It's official. The votes are in and ZooTampa at Lowry Park and its David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care, secured the honor of being named among the ”Best Zoo” and “Best Zoo Exhibit” in the 2023 USATODAY's 10Best Reader's Choice Travel Awards.
Recognized as a leader in conservation, animal care, and education, ZooTampa is home to many critically endangered, threatened and vulnerable species. The David A Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center is at the forefront of protecting and saving sick, injured and orphaned manatees.
"We are honored to have been recognized in the 10Best Readers' Choice Awards and thank our guests, members, employees and residents for their continued support throughout the voting process," said President and CEO Joe Couceiro. "Tampa Bay is an award winning city in so many areas and we are proud to add another accolade and point of pride to our amazing community."
10Best, which provides travel advice to more than 40 million travelers annually, asks its readers to choose the 10Best in a single category. These categories range from food, lodging and destinations to travel gear and things to do. 10Best’s travel experts select the top 20 nominees for each category and have the readers vote to determine the top 10 selections.
Nominees for all categories are chosen by a panel of relevant experts which include a combination of editors from USA TODAY; editors from 10Best.com; relevant expert contributors; and sources for both these media and other Gannett properties. The nomination panel for each award category is displayed on its associated contest page. All voting is digital and the 10Best Readers' Choice Award contest is accessible on the 10Best.com website.
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About ZooTampa at Lowry Park
ZooTampa at Lowry Park is operated by the Lowry Park Zoological Society, an independent 501(c)(3) charitable organization committed to excellence in conservation, education, recreation, and research. The Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and is recognized as Florida's leading and most attended zoological cultural institution. ZooTampa is an eleven-time winner of the Trip Advisor Travelers' Choice Award (2010-2022), ranking us among the top 10% of attractions worldwide. A winner of 2021 Best of Tampa and is a leader in the rehabilitation and care of Florida species. The Zoo is located at 1101 W. Sligh Avenue in Tampa and is open seven days a week (except Thanksgiving and Christmas) from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours for select events. For more information, visit www.zootampa.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Media Contact:
ZooTampa Communications
813-935-8552