What are your favorite family-friendly activities for this summer? Vote now
Zoos, aquariums, safari parks, scenic train rides and botanical gardens are great ways to get out and explore with our families this summer. In our search to find the best of the best, we invited a panel of experts to nominate their picks for the best, and now we need your help narrowing the nominee list down to the 10 best.
Vote once per day for your favorite in each category until voting ends on Monday, May 23rd at noon ET. The 10 best winners, chosen by your vote, will be announced on Friday, June 3rd.
Click on each category below to vote:
Best Aquarium
Aquariums let us explore hard-to-reach aquatic life from the world's oceans, lakes and waterways in a fun and educational setting. The best aquariums also play a vital role in animal conservation by taking part in rescue efforts and marine advocacy. These 20 aquariums, almost all accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and nominated by a panel of 10Best experts, represent the best in North America for their high-quality exhibits and visitor interactions.
Best Botanical Garden
April showers might very well bring May flowers, but at these spectacular gardens, there's always something in bloom. The best botanical gardens and arboretums in North America help to promote and conserve the plant diversity of our planet, all while showcasing their vast collections in stunning, visitor-friendly ways.
Best Safari Park
At these 20 safari and wildlife parks, nominated as the best in the country, visitors get to see exotic and endangered animals from around the world up close. Many of the facilities are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and have a focus on conservation as well as education.
Best Train Ride
Sometimes the journey is just as important as the destination. Such is the case for passengers who step aboard these trains – handpicked as the best in the country by a panel of travel experts.
Best Zoo
North America is home to hundreds of zoological parks, including more than 200 facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Besides traveling around the world to see animals in their natural habitats, nothing beats a visit to the zoo to inspire an appreciation for the diversity of animals we have on our planet.
We asked a panel of travel experts to nominate their favorite North American AZA-accredited zoos – facilities that excel in the fields of animal care and enrichment, while also facilitating meaningful interactions between animals and human visitors.
Best Zoo Exhibit
A great zoo exhibit engages visitors with the animals they're observing while keeping the wellbeing and protection of its animals front and center. We asked a panel of zoo and family travel experts to nominate their favorite animal exhibits in North America, and now we need you to choose a winner.
Remember, you can vote once per day in each category. The 10 nominees with the most votes in each category will be announced on 10Best.com on Friday, June 3.
10Best is a part of the USA TODAY Network — providing an authentically local point of view on destinations around the world — in addition to travel and lifestyle advice.