Going to the zoo is a family event for us – and actually it’s become even greater than that. As a family, we’ve now visited 68 different zoos, and continue to visit many more. Most days, the kids are extremely excited to see a new zoo – new animals, new layout, and of course a new gift shop – but other days I’ll admit that the adults in our house are just as entertained.
While it started out as family experience, both my wife and I have deeper roots in our love of zoos. As a kid I loved animals, and wanted to be a zookeeper. When my family would go on road trips, I would insist that exit and entrance ramps should be zoos where cars passing by could see giraffes and elephants! (You know what I mean – that small patch of land usually in a circle while you’re driving 25mph and trying not to flip your car? Yeah I didn’t really understand habitats at the time) My wife, on the other hand, had a desire to be a marine biologist. Not living on the coast, she landed on a career as a science teacher, and instead took masters classes at the zoo.
With both of us having ties to the zoo experience, we began sharing the zoo with our daughters. The zoo is a chance for us to learn about animals, stretch our imaginations, and be outside. It allows us to experience things WITH our daughters, as opposed to watching them do something. During trips to 68 zoos, our family has fed giraffes, ostriches, rhinos, camels, and even alligators, among many other animals. A trip to the zoo includes joy, discovery, and amazement. If you aren’t yet one of the millions of people who visit zoos each year, I invite you to try it and see what you’ve been missing. And if you already do visit…I might have some stories or zoo-visiting tips that you’ll enjoy.
Thanks for visiting – and if you can’t get to a zoo, follow along on our journey by reading our stories, and Zoo With Us!
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