Though at its current location since 1984, the International Crane Foundation has just recently become a more popular attraction in the Wisconsin Dells/Baraboo area. The facility houses each of the 15 species of cranes on a 225-acre complex and offers up-close encounters with one of the world's most endangered birds.
Best and worst time to go to the International Crane Foundation
The International Crane Foundation is only open from April through October and is not crowded on most weekdays throughout the year. However, it does get busy on summer weekends, so the best time to visit is on weekdays in the summer.
Must see/do at the International Crane Foundation
- Whooping Crane Exhibit - The largest exhibit on the property, visitors can sit and watch North America's largest bird in a natural setting.
- Blue Crane Exhibit - In a similar setup to the whooping cranes, this exhibit is one of many that have been renovated.
- Spirit of Africa - Visitors can get really close to the grey-crowned and black-crowned cranes.
Admission to the International Crane Foundation
Admission is charged to the International Crane Foundation. Prices range from $5-10 and discount are given to students and seniors.
Parking at the International Crane Foundation
The International Crane Foundation is not far from I-90/94 and plenty of parking is available on-site.
Public Transportation to the International Crane Foundation
There is no public transportation in the area, but traffic congestion is rarely a problem due to its rural location.
Food at the International Crane Foundation
The International Crane Foundation does not have concessions and only offers a snack bar with water and candy bars. However, there is a picnic area on-site if visitors want to bring their own food.
Insider Tip for Visitors to the International Crane Foundation
Check out the International Crane Foundation in early to mid-June, when the mating pairs' chicks have hatched. Be mindful that they are protective and will charge, so keep a safe distance when viewing them.
Author's bio: Michael Benson is a life-long Illinois resident and an avid traveler throughout the Midwest.
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Tanganyika Wildlife Park is a zoo with a hands-on and up-close approach located in Goddard, Kansas, which is a city located directly to the west of Wichita. The zoo houses over 300 animals, including some of the most rare and endangered species in the state, in an intimate and family centered setting. Tanganyika is known for the interactivity of its exhibits and as such is an ideal day trip for families and nature enthusiasts. The zoo is also popular with school groups due to the knowledge of the Tanganyika staff and its four meeting rooms are perfect for conferences and events.
Best and worst time to go to Tanganyika Wildlife Park
The best time to visit Tanganyika is during the morning between the beginning of May and Labor Day weekend. During this stretch the park is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the combination of intense Kansas sun and animal activity makes the morning the best time to visit. This will also lessen the chance that you will bump into large school groups. Tanganyika is closed from the second weekend of November until spring break week in March. It also runs limited weekend hours in April, September and October, so if you are visiting during these months it is best to check ahead.
Must see/do at Tanganyika Wildlife Park
- Lemur Island: This exhibit is the most unique feature of Tanganyika as visitors are able to come face to face with Ring-tailed Lemurs. Assisted by a zoo guide, guests sit on one of the rocks in the lemur habitat and are given food to hold as the lemurs crawl onto your lap and take the snack for themselves. Tanganyika is one of the only places in North America where this experience is available.
- Feeding Kangaroos: Tanganyika takes the concept of the petting zoo to the next level with an open area where you can walk among, pet and feed kangaroos.
- Baby animals: One of the first areas you encounter when entering the park is a baby animal nursery. Here you can look through the windows into the various cages and see anything from baby snow leopards to baby honey badgers as they are cared for at the zoo.
Admission to Tanganyika Wildlife Park
Admission is free for children two and under and adults 90 and over. Admission for others is between $15 and $18, with discounts for seniors and children under 12. Tanganyika also offered a military discount of 15% for service members. The gate is also the best time to buy passes to feed and interact with the animals at a discount as opposed to buying food in each area.
Parking and Public Transportation to Tanganyika Wildlife Park
The zoo is located just of off of Highway 54/US 400 to the west of Wichita. Public transportation to this area is limited, so people are encouraged to drive to the zoo where free parking is offered on its expansive parking lot. From Wichita just take Kellogg/US 400 west toward Goddard and Tanganyika is signposted from before the city limit.
