I'm not a big fan of crowds either, but I do love to see all of the different breeds and morphs at the shows. Many of the reptiles are snakes that I would never get to see in real life, and you can get an idea of just how large some of them can get. Reading and watching videos somehow doesn't really compare to seeing a snake or lizard face to face.

The first time I saw a Rainbow Boa, the colors just blew me away. I had seen pictures, but a photo doesn't really capture the true colors. You really have to see some of these magnificent snakes in person, and for my money, the stress of the crowd is worth what you take away from it.