Zoos And Aquariums Of The East Coast

Posted: March 17th, 2015 | Filed under: Out Of Town, Queens, Staten Island, The Bronx

At some point in your life you visit many, many zoos. Here are some recent visits to zoos and aquariums along the East Coast.

The Philadelphia Zoo is the oldest in the U.S. They have a wonderful primate facility where you can get real close and gawk:

Primate Reserve, Philadelphia Zoo, 34th Street and Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October 18, 2013

Primate Reserve, Philadelphia Zoo, 34th Street and Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October 18, 2013

Across the river in Camden is the Adventure Aquarium, which used to be owned by the state but which was unloaded to a private entity about ten years ago. There’s a fun shark tunnel there:

Shark Tunnel, Adventure Aquarium, Camden, New Jersey, July 3, 2014

Adventure Aquarium, Camden, New Jersey, July 3, 2014

In Sarasota, the Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium has a great manatee exhibit and a rarely-in-captivity dolphin (which is only there because it was injured and can’t be in the wild):

Manatees, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, Sarasota, Florida, November 4, 2014

Dolphin Lagoon, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, Sarasota, Florida, November 4, 2014

Closer to home, there is the grand Bronx Zoo:

Congo Gorilla Forest, Bronx Zoo, Bronx Park, The Bronx, June 2, 2013

Wild Asia Monorail, Bronx Zoo, Bronx Park, The Bronx, June 2, 2013

The Queens Zoo is a great little zoo — and I don’t think “little” is a pejorative: there’s something to the idea that a visit to the zoo doesn’t have to be this exhausting day-long slog. The Queens Zoo focuses on animals of the Americas, as well, which is a cool curatorial take. The Buckminster Fuller dome/aviary is a hoot, too:

Aviary, Queens Zoo, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, September 21, 2013

Andean Bear, Queens Zoo, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, July 12, 2014

Finally, the Staten Island Zoo makes for a fun trip to the island. The nursery there is fun to see:

Animal Nursery, Staten Island Zoo, Staten Island, June 23, 2013

Also, Staten Island Chuck, who takes down mayors:

Staten Island Chuck, Staten Island Zoo, Staten Island, June 23, 2013