Food at Tanganyika
The zoo allows guests to bring their own food so save money by packing a lunch and eating at one of the many picnic spots provided. The only rules for food brought into the park is that there must be no alcohol and no glass. The zoo also has a concession stand which sells deli sandwiches, hot dogs and other concession style food. Pepsi products and Gatorade are also available for purchase.
Insider tip for visitors to Tanganyika Wildlife Park
Visit on a "Wild Wednesday" during June and July. The park will be open until dusk with free child admission with a paid adult and live music from some of the best local bands being played from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Author's bio: Michael Wright has lived in Wichita for 10 years and is a frequent visitor to the Old Town district. He writes for a living and loves to instill a passion for traveling into others.
Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park is known for its monkey business, and with good reason. Its founder put a rule in place that stated the family-friendly zoo needed to have 50 monkeys at all times in order to exist. These primates, along with the other animals and activities, make the zoo an ideal family-friendly excursion for animal lovers.
Best and worst time go to Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park
Weekdays between June and August are great since you won't have to deal with large school groups. Cold and potentially rainy weather between December and February might keep some animals from being active.
Must see/do at Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park
The adorable pygmy marmosets are the smallest monkeys in the world. The Ocelot Exhibit & Education Center is home to two of only 26 Brazilian Ocelots in the country. The onsite Crean Family Farm offers feeding and milking activities on select days.
Admission to Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park
Admission ranges from $4 to $10. You can also make a one-time purchase for an annual pass.
Parking at Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park
Parking is free. However, there isn't an abundance of parking spots, so you may need a little patience.
Public Transportation to Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park
You can ride the Metrolink to the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center and catch a bus. Just be aware that you'll need to walk two blocks to the zoo once the bus drops you off.
Food at Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park
There is only one café in the zoo. However, the café is run by a local burger chain, so the grub is better than you might expect.
Insider tip for visitors to Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park
Visit the zoo after 2:00 p.m. They sell tickets at a discount and you'll still be able to see everything by the time they close at 5:00 p.m.
Author's bio: Rich Manning is a freelance writer based in Orange County, CA. He's been writing about food, drink and lifestyle in Southern California for over 10 years.
This is a fun family-friendly farm. Kids can explore the many different stations, such as the the cowshed, horses, as well as ducks, geese and hens. There are swings and tractors for kids to play on and Wagner Farm's friendly staff give tours and lead activities for school groups and visitors.
With more than 2,000 animals representing more than 350 species, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia, South Carolina -- named for its setting along the Saluda River -- is one of the Palmetto State's top attractions, surpassing 1 million visitors annually. Chosen multiple times by TripAdvisor as one of the nation's best 10 zoos, Riverbanks is home to species such as African elephants, giraffes, gorillas, African lions, Siberian tigers and zebras. The zoo also boasts a renowned 70-acre botanical garden that is an attraction unto itself.
Best and worst time to go to Riverbanks Zoo
Open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, with slightly later hours on spring and summer weekends. The weather in spring (April and May) and fall (late September to early November) is the most pleasant, with colorful blooms bursting forth in spring and brilliant red, orange and yellow hues accompanying the cool, crisp days of late fall. Columbia is notorious for its sweltering summers, so avoid afternoons from mid-June to August, when the animals are also trying to stay cool and may be less active.
Must see/do at Riverbanks Zoo
Be sure to tour the zoo's 20,000-square-foot Aquarium Reptile Complex, divided into a quartet of galleries -- Desert, Tropics, Ocean and South Carolina -- representing the habitats of amphibians, fish, invertebrates and reptiles. Riverbanks' Australian Animals exhibit transports you Down Under on a walkabout filled with lorikeets, koalas, red kangaroos, wallabies and Aussie reptiles. Also save time for a trip through the adjacent botanical gardens, separated into several themed gardens and boasting more than 4,200 species of native and exotic plants. From the gardens, you can access the Woodland Walk, a half-mile scenic trail that winds along river shoals and past the ruins of a 19th-century mill.
