Stop number two on our tour of the nations best zoos is the mighty Midwest.  The heartland is home to plenty of terrific spots to take the kids, and it’s zoos are amongst the best around.  Lets get started with the zoo that is home to my childhood hero, Jack Hanna.

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium:

Photo Courtesy of Columbus Zoo

I have never had the pleasure of visiting this world class park but it is very high on my zoo “bucket list”. The zoo is divided into different geographical regions, from the Asia Quest to the newly opened Polar Frontier.  In the Australia region, Marvelis tells us “you can enter the Kangaroo Walkabout and walk a path where a “mob” of kangaroos is only a rope away.”  Be sure to see the manatees in the Shores Region.  It is one of only three places outside of Florida that you can see these massive yet gentle creatures. If you would like to break up the animal experiences with some rides take time to visit Jungle Jack’s Landing, the carousel, train, and the boat rides.

Check out more Trekaroo family reviews of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

St Louis Zoo:

Photo Courtesy St Louis Zoo

This highly acclaimed zoo is free!  That’s right, its free to visit the tigers, leopards and lions in the Red Rocks and walk along Rivers Edge to discover cheetahs, rhinos, and giant anteaters.  For a small fee, you can take the kids inside the Children’s Zoo which is equipped with a “Just Like Me” play area, plenty of critters to pet, and even a slide with lookouts so kids can wave as they shoot past playful otters.  Ahoward212 offers this great tip: “If you have the extra $$$, the Behind the Scenes tour Penguin Encounter was fabulous.  We were able to get an up close & personal hang out time with two penguins (Fidget & Shadow).  An experience we’ll never forget.”

Check out more Trekaroo family reviews of the St Louis Zoo.

Denver Zoo:

Photo Courtesy Trekaroo Member Gretchen

Just east of the Colorado Rockies lies a zoo that Trekaroo families just can’t seem to get enough of.  The Denver Zoo is a sprawling park with several large habitats for both the animals and visitors to enjoy.  This zoo has always been on the cutting edge and its Bear Mountain was the first naturalistic habitat in North America.  Be sure to visit Predator Ridge which is home to lions, hyenas, and African wild dogs which rotate exhibits so they can explore each others enclosures and enjoy the smells left behind by the previous occupants.  No matter what time of year you visit, gwosatum notes that “There is always something fun to do whether it’s attending a special event, watching the animal shows, or just hanging out and viewing the animals.”

Check out more Trekaroo family reviews of the Denver Zoo.

Minnesota Zoo:

Photo Courtesy Minnesota Zoo

Even with those harsh Minnesotan winters, the Minnesota Zoo is a zoo for all seasons.  In the winter when the snow is falling and the temperatures are below zero, visit the Tropics Trail and Discovery Bay.  Its nice and warm inside and animals from the Caribbean, South Pacific, and tropical rain forests are happily awaiting your visit.  When its hot and humid outside, head over to the Splash Pad and cool off between watching the sharks get fed and the moose chomp on water plants.  The exhibits at the Minnesota Zoo provide plenty of roaming room for the animals and Minnemom reminds us ”outdoors, there’s a lot of walking to be done, so bring your walking shoes and a stroller for little ones who aren’t good walkers yet.”

Check out more Trekaroo family reviews of the Minnesota Zoo.

Henry Doorly Zoo (Omaha, NB):

Photo Courtesy TLC

Catholic Family calls the Henry Doorly Zoo ”a gem of the Midwest in terms of the amount and quality of exhibits.”  It is home to the world’s largest indoor desert, world’s largest nocturnal exhibit and America’s largest indoor rain forest. The Desert Dome, the world’s largest geodesic dome at 13 stories high, features plants and animals from the Namib Desert of southern Africa, the Red Center of Australia and the Sonoran Desert of the southwest United States.  Located below the Desert Dome is the Kingdome of the Night, which transports families into a nocturnal wonderland.  The Lied Jungle completely immerses people in a natural rain forest environment with cliffs, caves, waterfalls, and bridges leading guests towards clouded leopards, pygmy hippos, and spider monkeys.

Check out more Trekaroo family reviews of the Henry Doorly Zoo.

Related articles:

• Best Zoo in the West
• Fun in Chicago with Young Kids
• Places to cool off in Chi-town with Kids
• Family-friendly Tips from a Local Mom for Exploring Chicago
• Free and Cheap Entertainment in the Suburbs of Chicago
• Best FREE attractions in and around Chicago
• Free Museum Days in Chicago
• Kraft Great Kids Museum Passes in Chicago
• Saving Money on Chicago Kids Museums – Museum Adventure Pass
• Top 5 Museums for Kids in Denver
• Five Favorite Indoor Water Parks In the Denver Area
• How to spend a day or weekend with kids in Denver
• Train Museum in Minnesota
• Fun things to do in New Ulm, Minnesota with Kids
  

Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids and the woman behind Double the Adventure.

Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA

As the ski resorts in Colorado start to accumulate snow for this winter season, Trekaroo’s also been accumulating activities and hotels in Denver and Colorado Springs that are great for families.

Why Colorado? Because you, our users asked for it! No matter what time of year it is, families can enjoy the renowned ski resort areas, camp in one of its 10 national parks and monuments, jump into a natural hot spring or gaze on the beautiful 54 mountain peaks that top 14,000 feet.

So, what have Trekaroo families shared?

• All 90 activities for kids in the Denver Area
  
• All 75 activities for kids in South Central Colorado (Colorado Springs)
• A list of Kid-friendly hotels in and around Denver, CO waiting to be rated by parents like you
• Lost of fun lists like:

• • Denver Mile-High Hotspots for Kids – Stephen Wanta
  • Sledding and Tubing in Colorado – TravelPangs
  • Ski Resorts in Colorado with Daycare and Kid Programs – TravelPangs
  • Top 5 Museums for Kids in Denver - ColoradoGal
  • Favorite Indoor Water Parks In the Denver Area – BanteringBlonde
  • Top 5 Places to eat with your Kids in Denver – Crunchy Green Mom
  • How to spend a day or weekend with kids in Denver – BestLightLori
  • Our Family’s Staycation Experiences in Colorado – Jilly3
  • Wintertime Day Trips from Colorado Springs – Gretchen

What location is next? We’d like everyone who’s been to the mountains of Colorado to share about activities they like and the best places to stay.
We’re also working on North Carolina, so if you’ve been, tell us about it.

Special thanks to Gretchen, startropics, slofamilylife, amysmile, flutterby, gwosatum, sixsuitcases and the Colorado Kidsmobile Moms for their love of Colorado and sharing about their adventures with  kids with the Trekaroo community. And of course, thanks to team Trekaroo who sacrifice so much for pull it all together.

As we turn Colorado orange on our maps, I’m reminded of John Denver’s rendition of Home on the Range with the Muppets when they went camping in the Rockies.

See you in the Rockies,

Esther Lee (thelees3) – CEO

Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NY | PA | TX | VA | WA

The Trekaroo KidsMobile just climbed from sea level to the mile high city of:

Denver, Colorado

Who would have known that Denver is a city that is full of indoor water parks?  Who would have thought that local families love having a fiesta good time at one local Mexican restaurant called Casa Bonita?  These were some of my favorite surprises found in the recommendations that local travel savvy Colorado moms are sharing with the rest of us on Trekaroo.  Jump on board the KidsMobile – the locals are taking our families on a tour of Denver.  They’ll even tell you where the locals frequent on the weekends when they head up to the mountains.

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Trekaroo families have been voting for their favorite kid-friendly activities in and around San Diego for a couple of months. We’ve tallied their votes for 2009 and here’s the line up!

Top Activities for Kids in Denver, CO – voted by Trekaroo parents

First up, Kara gives her stamp of approval to what she considers the Top 5 Museums for Kids in Denver.  When Kara gives her thumbs up, we all take note because she is one of three founders and travel writers for The Vacation Gals.  Their site is chock full of great tips on favorite destinations for family trips, girlfriend getaways and romantic escapes.  Kara is a wonderful story-teller and she’ll get you ready to jump on the next plane and head to whatever destination she’s writing about.

Fiona, better known as the witty mom behind her blog Bantering Blonde, brings us her Five Favorite Indoor Water Parks In the Denver Area. Only a local mom would know that Denver is a city that abounds in indoor water parks. Fiona is an active mom of 3 who is also the founder of Mom Active.  A site that inspires women to be positive role models in their family. If you’re having one of those days, hop on over to Bantering Blonde and you’ll be sure that Fiona will have you chuckling about your life as a mom in no time at all.

Suzanne has the local scoop on  the Top 5 Places to eat with your Kids in Denver.  She is the mom extraordinaire to 7 kids (yes! That’s right – 7.)  She tells her tales of life as a mom of a blended family on her blog Crunchy Green Mom. She is your go-to mom for what’s fun to do on a budget or for free in Denver.

If you’re visiting Denver with your kids for a weekend, kick start your itinerary with Lori’s recommendations of How to spend a day or weekend with kids in Denver.  Lori is the mom behind WeeblesWobblog where she blogs about open adoption, parenting, mindful living, politics, 1970s trivia and much more.  She’s lived in Japan and Syria and having kids has not stopped them from traveling.  With their kids, they’ve traveled all across the US and to Costa Rica.

