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| | Issue #19.49 :: 07/02/2008 - 07/08/2008 | America's Best Zoos
A family resource listing top sixty zoos in the country.
| BY J. EDWARD SUMERAU
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America's Best Zoos
Nyhuis, Allen W. and Jon Wassner
In a well-crafted work of passionate expertise, zookeeper Jon Wassner and writer Allen Nyhuis craft a family resource listing the top sixty zoos in the country complete with detailed analysis of the best attractions at each in "America's Best Zoos: A Travel Guide for Fans and Families."
While Wassner finds his passion in set designing beyond the life of zoos the average person sees and Nyhuis teaches part time while writing about zoos throughout the year, the coupling of the two provides a thunderous amount of information and concern for zoo keeping and the joys found in these wonderful recreational areas.
Their experience and passion show through on every page of this work, and throughout the piece, highlighted information provides easy access for families planning trips throughout the country.
Considering the depth of this resource and my own interest in zoos, why don't we take a look at the two zoos near Augusta that made the top sixty?
Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, South Carolina shows up in the list of sixty, and its famed aquariums are one of the multitude of photos throughout the book highlighting the beauty to be found in zoos across the country. I must agree with the authors that the Botanical Garden is equally as impressive as the zoo as a whole, and within the framework of this guide, readers are introduced to attractions like the penguin feedings, the lion habitat, and a permanent display of koalas. The guidebook also highlights activities for kids in a separate section, but fails to offer any real information on upcoming events or changes to the zoo.
Alongside its Carolina counterpart, Zoo Atlanta located in Grant Park, Georgia is highlighted and noted in three separate photographic inserts throughout the guidebook. Once again, in progress details are scant, but otherwise the authors do a fantastic job of pointing out the highpoints of the park. They take time to cover the beauty of the Panda Exhibit, and recommend combination packages (long a popular proposition in this area) that allow visits to the zoo and the Georgia Aquarium together. Furthermore, they highlight the structure of the Asian Forest Tiger Habitat and the wonderful Wild Like Me setting for kids at the park.
Overall, the book is a wonderful resource for basic information on the zoos, and while it is scant in the detail department at times and offers little to no new information on the zoos, it is a pleasing read well versed in a soft-spoken narrative. The truest gem of the piece is the collection of photos, which rivals any collection of animal observation in terms of perspective and visionary beauty.
An interesting guide that highlights the top destinations for zoo lovers, the work also provides a bit of background for visitors. For example, it recalls the troubles and triumphant re-emergence of Zoo Atlanta over the past century, and it highlights Riverbanks place as South Carolina's largest tourist attraction.
With well-written passages introducing the beauty offered in family friendly environments, well-documented photographic inserts with each zoo under examination, and a collection of recommendations from the authors, this book provides a lovely guide to a pleasant hobby ready to be experienced throughout the United States.
Nyhuis, Allen W. and Jon Wassner. "America's Best Zoos: A Travel Guide for Fans and Families." Foreword by Newt Gingrich. Branford, Connecticut: The Intrepid Traveler. 2008. 306 pp. $15.95 Paper. ISBN: 9781887140768.
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