One way to get in touch with the world without leaving home is to visit your local zoo.

Hi, I'm Rick Steeves.

Coming up today on Travel with Rick Steeves, Alan Nihus shares tips to some of the best zoos in America.

They're coming up with new ways of looking at animals.

For instance, a big deal today is underwater hippo viewing.

Then, for a peek into a more refined life form, we'll visit the densely populated and resourceful society of the Netherlands.

When you think I was born below the level of the sea, when you tell that to other people they get scared that's why my

parents told me very quickly to swim. Two Dutch friends explain how the neatly

ordered social structure of the Netherlands works and why. The sea level is rising and how quick or how fast it goes

we don't know so we better start preparing and we build for the future.

America's best zoos and how the Dutch live together, get along, and get ahead.

It's coming right up on Travel with Rick Steve's.

The Netherlands, Europe's most densely populated country is mostly below sea level.

And with a rising tide of challenges, the Dutch have no choice but to be resourceful and prepared.

Coming up in a bit, we'll look at how Dutch society not only manages, but thrives.

First, we'll look at how zoos in America have evolved in recent years and which ones are best and why.

Well, you can travel all over the world to see exotic animals,

but of course we've got incredible zoos right here in our own country and I just

learned that more people go to zoos each year than all the professional big

sports combined, baseball, football, basketball, and hockey.

Over 150 million Americans go to the zoo each year.

Alan Nihus joins us, and Alan's written a guidebook simply called America's Best

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