerkats, there’s the Corrieri Meerkat Exhibit with a clear glass bubble that enables you to view them up close and personal. The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has seen more than a million visitors for 17 years straight. For 2010, look for a crew of robotic prehistoric beasts and a “stinky” new exhibit, the Scoop on Poop, which is sure to amuse the kids. The authors describe the zoo’s RainForest building as “truly world class.” It features a 25-foot waterfall in the Atrium, the Medicine Trail, a dense jungle path lined with medicinal plants, the Amazon River basin housing giant anteaters, porcupines, sloths, ocelots and more, and the Asian Primates section, which features langur monkeys and orangutans. Other exhibits include WolfWilderness, the replica of a trapper’s lodge with views of beavers, gray wolves and a bald eagle habitat, African Savanna and the Primate, Cat & Aquatics Building. Kids will be particularly enchanted by Australian Adventure. Its biggest attraction is the Yagga Tree (also called My Tree House), a 55-foot-tall artificial baobab tree where kids can cross a swaying suspension bridge to a lookout. Then there’s Kookaburra Station, a working sheep farm; Lorikeet Aviary; and the Boomerang Line train ride. The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is an especially good value through April 2 since admission is discounted to $7 per person, $5 for kids ages 2 to 11 and free for kids under 2. Other zoos experiencing an uptick in traffic are the Indianapolis Zoo and the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens. While the Indianapolis area has been hard hit by the recession, attendance at the Indianapolis Zoo increased although visitors came for shorter stays. They will be sure to flock back for upcoming attractions such as Tropical Adventures, a lush green retreat from winter. Running through March 15, the exhibit is a tropical oasis complete with towering palm trees and many varieties of tropical plants. Planning ahead, children can now be registered for summer Zoo and White River Garden Camps. The camps are designed with age-appropriate activities to discover and appreciate wildlife. The crown jewel of the Indianapolis Zoo, according to the authors of America’s Best Zoos, is the Oceans complex. Going beyond being a fish aquarium, the exhibit is home to aquatic mammals and penguins. There are re-creations of the northern California coastline, coral reefs and creatures such as sharks, seahorses, polar bears, dolphins and gigantic walruses. From the Plains observation point, visitors can view zebras, antelope and ostriches, then move on to a “veldt” yard to see giraffes (which can be hand-fed at scheduled times for an additional charge!), gazelles, lions and more. Kids will be thrilled to interact with domestic animals (such as a Scottish Highland cow and a Norwegian fjord horse) from around the world at the Encounters biome and inside at the Critter Corner, which features the zoo’s education program animals. The Cincinnati Zoo saw its attendance numbers rise in 2009. Right now, there are two big attractions: Penguin Days, running through Feb. 28 and the Arabian Sand Cats, Naja and Fath, who were born in October and recently put on display. They most definitely rate a 10 on the cute barometer. The kittens’ parents are a specially selected breeding pair from Al Wabra Reserve in Quatar. The Cincinnati Zoo also offers Wild Winter Nights, tailor-made for this time of year; the next ones are scheduled for Feb. 20 and March 13. The overnight experience enables families to “den up” to see how animals spend winter nights. They can see how animals get their food when the ground is covered with snow and explore how animals adapt to winter. In addition, Nocturnal Adventures and overnight Family Camp Outs are scheduled for the spring. Rare Sumatran rhinos are on exhibit in the U.S. only at the Cincinnati Zoo. Known to be hard to breed, they’ve done well there and have produced offspring. Creatures small and large can be found, from Southeast Asian walking beetles of Insect World to the herd of endangered Asian elephants of Schott Vanishing Giants. In addition, the Spaulding Children’s Zoo helps connect kids with the likes of California sea lions, wolves and parrots, as well as locally found animals such as the river otter, turkeys and skunks. Don’t let the winter – or the economy – hold you back from visiting your local zoo. In addition to the already-reasonable admission fees, many zoos offer all-inclusive packages and family memberships that make them an even better value. America’s Best Zoos: A Travel Guide for Fans and Families, by Allen W. Nyhuis and Jon Wassner, is published by the Intrepid Traveler and can be purchased online at http://www.intrepidtraveler.com/store/travel-books.html. America’s Best Zoos can also be found on Amazon and at your local bookstore. For more information on Allen Nyhuis, click here
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