San Diego, California. USA

This little aquarium focuses primarily on marine life on the Pacific Coast. Home to a wonderful collection of Kelp Forest and Tide Pool species, it offers an modest but focused glimpse into the life under the sea. It isn’t a very large location, but that makes it the perfect pairing with a day down at La Jolla Cove! The big draw here is that it’s the only facility on the West Coast to have Little Blue Penguins!

Species Spotlight: Little Blue Penguin

For a smaller zoo, it has a surprising amount of uncommon species. While it still needs some updating, this is still a pleasant, if somewhat short, zoo visit!

Species Spotlight: Yellow Backed Duiker

This sprawling zoo is home to a wide range of different animals and exhibits. Home to some historic buildings and rare species, architecture and zoo nerds alike will have a blast here!

Species Spotlight: White Bellied Tree Pangolin

This is a smaller zoo by all accounts, but with a good amount and variety of species. While it’s missing more common zoo animals like Lions, it makes up for it with a few real rarities!

Species Spotlight: Jaguar

Being one of the greenest zoos in America, the conservation work here is wonderful and is complemented by an amazing animal collection! This zoo is also home to plenty of historical elements.

Species Spotlight: Florida Manatee

A strange facility that is more akin to an indoor rainforest then an aquarium, the amount of rare species on display here rivals even some of the largest zoos in the nation!

Species Spotlight: Shoebill

This gem of the South is a wonderful zoo. Its very family friendly and their African exhibits are wildly immersive. The habitats here all stand out as among some of the best in the nation!

Species Spotlight: African Bush Elephant

This zoo is home to several world class exhibits for Polar Bears, Penguins and more! Beyond that it is spacious and has a unique animal collection compared to most zoos.

Species Spotlight: Polar Bear

For being a lesser known zoo, the theming and animal collection here is fantastic! They have plenty of activities for kids here and for zoo enthusiasts, they have a strong collection of uncommon species.

Species Spotlight: Tasmanian Devil

This is easily in the top 10 zoos in the United States! Home to hundreds of incredible animals, some great habitats and phenomenal theming, this zoo is a full day affair.

Species Spotlight: Indian Gharial

Arguably the best aquarium the US has to offer, there are attractions here that will drop your jaw. The colossal Ocean Voyager tank alone is worth the admission for the chance to meet a Whale Shark!

Species Spotlight: Whale Shark

One of the strangest facilities I’ve ever visited, its like a zoo, museum, planetarium and aquarium all merged into one. Very kid friendly and with a cool and unconventional animal collection.

Species Spotlight: Fishing Cat

An unexpected gem of any Yellowstone trip, this smaller rescue facility exclusively showcases some of the local wildlife in need of a new home! It’s a great way to ensure you can get nose to snout with Yellowstone’s more dangerous wildlife!

Species Spotlight: Grizzly Bear

A neat free zoo, it is currently going through many renovations to catch up to modern habitat standards. That being said their current Bear complex is impressive, with a real Tundra Buggy to boot!

Species Spotlight: American Badger

A zoo with a ton of new innovative exhibits, it has transformed into a modern zoo in the last few years. From one of a kind habitats to fun experiences for families, this is zoo makes for a great visit!

Species Spotlight: Jaguar

Home to some of the most unique habitats in the country, this zoo has a very original feel to it! It focuses on a lot of popular species and has more animal interactions I’ve seen at other big city zoos.

Species Spotlight: Pacific Walrus

This overlooked facility is one of the best examples of specialization I have ever seen. They house every crane species and the educational, artistic and conservation displays here are top notch!

Species Spotlight: Black Necked Crane

A really classic zoo located within a relaxing and frankly gorgeous forest setting. It has a few real standout exhibits and focuses on some less popular species as compared to other zoos.

Species Spotlight: Common Chimpanzee

One of the bigger zoos in the nation, the African section alone is larger than many other zoos! It has a diverse collection of rare and popular animals alike, and its new projects have been really well done.

