Why DT Raleigh needs an aquarium or zoo

[cncsmomndad]

Goodbyesnow, the zoo is within 90 minutes of Raleigh. Very easy to get too. 64 to Zoo Parkway. Make a left a it is a few miles down on the left. It is a nice drive, too.

[North_Raleigh_Guy]

FWIW, I hang out with a lot of people who hangout in downtown Raleigh. Both young and old. Some with kids, some without. Never heard any of them o suggest downtown needed an Aquarium or a Zoo. The only place I ever hear that is on this forum .... usually from people who don't hang out in downtown Raleigh....

[Claire_F]

Originally Posted by lovebrentwood

The zoo is 1.5 hours away from Raleigh and too big.

Raleigh is the only place in the world that people define as a "great place to live," and then you ask what there is to do there, and people say, "The mountains are only two hours away! The ocean is only two hours away! And "The zoo is only 1.5 hours away!"

None of those things are in the Triangle.

So what people are really saying is, "Living in Raleigh is great -- when you leave it."

No, that's not what we're saying at all.

When I say that, I talk about the things I love about this area. Amenities I frequently use are close by - restaurants, entertainment, parks, shopping. The traffic is manageable (especially as compared to Houston, from where I moved more than 10 years ago). We have great museums for history, art, and science.

And yes, being an equal distance from the mountains and the ocean IS part of what makes Raleigh a great place to live. There is such a variety of day trips that can be made from this area; you can take a mini-vacation on a weekend, without having to take vacation time or spend a lot of money. I've lived here more than 10 years, and there's still so much yet for me to explore.

I have never once been in downtown Raleigh and thought, "Wow, this place would be SO much better if it only had an aquarium or zoo." The thought has never crossed my mind.

And I'm really scratching my head over the comment that "the zoo is too big." The bigger the zoo, the more room for the animals to roam. The bigger the zoo, the better for the animals. Would you rather have them lined up in tiny cages?

[lamishra]

I definitely do not think we need a zoo or an aquarium in DT Raleigh. The zoo we have is fantastic and not too far! I do wish NC would build a larger aquarium somewhere, but not in DT Raleigh.