Our Family’s Staycation Experiences in Colorado is brought to you by Jillian, the mom of 3 who authors the blog Is dis normal or dysfunctional, She’s got a wonderful collection of stories that any mom can relate to.  Her casual and open writing is a pleasure to read.  Jillian has been writing offline for many years and started writing online in 2009. Since then she’s been featured in both travel and parenting online websites like Parenting.com, Blogher.com and many many more.

Other Resources for Denver, CO

• All 104 Activities for Kids in and around Denver, CO
• Kid-friendly hotels in and around Denver, CO
• Ski Resorts in Colorado with Daycare and Kid Programs – TravelPangs
• Sledding and Tubing Hills in Colorado – TravelPangs
• Wintertime Day Trips from Colorado Springs – Gretchen

Next stop, Charlotte, North Carolina (that’s right, the launch of North Carolina is coming soon)

The Trekaroo KidsMobile is a blog carnival with a twist. It’s designed to provide a unique opportunity for mom and dad bloggers to be featured on Trekaroo while

1) expressing their unique point of view

2) getting a web of link exchanges.

Join us for one of our next stopovers.

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LiLing Pang is a contributing author on Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NY | PA | TX | VA | WA

Denver is the largest city for 600 miles.  But does the size of this mile-high metropolis mean an abundance of kid-friendly fun?

Trekaroo families have voted and the answer is “Yes!”  With astounding natural beauty surrounding the city and a bustling urban center, Denver combines the fun of the outdoors with numerous opportunities for adventure and exploration in the heart of the city.  From hiking to museums, families on Trekaroo have made it known that Denver is a hotspot — and we don’t mean WiFi — even under a blanket of snow.  Take a peek at the top Denver fun for kids as rated on Trekaroo.

Best Place to See Animal Life: Denver Zoo

The Denver Zoo’s commitment to education and conservation leaves a positive impression on the families who visit.  Gretchen emphasized the wide appeal of the zoo, saying it is “very engaging for young and old.”  Gwosatum liked the zoo so much her family visited every month for four years! Elephants, tigers and gorillas were etitameh’s favorite attraction, but the mini-train ride is a sure-fire hit as well.  Denver Trekaroo parents unanimously agree that the Denver Zoo is a must-see.

Photo Credit: Gretchen

Best Hands-on Museum for Older Kids: Denver Museum of Nature and Science

Kids are thrilled by the opportunities to learn about themselves and the world around them in the interactive exhibits of the Museum of Nature and Science.  The exhibits change, so there is always a reason to go back and see what new adventures await.  ColoradoGal’s family enjoyed “Exhibition Health” where “kids learn about how their bodies work by actually measuring ‘their’ heart rate, arm span and gait.”  Etitameh says there are plenty of artistic activities too, like a stage with musical instruments for kids to rock out or compose a new symphony.  Perhaps the biggest thrill is best described by ajmorrow mentioning the gigantic dinosaur replicas: “it’s always fun to see the kids’ eyes get wide when they see the sheer size of them!”

Photo Credit: Museum of Nature and Science

The Closest Place to Sea Level: Downtown Aquarium

The Aquarium in Denver moves the sea to the sky.  The Downtown Aquarium makes the move well with exhibits that explore a number of marine and fresh-water habitats.  Trekaroo parents and kids were intrigued by the aquatic and terrestrial life that wriggles and roams different habitats, like the Tigers in the rainforest.  Chi-Ma mama ranks “feeding rays” as a memorable moment. ColoradoGal adds that there are also a host of special programs like “Marine Biologist for the Day” that may appeal to your aquatically inclined youngster.

Photo Credit: flickr/scubadive67

Top Educational Place to Take Kids: The United States Mint

Money, money, money.  Whether it be Fiat or Commodity, we have all been using it for a while.  The Denver Mint, one of six in the country, offers a

FREE inside look into how our cash money is produced.  The tour is very informative, according to amysmile, who writes, “Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and challenged us to stump him with questions.”  She also recommends making reservations for this popular attraction. Gretchen gives an important warning about restrictions: no cameras, purses, and camera cell phones!  So be sure your family is properly weaned from the iPhone before attempting a visit.

Photo Credit: usmint.gov

Best Encounter with Colorado History for Kids: Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave

With spectacular views and an interesting story, the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave is highlighted by ajmorrow as a “great outing for families with children ages 3 and up.”  Kids will enjoy checking out the cowboy history and garb during this short self-guided tour.  After the tour you can pay your respects to the late Bill Cody at his final resting place.  According to ajmorrow, it’s also a great place to fill hungry bellies and take in some nice scenery.

