A Day at Toledo Zoo

[frankykeno]

Well despite the rain we had another great day at Toledo Zoo. We're really getting our monies worth out of this family membership LOL. Enjoy the photo's!

I love the Animal Planet show "Meerkat Manor" so we always visit our local meerkat family....



The zoo has wonderful statues for the kids to climb all over (with padded ladding areas)....Mikey and Beth had a great time!...





Toledo Zoo was very blessed to have both their female Polar Bears mate with the resident male Polar Bear this year. There were only 5 cubs born in all of North America this past winter...three of them reside at the zoo here so it's a huge deal. All three were unproven breeders so the arrival of 3 cubs was more than anyone expected! Nan had a single male cub (Nikita), Crystal had twin female cubs (Aurora and Anana - as far as we know the only twins born in captivity this past season). This is Crystal and her daughters.

Crystal relaxing on her rock watching the cubs swim below her.....


Crystal and one of her girls....


She's a big momma bear!.....


One of the cubs seemed to have fun doing a few under water charges at my Beth and startling the wits out of her LOL....


Then she showed off to Beth with a big flip and a show of her baby teeth....quite the "polar bear experience".....


My favorite shot of the day!.....


Of course we visited the Reptile House....really pleased to see they have gotten some new snake species in (including this Aruba Island Rattlesnake and a young anaconda *sorry no shots, it was way under water and hiding*)...

A gorgeous Aruba Island Rattlesnake....


Angolan Python...I think I'm in love!....


The Bushmaster finally came out to say hello....


My best Gaboon Viper shot ever!...I couldn't believe their amazing faces were so close to the glass...what a truly awe inspiring snake!....

[Save A Mutt!]

Been there many times. Great zoo nice pics.

[tigerlily]

Awww... what cute pics of the kids! I think the butterfly pic is definitely the best!

It looks like you guys had a blast!

[frankykeno]

Well I did have to remind the kids that as my granny used to say "you aren't made of sugar, you won't melt!" when the rain clouds dumped on us but all in all it was our usual fun time. We just adore the Toledo Zoo. The keepers are always willing to chat with visitors and seem very passionate about their charges.

I do giggle every time we attend the "reptile encounter". This week it was a bearded dragon, last time we dropped in it was a cornsnake. Needless to say my kids tend to be a bit less than impressed and want them to haul out the big retic LOL.

[rabernet]

Great pictures, Joanna! I agree, the butterfly one is the best picture!

[tigerlily]

I'd wanna see the retic too! Although, I'm blissfully happy with whatever critter you throw at me. I don't like to share either....

How far is the zoo? I miss having one so close. The nearest one is in Birmingham, which is about 2 hours away ... I think.

Isn't funny that the same kids who cringe and moan about rain are the same ones that are dying to splash in the puddles and swim?

[frankykeno]

The zoo is about a 10 minute drive from our apartment or a 30 minute bus ride so really nice and close. When we lived up in northern Michigan the closest zoo was Detroit and a 10 hour round trip car ride was NOT going to happen so Mikey had never seen a zoo before we moved here.

Too funny Christie! They were soaking wet from the rain but when it stopped and they could dry out properly, they were busy stomping in every major puddle they could find. That or Beth was racing Mikey through the big puddles in the wagon we always rent at the zoo (a life saver, easy to haul Mikey around when he get tired and we always take a big packpack of snacks and drinks along...great zoo but the food/drinks there are way, way overpriced!)

I'm so glad my Bethie hasn't hit that "I hate my mother and younger sib" stage of teenage development yet.

[JLC]

What an awesome trip! I also love the butterfly shot, and the polar bears look amazing!! Close encounters like that will last a lifetime! I think the kids and I will be making several trips to the San Antonio zoo this fall/winter. Right now it's just insanely hot and humid.

[frankykeno]

If your zoo is close Judy check into their family memberships. They are usually a great deal and you get all sorts of side benefits usually. With our family membership we get discounted entrance/free parking type things at 125 other zoo and animal parks around the States, free parking, early entrance to special events, etc. For only $65.00 for Mike and I and the kids, you just can't beat that kind of cost for such fun family entertainment!

[JLC]

If your zoo is close Judy check into their family memberships. They are usually a great deal and you get all sorts of side benefits usually. With our family membership we get discounted entrance/free parking type things at 125 other zoo and animal parks around the States, free parking, early entrance to special events, etc. For only $65.00 for Mike and I and the kids, you just can't beat that kind of cost for such fun family entertainment!

Definitely a good deal! We had a family membership last time we lived here as well. So we'll for sure go that route again.