Admission to Riverbanks Zoo
Tickets are $14 to $17 for adults and include membership to the zoo and botanical garden, with slight discounts for purchasing online or for military, senior citizens and children ages 2-12. Children under 2 are admitted free. A number of attractions -- such as animal feedings, pony rides, rock climbing, a carousel, the Spots & Stripes children's train and a vertical ropes challenge -- have extra costs ranging from $2 to $7, or you can purchase an unlimited rides and attractions wristband for about $20. Another extra: Zip the Zoo, zip-line canopy tours over the animal attractions and the river that cost $55 to $80. Annual zoo memberships provide discounted year-round admission for individuals or families.
Parking at Riverbanks Zoo
The zoo and botanical gardens have separate parking lots. On busy weekend days, spaces in the main zoo lot can fill up by mid-morning, so plan to arrive early. An overflow parking lot is available on nearby Rivermont Drive. Or you can park in the garden lot and start your visit there. A complimentary tram runs every 10 to 15 minutes between the garden's amphitheater and the Saluda River footbridge that leads to the zoo.
Public Transportation to Riverbanks Zoo
The COMET, Columbia's public transportation system, has a daily route -- 34B Bush River Road/Saint Andrews -- that stops once per hour at the corner of Greystone Boulevard and Stoneridge Drive, a half-mile north of Riverbanks and about a 10-minute walk down Greystone to the zoo entrance. Visit catchthecomet.org to view connecting routes and times from various sections of the city.
Food at Riverbanks Zoo
The zoo has two year-round restaurants with expansive menus. Ndoki Pizza features stone-fired pizza, fresh-salads and artisan sandwiches, while Tuskers -- adjacent to the Aquarium Reptile Complex -- offers salads, chicken tenders, burgers, sandwiches and pizza, plus Starbucks coffee and other drinks. For a real Southern treat, sample the fried pickles at Solo's Market. Several other stops, open seasonally from spring to fall, offer ice-cream and other snacks such as popcorn, cotton candy and pretzels.
Insider tip for visitors to Riverbanks Zoo
If you're in town for the holidays, bundle up and check out the zoo's Lights Before Christmas, held most evenings from mid-November through December. The event includes nearly 1 million lights, animated images, choreographed music-and-lights displays, a nightly bonfire, visits with Santa, hot chocolate and other holiday fare.
Author's bio: Kevin Adams is a freelance writer who is a South Carolina native and has had travel articles appear on USAToday.com and in Golfweek magazine.
Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is often found at the top of lists as one of the best zoos in America, and with attractions like the biggest indoor rainforest in the world, it's easy to see why. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, the Henry Doorly Zoo includes all the major exhibits you expect from a major zoo and then some, including the Lozier Imax Theater, Hubbard Gorilla Valley, Desert Dome, and Suzanne and Walter Scott Aquarium among others. Additionally, the zoo is well-known for their significant conservation efforts. Whether or not zoos are a major interest of yours, the Henry Doorly Zoo is worth checking out for the simple fact that it's considered one of the best in the world.
Parking and public transportation at Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
Parking is plentiful and free at the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha.
Best and worst time to go to Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
Hours are seasonal at the Henry Doorly Zoo. From March to October, the zoo opens at 9 and closes at 5 in the evening. For complete information on the zoo's hours of operation, click here to visit their official site for details.
Admission to Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
Like the hours, the prices of admission are also seasonal, and can be found at this website. Currently, the prices range from $9.95-15.95 depending on age and military status.
Must see and do at Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquaruim
- Get a map and explore at your own pace to ensure that you don't miss anything.
- Take a break from walking with a 3-D Imax show. Click here for showtimes.
- See the largest indoor rainforest in the world only at this zoo in Omaha.