Photo Credit: buffalobill.org

Best Journey to Nature with Kids: Castlewood Canyon State Park

Castlewood Canyon State Park is rated five-stars!  With close proximity to Denver, this outdoor adventure makes for a wonderful summertime outing.  There are many trails of varying length so both long and little legs and varying affinities to the outdoors can be accommodated.  Happykidtraveling writes that kids will enjoy the small stream alongside the trail, but warns the “water is COLD!!”

Photo Credit: 4sixsuit

Other Resources for Denver, Colorado

• All 104 Activities for Kids in and around Denver, CO
• Kid-friendly hotels in and around Denver, CO

• Ski Resorts in Colorado with Daycare and Kid Programs – TravelPangs
• Sledding and Tubing Hills in Colorado – TravelPangs
• Top 5 Museums for Kids in Denver - ColoradoGal
• Favorite Indoor Water Parks In the Denver Area – BanteringBlonde
• Top 5 Places to eat with your Kids in Denver – Crunchy Green Mom
• How to spend a day or weekend with kids in Denver – BestLightLori
• Our Family’s Staycation Experiences in Colorado – Jilly3
• Wintertime Day Trips from Colorado Springs – Gretchen

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Stephen Wanta is a contributing author on Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NY | PA | TX | VA | WA

Just yesterday, at the playground our 3 year old who normally would be clambering across the tree house playground was lethargically sitting on my lap in the shade. With beads of sweat trickling down his little face he sighed, “I’m roasted like a marshmallow!” One of the best things about summer is finding fun places to cool off our kids close to home or a road trip away.

Photo by: www.flickr.com/photos/23826464@N04/3479116232

Beach Bumpkins

Kids and beaches are a winning combination. Tidepooling is a fun and educational way to cool off and explore the beach.
Kid-Friendly Tidepools Along the California Coast

Trekaroo families know which beaches are best for kids. Read their reviews:
Kid-friendly Beaches in Miami & Palm Beach, Florida
Kid-friendly Beaches in Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Kid-friendly Beaches in South Carolina
Kid-friendly Beaches in Oahu, Hawaii
Photo by: Brennan Pang

Fun Escapes into Cool Museums

Not in the mood for getting wet?  Escape to an air-conditioned museum instead!  Get cool and develop new interests.  Lydie Thomas tells us How to Make a Trip to a Museum With a Kid a Pleasant Experience.

Ready?  Start exploring kid-friendly museum exhibits for summer 2009 Across the US | San Francisco Bay Area
Museum Free Days in the San Francisco Bay Area – GrandmaDot
Photo by: www.flickr.com/photos/emeryjl/1317616335

Wonderful Water Parks

River Head, NY: Splish Splash Water Park
Martap112 loves it because it has “a lot of rides to choose from”.
Denver, CO: Water World
One of the largest water parks in the nation with more for young kids than most.
Lydie Thomas reminds us to play hard, but stay safe:
Kid Safety TIps at a Water Park or Public Pool

Water Parks in Florida
Water Parks near San Francisco
Water Park in Washington
Photo by: http://www.flickr.com/photos/papalamour/206475271

Livin’ it up at a Lake

Yosemite, CA: Lake Tanaya
Escape the crowds at this lake with it’s “stunning views, large beach and shallow waters” according to TravelPangs.

Oakland, CA: Lake Temescal
A neighborhood swimming lake that’s a “great place for kids” according to mitchguez.
Jim Thorpe, PA: Mauch Chunk Lake Park
Christine O’Toole recommends it because it “offers more than a vacation’s worth of activities”.
Photo by: Brennan Pang

Splash Pads, Fountains and Pools

Chicago: Splash at Millennium Park
asmpman says, “This whole park is fabulous!”.
San Francisco Bay Area Public Pools
The City | Peninsula | East Bay
San Francisco Bay Area Splash Parks
Peninsula | East Bay
Photo by:www.flickr.com/photos/brian-m/233359192

Unexpected Places to Cool Off

Jacksonville (Florida) Zoo & Gardens:
Splash Ground is a “perfect midday break” from walking around the zoo -  BarnesFam
California: Universal Studios
Yes, there’s a splash park!  Gretchen “took along swimsuits and watershoes and hung out in the splash park” with her kids all summer.

More Lists for Cooling Off By Trekaroo Familes:

• Places to Cool Off in Texas by romar

• Places to Cool Off in the Chi-town Area by asmpman

• Fun Summer Activities in the Tri-State Area by michipo

(This is an excerpt from our July 2009 Trekaroo Newsletter – Don’t miss any issues: SUBSCRIBE to the Trekarooo Newsletter)

Trekaroo is a reviews website dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.