New Zoo and a Happy Birthday to You

Saturday was Aaron's birthday. We were delighted that we got to spend the day together. I took the kids grocery shopping for breakfast supplies so Aaron could get a little more sleep. Reuben really wanted to get Aaron a present from a toy store and was dismayed to find that none of the local toy stores are open at 7am or 8am or 9am.  

We still managed to return with a few goodies for a really delicious breakfast.

One of the goodies was a perfectly ripe crenshaw melon. I set out a quarter for the family and Reuben happily dug in.

 Reuben was sure that the birthday celebrations needed to include and "expedition" so we ventured down to the National Zoo. Now I have to say here that I love the National Zoo. But I've gotten very spoiled being able to attend it on weekday mornings, before official opening hours, in February, when it is raining. Consequently I'm used to having the whole place to myself. Saturday was not a rainy February sort of day.

We found a parking spot after a lot of searching. It was literally the second to last parking spot in the whole place. You can see in this picture there was only one poor sap who parked farther away than we did. But hurray for exercise, right?

The reason the zoo was so packed was that this weekend they had the grand re-opening of their North American section. The North American sections features brown and grey animals, each one better than the next at looking like an inanimate log or rock.  Still, I've missed the North American animals. North America really has some spectacular wildlife and I like that people can see there's some amazing animals in their own backyard. I really hope one day we get some elk or a buffalo. Or they will finally clone those woolly mammoth.

Anyway, the redone section is gorgeously landscaped. There are waterfalls and ferns and lush green trees. It seems to invoke a place full of cold rivers and misty coasts instead of the steamy swamp lands I've always inhabited. I have heard that such cool climes do exist in America, but the same source also depicted vampire demi-gods willing to spend an eternity attending high school so I have my doubts.

Regardless, my most favorite animals at the zoo are back. The otters! I love river otters. Their cute and vicious and flip and spin and dive non-stop. Seriously, they are the most action packed animal viewing experience to be had at the zoo.

Then there are the beavers. They are a serious contender in the inanimate log contest but they've redone the exhibit so the beavers can tear up trees and drag them around. Before, the poor things were offered a few measly carrots to gnaw on. The trees in their inclosure had, I kid you not, iron plating around the bottom which bore serious teeth marks from the beavers vain attempt to gnaw them down. Since they can now chew and make a mess as beavers like to do, they're much more active, swimming happily back and forth in their pool.

The grey wolf is back too.  See if you can spot it. It's under the pine tree on the left. Most people walked right by. It makes a very good grey rock. I only noticed it because it kept snapping irritably in the 90 degree weather. Reuben LOVES the wolf and sang it "its french horn song" from Peter and the Wolf.

The seal won the best log category. You can see it deadly bobbing. Well kind of, but you aren't missing much. It was a fat long brown blob napping happily in the chilly water. As I mentioned before it was hot so I felt a little jealous looking into its chilled pool.

At this point of the trip I was mildly impressed with the upgrade. The exhibits seemed better for the animals and the landscaping prettier but there wasn't much to write home about. THEN we came to the splash area. Let me say, Well done Zoo, WELL DONE.

Most people attend the zoo when it is hot and steamy and sticky. That would be 9 months of the year in DC. By the time you reach the North American section most people have wilted from the heat and the kids are tired of being told not to run away or jump on anything. NOW there is a place to kick your shoes off, cool off in some wonderfully chilly fountains, and let the kids run free.

Miriam LOVED it.

There were a lot of kids there. The zoo was clearly operating at capacity but there was still good room in the new splash area. If you are familiar with the zoo, the water area is a little larger than "the pizza."

There was nothing that could top the little splash park, but the sea lion exhibit was pretty amazing too. The underground viewing area was dark and cool and offered some great viewing. 

So there's a preview. If you are in the area it's well worth a trip, though it'll be even better when the crowds die down.


And happy birthday to Aaron. You're wonderful.