Zoo Trip

Jason took off from work one day last week so we could take the kids to the Cameron Park Zoo before the crowds of summer hit. We went on a Tuesday, and it was fantastic! Gorgeous weather, only a handful of people in the entire park.

On the car ride there, we each talked about what animals we were the most excited to see. Norah was looking forward to "the owls and the giraffes". Jason said his favorites were always the monkeys. I was most excited about the otters, and Eli couldn't stop talking about the elephants. It made for fun conversation in the car, and it was interesting to see hear everyone state their case about why they chose their specific animal.

The CP Zoo made quite a few changes since our last visit. There was a new oriental exhibit with some cool tile chimes (the kids could jump on the tiles and each one played a different tone). As well as swinging ropes, and lots of fun statues to climb on and pose with.

The only down side was that the price had gone up quite a bit...but I guess even the zoo has to keep up with the economic situation.





Eli (finally) got to see his precious elephants. They were toward the end of the path, so by the time we reached them, E was almost too exhausted to care.


Poor Norah just couldn't grasp the tee-pee presence at the zoo. (They were outside the Bison exhibit) She has asked me at least six times since our trip, "Mommy, why didn't we get to see the Indians at the zoo?" Don't worry. I think we've resolved the issue (after much explanation and discussion of Native American history.)

At the end of the day, we stopped in the gift shop and let the kids each choose something to remember their day by. Eli went for small plastic tube filled with trees and jungle animals (including an elephant!). Norah, naturally, chose the only pink item in the store...a flamingo!

She really enjoyed seeing them in real life too, as well as learning that they are pink in color because of their high-shrimp/algae diet. The carotene found in shrimp and algae causes the flamingos' feathers to have that distinct pink color. (She has shared this important information with almost anyone who cares to listen to her)


It was a wonderful day of family fun, and I look forward to our next trip. The kids are such great travelers, and these little mini-vacations make for great artistic inspiration for Norah. (Please note our family of four, taking in the site of a majestic giraffe, depicted above)