Top 10 Best Zoos in the USA

Many of us love a wonderful outing to the zoo. You can learn about many different types of exotic or endangered animals all while enjoying a pleasant day with the family. There are plenty of opportunities across America for you to get a chance to visit your favorite animals and learn about what their life is like in the wild. Whether you are looking to head to the world famous San Diego Zoo, where some of the best habitats for captive animals exist or looking for something more centrally located like the Columbus Zoo, there is a destination that is perfect for you to enjoy wildlife from around the world. Here is a list of the top 10 best zoos in the USA.

1: San Diego Zoo, San Diego, California

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Your visit to San Diego Zoo not only supports the animals and varied number of habitats, but also their work in conservationism, the upkeep of their safari park and the reputation "revamps" they are doing to reverse the negative stigmas attached to animals like the hyena whose existence actually does a lot of good for the planet. They have superb habitats such as freshwater supporting hippos, temperate forests housing pandas, and savannas home to African elephants. It is truly a zoo that prides itself in diversity and quality- two necessary ingredients for an enjoyable, informative day.

Address: 2920 Zoo Dr, San Diego, CA 92101

Website: zoo.sandiegozoo.org

2: Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, Nebraska

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This zoo was ranked the number one zoo in Family Fun Magazine, and it certainly works to uphold this reputation. Starting this summer the facilities will also offer Stingray Beach, an interactive area where children and adults alike can come see how the stingrays live. Also opening summer 2014 are Camel Rides, whose name speaks for itself. The zoo also offers the Bernice Grewcock Butterfly and Insect Pavilion, where one can completely immerse themselves in the habitat and life of these small, interesting creatures. The zoo prides itself in offering many lively and interactive exhibits, and visitors certainly have their choices cut out for them upon entering the Henry Doorly Zoo.

Address: 3701 S 10th St, Omaha, NE 68107

Website: www.omahazoo.com

3: St. Louis Zoo, Saint Louis, Missouri

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The St. Louis Zoo covers a massive area, but is so well organized that this size hardly matters. Much of the zoo is divided into what St. Louis Zoo refers to as "Zoo Zones," basically different habitats and exhibits. River's Edge is a newer exhibit featuring bush dogs, black rhinos, capybaras, Asian elephants, red river hogs, sun bears, and many, many more. The Discovery Corner is an interactive area full of the Children's Zoo, Monsanto Insectarium, and the Living World, where visitors can discover butterflies, meerkats, goats, fennec foxes, tree kangaroos, insects, guinea pigs, and alpacas.

Address: 1 Government Dr, St. Louis, MO 63110

Website: www.stlzoo.org

4: Columbus Zoo, Columbus, Ohio

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The Columbus Zoo's diverse and beautiful selection of animals in the exhibits includes but is certainly not limited to the African Leopard, the Asian small-clawed otter, the Bornean Sun Bear, the bobcat, the flying fox bat, the Mexican Wolf, and the red panda. New and exciting exhibits now available include the Heart of Africa and Dinosaur Island, which are both thrilling and informative. The zoo is now also proud to present its Zoofari event, something you don't want to miss out on this summer!

Address: 4850 W Powell Rd, Powell, OH 43065

Website: www.columbuszoo.org

5: Bronx Zoo, New York, NY

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The Bronx Zoo seeks to "connect people to wild nature." Part of this entails having impressive exhibits that closely resemble the animals' natural habitats. Some of its world-class exhibits include the Congo Gorilla Forest, the Wild Asia Monorail, Tiger Mountain, and the newest, Madagascar! Some of the Mother Nature's bigger animals are on display here, including tigers, crocodiles, and gorillas. Feedings and enrichment demonstrations happen daily, so be sure to check as to when in order to learn about how the animals are kept healthy throughout the year at the zoo, as well as how they feed and live in the wild.

Address: 2300 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10460

Website: www.bronxzoo.com

6: Audubon Zoo, New Orleans, Louisiana

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The Audubon Zoo offers some unique exhibits, including their sea lions, whose area allows visitors to learn how sea lions live and what they eat. There was recently a new edition in the form of Zoey, the zoo's newest sea lion pup. A zoo would not be complete without a monkey exhibit- so don't forget to head to the World of Primates! There is also a great white shark in 3D movie available on site, as well as live animal encounters in the zoo's Field Camp. With so many fantastic choices you can't go wrong, no matter where you begin your day.

Address: 6500 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70118

Website: www.auduboninstitute.org

7: San Antonio Zoo, San Antonio, Texas

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The San Antonio Zoo supports a number of conservation projects including a whooping crane recovery program, endangered Texas salamanders, California condors and its butterfly conservation initiative. Here is the place where you can witness and admire these lovely yet quickly diminishing animals, and see what the zoo is doing to help their numbers increase. The zoo also offers Animal Encounters, in which visitors can meet with zookeepers, learn about animals, and ask any questions they might have. Education Encounters offer close interaction with animals such as pythons and gibbons and informative sessions.

Address: 3903 N St Mary's St, San Antonio, TX 78212

Website: www.sazoo-aq.org

8: Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, Columbia, South Carolina

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Riverbanks Zoo also claims some pretty unique exhibits of its own, including Lemur Island, the Aquarium Reptile Complex, and the Ndoki Forest. The addition of "Garden" to its name also refers to its accomplished selection of botanical gardens supporting wildlife in its premises. The zoo hosts garden varieties such as Asian, Bog, Woodland Walk, Old Rose, and Shade. There are also a number of animal demonstrations where visitors can have the rare experiences of a penguin feeding, a wreathed hornbill show, a gorilla presentation, a kangaroo talk or see an aquarium dive.

Address: 500 Wildlife Pkwy, Columbia, SC 29210

Website: www.riverbanks.org

9: Memphis Zoo, Memphis, Tennessee

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This is your opportunity to see complete exhibits that put you directly in the place's habitat that they mimic. Go to China and experience the red pandas, enter the primate canyon and see what environment allows them to thrive, go to cat country for the tigers, or explore the dragon's lair and observe the komodo dragons and reptiles. USA Today's member's choice section ranked Memphis Zoo among the top five zoos in the country for a reason: this is the place where you can explore rare animals and unique habitats in their true form.

Address: 2000 Prentiss Pl, Memphis, TN 38112

Website: www.memphiszoo.org

10: Phoenix Zoo, Phoenix, Arizona

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This venue offers you a chance to experience wildlife on a budget; Phoenix Zoo now has its $10 Tuesdays, where entrance is much cheaper but the level of fun stays the same. Phoenix is home to 30 endangered species and is another great advocate of preservation and conservation. From Chilean flamingoes, mandrills and bald eagles to Grevy's zebras, mountain lions and Galapagos tortoises, this place has a spectacular and exciting variety of animals and exhibits to discover!

Address: 455 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008

Website: www.phoenixzoo.org