Species Spotlight: Secretary Bird

Often overlooked by its sister zoo (Omaha), this safari park is one of the best of its kind! It focuses on North American prairie wildlife, and provides amazing habitats to drive through and see them!

Species Spotlight: American Bison

This historic zoo has a great setting near downtown Chicago! It has a good balance of preserving its original buildings with the impressive new habitats. Being free is also great for a zoo of this high quality!

Species Spotlight: African Lion

One of the most spread out zoos I’ve visited, the woods throughout the park makes the travel between exhibits enjoyable. Their new projects are going a long way to modernize this classically designed zoo.

Species Spotlight: Common Hippopotamus

For such a large zoo it is very unique in only focusing on cold tolerant animals for their spacious outdoor habitats. This combined with a huge indoor facility for the more tropical species makes for a great zoo!

Species Spotlight: Moose

This wonderful little aquarium is set up in a traditional way, with one large pathway through the site. It sets itself apart with some unique species and focusing on themes not seen in other aquariums.

Species Spotlight: Port Jackson Shark

This is one of the finest zoos in the United States, with huge habitats, excellent theming and a great animal collection. Its a sprawling site with plenty of gorgeous views and a safari ride to boot!

Species Spotlight: Hamadryas Baboon

This great little aquarium has several surprises for a lesser known facility. A well done shark tank, many freshwater species, and multiple touch pools make this a fun time!

Species Spotlight: Bull Shark

Among the best zoos in the United States, this zoo is home to a great collection of animals and some really stellar habitats! Truly it has undergone an incredible masterplan to get where it is today!

Species Spotlight: Honey Badger

This zoo stands as possibly one of the best in the world. Colossal exhibits such as their Desert Dome and Lied Jungle are wildly impressive, and their animal collection is among the very best!

Species Spotlight: California Sea Lion

Set along the stunning Puget Sound, this small zoo focuses on a combination of rare wildlife and marine animals. Its standout feature might be the amazing variety of keeper chats and presentations.

Species Spotlight: Muskox

This is a smaller and less known facility with a lot of charm to it. Some habitats here are fairly new and quite impressive, but there is still a good number of areas in need of a remodel.

Species Spotlight: Andean Bear

A newer aquarium, it follows a traditional aquarium layout with many fun family friendly twists. While it isn’t the most unique facility, it still will be a blast for young kids and offers a look at a rare Blue Lobster!

Species Spotlight: American Lobster

This zoo really has it all. A diverse animal collection, plenty of historic or new habitats, and tons of fun activities for families. On top of all that, it is free to visit, making it one of the best zoos in the USA!

Spotlight Species: Transcaspian Urial

There are few sites on the planet that approximate the animals natural habitats as well as this Southern California Safari Park! The conservation work, animal welfare and visitor experience are excellent!

Species Spotlight: Platypus

A titan in the world of zoos. This facility has a wildly diverse animal collection, stunning scenery and habitats, as well as a flare for guest experiences which is nearly unmatched by any other zoo!

Species Spotlight: Giant Panda

A traditional aquarium layout found within the largest mall in the USA, it surprises with a few unique species. There are however several habitats in need of renovation or different inhabitants.

Species Spotlight: Green Sawfish

A unique aquarium overlooking the Puget Sound, it has three distinct buildings. Each one has a different theme and overall there is a good variety of different marine life on display here, worth a visit for sure!

Species Spotlight: Northern Fur Seal

A sprawling theme park with a few marine attractions, there are no facilities with better shows than here. While there are changes needed to improve animal welfare, the amount of rare species is impressive!

Species Spotlight: Orca

One of the most underrated zoos in the USA, it has a great variety of animals in great habitats! Many of its newer exhibits are among the best in the country so something here is sure to impress.

Spotlight Species: African Bush Elephant

Probably among the top 3 aquariums in America, this amazing site is home to a huge diversity of aquatic animals. The beluga and dolphin exhibit might be one of the best cetacean habitats in the world!

