Cincinnati Zoo named among best-rated in the Midwest. Here's which others made the list

Regional travelers have spoken: The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is one of the top zoos in the Midwest.

Islands, a travel website, gathered rankings from Midwest Living, USA Today 10Best and other publications and reviews from Tripadvisor to determine the five best-rated zoos in the Midwest . The Cincinnati Zoo was named among the top five, notable for its array of animal encounter offerings , including feedings, cheetah encounters and animal hospital tours. Plus, there's no shortage of unique animals at the local landmark, Islands noted, with Komodo dragons, red pandas and more.

The publication also recognized the award-winning botanical gardens with which the zoo earned the highest level of accreditation for development and conservation last summer.

Other zoos named the best-rated in the region are the Indianapolis Zoo, the Brookfield Zoo Chicago, the Saint Louis Zoo and Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium.

The Cincinnati Zoo boasts several national awards, including the No. 1 botanical garden and best holiday lights display per USA Today's 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards .

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Zoo named among best-rated in the Midwest. Here's which others made the list