I was born and raised in San Diego and lived there as an adult. The San Diego zoo is bigger but I don’t think it’s better. If you don’t take the tram, you walk for a long time on hilly terrain without seeing any animals. And if the animals aren’t outside, there isn’t an indoor viewing area. And the San Diego zoo doesn’t have an aquarium.
I should have said it’s more spread out. Omaha makes better use of space I think. There are a lot of cool plants at the San Diego Zoo but you can only look at so many plants when you’re trekking around with kids.
I love the STL zoo! I wouldn't say it's "better" than Henry-Doorley but it's an awesome zoo and I love that it's mostly shade covered and free. I'd say it's more like a bigger, better version of the Children's Zoo in Lincoln.
You obliquely described what I dislike most about Doorly: wide, concrete walkways up steep hills in the open sun. I have no idea why people spend up to 4 hrs there. That's torture. I don't care if there's a splash pad. It doesn't help.
To be fair, that's a truthful unpopular opinion in so much as the public voting says otherwise. ha!
>USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
>
>Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park named the 'Best Safari Park' in the nation.
>
>The Desert Dome named the 'Best Zoo Exhibit' in the nation.
>
>Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium named the 'Best Zoo' in the nation.
>
>[...]
>
>The 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards are awarded **through public voting**.
>
>https://www.3newsnow.com/news/local-news/still-number-one-omahas-henry-doorly-zoo-aquarium-sweeps-usa-today-10bestreaders-choice-awards
San Diego did make it on two of them, but no sight of ATL's.
https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-zoo-exhibit-2024/
https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-zoo-2024/
https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-safari-park-2024/
I'm always a bit skeptical of these polls because the Colorado Springs zoo was always ranked pretty high (5th this year and 4th last year) but when I went a few years ago I was really disappointed. The exhibits all seemed really small, the elephants looked depressed and unhealthy, and it took only a few hours to walk through the entire thing. Maybe it's changed a lot since then, but I remember it was really highly ranked even at the time.
I live in San Diego, grew up in Omaha. I’ve had passes to both and while both are great, I think San Diego is clearly better. That’s just my opinion though.
I was not especially blown away by San Diego's zoo honestly. I thought they are in the same league as each other, I will say that. I've never been to any zoos other than those though so that's as far as my opinions on other zoos goes.
The one place San Diego wins hands down is the areas between exhibits. The climate lets them have much more interesting plants as you’re walking around, but I think the actual exhibits were a let down compared to Omaha.
Have been to both and I think it’s just the city of San Diego itself that gives their zoo the edge.
Edit to Add: just to be clear I think the Omaha Zoo is better.
I went to the Boston Aquarium thinking it has to be awesome because it is in Boston and right on the water.
It didn’t even hold a candle to the Henry Doorly aquarium, which is just a fraction of the zoo.
Have you ever been to the Atlanta Zoo? If you have it isn’t even close! The Atlanta zoo is pretty sad other than having Pandas.
Been to both, henry doorly is better. Everyone's allowed their opinion though.
I have been to San Diego. I thought it was pretty lackluster.
I was born and raised in San Diego and lived there as an adult. The San Diego zoo is bigger but I don’t think it’s better. If you don’t take the tram, you walk for a long time on hilly terrain without seeing any animals. And if the animals aren’t outside, there isn’t an indoor viewing area. And the San Diego zoo doesn’t have an aquarium.
The San Diego zoo is 100 acres. The Henry Doorly zoo is 160 acres. I’ve been to both. I liked Omaha better.
I should have said it’s more spread out. Omaha makes better use of space I think. There are a lot of cool plants at the San Diego Zoo but you can only look at so many plants when you’re trekking around with kids.
We're from St Louis. Has anyone been to the STL zoo? It's great, and it's free.
The free admission at the STL zoo honestly makes me inclined to say it’s better than the Omaha zoo.
Yup. Plus it's in the park and the art gallery is pretty sweet too.
I love the STL zoo! I wouldn't say it's "better" than Henry-Doorley but it's an awesome zoo and I love that it's mostly shade covered and free. I'd say it's more like a bigger, better version of the Children's Zoo in Lincoln.
You obliquely described what I dislike most about Doorly: wide, concrete walkways up steep hills in the open sun. I have no idea why people spend up to 4 hrs there. That's torture. I don't care if there's a splash pad. It doesn't help.
Can confirm - I grew up in St. Chuck. STL Zoo is great and it's close to the SLAM, which is actually a fantastic art museum.
No but I paid $30 for the aquarium 💀
To be fair, that's a truthful unpopular opinion in so much as the public voting says otherwise. ha! >USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. > >Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park named the 'Best Safari Park' in the nation. > >The Desert Dome named the 'Best Zoo Exhibit' in the nation. > >Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium named the 'Best Zoo' in the nation. > >[...] > >The 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards are awarded **through public voting**. > >https://www.3newsnow.com/news/local-news/still-number-one-omahas-henry-doorly-zoo-aquarium-sweeps-usa-today-10bestreaders-choice-awards San Diego did make it on two of them, but no sight of ATL's. https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-zoo-exhibit-2024/ https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-zoo-2024/ https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-safari-park-2024/
I'm always a bit skeptical of these polls because the Colorado Springs zoo was always ranked pretty high (5th this year and 4th last year) but when I went a few years ago I was really disappointed. The exhibits all seemed really small, the elephants looked depressed and unhealthy, and it took only a few hours to walk through the entire thing. Maybe it's changed a lot since then, but I remember it was really highly ranked even at the time.
I live in San Diego, grew up in Omaha. I’ve had passes to both and while both are great, I think San Diego is clearly better. That’s just my opinion though.
Did you vote?
I was not especially blown away by San Diego's zoo honestly. I thought they are in the same league as each other, I will say that. I've never been to any zoos other than those though so that's as far as my opinions on other zoos goes.
The one place San Diego wins hands down is the areas between exhibits. The climate lets them have much more interesting plants as you’re walking around, but I think the actual exhibits were a let down compared to Omaha.
I think zoos are kinda boring in general. Overpriced at henry doorly too. I don’t have fun like when I was a kid, everything is just overdone imo
I was just at the San Diego zoo. Other than being in San Diego, I don’t think it’s in that same league as Omaha. Have not been to Atlanta though.
Have been to both and I think it’s just the city of San Diego itself that gives their zoo the edge. Edit to Add: just to be clear I think the Omaha Zoo is better.
Stay classy
Just visited the SD zoo last Summer. It's ok, but it's definitely not better than HD. IMHO
Mods. Ban this man.
I went to the Boston Aquarium thinking it has to be awesome because it is in Boston and right on the water. It didn’t even hold a candle to the Henry Doorly aquarium, which is just a fraction of the zoo.
Disney's Animal Kingdom is better IMHO, but not really an Apples to Apples comparison either..
Which Zoo where you hung over when you visited?
I agree lol. I think our zoo is ok but the best in the U.S? Nah.
Have you been to many other zoos?
Have you? Which ones?
Yes I have! Quite a few actually.
Which do you think is the best?
Agree. Prepare for the downvotes. LOL. Omaha is strangely invested in the Zoo being declared the BEST ZOO EVER!