The zoo was huge, so many large cages for the animals to roam around in. It was also pretty much empty, which I think was a product of the weather and the fact that it was mid-day Friday. It was great cause it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves!
First we went into a lorikeet enclosure. We bought little cups of food and carried them, and were immediately attacked by a ton of birds. According to the docent who was working in there, there hadn't been many people in there that day so the birds were hungry!
First, two landed nicely on my hand. That was easy enough and Leah was interested in those pretty things sitting on Mama.
Then, one landed on my head! Luckily for me, it didn't poop.
Erin and Reagan feeding the birds - Reagan was not a big fan!
They were so pretty. And check out the long tongue which reached down into the cup to get the food.
Hmm, I wonder if that pretty thing tastes as yummy as my fingers?
Cameron did NOT like the birds. He was totally freaked out and was not interested in being anywhere close to anyone feeding the birds.
Daddy and Leah
Outside of the lorikeet cage was this komodo dragon statue. Cameron liked it much better.
After that we decided to stick to the animals that we could see from the safety of the raised boardwalk. First up - a two headed rhino? No... just two rhinos standing together. They were so active, running around and charging at each other. It was really cool.
Cam and Reagan were very cute together (when they were both in the mood to be!)
The monkeys were pretty funny, climbing around in their cages (which were very cool) and looking back at us. This guy was chowing on a carrot.
The penguin exhibit wasn't as large or involved as the one at our zoo, but you could get right up next to the penguins, so that was very neat.
A bird hanging out with the penguins. Cameron asked where the bird's other leg went.
Cameron LOVED sitting and talking with the penguins. He was telling them about all kinds of things, like the other animals we saw and the penguins at our zoo.
Leah was smiley too, although I don't know if she noticed the penguins.
We headed over to the African Safari part of the zoo in order to get there for a 2:00 rhino feeding. I was more excited than the kids about getting to feed the rhinos, but sadly, the bad weather canceled it. We did get to check out the rhinos up close though, who apparently were not told that the feeding was canceled. They were so close, we almost could have reached out and touched them. It was really cool.
There were zebras there too and after a while they wandered over. It was so neat to be so close to them!
Trying to get Reagan and Cameron to pose, smile and look at the same camera was a bit difficult. This was the best we did.
The kiddos running around in an elephant transport crate.
Leah and the rhinos.
There were elephants too, but they were way out in the exhibit.
Since we were thwarted in our efforts to feed rhinos, we decided to feed the giraffes instead. The instant we walked up to the top of the feeding tower, the giraffe pretty much came running over. He knew what we were there for! Here is Erin and Reagan giving him some lettuce.
Then it was our turn. I didn't know if Cam would like to feed the giraffes after how afraid he was of the birds, but it turned out he loved it! He did a great job and was laughing every time the giraffe licked the lettuce out of his hand.
Reagan really liked it too.
Leah wanted a turn! Okay, not really, but I wanted to see what she thought of the giraffe. She wasn't afraid, only interested in what that giant thing was in front of her.
Cameron wanted to feed the giraffe more. He really liked it.
Mr. Giraffe, nice and full of lettuce.
On our way over towards the manatees, it started to rain a bit. Cam insisted on having his own umbrella and looked very cute walking along holding it.
Around this time, Leah conked out. She had a good nap in Mama's sling.
Leah was smiley too, although I don't know if she noticed the penguins.
We headed over to the African Safari part of the zoo in order to get there for a 2:00 rhino feeding. I was more excited than the kids about getting to feed the rhinos, but sadly, the bad weather canceled it. We did get to check out the rhinos up close though, who apparently were not told that the feeding was canceled. They were so close, we almost could have reached out and touched them. It was really cool.
There were zebras there too and after a while they wandered over. It was so neat to be so close to them!
Trying to get Reagan and Cameron to pose, smile and look at the same camera was a bit difficult. This was the best we did.
The kiddos running around in an elephant transport crate.
Leah and the rhinos.
There were elephants too, but they were way out in the exhibit.
Since we were thwarted in our efforts to feed rhinos, we decided to feed the giraffes instead. The instant we walked up to the top of the feeding tower, the giraffe pretty much came running over. He knew what we were there for! Here is Erin and Reagan giving him some lettuce.
Then it was our turn. I didn't know if Cam would like to feed the giraffes after how afraid he was of the birds, but it turned out he loved it! He did a great job and was laughing every time the giraffe licked the lettuce out of his hand.
Reagan really liked it too.
Leah wanted a turn! Okay, not really, but I wanted to see what she thought of the giraffe. She wasn't afraid, only interested in what that giant thing was in front of her.
Cameron wanted to feed the giraffe more. He really liked it.
Mr. Giraffe, nice and full of lettuce.
On our way over towards the manatees, it started to rain a bit. Cam insisted on having his own umbrella and looked very cute walking along holding it.
Around this time, Leah conked out. She had a good nap in Mama's sling.
Checking out the fish in the underwater viewing area of the manatee exhibit.
Reagan is a dancing girl!
Cam checking out the manatees.
Looking at more fish.
It downpoured for a quite a while, but luckily we were in the one large indoor exhibit while it was doing that. A few minutes later, the rain stopped, the sun came out, and it was gorgeous out. We checked out the last area of the zoo, which had a bunch of Australian animals.
Reagan is a dancing girl!
Cam checking out the manatees.
Looking at more fish.
It downpoured for a quite a while, but luckily we were in the one large indoor exhibit while it was doing that. A few minutes later, the rain stopped, the sun came out, and it was gorgeous out. We checked out the last area of the zoo, which had a bunch of Australian animals.
Mama and Leah, hanging out with a bat.
Cameron didn't get to see any of the Australian animals because he conked out in the stroller. He needed it though, so we were glad he took a good nap!
After the zoo we went to dinner at a restaurant in Tampa called Columbia. It was delicious food, including a great microbrew made in Tampa called Ybor Gold. The kids had all pretty much had enough by the end of the meal though, and after a temper tantrum by Cameron, I think the restaurant was glad to see us go!
Cameron didn't get to see any of the Australian animals because he conked out in the stroller. He needed it though, so we were glad he took a good nap!
After the zoo we went to dinner at a restaurant in Tampa called Columbia. It was delicious food, including a great microbrew made in Tampa called Ybor Gold. The kids had all pretty much had enough by the end of the meal though, and after a temper tantrum by Cameron, I think the restaurant was glad to see us go!
We had a wonderful visit though and were so glad to get to see Erin, Jason and Reagan. Now if we could just figure out some way to make Florida a bit closer to NY, we would be all set!
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