Battle of the zoo titans: Denver vs. Cheyenne Mountain

Animal friendly weather is upon us and it's just plain silly not to let out that inner child at the zoo. Colorado offers two, but with life the way life is, it's best to know which one to visit so no precious time is wasted at the other.

First up: the Denver Zoo (2300 Steele). The smog and skyscrapers of downtown don't exactly cater to traditional zoo needs, but it's a halfway awesome place.

The main walking area holds the terribly boring hooved animals: horses, cows, bison and camels. It's a pretty serious yawn fest. Really, you don't need a zoo to see cows chewing cud-just drive down I-25.

Small food vendors are sprinkled throughout the grounds. The menu ranges from corndogs to salads. And overpriced? Yes, $3 for a scoop of ice cream. However, it's still a good idea to get dessert. Next to the ice cream man is a small pavilion, the seal's habitat, where trainers also host shows. Even when trainers aren't around, the seals show off, literally playing king-of-the-hill on a slippery rock.

The best of the Denver Zoo is the rainforest habitat. From the first step inside, the environment is spot-on-sprayers misting rain, vines dangling in your face, and miscellaneous jungle sounds. Each small cage is home to an exotic animal. It's great to check out frogs hopping around and birds flying overhead, but one thing is guaranteed to catch your eye. Denver boasts a massive anaconda, a dubious beast that I couldn't peel my eyes off of. When it moves, a number of expletives spring from the crowd, guaranteed.

Next up: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs (4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Road 80906). Denver Zoo's outdoor exhibits are on the dull side, but Cheyenne Mountain's shines.

From the start, Cheyenne Mountain has you involved. The giraffes are up close, personal, and in your face with their fleshy purple tongues. You can feed them with bark-like crackers that cost who-knows-what. You'll be too excited to care.

Alas, zookeepers do not tell you that the giraffes wrap their entire tongue around your arm when they eat the cracker. It's slimy and weird…but so worth it.

The outdoor exhibits are great. The animals are actually outside being active and entertaining. At midday, the zookeepers feed the big cats-there's nothing like watching a lion kill a rack of ribs.

Still, Cheyenne Mountain's indoor exhibits are lackluster. Everything is in extreme low-light, the scenery is boring and overtly fake looking, and the air smells like neglected, sweaty body parts. The interior portion suffers by comparison, ultimately making the Denver Zoo a more satisfying experience-plus, they're harboring an anaconda.

Denver Zoo: 2300 Steele St Denver, CO 80205, (303) 376-4800

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo:4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Rd Colorado Springs, CO 80906, (719) 633-9925

Editor's Note: Regretfully we failed to mention the Pueblo Zoo (3455 Nuckolls Ave, Pueblo) which is also a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), making it worthy of a visit from any zoo lover. Other AZA members in Colorado include Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center (Divide, CO) and Landry's Downtown Aquarium (700 Water St).

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