Zoos And Aquariums Of The East Coast

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:

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:

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):

Closer to home, there is the grand Bronx Zoo:

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:

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

Also, Staten Island Chuck, who takes down mayors:

More Hunters Point Waterfront

The new city-owned Hunters Point South Park is great:

My only pet peeve is that the great sitting area that was open to everyone has been commandeered by the concession there, which eventually posted signs saying that you had to buy stuff to sit there, which is obviously bullshit:

Also, another spot to experience Manhattanhenge:

When Railings Were Shorter And You Hover Over The Water

The knee-buckling, gonad-zinging Triborough Bridge Pedestrian Walk is kind of fantastic:

And then you look over the railing, which seems to be somewhere near your knee, and your stomach kind of churns: