America's Best Zoos
A Travel Guide for Fans
and Families
Written by Allen W. Nyhuis and Jon Wassner, reviewed by Nancy J. Reid

As an animal and nature lover, I consider America's Best Zoos, a Travel Guide for Fans and Families an important and eye-opening piece of work. While a lot of us feel we would rather see animals roaming free, in their natural habitat--this book brings us up-to-date on what is really going on in the "zoo" world. Good zoos are no longer animal collections housed in tiny iron-barred, cement floored cages--with the only purpose showing off how many different animals they have managed to collect. They have grown-up and become a very important aspect of conserving and protecting the world's diverse animal species, while providing fun and educational opportunities to visitors at very reasonable prices.

Natural habitats have replaced cages, as much as possible and animals are encouraged to breed. Rare and endangered species are being bred, with some actually being placed back into the wild. Zoos have banded together to help save species while using technology to give the visitor the best possible up-close view of the animals. Everything from watching polar bears and hippo swim underwater to walking through a rain forest is now possible. Accredited zoos have been inspected, and these are the zoos that the public should support. They have become educational and learning facilities, as well as a refuge for endangered animals--with a clear and strong message of encouraging us to appreciate and protect our wildlife and to clean up the pollution we have caused.

America's Best Zoos gives you the opportunity to choose which zoos to visit, so not only will you enjoy your visit and learn more about animals, you are helping to restore some back into the wild. You will not be supporting the casually and badly run roadside zoos where the animals are merely on exhibit is insufficient, small cages. The book is well organized and complete with tips on how to make the most of your visit, including tips on what time of day to visit specific animals and how to photograph them. It gives you each zoos main attractions, hours and admission fees, directions, special exhibits for children and authors tips on how best to see the most of each zoo.

I highly recommend America's Best Zoos and look forward to more books of this kind from these two talented authors. Taking your child to a zoo is rewarding and fun, and a great experience to include on a vacation.

Allen Nyhuis and Jon Wassner were guests on The Nature Connection online radio show on September 12, 2008. The show was co-hosted by Nancy J. Reid and Lisa D. Smith – editors of The Big Blend Magazine; and Craig. C. Downer - ecologist and biologist. To listen to the entire, unedited show, please click here.
To listen to Allen and Jon's interview, please double click on the Play Button below.

About the Authors -
Allen Nyhuis has been writing about zoos since 1994, when his first book (The Zoo Book) was published. He's written for the New York Times and Los Angeles Times, and has been interviewed by USA Today, as well as many radio and TV stations across the nation. In his travels, he's visited all 50 states, Canada, and 13 European nations. Often with one of his 4 children, he has toured over 200 zoological parks. He lives in Indianapolis with his wife and children. 



Jon Wassner has worked as a zookeeper for 3 zoos. Since childhood, he has been a zoo fanatic, pushing his family to include zoos on cross-country vacations. His list of zoos toured is now up to 70. Jon's passion is exhibit design, as illustrated by his Sichuan Takin Exhibit at the Potawatomi Zoo (he designed it!) Jon lives in Indianapolis with his wife and cat.