Species Spotlight: Pacific White Sided Dolphin

Probably among the most overlooked aquariums in the country, this amazing facility has some of the best freshwater displays in the country. Being split between two buildings is also very unique!

Species Spotlight: Goonch Catfish

A really unique zoo with a museum, aquarium, reptile house and aviary! It does a lot on its small acreage and has successful breeding programs with rare species such as Polar Bears and African Elephants!

Species Spotlight: Tuatara

This little zoo has a long history showcasing rare animals. While the collection has dwindled in recent years, some of their modern projects give hope that this facility can make a comeback!

Species Spotlight: Patas Monkey

This zoo has some of the rarest species of any facility around the country. With some great new exhibits and more on the way, this zoo will be one worth revisiting for many years to come!

Species Spotlight: Asian Elephant

One of the best aquariums in the country is owned by Bass Pro Shops! It really is among the best theming of any wildlife institution I’ve ever been to, alongside a solid collection of aquatic life.

Species Spotlight: Great Barracuda

One of the best zoos in the American Northwest, it has a really quality collection of animals in great habitats! The native flora makes for a stunning backdrop for this often trailblazing facility.

Species Spotlight: Mountain Goat

This sanctuary is home to possibly the best collection of birds of prey in the entire USA! It also does tons of rescue and rehabilitation work and has an expansive forest which can be used to “soft” release birds.

Spotlight Species: Peregrine Falcon

A great smaller zoo with well themed exhibit areas and a great selection of rare species. While the Giant Pandas are going to be sorely missed, a newer African habitat, reptile house and Asian Trail make up for them!

Species Spotlight: Sun Bear

Texas, USA

This coastal wetland is home to a large population of habituated American Alligators which allow for a close view of these reptiles. The trails are nice and flat but the heat and humidity is pretty unrelenting. There is also a strong population of both resident and migrant bird species to be found here.

Species Spotlight: American Alligator

Georgia, USA

This wonderful waterfall is found within the larger Chattahoochee National Forest and can only be accessed through winding roads into the hillside. The streamside environment alongside sunlight cliffs makes a great home for reptiles and amphibians alike!

Species Spotlight: Northern Slimy Salamander

Wyoming, USA

The southern cousin to Yellowstone, this stunning landscape surrounds the mighty Teton Mountain Range with beautiful lakes and slow moving rivers. With a much more temperate foliage, it is filled with amazing hiking trails, waterfalls and wildlife!

Species Spotlight: Moose

California, USA

One of the most productive marine areas on the planet are found off the coast of La Jolla. This brings in big populations of seals and sea lions who rest upon the shores and share the water with human swimmers. Many shorebird colonies can also be found here, including a massive Cormorant rookery!

Species Spotlight: California Sea Lion

Illinois, USA

This restoration area is being developed in order to help reestablish a thriving prairie ecosystem to the region. Surrounded by farmland and scattered woods, it stands out as a more heavily managed conservation project that may soon prove to be an example of what it takes to return the Bison to its rightful home.

Species Spotlight: American Bison

California, USA

A premier site for marine mammal viewing, this coastal hotspot is the entrance to the mighty Pacific! Whale and Bird watching tours here provide people with the chance to spot anything from playful seals and dolphins, to the largest baleen whales!

Species Spotlight: Humpback Whale

Washington, USA

A stunning body of water which finds itself nestled between the Mountains. The water flows in from the North Pacific and brings with it many ocean migrants such as Salmon, Grey Whales and Sea Lions. The real highlight here though is the high likelihood of spotting the apex predator of all the world’s oceans, the Killer Whale!

Species Spotlight: Orca

Wyoming/Montana, USA

What is there to say about the worlds first National Park! This monumental site is home to thousands of acres of geothermal features, stunning vistas and some of the most most incredible encounters with North American Wildlife. This is a must see destination for any wildlife or outdoor enthusiast!

Species Spotlight: American Plains Bison