Other places to visit near Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
Omaha Steaks Grill & Patio
Of the several food options available in the zoo itself, Omaha Steaks Grill & Patio is easily among the most appealing. They feature steak and burger fare in a 240 seat outdoor patio.
Aksarben Village
Located near the University of Nebraska Omaha campus, Aksarben Village features some of Omaha's most trendy and popular restaurants, cafes, cupcake shops, and more.
Durham Museum
With a staggering array of exhibits ranging from restored train cars to a working malt fountain, Durham Museum is located near Omaha's Union Station and is definitely worth a visit.
Insider tip for visitors to Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquaruim
For the true animal lover in your life, the Henry Doorly Zoo offers not only backstage passes that let you see animals from behind the scenes perspectives, but also keeper experience passes that allow visitors to interact with animals under the supervision of professionals. Prices for the backstage and keeper passes are $50-125 respectively.
Author's bio: After a seven year career in the US Navy, Nicholas Napier completed his MBA and settled in California. He's published over 40 articles as the San Diego Fitness Trends Examiner, and regularly contributes as a freelance writer to various companies.
Woodland Park Zoo has been hailed as one of the finest zoos in the world for its award-winning exhibits. The zoo is home to more than 1,000 animals, representing 300 species from across the globe, from tiny insects to the largest land mammal on earth, the African elephant. This cherished Seattle landmark, enjoyed by visitors of all ages, is best known for creating revolutionary naturalistic exhibits which mimic the natural habitats each animal is from, ultimately changing the face of zoos worldwide.
Best and worst time to go to Woodland Park Zoo
If you want to enjoy the animals when they're at their most active, and crowds are few, go to the zoo on a cloudy weekday morning when school is in session, from about mid-October to mid-April. If you have kids that are in school and can't make it then, your next best choice is a Sunday morning during NFL season when many families are busy watching the game. The worst time to go is in the middle of the day during the months of June, July and August, whether it's the weekend or a weekday. Not only do the animals tend to be more lethargic due to the heat, this is when the zoo packs in the biggest crowds.
Must see/do at Woodland Park Zoo
The Humboldt Penguins are a favorite with many visitors, especially when they're active. Look through the glass viewing window, and you might just get a close up look to see a penguin peering right back at you. The African Savanna exhibit, the first of its kind when it opened in 1980, is also a must-visit with the chance to see animals like zebras, hippos, lions, tigers, meerkats, gorillas and giraffe. If you time your visit right, you can even feed the giraffes while standing atop a raised platform from 10 to 11 a.m. and 3 to 4 p.m. daily, except Tuesdays. The Australasia section, just a short stroll away, is another must, home to wallaby, snow leopards, emus and kookaburras, as well as the Willawong Station. In this enclosed area, birds like parrots, cockatiels and parakeets fly free, and visitors can feed the birds buy purchasing a wooden stick with food on it.
Parking at Woodland Park Zoo
The zoo offers parking in five lots, with pay-for-parking kiosks in each lot. Arrive early as they fill up quickly, especially during the summer months. If you don't find a spot, you'll need to look for street parking in the surrounding neighborhood.
Food at Woodland Park Zoo
Concession stands can be found throughout the zoo, serving everything from popcorn to ice cream and pizza. The Rain Forest Food Pavilion is great for families, with a variety of dishes sure to please everyone, including kids' meals and even options for the health conscious like burgers made from hormone-free, grass-fed, free-roaming cattle. Seafood lovers will want to head to the Pacific Blue Chowder House, offering meals that include items like wild-caught shrimp and salmon.
Insider Tip for Visitors to Woodland Park Zoo
Before you go, be sure to check the "Today at the Zoo" section on the official zoo website. Here you can find out about special daily activities and specific schedules that can help you make the most out of your day at the zoo, including zookeeper talks, feeding experiences and more.
K.C. Dermody is a travel writer living in the Seattle area with hundreds of travel articles both online and in print. She has traveled the world and is the author of 'Best Travel Guide for First Time Visitors to Ireland,' but especially loves showing off the beautiful region she resides in.
