Friday, May 21, 2010

Smithsonian National Zoo

Here's what I remember* about this zoo: it was hot and full of screaming children.   Apparently we attended during elementary school field trip day.  I also remember the "O-line", which is a cool way for the Orangutans to get around their various exhibits, but we did not see them actually use it.

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*Written 8/5/11

Sunday, April 25, 2010

San Diego Zoo

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I am so glad we got to see this zoo before leaving California! I was a little daunted by the price of admission ($74 for two people!!), but I can honestly say it was the best zoo I've ever attended. Most zoos aren't bad, and usually have one or two exhibits that are cool with the rest being passable. With this zoo, practically everything we saw was well thought out and seemed like a cool place for the animal to live. There were cool features like the multi-level monkey exhibits, where you could take any number of trails and ended up three stories above the ground, each letting you see something a little different. And don't even get me started on the sheer number of animal species. I can also say that there had to be a ton of people there, but it never felt like it. There were even places where we were more or less alone. It really blows all the other zoos we've seen to date out of the water.

This zoo was so big that we were there from 9:30am-2pm, without dawdling at any one exhibit like I've been known to do, and there were still things we didn't have time to see. If you go, I highly recommend getting there when they open and giving yourself the whole day. You may not need it, but you might as well make sure you're getting the most zoo for your money.  My only regret is that I failed to take a spare battery for my camera, so I tried to make it last by only taking photos of the things I personally loved the most.  Really, this zoo will not disappoint.

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Sunday, February 14, 2010

Los Angeles Zoo

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Unforeseeable circumstances have postponed our trip to the San Diego zoo. However, with the LA zoo still on the list of zoos I need to visit, we decided to go there as it was much closer and decidedly better on the budget.

I have to say, for $13/ticket and free parking, this zoo was a steal! The weather was perfect (apparently 80, but no humidity, a slight breeze, not a cloud in the sky), the crowds were only bad near the most popular animals, and the lines went surprisingly quickly. Even in the crowded areas, people didn't linger overly long, or get pushy. Kids were not bumping into you, or climbing the railings, or screaming at the animals. Even when we felt the need to get away from the crowds, I didn't feel like killing anyone.

The absolute best part though? The babies!! I mean, we saw a baby koala (OH MY GOD!), wallabies, twin pigs, colobus monkey, gorilla, twin snow leopards, giraffes. Granted, some of them were more along the lines of young than brand new, but they were all so ADORABLE.

Also, kettle corn.