North Carolina Chicken Up For Title Of America’s Favorite Pet
Oh, the puns I could start this with. I’m going to simply cut to the chase with some eggs-elent news. A chicken from New Bern North Carolina is up for…

SHEPTON MALLET, ENGLAND – MAY 30: (EDITORS NOTE : (Image was created using an iPhone and processed using digital filters) A Silkie cockerel chicken is displayed for judging is pictured on the opening day of the Royal Bath and West Show at the Royal Bath and West Showground near Shepton Mallet on May 30, 2018 in Somerset, England. The 155th Royal Bath and West Show, which is a celebration of all things agricultural, is expected to attract 135,000 visitors over four days, featuring livestock, agricultural machinery, trade-stands and locally produced food and drink. First held in 1852 and is one of the oldest surviving agricultural shows in England.
(Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)Oh, the puns I could start this with. I'm going to simply cut to the chase with some eggs-elent news. A chicken from New Bern North Carolina is up for the title of America's Favorite Pet. The chicken named Pluma is already an international sensation. This crown would only add to Pluma's accolades which include 20,000+ followers on Instagram.
At this time Pluma is currently ranked fourth in her group so if you'd like to see North Carolina's favorite chicken become America's favorite chicken you can vote here.
Voting ends tonight at 10 p.m. American's Favorite Pet describes itself as the world's largest pet competition. According to their website, the competition is getting wild with the launch of a brand-new chapter— Animal Kingdom! Open to animals of all shapes, sizes, and species, ONE pet will win $10,000 and pounce into the spotlight with a 2-page feature in InTouch Magazine.
Our fingers are crossed for you Pluma we'd love to see North Carolina represent with Pluma the chicken winning the title of America's Favorite Pet. Good luck!
You can get more info about the contest and what it benefits here.
List: 15 Places To Visit Animals In The Charlotte North Carolina Area
An interesting fact that you may not know is that Charlotte is actually the largest city in the country that doesn't have a zoo. And there is very little chance we will ever get a true one. But don't let that get you down, there are plenty of places you can visit with all types of animals in the Charlotte area. The biggest reason we will most likely never get a true zoo is that we are just 1.5 hours from both the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro and Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia.
Both of those zoos make our list and while both are large zoos, they offer different animals. For instance, you can see polar bears in North Carolina and Koalas in South Carolina. Is marine life more of your interest? Don't worry we've got a couple of options for you as well. Other animals include bison, alpacas, farm animals, all sorts of birds, goats are more.
All of the places on this list are a short drive from Charlotte. Most are very affordable to visit so a great family trip as the weather gets warmer. I love animals but I'm not a huge fan of encountering them unexpectedly, so this type of thing is right up my alley. I can't wait to add several of these to my summer bucket list. Where is your favorite place to visit animals in the Charlotte area? Let us know on social media!
North Carolina Zoo
Location: Asheboro, NC
Ticket Prices: Adults $15, Senior $13, Child $11
Animals: Lions, elephants, polar bears, giraffes, black bears, and more1
Discovery Place
Location: Uptown Charlotte
Ticket Prices: Adults $23, Children $18, Seniors $20
Animals: sea urchins, jellies, and other sea life
Cotton Bean Farms
Location: Mt. Pleasant
Ticket Prices: $15
Animals: Goats
Carolina Raptor Center
Location: Huntersville
Ticket Prices: Student $8, Adult $12, Senior $10
Animals: 20+ bird species
Good Karma Ranch
Location: Iron Station
Ticket Prices: $10
Animals: Alpacas
Tiger World
Location: Rockwell, NC
Ticket Prices: Adults $15, Children and Seniors $12
Animals: Multiple tiger species, lions, kangaroos, leopards, jaguars, and more
Sealife Aquarium
Location: Concord
Ticket Prices: Adults $18, children $15
Animals: sharks, stingrays, fish, seahorses, turtles, and more
Dallas Lavender Lane
Location: Dallas, NC
Ticket Prices: Contact for more info
Animals: ducks, potbelly pigs, pygmy goats, a miniature pony, and a donkey
Zootastic Park
Location: Troutman, NC
Ticket Prices: Adults $15, Children and Seniors $13
Animals: tigers, lions, leopards, giraffes, monkeys, lemurs and more
Tatanka Bison Ranch
Location: York, SC
Ticket Prices: Varies by tour $13-$150
Animals: Bison
Riverbanks Zoo
Location: Columbia, SC
Ticket Prices:
Animals: zebras, koalas, tigers, komodo dragons, and more
Darby Acres Farm
Location: Charlotte
Ticket Prices: $11
Animals: emu, water buffalo, goat, pigs, sheep, camel, and more!
Sweetwater Farms
Location: Huntersville, NC
Ticket Prices: $5
Animals: horses, cows, pigs, donkey, goats, chickens, and ducks
Lazy 5 Ranch
Location: Mooresville, NC
Ticket Prices: Adults $15, Children and seniors $11
Animals: antelope, giraffes, cattle, birds and ducks, cattle, sheep, goats, and more
The Farm at The Schiele Museum
Location: Gastonia, NC
Ticket Prices: $3
Animals: chickens, goats, pigs, bunnies, bees, a turkey, and alpacas