MELBOURNE, Fla. — The Brevard Zoo is one of 20 nationally to be nominated for the best in the United States by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice awards.
This marks the sixth year in a row that the zoo has been nominated, and it placed sixth last year.
USA Today said a panel of travel experts worked with its 10Best’s editorial team to select the nominees for each category, and the top 10 winners will be determined by popular vote.
Brevard Zoo's membership program also has been nominated as one of the 10Best.
Zoo fans can vote to support its favorite among the nominees every day through March 6. Support can be cast online for Best Zoo and for Best Zoo Membership. Winners in each category will be announced March 19.
Among the reasons that Brevard Zoo was nominated are its more than 800 animals and adventurous experiences like a walk through the canopy above South American jungle habitats, a kayak ride through an Africa-like savanna or a restored Florida wetland.
Brevard Zoo's competitors for Best Zoo, listed alphabetically, are:
- Audubon Zoo in New Orleans
- Cape May County Park & Zoo in Cape May Court House, N.J.
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs, Colo.
- Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens in Ohio
- Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Powell, Ohio
- Honolulu Zoo in Hawaii
- Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens in Jacksonville, Fla.
- Louisville Zoo in Kentucky
- North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, N.C.
- Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha, Neb.
- Philadelphia Zoo in Pennsylvania
- Riverbanks Zoo & Garden in Columbia, S.C.
- Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, R.I.
- Saint Louis Zoo in St. Louis, Mo.
- San Antonio Zoo in Texas
- San Diego Zoo in California
- Santa Barbara Zoo in California
- Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C.
- ZooMontana in Billings