.
Detroit: From the prairie to the Outback
Briefly: A very fine zoo. A little short on big cats — and shade — but mini-gardens throughout add freshness, and overall the experience is excellent. No elephants; the aging pachyderms have been relocated to improved space in California, and handsome white rhinos have taken over the habitat. The Giraffe Encounter is new, as is an Outback Adventure that puts visitors up close with kangaroos, if the animals are feeling sociable. The Detroit Zoological Society took over from the city a year ago, and so far the system seems to be working.
Location: Woodward Avenue at 10 Mile Road in Royal Oak, just north of Detroit. Once in Detroit, exit Interstate 94 at I-75, continue north to I-696, then go west 2 miles to Exit 16/Woodward Avenue. Follow the signs.
Price: Adults $11, kids 2-12 $7, seniors (62 and older) $9. Open all year.
Parking: $5.
Key animals: Lions and tigers (that’s all the cats); bear varieties include polar, American black and grizzly. White rhinos, giraffes, at least one hippo, gorillas and chimps. Three varieties of penguin.
Featured attractions: Outback Adventure (see above) and Arctic Ring of Life, the “life” primarily being polar bears and seals. And a chance to pop your head up in the middle of a prairie dog town.
More, for a couple of bucks extra: Train ride, “simulator” movie-ride, giraffe encounter.
Local critters: Include wolverines, various frogs, toads and snakes, and bullheads (catfish).
Unlike the others: Warthogs, guanacos, Siamese crocodiles, blesboks (an antelope).
Hot dog/small soft drink: $1/$1.75.
Only here: Unicorn lollypop, $1.75. Untried.
Bottled water: $2.25.
Coolest souvenir: Tic-tac drum (made in Kenya), $4.99.
Information: (248) 541-5717; www.detroitzoo.org.
Indianapolis: A zoo that’s also an aquarium
Briefly: A good, if relatively modest, zoo with many good things, particularly its emphasis on “encounters” — encouraging visitors to interact with its animals (including sharks, kangaroos and elephants) as well as staffers eager to share knowledge. Indy is accredited as both a zoo and aquarium, giving it a unique mix: bears and, steps away, dolphins. Some habitats work better than others; the “Deserts Biome” looks more like a cheap movie set than a real desert, and the train ride breaks the spell of its mini-Serengeti — but the elephant habitat rocks.
Location: 1200 W. Washington St., in White River State Park. Once in Indianapolis, leave Interstate 65 at Exit 114 (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St., which becomes West Street), continue south to Washington Street, then turn right, passing museums and the Victory Field ballpark to the sign.
Price: $13.50; $8.50 for kids 2 through 12, and seniors (62 and older). Open all year.
Parking: $5.
Key animals: Sharks (lots of them), walruses, sea horse tank, three varieties of penguins, a meerkat colony, eight African elephants (including two youngsters) and three white rhinos. (No great apes.)
Featured attractions: Shark-touch pool, dolphin show and elephant encounter, all free. (Several other shows and demonstrations are free as well.)
More, for a couple of bucks extra: Pony rides, carousel, train ride, “simulator” movie-ride, kiddie-coaster, dolphin interaction.
Local critters: Include a bald eagle, turkey vulture, barred owl, eastern box turtle and corn snake.
Unlike the others: Penguin exhibit features deep, viewable diving pool (as do the walrus, sea lion and polar bear habitats); underwater dolphin viewing area; sea horse exhibit; and a botanical garden linked to the zoo.
Hot dog/small soft drink: $2.49/$1.75.
Only here: Fried macaroni and cheese, $3.99. Better than it sounds.
Bottled water: $2.50.
Coolest souvenir: “Shark shades” (sunglasses with temples shaped like scary sharks), $8.99.
Information: (317) 630-2001; www.whiterivergardens.com.
St. Louis: A zoo in a class of its own
Briefly: A truly world-class zoo. Set in one of America’s finest urban green spaces (Forest Park), this is a zoo that’s both traditional (three 1920s “houses,” a 1904 aviary) and innovative (an outdoor penguin habitat). For anyone fortunate enough to have seen animals in their African or Asian homelands, some of the simulations at St. Louis are nothing short of astounding, almost as astounding as the admission price (free). In every way, walking these grounds is a privilege, for us — and for the animals.
Location: About 7 miles west of downtown St. Louis off Interstate 64 (Hampton Avenue/Museums-Zoo exit), in Forest Park (which is a park here, not a suburb).
Price: Free. Open all year.
Parking: $10.
Key animals: The essential big cats, including lions, tigers and cheetahs. Bear varieties include polar, grizzly and black bears. Asian elephants, giraffes, hippos, hyenas, black rhino. Gorillas, large family of chimpanzees. Many African hoofed animals, some endangered. Prairie dog town. Excellent collection of lemurs.
Featured attractions: Indoor/outdoor Penguin and Puffin Coast exhibit; Cypress Swamp in former 1904 aviary; River Edge trail through realistic Africa habitat; beautifully preserved 1920s bird, reptile and monkey houses.
More, for a couple of bucks extra: Sea lion show, carousel, train ride, “Wild Ride” simulator. Also various “close encounter” opportunities.
Local critters: Mississippi River fish, including blue catfish, sturgeon, largemouth bass and more.
Unlike the others: Glass-sided hippo swimming hole.
Hot dog/small soft drink: $2.25/$2.50.
Only here: Toasted ravioli, with hot marinara sauce for dipping; $5.50. Terrific.
Bottled water: $3.
Coolest souvenir: A giraffe’s head hand-held fan, $6 (battery included).
Information: 1-800-966-8877; www.stlzoo.org
Milwaukee County: Bears, bonobos and brats
Briefly: A comfortable zoo, shaded wherever rationally possible by mature trees, with a marvelous collection of the animals everyone wants to see (big cats, big bears, great apes and other primates, elephants, etc.). Staff takes the friendly, upbeat attitude prevalent in most zoos to a happy extreme, beginning at the parking-lot ticket booths. The Predator-Prey exhibits are especially intriguing. In all, a fine way to spend a day.
Location: 1001 Bluemound Road, just off Hwy. 45. From Chicago, I-94 to I-894 Loop west and north; exit Hwy. 45 north and watch for Bluemound Road/Zoo signs.
Price (April through October): Adults $10.50, kids 3-12 $7.50, seniors (60 and over) $9.50. November through March, lower rates. Open all year.
Parking: $9.
Key animals: Many of the big cats, including lions, tigers, cheetahs, jaguars. Bear varieties include polar, Alaskan brown (Kodiak) and grizzly. Elephants, giraffes, hippos. Great apes. Walk-through aviary.
Featured attraction: Family Farm, koalas (through Sept. 9).
More, for a couple of bucks extra: Sting Ray and Shark (touch) Reef, camel and pony rides, sea lion show, Giraffe Experience, train and tram tours, carousel, gondola ride.
Local critters: Black bears, Wisconsin game fish, six varieties of dairy cows.
Unlike the others: Bonobos (rare, almost humanoid apes).
Hot dog/small soft drink: $2.75/$1.75.
Only here: “ Milwaukeean Brat“: bratwurst topped with diced tomatoes, diced onions, spicy brown mustard, sauerkraut and a pickle spear. $4. Sloppy but good.
Bottled water: $2.25.
Coolest souvenir: “Born To Be Wild” fingernail file covered (on one side) with faux leopard, tiger or zebra skin. $2.99.
Information: (414) 771-3040; www.milwaukeezoo.org.
.
Advertisement 
