COLUMBUS, Ohio -- It has been a wild year for members of an Ohio family who say they've accomplished a goal to visit 52 zoos in 52 weeks.

Marla Taviano of Columbus, her husband and three daughters started Aug. 1, 2008 with the Louisville Zoo in Kentucky and spent weekends and vacations going to zoos across the country, including the Dallas Zoo, New York's Central Park Zoo and the San Diego Zoo.

The family's Web site shows they really wound up hitting 55 animal parks.

Taviano says she got the idea while trying to think of an adventure that would feel like traveling the world and seeing exotic creatures, but on a budget.

The family's 22,000-mile tour ended Saturday with a visit to their hometown Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

Taviano is planning a book about their journey.