AZA-accredited aquariums, nature centers, science centers, and zoos are consistently ranked by tourists and travel guides as the “best zoos” and "best aquariums," and for good reason. By meeting AZA’s rigorous accreditation standards, these facilities have proven they provide the highest quality animal care and welfare, a superior guest experience, a commitment to conservation and education, and more. The AZA accreditation logo signifies to guests they are visiting a quality facility. Don’t just take my word for it; consumers are recognizing AZA-accredited facilities for their efforts and have awarded many of our zoos and aquariums with travel awards and placement on “10 best” lists.
This year, the top 10 public vote-getters in the USA Today 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards for best zoo in North America are accredited by AZA, with Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden winning the top spot.
- Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden - Cincinnati
- Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium - Omaha, Neb.
- Saint Louis Zoo - St. Louis
- Fort Worth Zoo - Fort Worth
- Columbus Zoo and Aquarium - Columbus, Ohio
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo - Colorado Springs
- Riverbanks Zoo & Garden - Columbia, S.C.
- Memphis Zoo - Memphis
- Audubon Zoo - New Orleans
- Dallas Zoo - Dallas
Similarly, the top 10 public vote-getters in the USA Today 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards for best aquarium went solely to AZA-accredited aquariums, with readers awarding first place to winner Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies.
- Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies - Gatlinburg, Tenn.
- The Florida Aquarium - Tampa
- Audubon Aquarium of the Americas - New Orleans
- Texas State Aquarium - Corpus Christi, Texas
- Mystic Aquarium - Mystic, Conn.
- Newport Aquarium - Newport, Ky.
- North Carolina Aquariums - Multiple Locations
- Vancouver Aquarium - Vancouver
- Tennessee Aquarium - Chattanooga, Tenn.
- Aquarium of the Pacific - Long Beach, Calif.
Earlier this month, 24/7 Wall Street evaluated over 270 zoos based on Yelp reviews. 12 accredited AZA-facilities ranked among the top 20 zoos in the country, led by Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in California.
Our members are recognized not only nationally, but also globally. If you are planning a trip to another country and would like to visit an aquarium, take some advice from BudgetTravel’s recent international top ten ranking. Seven out of 10 aquariums listed are AZA-accredited facilities! These include:
- Georgia Aquarium
- S.E.A. Aquarium
- John G. Shedd Aquarium
- Oceanografic Valencia
- Monterey Bay Aquarium
- Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Center
- Texas State Aquarium
Consumer reviews to travel sites like TripAdvisor and Expedia also regularly rank AZA-accredited facilities as the top places to visit when traveling. To help travel consumers easily find information on AZA-accredited facilities, AZA has created a new profile page, where visitors can search for facilities by location, and find reviews and articles about our facilities. For example, wondering which AZA-accredited zoos you can visit while traveling to Ohio, Pennsylvania, or California? Check out our recommended trips here: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Profile/zoosaquariums.
AZA has also provided blogs to TripAdvisor’s Animal Welfare Portal about How Accredited Zoos and Aquariums Inspire Conservation Action and Why Accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Matters.
Regardless of what tool you use to plan your next outing, if that trip includes a visit to an aquarium, nature center, science center, or zoo, be sure to check if it is an AZA-accredited facility to assure you are using your time to visit the best-of-the-best.