One thing I suggest to anyone with kids or who likes animals is to get a zoo membership to your local zoo. Check out if they have partnered with other zoos and/or aquariums in a reciprocating program. This means you will get free or discounted admission to those reciprocating zoos and/or aquariums whenever you present your zoo membership card.
Since we have a zoo membership to the North Carolina Zoo whenever we travel we plan visits to the other zoos and aquariums that reciprocate with the NC Zoo along our drive. This way we get to visit tons of different zoos (which helps with my goal of visiting every zoo and aquarium in the United States) and the kids learn as they are enjoying the animals (which also helps with the coolest mom award I strive to earn each year).
We went on a trip to Minnesota to see one of my closest friends from high school and her family. While traveling to and from NC we stopped at six zoos. That means we had six free or very cheap, safe, educational things to do as we traveled. The kids got to get out of the car, walk around and learn about animals too. It was a win, win!
Our first zoo stop was the Knoxville Zoo in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Note: For size comparison on all of the zoos the North Carolina Zoo is large, the San Diego Zoo is medium, the Utah's Hogle Zoo is small and Zoo Boise is tiny.) The Knoxville Zoo is medium in size and has all the usual large mammals to see. It takes about 2-3 hours to see the entire zoo and to enjoy about 800 animals on exhibit. Keep in mind that it can be quite hot and humid in TN in the summer! There is some shade along the way and throughout the zoo there are misters to help cool you down.
As you enter the Knoxville Zoo directly ahead of you is the Black Bear Falls which is quite cool. You enter caves to check out the bear exhibits. The kids loved being able to climb into the caves for a look. There were two bears on exhibit when we went and they were both quite active.
The kids really liked the prairie dogs. They still remember when we stopped at a rest stop in Wyoming back in May '09 and there happened to be a very active little colony of prairie dogs.
This picture says ever so much about the day. Brax was just being a grump when it came to taking pictures. He wanted mom to just leave him alone. The girls were so much more cooperative.
There is a neat little butterfly exhibit which is included in your zoo admission. It had quite a few butterflies and a lovely display of butterfly cocoons. (Other zoos have these butterfly exhibits and most tend to be an extra charge. We take advantage of unique free exhibits or special feeding times when we can.) Braxton and Delaney were more excited about the fish they saw in the koi pond.
One of the highlights of the Knoxville Zoo is the elephant exhibit. They were really active when we went. The way the exhibit was positioned you feel quite close to them. Very cool! One of the elephants came over to check the kids out and started drinking right in front of us.
Here are some of the other animals.
My wild monkeys!
The lions were active and quite close to the fence so we were able to really enjoy seeing them. There was a lioness right next to the fence who let me take one photo of her, but when I went to take another she put her paw over her head. It was classic!
Me: No the sign says they are Red River Hogs.
Braxton: Are you sure mom? They look just like anteaters!
Braxton comparing himself to the gorilla.
The sweet scent of mimosa trees reminded me of home in San Diego.
One of the coolest things that we saw while at the Knoxville Zoo was a zoo keeper working with the tigers. She would put a poll with a button on it up to the fence. When they touched the button she would give them a treat. We were so close to the tiger and the kids were mesmerized.
This was one of their alligators who passed away. The kids loved it!
The hearts always make me think of our sweet friends in Australia.
There is a neat little children's area called Wee Play Zoo where kids can pretend to be veterinarians, a very small petting zoo with rabbits, neat barnyard slide, blocks and animals to play with. (It is geared for very young children ages 0-6, but is air conditioned. Total bonus!)
When we saw this red panda lounging we all immediately thought of Hotch. It was his animal twin at this park. Somehow we find animal twins of daddy at every zoo we visit. Made us miss him a bunch!
While we were looking at the tortoises Braxton suddenly exclaimed "Debbie was right!" I asked him what he meant by that. He said Debbie (she works with Hotch and Braxton calls her sweetheart) told him that there were huge turtles that you could ride. When he saw the tortoises he couldn't stop talking about Debbie and how smart she was.
The carousel was the perfect way to end a nice day at the zoo!
We'll visit the Knoxville Zoo again someday on our travels. It was fun and such a great way to spend time outside of the caravan.
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