Minneapolis Zoo

Yesterday, I made to yet another zoo I've never before visited!  This time it was the Minnesota Zoo, which is located in greater Minneapolis.  Specifically, Apply Valley.  We are in the great city of Minneapolis visiting friends. Well, I'm visiting friends.  DS is visiting a conference, and so he is staying busy doing other things.  It's always a lot of fun for me when I get to experience friends' local zoos, and lucky for me, Beth and Brian were happy to tag along even though it was hot.

This particular zoo does not have an amazing selection of animals.  However, the exhibits for the animals they do have are just fantastic.  The grizzly bears has geysers.  Every animal there had just a massive amount of space that they were often hard to find.  It must be a really nice place for them, which makes me happy.  Fun zoo facts: the decor is themed around Dr. Suess; first zoo I've been to with a dolphin!  Unfortunately, the zoo closed and we were scooted out before we got to see the Medtronic Minnesota Trail, which had a wolverine and a cougar.  This probably wouldn't have happened if I hadn't spent forever entranced by the coral reefs.

So a quick note about these photos.  Apparently the animals thought it would be fun to keep their butts towards the onlookers, so the three of us made it into a game.  Goal: Take as many butt photos as possible.  We were quite successful, though for your viewing pleasure, I tried to throw some good photos in here as well.

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LA 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, the lines are 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.

Chicago, Day 2: The Lincoln Park Zoo

On Sunday, DS and I continued our quest of visiting all the zoos in America. This time, it was the Lincoln Park Zoo. Both of us have been there in the past, but we hadn't been as part of our quest. Or together for that matter. As I've said before, the winter is the best time to visit the zoo. No crowds, and the animals are actually active. Plus, you see Zoo Babies!!

DS thought these guys looked like little old men. He loved them.
I got kissed by a hippo.

These monkeys were quite friskey. In fact, that black one peed on the glass after this was taken.

Lions are so precious. I want one.

These were my favorite. There were baby gorillas, and this one was the youngest. The mother wouldn't even let anyone else near it yet, and this poor gorilla in the foreground really wanted to play. He inch up to her, and she'd carry the little baby off. They were all so cute.

And this was DS's favorite. The bear on the right had been hiding from the bear on the left. When the bear on the left got close, the bear on the right jumped out and attacked! A bear fight ensued, and there were many oohs and ahhs.