Have You Zooed Lately?

This year marks the 25th anniversary for the Zoo and if you haven't been there lately, now is the time to get re-acquainted. The cooler weather has got many of the animals up and about...especially the big cats, and with light crowds, a stroll through the zoo feels like a stroll through your own private wildlife sanctuary.

It has been many years since I took a little time to enjoy what the Zoo has to offer and I have to say, it was an afternoon well spent. I think we all have heard about the difficulties the Zoo has experienced over the last couple of years and I don't think that any of us want to see the Zoo go away. The best way to ensure that this doesn't happen is to GO! Take a morning or afternoon and enjoy a quiet stroll amongst a vast array of exotic animals.

I was blown away that I could walk right up to within a few fee of a pacing leopard...I am not sure if it was growling or purring, but whatever it was doing, I could feel it in my chest! I watched a variety of primates hanging out...literally, and several swinging from their cages. It was awesome to see a little baby Siamang leave it's mothers warmth to try to emulate it's father's wild but agile careening across the expanse of it's large cage. The giraffes were also a treat to watch, their features so large that they seem a lot closer than they really are...especially those eyelashes! I wandered the length of the long boardwalk that ends up overlooking the islands housing the chimpanzees and gorillas. I would swear that one of the chimpanzees was making faces at me! One experience I found surprisingly entertaining was the Bat House. Those guys were super active and it was nice to be able to watch them without covering my head.

The biggest disappointment I felt at the Zoo was that I didn't have my children with me. It really hit home to me how valuable a resource the Zoo is and I plan to take my kids there as often as I can. This time of year, the crowds are thin and I found it to be one of the most peaceful and relaxing things I have experienced lately. So make some time. In doing so, you not only get to enjoy a wonderful experience, but you help ensure that the Zoo will continue to be their for our children and hopefully, our children's children. The Zoo is open daily from 9 to 5 but get there early enough to spend at least several hours...you won't regret it.